I keep trying to find products for my dry skin around the eyes, that would moisturise, smooth out fine lines and improve elasticity. And today’s review is of the Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum, which, apart from moisturising, also promises to stimulate eyelash growth.
Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum claims and ingredients
Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum contains tea ferment (kombucha) to improve skin texture, give it radiance and prevent glycation processes, as well as copper peptides to reduce the wrinkle depth and increase skin elasticity. It also contains niacinamide and powerful antioxidant coenzyme Q10, which protect against pollution and fight age spots.
Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Boron Nitride, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Coconut Alkanes, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Niacinamide, Copper Tripeptide-1, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Steareth-20, Lecithin, Panthenol, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Ubiquinone, Citric Acid, Thioctic Acid, Tocopherol, Chrysin, Sclerotium Gum, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol / Ethylhexylglycerin
The key ingredients of Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum are tea ferment and copper peptides. However, the list of interesting ingredients does not end there and the serum contains:
- niacinamide – reduces the depth of wrinkles, fights hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, strengthens the protective barrier of the skin and smoothes the skin relief
- a large number of antioxidants – including sea buckthorn oil, coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid and vitamin E that fight free radicals
- moisturising agents – hyaluronic acid and glycerin
- kombucha – an anti-ageing ingredient that evens out skin tone
- copper peptide GHK-Cu – its task is to stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans, increase elasticity and firmness, and fight wrinkles and fine lines. Also, this ingredient has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It should be mentioned, however, that most GHK-Cu studies are done in the lab or on animals, so it might not give the same positive results on human skin
- Eyeliss peptide complex – according to the manufacturer, prevents and reduces bags under the eyes, improves skin elasticity and firmness
- Matrixyl 3000 peptide complex – according to manufacturer’s studies, applying this ingredient at a concentration of 3% twice a day for 2 months reduced the depth of wrinkles by almost 40%, lifted the skin by 16%, increased skin elasticity by 5.5% and improved skin tone by 15.5%. However, I did not find independent studies, and the percentage of Matrixyl in this serum is not indicated
- Neodermyl complex – a relatively new anti-ageing ingredient, which, according to the manufacturer, stimulates the production of elastin and collagen, improving skin firmness and elasticity. There are no independent studies of this complex, but the manufacturer promises a visible reduction of deep wrinkles after just 15 days of daily application
The serum does not contain alcohol or essential oils, which reduces the risk of irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Packaging and texture
The packaging of Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum is very interesting and thought through in every detail. It is airtight so does not allow air to pass through, and opens by twisting the top of the plastic bottle – one movement and the pump dispenser pops out.
It has a creamy lightweight texture, but I did not like it because the serum didn’t want to sink into the skin and absorbed very slowly. If you overdo it a little with the amount, you have to rub it on the skin for quite some time so that it does not leave white patches. However, I am glad that the product does not leave a sticky or greasy veil.
How to use and my impressions
I used Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum in the evening routine applying it under and around the eyes, along the orbital bone. Then I usually waited for 20 minutes and then applied the eye cream on top. And, unfortunately, after four months of daily use, I still did not see many positive results. At the same time, after all these months the skin around the eyes doesn’t look worse either, which is already a good result 🙂
To be honest, I did not expect that peptides would smooth fine lines and increase skin elasticity because I consider them mostly as the ingredients that prevent wrinkles and help keep skin healthier-looking, rather than ingredients that significantly improve the skin texture because I do not yet have a firm belief that peptides in skincare work. Yes, the available studies, mostly conducted by the manufacturers themselves, show their efficacy. But until peptides have the same strong evidence base as, for example, retinoids, vitamin C and niacinamide, whose anti-ageing effects are confirmed by numerous independent studies, I will continue to consider peptides as a nice addition to basic moisturising or nourishing serums.
But I still expected that this serum would moisturise and soften the skin under the eyes. However, Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum turned out to be rather weak at moisturising, because I didn’t see any visible changes.
Therefore, I like the INCI list of this product as it contains some promising skincare ingredients fortified with many antioxidants. But I didn’t see many results so wouldn’t buy it again. However, if your skin under the eyes isn’t as dry as mine and you want to try something new or find out if peptides work for you, you might want to give it a try.
The serum costs £50 – £52 for 15ml and is available at:
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