First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Eye Cream

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $32

THE SKINNY: This is creamy goodness for your eyes.

First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Eye Cream is designed to smooth, firm, brighten and nourish the skin while adding subtle glow to the under-eye area. It does all that and more. In the few weeks I've been using it, twice a day, I've seen a noticeable reduction in the dark circles and other signs of tiredness under my eyes. (And it's not from getting a decent night's sleep.)

This cream feels great on my skin and soaks in quickly.

My only real complaint is the packaging, which I apparently wasn't smart enough to understand. The tip of the container was sealed, and the only way to open it seemed to be to hack at it with a pair of scissors. There wasn't a "cut here" mark, so I have a little tiny opening through which I have to coax the product.

Luckily, you don't need a lot of this cream at one time, so it's tolerable.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. This is a new favorite of mine.

CHECK IT OUT: This gets great reviews across the board on the First Aid Beauty website.

-- Tested by Shay

L'Occitane Divine Eyes

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $76

THE SKINNY: Like all L'Occitane products I've used, Divine Eyes is rich and creamy goodness.

The gel is designed to smooth fine lines and firm sensitive skin around your eyes. It's so soothing that I don't mind it doesn't fight dark circles.

After a few uses, I can already see the skin around my eyes plumping up and those little lines and wrinkles looking less noticeable. Plus, the gel lotion just feels good on my skin.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: L'Occitane recommends using Divine Eyes morning and night.

-- Tested by Shay

Olay Regenerist Luminous

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $25.99

THE SKINNY: Designed to help fade dark spots and firm skin, Olay's Regenerist Luminous seems like a great idea. Too bad the sample is too small to tell.

Seriously what is the point of giving away a one-time-use packet if the stuff takes EIGHT WEEKS to work. How do I know if this stuff is worth the price?

What I can say is that the cream is silky and glides on. The smell was pleasant.

Overall though, it did not moisturize as much as I would hope. (That's a must for something that is more than $25.)

KEEP OR TOSS: I might try it again.

CHECK IT OUT: This is part of a complete Olay Regenerist line that you can find at drugstores.

-- Tested by Carrie

fresh Black Tea Age-Defy Eye Concentrate

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $85

THE SKINNY: Black Tea Age-Defy Eye Concentrate is a nice moisturizer for that tender around-the-eye area, but it doesn't do much else.

That makes the $85 price tag a little hard for me to swallow.

The moisturizer from fresh uses black tea, blackberry leaf extract and lychee seed to create a rich moisturizer that didn't irritate my eyes. It seems to work just fine.

But I want more from an eye cream, especially one with a hefty price tag. I'm like millions of other working adults who don't get enough sleep. My fight is less the fine lines and wrinkles and more the tired eyes with dark circles. If I'm going to pay $85 for a moisturizer, I need it to help me look brighter and awake.

fresh says this moisturizer is "cooling" and will do that, but my sample failed in that area.

On the plus side, a little bit of this moisturizer goes a long way, so the little pot of lotion will last forever.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: fresh says to use Black Tea Age-Defy Eye Concentrate after cleansing day and night. Use with Black Tea Age-Delay Serum and Cream.

-- Tested by Shay

Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $45

THE SKINNY: Ole Henriksen's Invigorating Night Treatment is a gel that you slather onto your face in the evenings and is supposed to do a lot of good stuff while you sleep.

The gel is cold and slimy, and I wasn't convinced that it did much of anything.

According to Ole Henriksen, the product "resurfaces" your skin, smooths fine lines and minimizes pore. It's made with purified algae and Vitamin E.

After a few weeks, I didn't see much difference. Plus, I really didn't like the texture.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss

CHECK IT OUT: Find a complete list of ingredients online at Ole Henriksen.

-- Tested by Shay

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $40 for 1.7 ounces

THE SKINNY: Sheer Transformation is an oil-free cream moisturizer from Ole Henriksen that helps fade dark spots and other discolorations.

I like it because it's lightweight and glides onto the skin without feeling sticky or heavy. It's soothing and cooling, too, which is nice now that we're dealing with blasts of winter cold wind.

Being so light, this moisturizer will last as a little dab goes a long way.

It feels really simple, yet there's a lot of good stuff packed into it, including a little Vitamin C, licorice and chamomile.

Basically, it's healthy for your skin and does a great job as a moisturizer.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep

CHECK IT OUT: Ole Henriksen recommends using Sheer Transformation in combination with Truth Serum during the day and Invigorating Night Gel in the evening.

-- Tested by Shay

L'Occitane Precious Cream

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $62 for 1.7 ounces

THE SKINNY: L'Occitane's Precious Cream is just wonderful.

That's it really.

Wonderful-feeling on skin.
Wonderful when you consider that it's made organically.
Wonderfully expensive.

This face cream is thick, but not too thick, and is designed to help fight those pesky little lines, wrinkles and skin discoloration. It made my face feel smooth and young -- precious, you might say.

I was pretty disappointed when my sample ran out. Other reviewers seem to love it as well and it is one of L'Occitane's bestselling products.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find the full line from L'Occitane online. It might feel like a splurge, but everything I have tried in this line has been worth it.

-- Tested by Carrie

Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $41

THE SKINNY: I'll admit I'm not a big Origins fan because I find their products always seem a little, well, dingy, for lack of a better word. Mega-Bright is no exception.

The yellowish lotion quickly turned gloopy and gritty. And while it was OK as a moisturizer, it didn't really do much to brighten or soothe dark circles under my eyes. (With two puppies in the house, I have a lot of dark-circle mornings.)

Meh.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: Origins' Mega-Bright line includes a serum, cleanser and moisturizer.

-- Tested by Shay

Kate Somerville Restor8

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $165 for 1 ounce

THE SKINNY: Wow. Products such as Kate Somerville's Restor8 serum are the real reason samples were invented. We get to play around with a product most of us could never afford.

Restor8 is a thick and creamy serum that made my face feel nice and soft and gave it a bit of extra glow. This is a little thicker than I normally like for a daytime moisturizer, but it's perfect for night.

The serum targets eight signs of aging, evens out skin tone and plumps up dull skin.

I was impressed, and then I choked when I saw the price.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: If you have the money for this, Kate Somerville offers an auto-replenish option.

-- Tested by Shay

Murad Essential-C Day Moisture

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $60 for 1.7 ounces

THE SKINNY: Vitamin C products seem to be something your skin will either love or hate. I like them a lot and Murad Essential-C Day Moisture was no exception.

The cream went on easy and kept my skin soft while protecting from the sun. (A product with sunscreen is a must!)

The only real problem with this product for me is the price in comparison to other moisturizers. This one is expensive. The Murad brand is good but it can be tough to drop that kind of money on just a cleanser.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: This is part of the multi-step Murad Essential C line. We reviewed the cleanser as well. You can buy from Murad (look for a free gift) or retailers such as Ulta or Sephora.

-- Tested by Carrie

H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $36

THE SKINNY: An oil-free moisture gel is one of the last products I'll reach for among all the facial moisturizers out there. But, despite it's bright blue appearance, H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment is a really nice moisturizer.

If you rub a little bit of the gel between your fingers, it turns all creamy like a traditional moisturizer. That's a win in my book.

It goes on cool and creamy, too, and soaks in quickly without leaving a sticky feeling that I find with other gel moisturizers.

Face Oasis leaves my face feeling soft and smooth and doesn't promote any excess oil in my T-zone. It's been a great transition moisturizer as the early fall days have turned cooler.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Face Oasis' goal is to hydrate and smooth out fine lines with "phospholipids, multivitamin complex and moisturizing marine botanicals," according to the website.

-- Tested by Shay

Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $5.99

THE SKINNY: It seems like Jergens has a "new" formula every season.This one is better than what I remember from the past.

My skin is already especially dry (and winter is not even close yet) and this little packet was enough to coat my legs and got them feeling better after just one use.

The lotion went on easy and smooth and had a simple, light fragrance. It did not irritate my skin or leave a greasy feel behind.

It was just right, really. And for less than $6 -- plus you can buy it wile picking up groceries -- this seems like a major win.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer at drug and grocery stores everywhere.

-- Tested by Carrie

LeeAnni Eco 3-in-1 Revolution Light

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $29.98 for 4 ounces

THE SKINNY: Formulated for normal to oily skin (and warmer weather), 3-in-1 Revolution Light is a combination of a toner, serum and moisturizer that's billed as a product to save you time.

I found the lotion to be rather thick. It left my skin soft, but I'm not sold on it or its result.

Do I really need all this stuff in my moisturizer to help save me time? And why doesn't it include the most important of the face care regime: SPF?


KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: 3-in-1 Revolution Light is supposed to "help tighten Skin, reduce breakouts, relieve dark circles under eyes, moisturize, fight aging, treat sun damages, and calm irritated skin." That's a lot of promises.

-- Tested by Shay

Befine Food Skin Care Daily Moisturizer

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $24 for 1.7 ounces

THE SKINNY: I quite liked Befine's Food Skin Care Daily Moisturizer, a sample of which came in a recent Ipsy bag.

As advertised, I found the moisturizer to be light and silky on my skin and easy to use. It's SPF 15, too.

Too many moisturizers I try are sticky, heavy and try to do too many things. Befine is nice and simple, and the product does its job.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Befine products are made with so-called "super-foods" such as almonds and avocados and are vegan and not tested on animals.

-- Tested by Shay

Lancer Eye Contour Lifting Cream

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4.5 stars

COST: $95 for a half-ounce

THE SKINNY: Lancer Eye Contour Lifting Cream is one of the best eye creams I've tried. The lotion is thick, creamy and cooling, and it feels wonderful against that sensitive skin around my eyes.

I saw immediate results. No dark circles. No hint of tired. I've been using it twice a day, for the most part. I can really tell a difference on the days I don't use it.

If only the cream wasn't so expensive.

Lancer uses a blend of reflective elements, caffeine and something called a "collagen-boosting peptide system." Whatever it is, it really works. I will be a sad girl when the sample runs out.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. I love this stuff.

CHECK IT OUT: Lancer has a whole line of skin care products available at high-end department stores. All are expensive.

-- Tested by Shay

Shiseido Urban Environment Tinted UV Protector

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $30

THE SKINNY: If you're looking for a tinted moisturizer that protects from sun, UV and environmental damage, Shiseido Urban Environment Tinted UV Protector might be for you.

I like the extreme lightness of this moisturizer. It's almost runny, which makes it easy to apply in hot weather. It covers evenly and provides an amazing SPF 43. It's water resistant for about 40 minutes, Shiseido says.

This is a great tinted product for days when you need light coverage. It's not dewy. It won't help hide blemishes. It will blend into your natural skin tone.

And it will help protect your skin from a bright and sunny day. Who can complain about that?

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Shiseido Urban Environment Tinted UV Protector comes in three shades.

-- Tested by Shay

Clinique Youth Surge

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $52

THE SKINNY: My hunt for a new moisturizer ended when the lady at the Clinique counter recommended Youth Surge.

This moisturizer is silky and cool and glides onto my skin without feeling heavy or sticky. Those qualities are really important to me right now as late spring moves toward early summer.

Youth Surge helps to erase fine lines and wrinkles and keeps my skin looking healthy. Clinique says the ingredients help "plump" the skin, making it look younger.

Bonus points: It's SPF 15.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. I'm a believer.

CHECK IT OUT: Find a complete list of ingredients at the Clinique website.

-- Tested by Shay

DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $85

THE SKINNY: If you were to combine a moisturizer and a pore minimizer, you would get a product that's lightweight and creamy but thicker than your average lotion. The texture in mind was exactly what DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer delivered.

Except DDF Wrinkle Resist is orange.

I didn't see that coming.

DDF Wrinkle Resist is meant to minimize your pores, exfoliate your skin and deliver a lot of hydration to help improve the appearance of your skin over time. I really liked the way this product felt on my skin, and it blended in easily without feeling heavy or sticky. It uses amino peptides, which build proteins in the skin, to shrink pores.

The only problem? It made my face break out within a day.

KEEP OR TOSS: I had to toss this one.

CHECK IT OUT: DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer is expensive, but you don't need a lot of product per use.

-- Tested by Shay

Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $23.99

THE SKINNY: Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum works just fine. Let's be clear about that from the get-go.

After about three weeks of nightly use, my skin is soft and I haven't woken up with puffy or dark circles under my eyes.

Was there a big change in the appearance wrinkles and fine lines? Not really. But post-40, I never really do.

But I do have issues.

For starters, this is a pretty thick serum that goes on waxy, like a primer does. I worried that it was just filling in lines instead of doing anything to soften them and would lead to breakouts. (That didn't happen.)

The bigger issue is that I've become a makeup snob. I don't want to pay $23.99 for Olay. I'd rather pay another $10 and get Ole Henriksen or Philosophy or something else that sounds fancy.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum just about anywhere.

-- Tested by Shay

Balanced Guru Balm Me Up

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $45 for 4 ounces

THE SKINNY: For starters, let me just say this. Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm works wonders for rough, dry skin. You can see results after one use.

But there’s a few things off-putting about this skin balm, made with a blend of cocoa and shea butter, babassu oil (an organic vegetable oil from the Amazon) and essential oils from oranges and limes.

The first is the smell, which is a little sweet and a lot like plastic.

The second is the price. Holy cow! Thank you, Ipsy, for the sample. But $45 for a small tub? Yikes.

And third is an abstract sense that this product is a lot of work to use.

This balm, as you would expect, is thick and gritty and waxy. It’s a pale yellow and looks organic. Rub a little of the product between your fingers or into your skin and it turns to an oil that takes a minute to soak into the skin. I found it was most effective at night, when I didn’t have to worry about getting oily residue on my clothes.

So even though my hands are winter chapped, I find myself reaching for a thick lotion instead of this balm, even though I know it won’t work quite as well.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. It works wonders on my elbows and the winter rough spots on my feet.

CHECK IT OUT: Balanced Guru offers certified organic products.

-- Tested by Shay