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I’ve been sat on this La Roche-Posay skin care gem since around March (sorry) as I picked it up in Spain but only now is it launching and available here in the UK.
La Roche-Posay have arrived extraordinarily late to the pigmentation and dark spot correction party, but their contribution is no less valid and in fact, better than many of the products I’ve found out there.
The causes and how to get rid of dark circles
After lines and wrinkles; dark circles are one of the biggest cause of concern for men; almost every men’s grooming brand has a supposed cream to remove dark circles under eyes or ‘dark circle remover’.
Now, dark circles are a tricky one, they can be routed in a number of reasons: lack of sleep; poor and unbalanced diet; allergies; lack of exercise or too much exercise, weirdly and finally genetic/hereditary.
The sciencey stuff (it’s honestly quite interesting)
Dark circles aren’t discoloured skin; they’re like bruises… kinda. Dark circles are stagnant lymph fluid that sits under the eye and just won’t bugger off. Massage triggers lymph fluid circulation and helps it move along, reducing the puffiness and darkness. There’s absolutely no difference between dark circles on women or dark circles for men
The answers lie in the lymphatic system
Your lymphatic system is basically the waste disposal of our body. When you get an infection such as a cold or throat infection; white blood cells are transported by the blood circulatory system to attack the infection.
Then, Lymph fluid is released and this is why an area ‘swells up’. It takes away white blood cells and infections then draws them to what are known as lymph nodes; these are where infections and viruses can be processed and neutralised. We have lymph nodes all over our body.
Massage is the primary proven method to boost lymphatic draining and boost circulation of lymph fluid. This is the key to getting rid of dark circles.
Cancer and the lymphatic system
It’s worth noting that when we talk about cancer ‘jumping’, this is when cancerous cells are carried to the lymph nodes and are then whizzed around the body as part of the expulsion system, being deposited all over which can then further develop into cancerous growths.
What is La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes Dark Circle Corrector and how does it work?
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes is an eye cream moisturiser with zinc massaging applicator for all skin types. The cream is lightly tinted and flawlessly soothes, brightens and actually corrects dark circles.
Bogus patents
I’m often naturally suspicious when it comes to branded patents with wild and wacky claims because at times brands can conceal efficacy through patent protections and avoid using ingredients that are freely licensed, extensively tested and often, more expensive.
However, La Roche-Posay have an excellent track record when it comes to their patents with progressive laboratories and the weight of L’Oreal behind them – this is brand is where things happen.
PhE-Resorcinol
One of many La Roche-Posay patents, PhE-Resorcinol is a brightening compound that is filed as being 100x more powerful than vitamin c (used in many, many brightening ranges) and 10x more effective than Kojic acid, another brightening ingredient.
Caffeine
You know when brands say that a product energises your skin? They’re talking about caffeine which we all know acts on the body as a stimulant. So when applied to the skin, does it ‘energise’ it? Does it balls. However, caffeine is one of the most powerfully calming, topical anti-inflammatory products on the market. It’s cheap, it works and is a key ingredient in this particular La Roche Posay cream.
Fragrance free
La Roche-Posay are known for putting some bloody odd fragrances in their products, particularly in the Effaclar range which did put off a few of my testers of their 3-Step Anti-Blemish System. But, you’ll be pleased to know that La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes Dark Circle Corrector is 100% fragrance free; the mark of any good eye-cream.
The rest
In La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes Dark Circle Corrector, you’ll also find ferulic acid and ginko, working as powerful antioxidants whilst Nicotinamide works as another anti-inflammatory.
As I mentioned, the cream is slightly tinted but is by no means a concealer. It’s the same as slightly tinted sun creams, they simply prevent you having big white patches on your face.
How to apply La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes Dark Circle Corrector
Because the massager is built into the nozzle, it’s easy-peasy.
Simply squeeze a small amount of product onto the applicator then using firm but gentle motions, work it around the eye area in a clockwise motion, and then alternate anti-clockwise.
Every time you reach the corner of the eye, pull the applicator down to the corner of your nose, running it down the side. Why? This is where your lymph fluid around your eye area drains, so you’re giving it a shove in the right direction. Also a great technique when you have a stuffy nose.
Does it work?
I think so and you’re reading the words of someone who has immense difficulties with their eyes in terms of dehydration and sensitivity; anything can set them off and I have my mum to thank for that – cheers!
In fact, when I was a teenager and my eyes first started causing me grief; I used to sneak into my mum’s dressing room and take the tiniest amount of her Clinique All About Eyes to calm them down.
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes Dark Circle Corrector vs. Clinique Even Better Dark Circle Corrector
We can’t talk about La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes Dark Circle Corrector without mentioning the fact it the copycat counterpart of Clinique Even Better Dark Circle Corrector – one of, if not the first dark circle product like this on the market.
In comparison I honestly prefer this; I started to find over the years that the Clinique dark circle cream left a bit of a claggy film on the skin whereas Pigmentclar is juicily rich but sinks in without a trace; leaving skin soft and quenched.
In conclusion
After a few weeks of using La Roche-Posay Dark Circle Corrector, I noticed the skin under my eyes looked fresher and less puffy; the dark circles were fractionally less, but nothing dramatic. It’s going to take time. It’s not going to get rid of bags under eyes overnight.
You have to understand that dark circles can take weeks to reduce, with twice daily application and massage. It’s basically exercise; you’re training your body to get your lymph system flowing and in better working order.
A word to the wise
If you’re still sleep deprived, eat like crap and don’t exercise; don’t expect your dark circles to go. This is designed to help them along and boost the reparative processes.
It’s like thinking that taking one of those magic pills from the home shopping network will make you thin whilst you sit on the sofa and eat your own body weight in Malteasers; it’s not happening.
This is also undoubtedly a damn sight better than those mental dark under eye circles home remedy treatments you see knocking around on the internet. Seriously, just ignore them – out of all the supposed treatments for dark circles under eyes, simple massage and targeted hydration will do the job.
Where can I buy La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes Dark Circle Corrector?
In-store
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eyes Dark Circle Corrector RRPs at £24.50 for 15ml. A tube this size should last you an age.
I always buy La Roche-Posay online here in the UK. Why? Because seeing how it’s displayed in Boots stores depresses me. The products are usually mismatched, with no testers and customers (I use that term loosely – savages might be a better fit) rip into the boxes to swatch and smear them all over themselves – I kind of understand it to be fair; La Roche-Posay products aren’t all that cheap and you can’t return it unless you’ve had a reaction.
Online
So, until it gets sorted in-store (I’m trying to convince them to make changes and I’m hopeful we’ll get somewhere) you can buy it online.
Always check Escentual, as for instance they have La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar eyes at only £16.33. I buy all of my French pharmacy brand products from them (such as the famous Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Solution) as their delivery is cheap and prices usually unmatched, particularly on La Roche-Posay.
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