Best 'cost effective' eye cream

[2DogsOnMySofa]

I'm doing my best not to spend any money this year due to various projects on the go.

I've run out of my Elemis stuff, and wanted some recommendations for more cost effective products

I'm 50 years old, menopausal with puffy bits under my eyes and crows feet - I'm really selling myself here

Was the Elemis stuff working for you in that you saw an appreciable difference after using?

A lot of beauty writers have said just use your normal moisturiser around the eye ( nothing too heavy as the skin there is thinner) or serums with active ingredients can be taken up into the eye area ( but not too near the eye)

I've found Weleda Skin Food to be great on my face/eye area OP overnight. My skin always feels really nice in the morning. I use a vit C cream in the morning (fairly cheap one from TK max).

I’m also 50s and my eye area is quite puffy in the morning, had crows feet for years!
I use Cerave eye cream. Good value and seems to deal with the puffiness.

I'm the same age as you and I notice a difference on my eye bags with my shiseido ultimune eye.

Anything with caffeine will depuff
Anything with retinol will (over a long period) help with anti-ageing.
Otherwise, as pp said, you're paying for a tiny pot of something containing the same ingredients as a much bigger serum/cream. The beauty industry kind of shot itself in the foot when it formulated serums etc that had a thinner consistency than heavier creams, and so could be taken up to the eye area.
Some do work, but there will be an equal-ingredient serum that will do the same, but cheaper size v price and will do your whole face.

(that said, I do believe if something worked for you, then I'd carry on with it)

I'm also 50 and just use my usual skincare around my eyes, except for the things e.g. retinol which specifically say not to. Seems to do the job.

I start the day with a cold water face wash which seems to help with any puffiness.

Crows feet are starting to annoy me so they'll be tackled with Botox at my next visit. I don't think there's a cream that will help!

Elf Holy Hydration eye cream is fantastic.

Have you ever tried spoons from the fridge on your eyes?

I've bought this one recently and like it:-

upcirclebeauty.com/collections/eye-cream/products/eye-cream-10ml

@MissyB1

I’m also 50s and my eye area is quite puffy in the morning, had crows feet for years! I use Cerave eye cream. Good value and seems to deal with the puffiness.

I'm also in that age bracket and have just started using the Cerave cream. I have eczema on my eyelid and it has really helped with that as well as general puffiness etc.

I’ve been using The Ordinary’s Caffeine with EGCG (green tea extract) and have noticed a marked difference in my puffiness after 2 weeks (have put it on daily before cream) it also seems to be working on my fine lines too and it’s about a fiver!

Also don’t use at the same time as retinols, E.g use the caffeine in the morning and retinols at night as according to my research (which has been embarrassingly extensive ) the caffeine can increase the irritation caused by retinol.

I like the rose otto dr organics one
drorganic.co.uk/collections/organic-eye-care/products/rose-eye-serum-15ml
Holland & Barrett often have offers

I'm currently using a Balance Me tinted on which I also like
www.balanceme.com/gb/wonder-eye-cream-15ml/

Budget - aldi lacura

Vaseline over the top of your preferred eye cream. I’ve been using it for decades and have no crepey skin, no deep wrinkles and no crows feet.