What they promised: An innovative eye cream to reduce signs of aging around the eye area and to lift and firm the upper eyelids.
What the tester said: The upper eyelid is the area that beautifully demonstrates gravity’s victory. At Dermalogica they try to fight it using peptides and botanical ingredients that are supposed to lift the gaze and reduce the bothersome fold. The good news is that I did feel a kind of tightening, especially when I made sure to apply the cream also on the eyelid itself. The texture is rich and feels like a pampering balm but absorbs without leaving a heavy layer that later turns into crumbs. It also blends perfectly with concealer and doesn’t cause it to travel into fine lines. The scent is a classic Dermalogica scent – bio-hacker spa, clean, calming. Bottom line, if your eyelids have started to droop and you’re looking for a non-surgical solution, this is probably a successful option.
Dermalogica, Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream –
NIS 536 for 15 ml
What they promised: Fills, sculpts and reshapes the eye area, the most treacherous area on the face.
What the tester said: First of all, the pump is perfect. Instead of pushing fingers into a jar or messing around with sophisticated applicators, here it’s a hygienic, convenient package that doesn’t waste precious material. Now let’s talk about the texture, which is kind of a miracle: A lightweight gel that absorbs in seconds, but at the same time is rich and nourishing in a way that makes the skin feel “dressed” and protected. After a few weeks of dedication, morning + evening, the area under the eyes looks more supported, more hydrated and with a subtle glow. The real bonus? It’s concealer’s best friend. Nothing crumbles, smears or settles into fine lines. So yes, it doesn’t replace a syringe, but it definitely does a job that makes you feel you invested in the right place.
Estée Lauder, Advanced Night Repair Eye Lift + Sculpt –
NIS 430 for 15 ml
What they promised us: At Shiseido they don’t waste time and promise results within just one week – lifting, firming and targeted treatment of dark circles and puffiness under the eyes.
What the tester said: Not such a fan of the packaging. Unlike practical pumps, here we’re dealing with an open jar. True, it’s especially beautiful, but it also requires fiddling with the attached accessory, which is not a spatula! But rather a “unique massage tool inspired by Japanese shiatsu techniques.” I give up easily, so I stuck my fingers into the jar. The texture is a dream: Very rich, almost buttery, but melts into the skin. In the results test, I felt less tightening and more of a brightening effect – my delicate and very dry skin looked alive, bright and saturated with moisture, which naturally blurs fatigue. It passes the concealer test with flying colors, provided you give it a minute to absorb. A hall-of-fame product that does an excellent job on dark circles and dryness, less on dramatic lift.
Shiseido, Vital Perfection Uplifting & Firming Advanced Eye Cream –
NIS 460 for 15 ml
What they promised: A new series for jawline treatment, V-definition and a lifting effect, also adapted for sensitive skin.
What the tester said: Let’s start with the end – we didn’t feel a lift, so if you were building on a renewed jawline, you’ll probably be disappointed. But, and this is an important but, these are excellent products in their own right. Their texture is great, they absorb beautifully, leave a silky finish and serve as a perfect base for makeup. That said, it’s worth taking two things into account: The first is the fragrance. The products have a very distinctive scent. It’s elegant and pleasant but also present. Those who like their skincare to smell like bio-hacker spa will connect. Those sensitive to fragrance, maybe less. Another issue is suitability for skin type. The series will work great for maintaining normal skin, at intermediate ages, that hasn’t yet crossed the road to truly heavy products. If your skin is very dry or mature, they simply won’t be enough.
Lancaster, GOLDEN LIFT –
Sculpting cream NIS 489 for 50 ml, serum NIS 539 for 30 ml
What they promised: Swiss La Prairie launches a new stage in the iconic Caviar series – a firming and tightening emulsion assisted by water-soluble caviar technology.
What the tester said: What is the theory of relativity? The new emulsion is priced in only three digits and therefore, relative to the brand’s other products, is considered accessible. On the positive side, its texture is a delight. A very thin emulsion that absorbs in a second and gives tired, dry skin the feeling of a serious gulp of water, without any trace of greasy residue. It doesn’t really lift the jawline, but it does lift your whole look – the skin looks saturated, plumped, dehydration lines blur, the glow is healthy and it’s a perfect base for foundation. The emulsion has the brand’s familiar elegant scent – very old money and unmistakable; everyone will decide for themselves whether that works for them. Bottom line: For brand lovers who crave a luxury logo without crossing the NIS 1,000 threshold, and for skin that looks good and feels good – this is probably the most worthwhile package deal you’ll find with the Swiss.
La Prairie, – Skin Caviar Hydro Emulsion
NIS 820 for 30 ml
What they promised: At Lierac they talk about French architecture. This series promises to strengthen the skin’s foundations (collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid), and the latest launch, in a gel-cream texture, is intended specifically for normal to combination skin and promises a lift effect with a lightweight finish.
What the tester said: A successful solution for anyone who can’t stand overly rich products. The texture is a successful combination of gel and cream, melts into the skin in seconds and leaves an almost matte finish, making it an excellent base for foundation, particularly for combination skin and especially in humid weather. In the results test, here too expectation management is required: The product doesn’t replace a syringe or serious devices, but it does provide a certain tightening sensation, quality maintenance that works nicely on skin elasticity and is perfectly suited for anyone looking for a firm look but hating heavy textures.
Lierac Paris, – Lift Integral The Firming Gel-Cream
NIS 349 for 50 ml
What they promised: A cream in an advanced skincare protocol.
What the tester said: A product with “body,” rich (I tried the classic version; there is an even richer version) that creates a velvety layer on the face and leaves the skin feeling comfortable and soft. The magic here is in the texture and the immediate appearance. The skin looks more collected, as if someone tidied up the mess, tightened the edges a bit and brightened the face. And when everything looks collected, there’s an effect of vital, saturated skin that looks much better with makeup and even without it. And there’s also a bonus – a perfect scent of a classic cream like in the old days, clean, calming and extremely delicate. Expensive, but delivers, dreaming of one like this with SPF.
Dr. Udi Bar, Crème de la Crème Classic –
NIS 580 for 50 ml