As we all know, Cassandra hates eye creams. But, she tried The Ordinary’s New Multipeptide Eye Cream for a Month to see if it would fix the bags underneath her eyes. Normally, Cassandra believes that eye creams are simply more expensive moisturizers that are put in tiny bottles. For example, this multi-peptide eye cream is only one fluid ounce. But, you could buy another product from The Ordinary for a much bigger size and a lesser price.

 

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum - $25 

 

What does it do?

Upon first glance, this product seems to be an elevated version of their caffeine eye serum or cream. However, this is a multi-peptide serum. Peptides make up proteins. Peptides are a bunch of strung-together amino acids. Peptides can be anti-inflammatory or wound-healing, and they are also very complex.

So, let’s break down the four peptides in this formula and what they do. 

Palmitoyl tripeptide 38

This is the same as matrixyl. The Ordinary has a serum called matrixyl 10%. Matrixyl is known to be an anti-wrinkle peptide. It’s been shown to be helpful for things like crow’s feet, increasing collagen production, and helping hyaluronic acid production deep within the skin. Likewise, it helps create collagen, elastin, and stimulate fibroblast. Fibroblasts are the most common cell type represented in connective tissue. 

Fibroblast cells are very important, and matrixyl has been shown to help stimulate them. Fibroblast stimulation can lead to positive changes such as collagen production and skin barrier fortification. 

Acetyl tetrapeptide 5

This peptide is supposed to be firming, smoothing, and hydrating, In one study, 95% of people saw their under-eye bags decrease within 60 days of using this peptide.

Myristoyl nanopeptide 3. 

This peptide is known to mimic the effects of retinol but without the irritation. But, Cassandra doesn’t know if the ingredient is that good. Moreover, industry-funded studies have shown this ingredient to increase collagen, tighten, and firm up in the under-eye area.

Nanopeptides are very small so they penetrate deeply. So, in some cases, they are able to help with skin renewal. More simply, they can sometimes help a new layer of skin resurface . At any rate, they are always hydrating.

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl

Dipeptide diaminobutyryl benzylamide diacetate is considered a neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptide. Therefore, it can target fine lines caused by facial movements. 

As for the rest of the key ingredients, there's acetylglucosamine, caffeine, egcg, water, glycerin, butylene glycol, propanediol, niacinamide (vitamin B3), maltodextrin, and propylene. 

Acetylglucosamine is an amino acid that’s hydrating and slightly exfoliating. However, since it’s near the eye, the formula probably employs it as a brightening hydrator. When combined with vitamin B3 or niacinamide, it works especially well. 

There’s also caffeine and epigallocatechin. One of Cassandra’s favorite Ordinary products is the caffeine serum with egcg. Caffeine and egcg also have maltodextrin which is sugar. So, it's gets a little gummy on the bottle. 

The Ordinary states that this serum also contains acetylglucosamine and caffeine. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, and it can help with puffiness and color. 

This also has niacinamide or vitamin B3. These ingredients help with oil regulation and redness. However, niacinamide, especially from The Ordinary,  tends to get chalky when you mix it with other things.

Based on the ingredients, this is starting to look like an enhanced, anti-wrinkle, and anti-puffy version of The Ordinary’s Original EGCG serum. 

There is a small amount of glycolic acid too that's probably being used as a pH stabilizer. This simply makes the product shelf stable as opposed to it being an exfoliating ingredient. Also, because glycolic acid is one of the smallest AHA molecules, it penetrates super deeply and helps bring the formula more deeply into the skin. 

What is the texture?

This texture is very runny, and the ingredients tell Cassandra that this would work all over her face. It’s a little tacky and sticky. So, it might peel with sunscreen or makeup. But in Cassandra’s experience, it did fine when she put other moisturizers over it.

This is much more liquidy, and about a week and a half in, Cassandra was hoping she’d see a difference with puffiness and eye color. They say it reduces the appearance of eye bags, puffiness, and dark circles. But remember, those are 3 different things.

About 3 days in, she did not see a reduction in puffiness or fine lines. She did notice a difference when she applies it in dry weather. Cassandra went to a conference in Abu Dhabi, and the weather there was hot and dry.  But, once she put a moisturizer on to lock in this peptide serum, it absorbed very well. 

After 21 days, it seemed that her fine lines were slightly reduced. Cassandra was also hoping that the serum would tighten her under-eye area. We naturally have little fatty pockets underneath our eyes, and when people get certain eye surgeries, they remove those. There’s no skincare product that’s going to remove the fat from under your eyes though. So mainly, Cassandra was just hoping for more firmness, not a reduction in the pockets underneath her eyes because that's something different.

But she didn't notice a change, and overall Cassandra can’t say she was super impressed even after using it for 4 weeks. Of course, it can take multiple months to see a major difference. But, four weeks is definitely enough time. 

So ultimately, it's a good hydration product, but Cassandra didn't see major results in regards to skin firmness.