Philosophy • dark shadows illuminating eye and upper lip cream • Treatments (Eye)

KatieA on 8/11/2011 7:01:00 PM more reviews by KatieA

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Nothing will work miracles. I have had bad under eye circles and bags for years. The only thing that really helps me is 1. no caffeine 2. decent sleep 3. sleeping on my back (to keep the water and puff out of my face) Other than that, eye cream can help a bit. I noticed an instant brightening effect that was very subtle after I use this. It's nothing like concealer, but it does make things prettier and more even looking. I also use it to help prevent advanced aging. I hope this can do that.

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*TOP REVIEWER* loveoutdoors on 4/6/2011 3:46:00 PM more reviews by loveoutdoors

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I used this religiously for about 3 months and did notice a reduction in dark area under my eyes. At the time I was having hormonal issues that for some reason made my eyes ghastly and this really got me through. I highly recommend this for dark areas under eyes. Adding, I am wondering about the low ratings on this product, it really worked for me, even on the upper lip area. (re-state I was having huge hormonal issues at the time)

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cvetanca on 10/31/2010 8:31:00 PM more reviews by cvetanca

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

There is product does create an optical illusion. . . If you check out your finger after application, there is glitter. Small little flecks of glitter that are reflecting the light making it appear your dark circles have 'vanished'. At $33 for a 0.5 oz. it really is just expensive lightweight glitter lotion.

Although it does moisturize, I thought I had massive eyeshadow fallout that I was constantly trying to clean up, which likely just took the cream off of my eyes. I've switched to something else in the morning. Plain grapeseed oil lightly patted on in the morning seems to soak right in and do the trick and over time it actually will brighten your under eye area. It also seems to help blend my MMU under my eyes into a creamier consistency.

Sometimes simple is just better!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

mimimachine on 10/10/2010 1:12:00 AM more reviews by mimimachine

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

Don't waste your money. This stuff is crap. I have yet to find a Philosophy product that is actually decent. It's just an overhyped "celebrity" brand. This was really watery and did absolutely nothing for my dark circles (the blue-purple bruise kind). It actually gave me those weird little bumps on my undereye skin that is apparently caused by creams that are too oily.

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hyperj00 on 1/24/2010 3:58:00 PM more reviews by hyperj00

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

On me, this stuff strings the heck out of the sensitive skin under the eyes. I haven't been able to use it long enough to find out if it works. It didn't make a noticeable difference the 4 or so times I wore it.

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pixiegirl23 on 1/13/2009 9:11:00 AM more reviews by pixiegirl23

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Black    

I bought this almost a year ago. It's hydrating but didn't do anything for my dark eyes or upper lip. It only looked a bit whiter because of the "illuminating" part... don't buy it if you need something for dark circles... it's only good for moisturizing....

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BanditKat0824 on 12/1/2008 8:55:00 AM more reviews by BanditKat0824

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

Useless. Don't buy.

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cjramos79 on 9/20/2008 1:34:00 PM more reviews by cjramos79

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

didnt do anything...such a waste of money! definitely wont purchase again.

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MsLileli on 12/5/2007 12:44:00 PM more reviews by MsLileli

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This is a fairly pointless product. It's not really a treatment nor a concealer. Its light reflecting effect is way too subtle for any kind of "wow" from a person like me who has visibly dark purple under eye shadows. It is too expensive, too. The search for better products continues.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

makeup9111 on 11/28/2007 11:14:00 PM more reviews by makeup9111

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Bio: Uncle Fester like hereditary dark circles, 23 yrs old
Pros: I could see it's "light deflecting" specks working, so for those of you with light to medium circles this could work
Easily absorbed, Great packaging,
Cons: Just didn't do enough for my circles, worked more as a mild circle diffuser than treatment
Pricey, unless you buy it in a set.
Overall: Good for those not burdened with football player stripes under their eyes, but not good enough for me to buy again.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rowanswhimsy on 11/26/2007 4:12:00 PM more reviews by rowanswhimsy

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I generally like Philosophy products and so I was really hopeful that this would help me with the dark circles under my eyes. Unfortunately I never discovered how well it works since (no matter how careful I was in the application) I found myself having a reaction where my eyes would tear incessantly after using the product. After trying about a half dozen times and getting the same result, I ended up discarding the product. In addition to the tearing, I also noticed a drying effect.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bubblysteph on 10/5/2007 4:26:00 AM more reviews by bubblysteph

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Black    

Honestly, I find this product useless. It doesn't reduce my dark circle at all and nor it's moisturizing enough. Interestingly, it gave my pimple-like things at my undereye area! It took my a hard time to get them removed! Definitely not going to buy again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* CraxFactor on 6/18/2007 12:55:00 PM more reviews by CraxFactor

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This works great under my concealer, I just use Studio Fix regular powder - SF has good coverage and doesn't get into my crows' feet. Dark Shadows smooths it out and doesn't dry up or fade out towards the end of the day.


As for its illuminating properties: I started using this on top of Hylexin for getting at the allergy shiners. I don't think it makes a real difference, and will not be repurchasing if I can possibly find some other cream made out of anything appreciably less expensive than caviar that can act as a good concealer base.


I have not tried it for the Fred Flintstone mug, but surely there's a cheaper fade cream out there that would give similar effects? Products like this make me hate Philosophy. Their proselytizing about "Believing in Miracles" has all the subtlety of a 12 step program, but their products rarely live up to the cost for me, which makes the claims even more galling and dubious. "The best cosmetic" may be "great looking skin," but for those of us who don't have it your promises and price tags are even more insulting. Fool me twice, Philosophy, and I'm sticking to your overpriced bath gels. Please don't flatter yourself that you're capable of any greater "miracle" than making my shower smell like baked goods. And making me philosophical about the fact that I should be saving my money for plastic surgery.

4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* cosmokid on 4/17/2007 6:21:00 PM more reviews by cosmokid

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I have been using this for a couple of months and didn't think that it was really doing much for my dark circles. I was in a bit of a rush yesterday morning and didn't put it on for the first time since I started using it. Got a number of comments from people saying I looked tired. Sure enough, looked in the mirror and I had these dark smudges under my eyes. Sometimes you don't appreciate something good 'till you don't have it anymore! It isn't very moisturising so I still use my eye cream on top, but I won't make the mistake again of leaving this out of my daily beauty routine! UPDATE: I actually think this product is quite drying. The skin under my eyes has been alot drier since I started using this. Stopped using it recently and it's back to normal.

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*TOP REVIEWER* strawbit on 12/13/2006 3:55:00 AM more reviews by strawbit

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is what I would call The Emperor's New Eyebag Cream. Doesn't hide or treat undereye circles, as it claims to accomplish. I wonder why I don't feel so bad though. I get the placebo effect every time I use this. Somehow, the feeling of being tricked into buying this phony is diminished by the fact that it helps concealer application to be much smoother and easier, which any ordinary eye moisturizer can do! Not worth your time and money. Do not purchase!

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*TOP REVIEWER* etmg on 11/11/2006 12:47:00 PM more reviews by etmg

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

having tried lots of different eye creams over the past year or so in the hope of finding one to eliminate (or at the very least minimise) my under eye shadows, I bought this from HQ Hair, having never tried it because I admit it, the name alone was enough to have me reaching for my mastercard. I have tried and liked philosophy products in the past and reasoned that a product called Dark Shadows must be worth a try at least. I am very happy to report that when it arrived the next day I immediately tried it and can say that this cream is brilliant. Another reviewer commented that it contains some of the same ingredient that is in Hylexin, which I have have nearly bought in the past but have been put off by the high price. This cream is very subtly illuminating, but not so much that it is an obvious sheen and the added bonus is that the silicone smooths out undereye lines as well. So all in all, a very good product and one that I will def. repurchase when this runs out. Highly recommended

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Lizawithaz on 4/24/2006 9:45:00 PM more reviews by Lizawithaz

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

$30 for a .5 oz opaque tube. Years ago Philosophy sold an eye gel called "dark shadows" which eventually was renamed "a pigment of your imagination eye gel" which was eventually discontinued. This new product is completely different, and much better than the old version. It's a light white cream that has a nice airy, spreadable texture. It goes on very, very smoothe and is lightly hydrating. Philosophy says you can use this alone or over another eye treatment, and if you are very dry, you certainly will need more hydration. I used this alone with great results so far. The cream sets to a nice matte/satin finish, but it's not a "dry" finish. I still feel lightly hydrated. After it sets it reminds me a great deal of Philosophy's "the present clear makeup". It lends a nice, smoothing, soft focus effect to the eye area. It not DRAMATIC at all, but it does help, and mostly I am pleased that it softens the look of the fine lines under my eyes. If I use the wrong eye product it can make my eyes puffy in the morning and this has performed beautifully and has not added to my puffy eyes. I think it actually helps a little. This product contains sunflower seed oil (I'm assuming for light hydration) and the same star ingredient as Hylexin. It has 3 different peptides, as well as gynostemma pentaphylla high up on the ingredient list. I researched that on the internet and found it is a chinese herb that contains amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It's used in Chinese medicine and known for having healing properties. I'm very pleased with this product and hopefully it will provide some long term benefits, but even if it doesn't, it definitely provides a nice soothing instant result and I like it alot.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No