Review: DERMADoctor Wrinkle Revenge Rescue & Protect Eye Balm

Eye creams are tricky products to get right. Too rich, and you get milia around your eyes. Too light, and it has minimal effects on lines and wrinkles. But either way, I consider it an essential part of any post-20 skin care routine. 

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Much like the Tarte Maracuja Oil, the DERMADoctor Wrinkle Revenge Rescue & Protect Eye Balm was bought on a whim – people raved about how it got rid of their dark circles (a huge deal for me) and 2x points from Sephora never hurts ;) Since I needed a new eye cream anyways, I figured why not?

The Claim

This ultrahydrating eye balm is enriched with peptides, ceramides, and antioxidants to nourish and smooth the eye area. It improves the appearance of fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles while firming skin.

The Findings

My first gripe with this product, which I knew going into the purchase, is the jar packaging. It’s not as sanitary, and extra exposure means that any active ingredients in the product oxidizes quicker. But at the same time, it means that no product gets wasted, and boy is there a lot of product in this 0.5 oz jar! 0.5 oz sounds like nothing, but keep in mind this is an eye cream, so a tiny bit goes a looong way.

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The DERMADoctor Wrinkle Revenge Rescue & Protect Eye Balm name is a little misleading, because it’s not really a balm, it’s a thick cream. While the texture is thick, it’s in no way greasy or tacky. It has no distinctive scent either, which is nice because the last thing I want is to irritate my delicate eye area with fragrance. I really like the texture for an eye cream, as I feel like it’s rich enough to nourish the drier area around my eyes. If you have an oily eye area though, you might find this a bit too thick for your liking.

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I apply this product both day and night, and I get a rice size amount on my ring finger, then dab it about 1/2 inch below my eyes, and then gently pat it, bring the product around and up above my eyes. You never want to apply the eye cream directly above or below your eyes, or you risk the product getting into and irritating your eyes.

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The product absorbs pretty quickly, and it leaves the skin around my eyes feeling moisturized but not greasy. While I didn’t notice any improvements in my fine lines (which are really only visible when I smile anyways), I did notice a temporary improvement in my dark circles the next morning. The dark circles were back by end of the day though, and I didn’t notice any long term improvements over several weeks. Oh what a tease :(

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However, what I did notice though was that after a couple of days of using the DERMADoctor Wrinkle Revenge Rescue & Protect Eye Balm I started getting minor milia around the bottom of my eyes! I was definitely shocked, as I didn’t think the product felt too rich or greasy to begin with, so to confirm I stopped using the eye balm for a few days, and yep, the milia disappeared. I started the eye balm again, and those little buggers came creeping back a few days later. So oddly, this product rich enough to cause milia, but not enough to help with my fine lines. Not good.

This was a product I really wanted to love, but my eye area was getting a bit crowded with the fine lines, dark circles, and now milia, so back to Sephora this went. But hey, everyone’s skin is different, so what doesn’t work for me might be a holy grail for you. Who knows, maybe I just have really finnicky eyes.

Key Points

• No added fragrance
• Smooth, non-greasy texture with easy application
• Only brightens dark circles temporarily
• Jar packaging is unsanitary and results in faster ingredient oxidization
• Had no long term effects on fine lines or dark circles
• Caused milia after continued usage

Final Verdict

Further Reading

1. DERMADoctor Wrinkle Revenge Rescue & Protect Eye Balm Ingredient Analysis (from CosDNA)

Where to Buy

Sephora – $50 – free shipping over $50+, plus free samples with every order. Free returns within 60 days.
Nordstrom – $50 – free shipping and free returns.

Jenny Wu

Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.

Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨