Budget eye creams worth trying, according to beauty columnist
Columnist Sali Hughes argues most people do not need one, but picks affordable new options for those who want to try.
Key points
- Beauty columnist Sali Hughes says eye creams are not a necessary anti-ageing product for most people.
- She lists reasons someone might still prefer one, such as dry eye skin or a too-rich day cream.
- The Inkey List's Bio-Active Ceramide Eye Cream costs £15 and is described as hydrating without feeling greasy.
- The Ordinary's Lacto PDRN 4% + B9 Eye Cream costs £8.70 and has a gel-cream texture.
Beauty columnist Sali Hughes, writing in The Guardian, makes a clear point: most people do not need an eye cream. She says the products are not the anti-ageing solution that marketing often suggests. Many people can get the same results from their normal face moisturiser, which saves both time and money.
Hughes does accept that there are sensible reasons to use one. Your eye area may be much drier than the rest of your face. Your usual day cream may feel too heavy and leave the eyes puffy. Some people want a light glow, or need a retinol product that is gentler around the eyes. Others simply enjoy using one, and she says that is a fair reason too.
Affordable new options
For readers who still want to try one, Hughes points to several recently launched products that she considers good value. She names three, all from budget skincare brands. Each one suits a slightly different need.
- Bio-Active Ceramide Eye Cream from The Inkey List costs £15. Hughes says it suits people who like a light, watery day cream but want more richness around the eyes. She says it hydrates well and absorbs quickly.
- Brighten-i Eye Cream from The Inkey List costs £12. She describes it as light, refreshing and glowy, and says it may help dark circles look less obvious.
- Lacto PDRN 4% + B9 Eye Cream from The Ordinary costs £8.70. It has a gel-cream texture, which Hughes suggests for people who find heavy creams uncomfortable.
Hughes says the Bio-Active Ceramide cream contains a peptide complex that may help firmness over time. The company reports a three-month blind clinical trial with positive results. Hughes notes that this is the company’s own claim, and the article does not provide further details of that trial.
What the evidence says
Hughes also discusses PDRN, an ingredient that appears in the new Lacto PDRN cream. She says the research is encouraging, but the studies so far are laboratory-based. In her view, the ingredient still has a long way to go before its benefits are firmly proven.
She reports that the gel-cream from The Ordinary gives a mild lifting effect. She admits the effect is short-lived, but says it is noticeable. She adds that two of her close friends have become fans of the product.
Why it matters
The column is aimed at shoppers who are unsure whether an eye cream is worth buying. Hughes’s advice is to start with an existing face product and only add an eye cream if a specific need appears. Her recommendations are based on her own use and opinion, not on independent testing.
Frequently asked questions
Do you really need an eye cream?
According to Sali Hughes in The Guardian, most people do not need one. Many can use their normal face cream for the same purpose, although some people may still benefit from a dedicated product.
How much do the recommended eye creams cost?
The Inkey Listu0026#039;s Bio-Active Ceramide Eye Cream costs £15 and its Brighten-i Eye Cream costs £12. The Ordinaryu0026#039;s Lacto PDRN 4% + B9 Eye Cream costs £8.70.
What is PDRN in skincare?
PDRN is an ingredient that Hughes says has encouraging studies, but these are still laboratory-based. She says more evidence is needed before its effects can be firmly confirmed.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
