African Botanics Eye Contour Gel-Serum
Works for
MoisturizingNiacinamide, Ceramide np + 9 moreWorks well
“An energizing and highly concentrated cooling eye gel-serum that targets the appearance of puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles while visibly soothing, tightening and reinforcing the barrier function of the skin for a more youthful appearance.”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, hyaluronic acid.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: cholesterol, oryza sativa bran oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: ceramide ap, ceramide eop, ceramide np, niacinamide
Anti-agingNiacinamide, Ferulic acid + 2 moreWorks well
“An energizing and highly concentrated cooling eye gel-serum that targets the appearance of puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles while visibly soothing, tightening and reinforcing the barrier function of the skin for a more youthful appearance.”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains niacinamide.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: ferulic acid.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Ferulic acid, Aspalathus linearis leaf extract + 5 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (ferulic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Evens skin toneSide benefit · Niacinamide, Ferulic acidWorks well
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: niacinamide
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: ferulic acid.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: Hamamelis virginiana extractMedium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Glycerin~4.3–6.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinMedicago sativa seed extract~3.4–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Yeast beta-glucan~2.4–3.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Butylene glycol~1.7–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolHamamelis virginiana extract~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana extractNiacinamide~1.1–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
More about NiacinamideCeramide np~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
More about Ceramide npCeramide ap~0.8–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
More about Ceramide apCeramide eop~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
More about Ceramide eopCholesterol~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that is naturally found in skin
More about CholesterolFucus vesiculosus extract~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Caffeine~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals. Can have a dehydration effect that might somewhat decrease the look of puffy eyes
More about CaffeineAspalathus linearis leaf extract~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Plant extract that might have help to neutralize free radicals in skin, but evidence of effectiveness is skin is lacking
More about Aspalathus linearis leaf extractCyclopia genistoides leaf extract~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hypoxis hemerocallidea bulb extract~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sclerocarya birrea seed oil~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An emollient that helps to soften the skin. It has a high contetn of oleic acid that might weaken the skin barrier. Might have some anti-oxidant properties. It might be somewhat helpful against hyperpigmentation.
More about Sclerocarya birrea seed oilSodium ascorbyl phosphate~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C
More about Sodium ascorbyl phosphateTocopheryl acetate~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateSchinziophyton rautanenii kernel oil~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hyaluronic acid~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation
More about Hyaluronic acidCopper sulfate~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Croton lechleri resin extract~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties
More about Croton lechleri resin extractEthoxydiglycol~0.05–0.25%
Glycerin~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinFerulic acid~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A potent anti-oxidant that has been shown to be effective in neutralizing free radicals in skin. There seem to have a synergetic effect of ferulic acid, vitamin E and C, meaning that when the ingredients are used together, they enhance each other's ability protect the skin against free radicals. Ferulic acid also helps to stabilize other ingredients - including vitamins C and E. It can help to even out the skin tone. Ferulic acid is approved for use as a sunscreen ingredient in Japan in concentrations up to 10%
More about Ferulic acidHydrogenated castor oil~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency
More about Hydrogenated castor oilOryza sativa bran oil~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant properties
More about Oryza sativa bran oilTetrasodium glutamate diacetate~0.01–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps stabilize the product formulation
More about Tetrasodium glutamate diacetatePhenoxyethanol~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin~0.01–0.05%
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Medicago sativa seed extract, Unknown, Yeast beta-glucan, Butylene glycol, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Niacinamide, Ceramide np, Ceramide ap, Ceramide eop, Cholesterol, Fucus vesiculosus extract, Caffeine, Aspalathus linearis leaf extract, Cyclopia genistoides leaf extract, Unknown, Hypoxis hemerocallidea bulb extract, Sclerocarya birrea seed oil, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Tocopheryl acetate, Schinziophyton rautanenii kernel oil, Unknown, Hyaluronic acid, Copper sulfate, Croton lechleri resin extract, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Ferulic acid, Hydrogenated castor oil, Oryza sativa bran oil, Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Compare prices
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| African BotanicsEye Contour Gel-SerumYOUR PRODUCT | Ghost DemocracyBoomerang: Firming Eye Concentrate | EqqualberryVitamin illuminating Serum | NIP+FABCeramide Fix Serum 12% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 78% | 77% | 77% |
| Price | $170.00 | — | $17.73−$152.27 | $37.77−$132.23 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 7 of 11 | 8 of 11 | 6 of 11 |
| Key difference | — | Bakuchiol | Adenosine | Acetyl Hexapeptide-1 |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: GalenicumDerma Hypemium Double SerumISNTREE Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum
Product summary
"African Botanics - Eye Contour Gel-Serum" is effective for: Anti-aging, Moisturizing and Evens skin tone
Ingredient callouts
- Ceramides (ceramide 1 1.30% - 1.60%). Ceramides are an important part of our natural skin barrier. The Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or come from plants. They help soften the skin and can help "fill the gaps" in the skin barrier, keeping the skin hydrated and resilient for longer.
- Humectants (hyaluronic acid 0.25% - 0.45%, glycerin 5.70% - 7.00% and glycerin 0.25% - 0.45%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 170.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 29 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.