I feel like ARK Skincare Reverse Gravity Eye Cream has a lot to live up to.
With a name like that, you expect it to reverse gravity and lift your skin. Plus, all the things an eye cream is supposed to do anyway. Like reducing dark circles. Getting rid of puffy eyes. Moisturise skin. The basics.
Isn’t that too much of a tall job? Maybe…
But it certainly looks up to it. I mean… it comes complete with a rollerball and all… But does it deliver? I’ve put it to the test to find out:
What’s In ARK Skincare Reverse Gravity Eye Cream?
GLYCERIN
Glycerin is in pretty much all your skincare products. For a reason.
It’s a humectant. It simply means it can attract water from the environment into your skin and bind it there. Why?
As the Koreans well know, hydration is the foundation of healthy, younger-looking skin. The more moisture your skin has, the softer and plumper it gets.
Related: 4 Things I’ve Learned From Korean Skincare
GRAPE SEED OIL
Derived from the seeds of grapes, grape seed oil has a lightweight texture that feels less greasy compared to other oils, like coconut and castor.
What does it do? For starters, like all oils, it’s very moisturising: it creates a protective barrier on the skin that slows down water loss.
Plus, this oil is loaded with polyphenols, a group of antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that fight both free radicals and inflammation (the two main causes of premature aginng).
Related: How Do Antioxidants Work In Skincare?
ALLANTOIN
Allantoin is a skin-soother on steroids. Studies show it can:
- Soothe irritations: It has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness and itching.
- Moisturise skin: It helps skin retain moisture, keeping it supple and hydrated for longer.
- Heal wounds: It helps boosts the growth of new, healthy tissue, so that wounds heal faster.
Related: Why Allantoin Is The Soothing Ingredient You Didn’t Know Your Skin Needed
Texture
Lightweight cream, sinks in fast.
Fragrance
Herbal, with a hint of citrus fruits. Faint.
How To Use It
After cleansing. With your ring finger, apply a tiny amount to your undereye area. Then, using the cooling metallic ball, massage it in.
Need help creating the best skincare routine for you dry skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Dry Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
Performance & Personal Opinion
I really love the design of ARK Skincare Reverse Gravity Eye Cream. It’s basically a wand with a rollerball-tip. How cool is that? Makes me feel like I’m in a sci-fi movie every time I use it.
The cooling effect of the tip is what helps you reduce puffy eyes. As long as you keep this baby in the fridge. I initially stored it in my bathroom cabinet and the tip felt quite warm on my skin. Pleasant in winter, but not what my eye area needs…
The cream does a good job at hydrating skin. And when skin is hydrated, it looks better. Hydration plumps up fine lines, so they look smaller. It makes skin softer to the touch. And it gives the complexion that slight dewy look.
That’s pretty much it. I didn’t notice any instant tightening effect or any reduction in my dark circles (truth bomb: eye creams CAN’T treat dark circles).
Sure, on days I used this cream, I looked less tired and fatigued. But that’s the power of hydration (and the cooling tip).
Overall, the cream does exactly what an eye cream is supposed to do. It just makes too many promises it can’t keep.
Related: What Really Works Against Dark Circles?
Who Is This For?
People who need a separate eye cream because their eye area is drier than the rest of their face.
Who Is This NOT For?
- Most people don’t need a separate eye cream
- Sensitive skin (fragrance can be irritating)
- Doesn’t do anything for dark circles
Related: Do You Really Need An Eye Cream? (The Answer May Surprise You)
Packaging
Sleek white tube with a small pump applicator and metal rollerball. The pump applicator pours out just the little amount you need, while the rollerball massages it in.
It looks really cool, but the rollerball doesn’t do much of anything. It’s not even cooling (unless you keep it in the fridge).
Does ARK Skincare Reverse Gravity Eye Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Gravity-defying eye treatment reduces the appearance of wrinkles, helps to fade dark circles and diminishes puffiness. | It makes wrinkles look smaller for a while and helps a little with puffiness, but it can’t do anything for dark circles. |
| This instant-effect eye cream tightens and hydrates the eye area. | It definitely hydrates but it doesn’t tighten. |
Price & Availability
£48.00 at Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, and Wolf & Badger
Do You Need It?
No eye cream is a must and this is no exception. But if your eye area is drier than the rest of the face, and you need a more hydrating eye cream for it, this is a good option for consider.
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Dupes & Alternatives
- CeraVe Eye Repair Cream ($15.99)
- Paula’s Choice Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream ($34.00)
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine,Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Albizia Julibrissin (Persian Silk Tree) Bark Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Sodium Pca, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Pca, Parfum (Fragrance), Limonene, Geraniol, Glycine, Alanine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Serine, Linalool, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Darutoside, Histidine, Phenylalanine.
