Clarins Total Eye Lift is one of the brand’s most popular products, selling out globally when it launched back in 2020. This all-in-one eye cream promises to target wrinkles, crow’s feet, dark circles, and puffiness for a visible “eye lift” in 60 seconds flat.
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| - | Clarins Total Eye Lift |
All of that sounds great in theory, but how well does Clarins Total Eye Lift perform in real life? To answer that question, we’ll have to evaluate the key ingredients in this formula, including the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skin care.
We’ll also share some Clarins Total Eye Lift reviews so that you can get a better idea of what customers really think of this product.
Is Clarins Total Eye Lift Right For You?
Before we get into the details, here’s the TL;DR if you just want to know whether or not Clarins Total Eye Lift is right for you.
- Key ingredients? Emollients, humectants, caffeine, silk tree bark extract
- Skin type? Recommended for all skin types
- Texture? Lightweight cream
- Fragrance? Yes
- Cruelty free? No
- Cost? $89 USD for 0.5 oz
- EWG Rating? 5
What Are The Key Ingredients in Clarins Total Eye Lift?
In order to determine how well Clarins Total Eye Lift performs, we’ll have to evaluate the key ingredients in this formula. Let’s get started!
Silk Tree Bark Extract
Albizia Julibrissin (silk tree) bark extract is one of the key botanical extracts in Clarins Total Eye Lift. Silk tree bark is a unique ingredient that can counteract the noxious effect of glycation.
Glycation occurs when sugars enter the circulation and attach themselves to the amino groups of tissue proteins, such as collagen, rearranging their structure into advanced glycation end products (AGEs).
As a result, AGEs cause once healthy collagen and elastin fibers to lose their elasticity, thereby becoming rigid, more brittle, and prone to breakage.
Silk tree bark extract can neutralize or detoxify the products as they are leading up to glycation, resulting in a reparative effect on tired skin, in particular a loss of radiance and suppleness. Recent clinical studies have found that users experience the benefits of this ingredient in as little as 7 days.
Silk tree bark extract is a key ingredient in one of our favorite eye creams, Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream. This light, silky eye cream also helps to minimize signs of stress and fatigue, including eye bags and dark circles.
Emollients
Like all creams, the Clarins Total Eye Lift formula includes high concentrations of several different emollients, such as shea butter and caprylic/capric triglyceride.
An emollient is an oily substance that fills in the spaces between dead skin cells, thus creating a smooth skin surface. According to a publication in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, “Emollients hydrate and improve the skin’s softness, flexibility, and smoothness.”
So it’s true that Clarins Total Eye Lift should help to moisturize and soften the skin around your eyes.
This lightweight antioxidant-fueled facial moisturizer includes plant-based emollients that help to promote overall moisture retention.
Humectants
A variety of humectants are also near the top of the Clarins Total Eye Lift ingredient list. For instance, you’ll find glycerin, betaine, and panthenol (provitamin B5) in this formula.
A humectant has a molecular structure with several hydrophilic (water loving) groups, such as hydroxyl groups (OH) and/or amine groups (NH2). These groups hydrogen bond with water, essentially “grabbing” it and holding it on the skin.
In addition to improving skin hydration, humectants help to temporarily reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. That’s because the extra hydration is extra volume, which effectively plumps out the skin and makes lines and wrinkles less noticeable.
However, keep in mind these effects are transient — as soon as the product is rinsed off, lines and wrinkles will return to normal size.
Caffeine
You’re probably already aware of the energy-boosting, focus-enhancing benefits of ingesting caffeine, but did you know caffeine also provides many benefits to the skin?
Caffeine is an antioxidant and therefore protects against free radical damage. It’s also a stimulant that causes vasoconstriction (constriction of the blood vessel) when applied to the skin.
Vasoconstriction can tighten and firm the skin due to the removal of excess fluids and possible stimulation of the lymphatic drainage system. This effect also aids in reducing the amount of blood that accumulates under the eyes — a major factor that contributes to dark circles.
Ultimately, this means the caffeine in Clarins Total Eye Lift should help to reduce puffiness and dark circles under your eyes.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
We mentioned above that Clarins Total Eye Lift is claimed to disguise signs of aging and dark circles in just 60 seconds, and that claim might be true since the formula includes synthetic fluorphlogopite.
This synthetic mineral adds a subtle shimmering effect and reflects light away from the skin, creating the illusion of a smoother, softer, and more radiant skin tone.
Cassie Flower Wax
The brand claims that Cassie flower (Acacia Farnesiana) will help to visibly tighten and smooth lines and wrinkles, but there isn’t any research to support this claim.
In fact, this fragrant extract actually has the potential to make your skin look worse!
That’s because fragrance ingredients (whether natural or synthetic) impart scent through a volatile reaction, and this natural reaction almost always causes a sensitizing reaction on skin.
Even if you don’t have a full blown reaction to the ingredient, the damage may still be occurring every day. Ultimately, this can cause mild problems for your skin in the short term and worse problems in the long term.
Synthetic Fragrance Blend
One thing we should mention about the Clarins Total Eye Lift formula is the inclusion of a synthetic fragrance blend, which is a major red flag.
We already mentioned above that both natural and synthetic fragrance ingredients have the potential to cause skin sensitivity reactions.
Furthermore, the use of synthetic fragrance ingredients can be a problem because the brand can use a proprietary blend of chemicals to create the fragrance. On average, this consists of 30 to 50 chemicals (but it can have as much as 200 components).
Want to know the worst part? The brand does not have to disclose which chemicals they use on the label. They are allowed to list this blend as “Fragrance (Parfum)” on the ingredient list.
Furthermore, a 2018 study by Women’s Voices for the Earth discovered that in over 3,000 chemicals reportedly used for fragrances, 1,242 were chemicals of concern – and that included at least 7 possible carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents.
How Effective is Clarins Total Eye Lift?
Clarins Total Eye Lift is claimed to target wrinkles, crow’s feet, dark circles, and puffiness for a visible “eye lift” in 60 seconds flat. But can this eye cream live up to these claims? Below we’ll discuss whether or not Clarins Total Eye Lift will provide these benefits.
Does it Reduce Crow’s Feet and Wrinkles?
The humectants in Clarins Total Eye Lift should help to plump the look of skin, thereby temporarily reducing the appearance of crow’s feet and wrinkles. Plus, caffeine helps to tighten and firm skin, while Silk tree bark extract helps to protect collagen and elastin from AGEs.
Does it Reduce Dark Circles?
Clarins Total Eye Lift should help to instantly disguise dark circles due to the inclusion of synthetic fluorphlogopite, a synthetic mineral that reflects light away from the skin. Plus, caffeine may help to reduce dark circles over time.
Does it Reduce Puffiness?
The caffeine in Clarins Total Eye Lift may help to reduce puffiness. However, the fragrance in this formula may counteract that benefit since fragrance has the potential to cause puffiness and skin sensitivity reactions. One eye serum that we recommend that does not contain synthetic fragrence is Carrot & Stick The Eye Serum.
Does it Hydrate and Smooth?
Clarins Total Eye Lift will help to hydrate and smooth your skin thanks to the humectants and emollients that are used in high concentrations in this formula.
How to Use Clarins Total Eye Lift?
Warm Clarins Total Eye Lift between your fingers for a few seconds before applying. Using 3 fingertips, gently press under the eyes, over the eyelids, and onto lashes — from inner corners of eyes to temples. Tap gently between eyebrows.
Where to Buy Clarins Total Eye Lift?
Clarins Total Eye Lift and other Clarins skin care products are sold on the brand’s website, as well as several third party online retailers, such as Sephora, Ulta, Amazon, Walmart, and more.
You can also purchase Clarins Total Eye Lift in-person from department stores, Ulta, and Sephora. The brand has a store locator on their website so that you can find a location that sells Clarins skin care products near you.
How Much is Clarins Total Eye Lift?
Clarins Total Eye Lift costs $92 USD for 0.5 oz on the brand’s website. We believe there are similar or better formulations that cost less. One product is Carrot & Stick The Eye Serum.
What is The Clarins Return Policy?
The Clarins return policy states, “We wish to ensure your complete satisfaction while shopping on Clarins.com. and we will gladly accept your return purchased on Clarinsusa.com within 30 days of purchase. Unfortunately, we do not offer exchanges.”
Is Clarins Cruelty Free?
No. Clarins is not cruelty free because Clarins skin care products are sold in mainland China where animal testing is required by law.
Is Clarins Total Eye Lift Vegan?
Clarins Total Eye Lift is suitable for vegans, but Clarins is not a 100% vegan brand.
Our Verdict
While Clarins Total Eye Lift contains a few beneficial ingredients, we don’t recommend it due to the inclusion of fragrance, and also because we think it’s overpriced for what you get.
Pros
- Formula includes a few beneficial ingredients (emollients, humectants, caffeine, silk tree bark extract)
- Many positive Clarins Total Eye Lift reviews
Cons
- Clarins Total Eye Lift contains fragrance
- Clarins is not cruelty free
- High cost ($92 USD for 0.5 oz)
What Are The Best Alternatives?
If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging around the eyes, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. We recommend Eye Essentials.
References:
Indian J Dermatol. 2016 May-Jun; 61(3): 279–287.
