ADVERTISEMENT INFO: SOME PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS POST ARE PR (GIFTED) AND LINKS USED ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. I RECEIVED NO MONEY TO WRITE THE BLOGPOST. PLEASE READ DISCLAIMER

Can the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream really help get rid of Dark Circles and Undereye Bags? Reviews on the website are quite enthusiastic, but I do have some doubts. You will find multiple reviews from people aged 18-24, and if you are between 18 and 24 years old, you do not need a 86 € eye cream. Not even if it comes with a golden spatula and an extra pair of socks.

Technically you will never need a 86 € eye cream, no matter your age, but if you want to indulge in one once you are significantly older than 24 and have the money to spend, be my guest – my routine certainly contains a few expensive products that could be replaced by more affordable stuff. But at an age where your money either isn’t your money because you still depend on your parents or it should go towards your education or your new family or whatever… I mean, you do you, but I wouldn’t encourage that. And, circling back to dark circles and under eye bags, they usually don’t appear at that age. Unless they are hereditary, in which case no eye cream will help anyway (More info:  How to get rid of Dark Circles under the eyes)

With that rant out of the way, let’s look at the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream up close. What is it that might work on dark circles and might justify the price?

What the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream claims

This eye cream hydrates the eye area and works as a great primer before makeup! Keeps eye area makeup from ceasing or appearing patchy and reduces look of fine lines!

The ultimate eye cream packed with dozens of rejuvenating ingredients like squalene, Matrixyl 3000, and vitamin c to lift, brighten, and firm the eye area! Instead of spending on 2 or 3 different eye creams, this one does it all!

Facts about the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream

Prize and size

One pot contains 15 ml and is available for 86 € on the website here, with a subscription program that will bring the price down to 68,80 € and gets delivered every other month. The set you get also contains a golden spatula and a pair of socks.

Texture and smell

Despite being described as soft, light and slightly cooling, I found it strangely firm to the touch in the pot, with a nod towards more whipped textures. It is white and doesn’t have a noticeable scent.

How to use the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream

The firm feeling transfers to the skin as rich and thick initially, but once in contact with the skin disappears and it almost feels as if the product melts into your skin.

I love the texture for evening use, but was initially a little hesitant to use it in the mornings as I don’t do well with rich textures underneath my makeup. To my surprise though it worked really good, leaving the eye area hydrated and plump without creating any issues with the makeup put on top.

I do have some puffiness that tends to disappear over time anyway and I can’t say the cream made it disappear faster or that it noticeably brightened the darkness I have in the mornings. But as that is mainly caused by not sleeping too much and my fair complexion and not by hyperpigmentation, I didn’t expect Vitamin C to do much in that regard. (More info: Are eye creams just a waste of money?)

I wanted to note that the brand advises you to use the cream right after cleansing and before any other products, which isn’t how I usually do it – I usually cleanse, do my routine and apply eye cream as last step before my moisturizer and/ or sunscreen. In the spirit of thoroughly testing the product I changed my approach to the recommended one for three weeks and can report back that for me it didn’t change anything.

Ingredients of the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream

Aqua (Purified Water) solv, Organic Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe) so|h, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil emo 0 0, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (Plant Based Hyaluronic Acid), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) so|aox|amic, Glycolic Acid exf|buff, Dimethyl Sulfone (Msm), Glyceryl Stearate emo|emu 0 1–2, Glycerin (Kosher Vegetable) sii|h 0 0, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Lactic Acid exf|h|buff, Isopropyl Palmitate (Palm) emo 1 3–4, Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate emo 0 2–4, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil emo|perf 0 4, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Butter) emo 0 4, Cetyl Alcohol emo|vc 2 2, Cetearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 1 2, Cetearyl Glucoside emu|surf, Stearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 2 2, Potassium Stearate surf|emu, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C) aox|aacne, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil emo 0 3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3 cci, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1 , Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Matrixyl 3000) cci, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 cci, Crithmum Maritimum (Sea Fennel Wax) Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water (Cucumber Hydrosol), Arginine sii, Beeswax emo|vc|emu|perf 0 0–2, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil emo 0 0–2, Oenothera Biennis (Organic Evening Primrose) Oil so|emo 2 3, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu Oil) so|emo, Wildcrafted Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) aox|so, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf (Bearberry) Extract aox|sb, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Extract so, Organic Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry), Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry Seed) Oil emo, Wildcrafted Mahonia Aquifolia (Oregon
Grape), Organic Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) so|sb, Cucumis Sativus Callus Extract (Cucumber) aox, Euphrasia Offcinalis Extract (Eyebright), Euphrasia Officinalis Extract (Eyebright), Helichrysum Italicum (Helichrysum Essential) Oil perf, Camellia Oil emo, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil aox|emo 0 0–3, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Essential) Oil perf, Organic Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Oil emo, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) aox, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) aox 0 0, Phytic Acid chel, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit (Orange Peel) Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) h, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon), Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) h, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate (Peptides) cci, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) so, Potassium Sorbate pres, Sodium Benzoate pres, Panthenol (Vitamin B5) so|h 0 0, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer vc, Sodium Carbomer vc, Xanthan Gum vc, Phenoxyethanol pres, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower (Honeysuckle) Extract perf, Lonicera Japonica Flower (Japanese Honeysuckle) Extract so|amic, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Centella Asiatica (Organic Gotu Kola) Extract so|aox|h, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract so|emo, Geranium Maculatum (Wild Geranium) Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Organic Dandelion) Extract

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.

Looking at the ingredients of the product, the main thing that differentiates it from other eye creams I have seen is the amount of different peptides used.

You will find Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3, going by the name “Syn-Coll”, that claims to boost and protect collagen, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1 – that one I thought to be odd as its main effect other than antioxidant effects seems to be to boost a natural tan, and then Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 from the Matrixyl-3000 complex claiming to reduce wrinkles and smooth the skin. (More info: The benefits of peptides in skincare explained)

The Vitamin C used is a derivative, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, used for its potential as antioxidant, collagen booster and in reducing hyperpigmentation. (More info: The benefits of Vitamin C in skincare explained)

Other than that there are a ton of humectants, emollients and different plant extracts as well as beeswax that might explain the firmness I perceive and makes the product not suitable for vegans.

What surprised me was the addition of both Lactic and Glycolic Acid, often used as exfoliants, but as the brand doesn’t claim any exfoliting effect and I didn’t notice one when using the product, I assume they are more there for buffering or hydration rather than for exfoliation. Still keep that in mind when your under eyes are sensitive – that combined with the many plant extracts might make the product not suitable for you. (More info: The benefits of exfoliating acids in skincare explained)

More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products

Does it live up to its claims?

Yes.

It hydrates and works great under makeup. Interestingly enough, the Lift and Brighten that are part of the name aren’t part of the website claims.

How does it compare to…

The Inkey List Brighten-I Eye Cream

If you are under 30, I  think this one is the better option for you. It is equally hydrating and works well under makeup, but is missing the extra peptides and Vitamin C derivative, and the price is much more affordable. If you have relevant dark circles though, it will not be enough to change that. But neither will the version from Banish be.

You can read my full review of The Inkey List Brighten-I Eye Cream here.

Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream

The texture of the Biossance eye cream is very similar in texture. It is equally hydrating and sits lovely under makeup. There is Panthenol for soothing and one peptide for helping with collagen production, but again no Vitamin C. Instead they use Astaxanthin, an antioxidant comeing from Marine Algae. It is expensive, but more affordable than the option from Banish.

You can read my full review of the Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream here.

Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream to?

I admit I like the Banish Instant Lift Brightening Eye Cream a lot more than I initially thought. It has a lovely blend of peptides that are interesting for more mature skin and a beautiful texture despite initially being very firm in the pot. For me personally though it is too pricey to consider repurchasing, I only have one eye cream in my stash that comes close and that is a retinoid one. Depending on the cause of your dark circles and under eye bags, I wouldn’t expect much change, but that is true for most eye creams.

Shop the post

Don’t forget to check out the Discount Code Page on top if you want to save some money on your next skincare purchase, or click here to let me build a personalized skincare routine for you.
If you want to get more involved and pick my next topics or see exclusive behind the scenes content, don’t forget you can head over here and become a YouTube Channel Member!