[REVIEW] I'm From Ginseng Eye Cream (Before and After)

---

[1]🌱Ingredients Breakdown [2]Instructions [3]Results VS. Claims [4]Before&After [5]Verdict

---

• Price (using this link): US$ 32 (If you use my code: DEWILDE you can get up to 5% off on any YesStyle purchase at checkout)

• Texture:

• What you get:

• Cruelty-free: Yes

• Instagram: @imfrom_official

+INGREDIENTS

Ingredients of the I'm From Ginseng Eye Cream: Purified Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Glycerin, Red Ginseng Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate, Beeswax, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isododecane, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Wood-Cultivated Ginseng Extract, Panax Ginseng Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Soluble Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, ♦️Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, ♦️Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, ♦️Fragrance

🌱In-Depth Details Of Interesting Ingredients:

Glycerine: Widely used as a quality Hydrator (occurs naturally in skin, and its chemical structure attracts water). You can find this ingredient in most good skin-replenishing products.

Red Ginseng Extract: Antioxidant + Anti-inflammatory + Anti-aging (Antiphotoaging: "reduce thickness and wrinkle formation and recover skin elasticity under UVB- irradiation") + Potentially Anti-hyperpigmentation (Suppresseses the expression of MITF (a transcription factor) that normally regulates the expression of Tyrosinase (an enzyme involved in the production of Melanin).

Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil: Rich in Vitamins A, D and E.

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter: Moisturizer + Anti-aging (Vitamin A) +Anti-fungal + Anti-inflammatory + Wound healing (Boosts collagen production and promotes cell regeneration)

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract: Antioxidant ( Flavonoids, Polyphenols) + Anti-inflammatory (Quercetin) 

Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating (water-binding properties) + Wound healing (promotes microcirculation)

Angelica Gigas Root Extract: Antioxidant + Anti-hyperpigmentation 

Wood-Cultivated Ginseng Extract: 🔴[Not enough research] "Wood-Cultivated Ginseng is a ginseng grown after planting its seed in a high mountain between 700 and 800 meters of height. The only difference from wild ginseng is that a wild ginseng's seed is planted by a bird discharging droppings while Wood-Cultivate Ginseng is planted by human hands. Wood-Cultivate Ginseng is often called Wild-Grown Ginseng." [SOURCE] It may or may not have the properties associated with Panax Ginseng Extract, which is also present in this formulation: Anti-photodamaging (Suppresses ultraviolet B-induced collagenase) + Anti-inflammatory + Antixoidative + Wound Healing.

Soluble Collagen: "Collagen is a huge molecule that cannot get absorbed into the middle layer of the skin where Collagen is, and even if it could, it cannot just magically go the right places to become part of the skin's own collagen network […] The strong point of Collagen is being a large molecule with tremendous water-binding capacity, i.e. an amazing humectant and moisturizer. It produces a water-rich film on the skin, giving the stratum corneum (the uppermost layer of the skin) great hydration, making it nice and smooth and reducing trans-epidermal-water loss (the process of water evaporating out of your skin)." 

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate: Prevents hyperpigmentation (Inhibits Melanin forming activity of Tyrosinase) + Help preserve hyaluronic acid content in the skin)

Allantoin: Moisturizing ( Emollient: provides a layer of protection to help prevent water loss)

Adenosine: Anti-aging (collagen stimulation pathway) + Wound healing (collagen stimulation pathway) + Anti-inflammatory (inhibits neutrophils, white blood cells part of the inflammatory response)

Squalane: Naturally produced by the body (production slows dramatically after age 30), it repairs, deeply moisturizes, and has anti-aging benefits.

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate: One of the limitations of Hyaluronate Acid (Known to keep skin hydrated/plump) is that it has a short half-life and gets degraded in the skin. Sodium Acetylated hyaluronate is a form of this molecule where some of the OH (hydroxyl groups, water-loving, and binding) groups that constitute the molecule are replaced by Acetyle groups to make it longer lasting. Little studies exist on this, but current ones suggest that this leads to a general increase of the properties of the molecule, notably: Moisture + Anti-inflammation

Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic Acid is a relatively big molecule that tends not to penetrate the skin very deep. After its rise in popularity, different formulators have created smaller or different versions of this molecule. Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid means that this molecule has been ruptured into smaller parts. Depending on the final size of the molecule, it can have different properties. ‘I'm From’ does not specify the size, but the properties all center around hydration/moisture, some even exhibiting anti-inflammatory and skin-repairing properties.

♦️Controversial Ingredients:

Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract: Antioxidant + Prevents hyperpigmentation (Inhibits Melanin forming activity of Tyrosinase) +Potentially Anti-aging (Acts as a muscle relaxant, similarly to Botox) + Anti-inflammatory + Contains Fragrant components that might irritate sensitive skin

Ethylhexylglycerin: Either used as a texture enhancer or acts as a preservative. I don't give particular importance to researching these "filler" ingredients; going to different sites and comparing what's being said about them usually enables me to determine whether they are considered safe to use or not. For this one, incidecoder, Paula's choice, skincarisma, and cosdna all had nothing negative to say. In fact, "According to EWG, Ethylhexylglycerin is rated as a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest health risk and 10 being the highest." (Environmental Working Group). However, the European Union has "classified it as an irritant with limited evidence of eye toxicity," in other words, some people react badly to it, and I happen to be one of those people. Not all eye cream formulations containing Ethylhexylglycerin irritate my eyes, and this one by I'm From did not.

Fragrance: Perfuming *Has the potential to sensitize your skin.

+HOW TO USE THE I'm From Ginseng Eye Cream

+Eye Spot Treatment:

After toner, apply a proper amount on the eye area and pat gently for absorption.

+Facial Care:

Apply a proper amount all over the face and spread over evenly, then pat gently for absorption.

+Blend with other products to use:

Mix 1-2 drops with the Ginseng Serum for a quick soothing effect.

+WHAT DOES THE I'm From Ginseng Eye Cream DO?

[Claims put together from e-pamphlet]

1.Improves wrinkles with 3.65% of Red Ginseng Extract: I don't have deep wrinkles in my eye area, so I can't really comment on that. I do, however, have fine lines, but this eye cream didn't plump them up. In the before and after pictures below, you'll notice that my fine lines look diminished, but this is a brightness trick: the cream is very moisturizing, so it reflects light and makes my skin appear a bit dewier, which significantly diminishes the look of fine lines. If you see my skin in real life at different angles, the fine lines are still there. From a formulation perspective, this should, in theory, improve wrinkles, but I don't think you'll get really noticeable results. For wrinkle or fine line care, I'd recommend checking out the Klairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter or the Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream.
2.Nourishes skin with Red Ginseng and Wild-cultivated Ginseng Extract: In skincare, nourishing can mean anything from strengthening the skin, hydrating it, providing it with vitamins, or making the skin barrier stronger. In one way or another, as you can see from the in-depth ingredient list above, this product has ingredients that contribute to all of these different things. I feel like my eyes are 'nourished' in a sense where the I'm From Ginseng Eye Cream takes care of my hydration and moisture needs and provides my skin with enough antioxidative and anti-inflammatory ingredients to keep my skin barrier healthy.

3.Improves skin elasticity with collagen: ‘‘As we get older, our skin declines in elasticity due to slower tissue regeneration, lower elastin (elastic protein) levels, and an increase in production of elastase (the enzyme that degrades elastin). UV exposure also reduces the functionality of the elastic fiber network, and a decrease in collagen production and facial tissue also contribute to more saggy skin’’. Hence, to directly improve skin elasticity, a product would need to target elastin and elastase production. Yet, none of the ingredients present in this formulation are known to do that. Most of them positively interact with collagen productions and regulation, so they are anti-aging in nature. But although collagen plays a supportive role in the skin’s elasticity, the main player is sill elastin. So no, this claim does not check out, and after about a month of using this eye cream, I saw no improvement in elasticity.
4.Moisturises skin with Hyaluronic Acid Complex: Hyaluronic Acid is a big molecule. In recent years, some formulations have incorporated smaller sizes of this molecule or different longer-lasting versions. This eye cream has three different types: Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid. You can read more about each in the in-depth ingredient list above. This claim is valid since the Ginseng Eye Cream is very moisturizing, but it’s important to note that this is due to all of the ingredients working together synergistically and not only thanks to the presence of this hyaluronic acid complex.
5.Provides relaxation with its soothing natural fragrance: I'm not going to debate the benefits of aromatherapy because they are very real. But incorporating a fragrance in a product applied near the eyes isn't exactly what I would call relaxing. The skin there is particularly sensitive and thin compared to other places. Your mucus membranes - the eyes- can also easily get irritated. I've said it before: "Not everyone will have a bad reaction to fragrance. Not all fragrances are harmful: natural mango scent, for example, doesn't contain any compounds that can sensitize skin unless you're explicitly allergic to them. Also, not all products that contain 'bad' fragrances are harmful since some incorporate perfume in extremely low concentrations. But fragrances have the potential to irritate or sensitize any skin. Yes, even if your skin is normal, and your skin barrier is chilling, doing its thing. Perfume can make your barrier worse and worse, little by little, without you noticing any real difference, as fragrant chemical compounds can directly interact with the proteins on your skin and cause oxidative damage. Other compounds do not have this ability but can oxidize with air or sunlight and become oxidative species on your skin and damage it." I don't explicitly condone all products with fragrance but saying that perfume is going to 'provide relaxation; is an incredibly far stretch from the truth. I would also like to note that after 30 days of using this every day and night, my eye area didn't get irritated. But, as I've said above, this doesn't mean that it won't in the future.

I liked using this eye cream, but for me, this is not a revolutionary product at all. It left me with a ‘meh, I guess I’m moisturized’ kind of feeling. My main concern with eye care is preventative measures to delay wrinkle/fine line formation and to enhance my everyday appearance. While this product is definitely preventatively anti-aging, it doesn’t do much with my last concern. There are eye creams like the Purito Centella Green Level Eye Cream that make me look like I sleep peaceful 10-hours-long nights and that the past year and a half of my life hasn’t been pure chaos and agony. Other eye creams like this one make me look like I usually look, which is mostly slightly insane.

In terms of skin compatibility, it's suited for any skin type except sensitive ones due to the presence of fragrance. I also tried it on my lips (which are very sensitive), and they tingled and burned a bit, so definitely skip this if you have sensitive skin. The people who would benefit the most from this product are those with a really dry under-eye area, but again, since this has fragrance in it, that wouldn't be the smartest choice for you either. I'd recommend checking out the Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream instead for both cases.

For other skin types, your skin should be fine. However, remember that fragrance can eventually sensitize your skin. I can overlook fragrance in products if the results are amazing or if the formulation contains a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, but the I'm From Ginseng Eye Cream didn't give me amazing results so...

+BENEFITS:

1. Very moisturizing

2. Long-lasting moisture

3. A small amount goes a long way

4. Lessens the appearance of fine lines

5. Preventatively anti-aging

-CONS:

1. Presence of potentially sensitizing ingredients (Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance)
   
   

🌱🌱🌱Score: 2.5/5 --- Overall, this is a good moisturizing eye cream with interesting ingredients. It would get a much higher score if it didn’t have the above-mentioned potentially sensitizing ingredients, if it made my skin dewier and plumped up my fine lines.

+AMAZON

+Yesstyle, using this link: US$ 32 - If you use my code: DEWILDE you can get up to 5% off on any Yesstyle purchase at checkout.