Prompted by Junko, I did a search on Elite Eye Serum ($99) and I didn't much like what I saw. There are dozens of faux blogs extolling its virtues and I wasn't at all surprised to find that the website doesn't make the full ingredients list available. Elite does assure us that its serum "contains a very effective, highly concentrated dose of pharmaceutical-grade ingredients such as Argireline, Haloxyl, Eyeliss and hyaluronic acid, however no prescription is required." Yes, but along with what exactly.

I emailed the company for the full ingredients list for Elite Eye Serum and was in for two surprises. First, I got a reply the very next day and, secondly, this eye cream looks pretty good - especially if dark under eye circles are one of your issues.

First up there is N-hydroxysuccinimide. This activates the elimination of blood originated pigments responsible for dark color and inflammation that causes under eye circles. Then there is Eyeliss, which is supposed to send your bags packing as well as help eliminate panda eyes. It is a combo of water and Glycerin, there is hesperidin methyl chalcone, steareth-20, dipeptide-2 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7.

One study on hesperidin methyl chalcone documented that it lowers the filtration rate of capillaries, and less blood flowing though capillaries close to the surface of the skin potentially means less dark bluish discoloration under the eyes. It’s also thought to prevent leaking from the veins below the eyes, also preventing the dark blue look from blood leaking below the surface of the skin.

Then there is anti-inflammatory licorice, antioxidant acai and resveratrol, and the inhibitor of expression lines GABA (g-aminobutyric acid). If  willing to turn a blind eye to sodium benzoate, said by an English scientist to be a DNA killer, then Elite seems worth a try.

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin Steareth 20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide 7, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Dipeptide 2, Xantham Gum, Polysorbate 20, Licorice Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, g-Aminobutyric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Resveratrol, and Acai Berry Extract