I Have This $18 Retinoid Eye Balm to Thank for Erasing My Fine Lines

I may only be 26 years old, but my eye area doesn’t look it. I blame it on three things. The first of which is my regrettable lack of sunscreen throughout most of high school. The second is my insanely near-sighted eyes, which lead me to squint whenever I forget my glasses (which is often). And the third is the enormous and incalculable amount of hours I’ve spent staring at my computer screen in order to write articles on skincare, hair, and makeup. (No complaints there). 

All of these things have added up over the years, and lo and behold, around age 25, I started noticing pesky fine lines, rough texture, and hyperpigmentation appear around the outer corners of my eyes. While it certainly doesn’t keep me up at night, I can admit that’d prefer a smoother and brighter look. That’s where eye cream comes in.

I’ve tested many different formulas throughout my time as a beauty writer. One of my recent favorites is from Versed, which is Who What Wear’s sister brand. It’s smoothing, hydrating, and plumping, and it’s all thanks to its star ingredient: granactive retinoid. Keep scrolling to learn all the reasons why this $18 eye balm has become a mainstay in my nighttime skincare routine.