I Haven’t Had A Full Night’s Sleep In Two Years – Will A £160 Eye Cream Make Any Difference?

Reader, I look knackered. I’ve been prone to dark circles since I was a child, but the dry cracked skin around my eyes, puffy bags and red rims? That’s all thanks to my youngest son, who, at two-and-a-half has a cavalier attitude to sleep that has confounded our entire family and several sleep trainers.

I’ve always been wary of beauty quick fixes - if I look tired I generally take it as a sign that I need more sleep, less booze, more water, less time in front of a screen. But now my ability to clock up a reliable eight (six) hours sleep a night is greatly diminished, plus I can’t escape the nagging feeling that I’ve aged about five years in the last six months, so I’ll take all the quick fixes I can get, thank you very much.

But what’s so special about Augustinus Bader’s eye cream? Well, The Rich Eye cream, which launched last week, is the latest in a long line of skincare products released by the power brand which have been feted by beauty editors and celebs alike for their efficacy and luxe formulation. Product placement in Succession - possibly the savviest marketing move of all time - didn’t harm the brand’s star power - which is potentially bolstered further by its hefty price tag (the brand’s cult The Rich Cream starts at £230 for 50ml, The Rich Eye Cream is £160 for 15ml - although both come in at a cheaper price  if you can commit to a repeat purchase). This year the brand has released an Augustinus Bader advent calendar which has become on of the most sought-after beauty advent calendars on the market.

‘As a beauty editor there are a handful of products so seminal that you remember exactly where you were when they first launched into the beauty sphere,’ says Grazia’s Acting Beauty Director Cassie Steer of the brand’s unique appeal. ‘Augustinus Bader’s inaugural ‘The Rich Cream’ was one such product. It was 2018 and despite the distinctly un-beauty name (AB is one of the few brands that push science over sex appeal) there was already enough hype surrounding the cream (the brand prides itself on reaching cult status by word of mouth) that when it finally dropped on our desks we were eager to get slathering.

‘The thing about Augustinus Bader products is that they actually make a difference to your skin. Celeb endorsements aside, (it’s been synonymous with A-Listers such as Victoria Beckham since day dot), it's the innovation behind them and the luxe formulas that translate into real skin gains that have us coming back for more. ‘

But down to the business - do I really need to use an eye cream - and if so, do I really need one with a three-figure price tag?

To my first question, the jury’s out - several beauty journalists I’ve spoken to said they never bother with eye creams, and several others say it’s an integral part of their beauty routine. As a beauty pleb, I’ve used one occasionally but never for long enough to see any difference, but the skin around my eyes is definitely more sensitive and dryer than the rest of my face, so I’m keen to see if using an eye cream consistently for a few weeks makes a difference.

While not all dermatologists agree that eye cream is essential, when we spoke to Dr Elizabeth Hawes, a consultant ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgeon to research our comprehensive guide to the best eye cream, she made the case for having a separate product for the delicate area around your eyes. 'The skin around your eyes is unique and is one of the first places to show the signs of ageing as it is so fragile; it needs a bit of extra TLC that face creams just won’t provide as skin around the eyes is thinner compared to skin on other areas of your face and body.

‘Eye creams can help to target areas of concern around the eye area including pigmentation, dehydration and dullness to rejuvenate and replenish hydration and brighten the eye area.’

But does Augustinus Bader’s new eye cream live up to these promises? The brand claims their Rich Eye Cream uses their own proprietary technology as well as ingredients including Wild Gentian Root Extract to ‘deeply nourish, lift, and firm the eye contour while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.’ A quick scan of their ingredients list also confirms that there’s no shortage of the sort of active ingredients that you’d expect in a potent eye cream - including peptides and Hyaluronic acid.

On first testing, the cream certainly seems to do what it says on the tin. My eyes are puffy, with dark circles and dry, sensitive skin when I first try the cream. It’s lusciously rich on application, and the steel applicator is incredibly soothing. The cream has an illuminating effect which instantly makes me look less tired. It’s also pleasingly thick and nourishing - my skin is quite dry and can sometimes become sore and cracked and I find that most eye creams don’t even touch the sides, but this felt as luxurious as you’d expect.

I apply the cream diligently morning and evening for the next few weeks, and my Grazia colleagues comment several times on how good my skin looks, and how much less tired I seem. The puffiness around my eyes goes right down, and although my dark circles don’t disappear completely, they’re suddenly much easier to cover up with concealer.

I wouldn’t say it makes me feel less tired - it’s £160; not magic - but I definitely have a spring in my step knowing I don’t look quite worn out as I normally do.

So the real question is - is the Augustinus Bader rich eye cream worth the price tag? My honest answer? If you have £160 spare to spend on an eye cream then go for it - it’s a great product that does what it says. And if you don't? Definitely don't despair - Augustinus Bader may have cornered the market in effective and luxe skincare for those who can, but for the rest of us, there are plenty of alternative options to go round. I for one am sold on the idea of using a regular eye cream going forward - even if my son starts sleeping through the night at some point in the distant future.

Rebecca Holman has been digital director of Grazia for the last five years and is author of BETA: Quiet Girls Can Run The World. She has written about dating, relationships, work, parenting and pop culture.