Apple of My Eye: My Favorite Eye Creams for Residency
The long hours, sleepless nights, and poor hydration that come along with residency can be pretty brutal on your eye bags. Here are the two eye creams that I have been using throughout residency and have been loving. They are a bit pricey, but I've learned that you get what you pay for. I have noticed a dramatic decrease in the sunken dark circles underneath my eyes. It took about 3 months for me to see results.
My intern year, before using eye creams, no make up.
My intern year, before using eye creams, no make up.
My intern year, before using eye creams, no make up.
My second year in residency, after work, no under eye makeup, only wearing tinted mineral veil and mascara. After 1 year of eye cream use.
My third year in residency, after waking up, no under eye makeup. After 1.5 years of eye cream use.
Sorry for the bad photos, I've never been a documenter of my "journeys" per se. But I hope you can see the MAJOR difference: less dark and puffy! It's all thanks to these puppies 👇🏾.
I love Origin's Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream as it IMMEDIATELY brightens my under eye area. It also has a smooth application process and has a refreshing citrus scent. The Origin's website claims the following: "It's formulated with coffee beans, panax ginseng, magnolia extract and natural optic brighteners. Rapidly wakes up, refreshes and restores radiance to tired eyes." Guys, I am a testifier to this statement. Literally after putting it on I IMMEDIATELY look more awake! See more here.
I used the Lâncome High Resolution Eye Refill-3X Cream because I wanted a thicker cream to lay over the lighter Origins cream, and I wanted a high end product that functioned in decreasing the puffiness. See more here.
The Origins GinZing Eye Cream helped to brighten my under eyes and kick the crap out of my dark circles, whereas the Lâncome High Resolution Eye Refill-3X Cream helped to depuff my under eye area.
I apply the Origin's cream first on my under eye area and then on my lid. I then do the same with the LâncomeCream. I apply via patting very lightly with my ring finger until absorbed. I performed this morning and night as much as I could. But of course, inconsistency comes with the package of residency, so I did miss some nights, but I was consistent as much as I could be with decent results noted by 3 months time.
I have been doing this x 1.5 years and see such a major difference in my under eye area.
Remember, although expensive for the broke resident, I have only purchased these products once and they lasted me two years. Also, you can ask for samples at the beauty counter, you don't HAVE to purchase.
If I had to choose one, I would go with the Origin's Ginzing Eye Cream because 1. it's cheaper and we residents are proud members of the "I ain't got a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of" AKA "broke as hell" club, and 2. it IMMEDIATELY brightens my under eye area and takes a smaller amount of time to apply as it is thinner in consistency.
Obviously my under eye areas aren't "perfect" (whatever that is 😝). But I am MUCH happier with my under eye area now than at the start of my residency, and trust me: residency has put my eyes, and my body alike, through hell! Let us know if you have any good eye creams out there for the sleep deprived; help a sistah out!
Happy smizing!