C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Eye Cream

Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Eye Cream goes after the three things that make eyes look older than they are: darkness, puffiness and slackness. It combines stabilised vitamin C at 5% with peptides, zerumbone and hyaluronic acid in a cream light enough to tap in twice a day.

What it actually does

• 5% stabilised vitamin C. Used here to brighten the look of under-eye dullness and smooth the appearance of fine lines.
• Zerumbone for discolouration. Paula's Choice describes this ingredient as targeting the root causes of visible under-eye discolouration — the less common half of the dark-circle equation.
• Peptides to firm. The brand credits them with visibly firming the eye area and restoring a youthful-looking bounce.
• Hyaluronic acid to hydrate. It smooths the look of fine lines and brings moisture to the thin skin around the eyes, which is where crepey texture shows first.
• Eases visible puffiness, which the brand lists as one of the three concerns this cream is formulated for, alongside dark circles and loss of firmness.
• Brand-reported research: Paula's Choice states it is clinically proven to reduce dark circles in four weeks and clinically proven for hydration. In an independent four-week clinical study of 25 subjects, the brand reports 96% agreed the eye area looked less puffy, 96% agreed it looked smoother, and 92% agreed it looked less dull.
• Vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, recyclable packaging, and free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, oxybenzone, hydroquinone, SLS and SLES sulfates and more.

How to use

1. Use it once or twice a day.
2. Take a pearl-sized amount and place it under the eyes and along the orbital bone.
3. Tap it in gently, keeping away from the lash line.
4. For daytime, always finish with SPF 30 or higher.

Paula's Choice packaging can be recycled through TerraCycle.

Is it right for you?

Questions

How soon should I expect a difference?

Paula's Choice states it is clinically proven to reduce dark circles in four weeks, and its four-week study also reports improvements in puffiness, smoothness and dullness. Use it consistently through that first month before judging it.

What is zerumbone?

It's the ingredient the brand uses to go after the underlying causes of visible under-eye discolouration, working alongside the vitamin C that brightens dullness on the surface.

Can I wear it under concealer?

Yes, as long as you let it settle first. Tap it in around the orbital bone, give it a minute or two, then apply concealer — this is a cream, and makeup applied onto a wet layer will move.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery takes 3 to 21 working days, depending on availability. Items already in stock arrive sooner; items we bring in for you sit at the longer end. Working days exclude weekends and official holidays.

How can I pay?

Credit card, debit card, Instapay and mobile wallets — cash on delivery isn't available.

What if it arrives damaged or past its date?

Report it within 1 day of delivery. Returns are accepted for defective, damaged or expired items only, and verified cases are refunded to the original payment method within 15–30 days.