Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye: a review

The question of whether or not an eye cream is a neccessary step in one's beauty regimen has caused a long debate in the beauty community for as long as I can remember. Some say it's just jack and that your regular cream works just as well, while others can't live without it - kinda like the "toner" discussion.

My approach to all this: well, it surely can't hurt, and it's about time I started using one (even as a preventative measure), especially since my dry skin, the habitual squinting, and the many years I've spent sitting in front of a pc/laptop/tablet screen aren't exactly a recipe for success.

So, where does the quest begin? Well, it made sense to me to start with one of my current favourite skincare brands, none other than Kiehl's. I had previously tested their Line Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate, the one with haloxyl, but I didn't like the formula, so I opted for the Midnight Recovery Eye instead.

First things first: the formula is lovely: rich, yet not at all greasy. The cream gets completely absorbed during the night and in the morning I wake up with an undereye area that's moisturised, without any traces of puffiness. I've noticed that my concealer goes on a lot smoother once I've started using this eye cream, though I'm a little apprehensive to use this right before my makeup. Another huge plus is that it doesn't cause me milia (those tiny white bumps around your eyes), which is basically a good rule of thumb to test a consistency (much like the effect that a face product can have on your pores).

As for the claim that it reduces the appearance of fine lines? 
Well, technically, that is correct, but hear me out: my tiny undereye lines are still very much there, it's just that my whole undereye area is smoother and plumper with this cream, so the lines do appear to have slightly faded. In other words, the appearance is reduced, the lines again, not so much.

The ingredients in this eye cream are fairly impressive, making this eye cream one of Kiehl's hits in my opinion: a ton of essential oils and plant extracts. Note the lavender oil in the list, which is also what this cream smells like, fitting for a night-time skincare item.

I'll gladly use this up and I would definitely repurchase, though I do want to try the contenders from a couple other skincare brands first. Of course, by that time, I may be eligible for a retinoid eye cream, which is.. a whole different ball game I'm afraid! :/


Where do you stand in the eye cream debate?
Which one is your number one favourite and which one(s) didn't work for you at all?