The Best Natural Night Creams & Eye Creams

What do you do before your head hits the pillow? It’s probably a lot different than what you were doing 10 years ago- I know that’s true for me. 10 years ago, self-care and skin care were kind of a new thing. There weren’t nearly as many products on the market. Nowadays- you’ve got all your gizmos, gadgets, creams, and serums in line and ready.

Cleansing your face before bed and applying your products is a must before your beauty sleep. So maybe it’s bedtime…but first, it’s organic night cream time. Natural and organic night creams are always a smart move, dare I say a necessary move, before your beauty sleep. Wonderful bodily functions happen while you slumber—your body has time to digest, your brain gets some rest, and your skin has time to restore itself. Night moisturizers are usually richer than your day creams and are a fabulous treatment during colder seasons (though you should use every season).

You know that saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” well I put a little spin on it and I think it still holds true (if not truer): Beauty is in the eye of the organic eye cream holder. Eye creams are a must for the average American! Do you have kids? A job? A computer you stare at all day? Ever stay up late? Smile sometimes? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you need a natural eye cream. If you answered no, I don’t believe you.

Eye creams are an important addition to any beauty regimen to help keep that sensitive thinning area looking alive and well. In this article, I’m going to take you through my two most beloved nighttime products: organic night cream and organic eye cream. But unfortunately, I need to tell you about the harmful ingredients lurking in your conventional nighttime products first.

Harmful Ingredients in Conventional Night Cream and Eye Cream

Shall we start with eye creams? Conventional eye creams with ingredients like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, formaldehydes, polylobate, TEA, and synthetic fragrances are a BIG NO when it comes to your precious eye area. Your eye area is an easy absorption spot and you don’t want any of those nasty toxins anywhere near it.

Conventional night creams have the same issues as regular face moisturizers. The dirty un-welcomed guests like phthalates, parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances (to name a few) are coming for a sleepover. If you’re too old for sleepovers and are ready for some real beauty sleep, ditch the chemical filled night creams and go for an all-natural and organic night cream.

Because the FDA doesn’t require any safety testing on cosmetics of self-care products, we’re on our own here. In order to protect ourselves, we need to be conscious in purchases and applying products to our precious temples. Below I’ll go into a little more depth about the proven side effects of specific ingredients that can be detrimental to your health.

Parabens

Parabens are preservatives found in a wide variety of personal care products. Not only do parabens easily penetrate the skin and get into the blood, but they have also been found in breast tissue. That alone is a reason for concern and proven association with increased risk of breast cancer.

Parabens are endocrine disruptors meaning they act like estrogen in the body. Endocrine disruptors have been associated with breast cancer, fatigue and infertility. Unfortunately, the population that uses paraben-containing products the most are also the most vulnerable: women. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women and developing fetuses are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of parabens.

Something that really bugs me is that the European Union already acknowledges the health problems associated with parabens and has implemented restrictions on the concentration of parabens in self-care products.

Phthalates

You can find hazardous phthalates in more than 70% of personal care products, including your conventional night cream and eye creams. Actually- you won’t actually be able to see phthalates labeled on the ingredient list but you if your bottle says “fragrance” on it- there’s a good chance these chemicals are in there!

Like parabens, phthalates are known endocrine disruptors. In addition, they are also linked to organ toxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, birth defects, neurotoxicity, and cancer. If the effects on our bodies weren’t already bad enough- phthalates are also extremely hazardous to our environment.

Formaldehyde

You may already be familiar with formaldehyde but did you know that it’s also the chemical used to preserve dead bodies! Unfortunately, it’s also used to give your night cream and eye cream a longer shelf life.

Formaldehyde has been linked to nasal cancer and found to have negative effects on the immune system. Since formaldehyde is never listed as an ingredient (are you surprised?) keep your eye out for harmful chemicals that release formaldehyde after being mixed with water. These include quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, ronopol, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate.

TEA

Triethanolamine (TEA) is in over 40% of personal care products including your mainstream night cream and eye cream. TEA is a reactive byproduct of two known dangerous toxins ethylene oxide and ammonia. Animal studies have shown that TEA reacts with other ingredients in cosmetics used to form carcinogens called nitrosamines that lead to live bladder and testicular cancer.

Clinical trials done on animals also showed that low doses of TEA applied around the eyes had negative effects on organs in addition to the immune and respiratory systems.

Synthetic Fragrances

Everyone loves something that smells good- but what would you do if you knew that a scent was synthetic and what you were breathing in was some combination of over 3,000 chemicals that were shown to be carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, irritants and allergens? You’d probably stop using that product.

Fragrance is an ingredient on most all conventional care products and unfortunately, it means nothing to you. According to the FDA, fragrance is considered a trade secret meaning companies are not required to disclose what chemicals they are mixing up in the lab.

The Best Eye Creams

You don’t want any nasty toxins near your eye area. What you do want near it, around it, and seeping through it, is an organic eye cream that is all-natural and all-good.

• For wrinkles, shop for ingredients like Vitamin C, Retinol, Pomegranate, Gotu Kola, Goji Berry, Carrot Seed Oil, Green Tea, Hyaluronic Acid and CoQ10.  
• Ditch dark circles with beneficial natural ingredients such as Vitamins C and K, Cucumbers, Caffeine, Kojic Acid, Rosehip and Citrus Oils.
• Combat the dreaded puffiness with grapeseed oil, green tea, coffee beans, arnica, and rosewater.

Remember though- be patient with eye cream- it takes time and consistency, but you won’t regret it.

Annmarie Anti-Aging Eye Cream

I am obsessed with everything Annmarie- and you better believe her anti-aging eye cream is on my list of obsessions. The best under eye cream for dark circles is going to be packed with hydrating and soothing ingredients and that’s just what this is. This anti-aging eye cream contains cucumber extract (quenches dry skin), CoQ10 (stimulating), damas rose plant cells (proven to reduce crows feet), and sweet iris plant cells (firms and tightens). Those are the key ingredients for a younger looking eye area.

May Lindstrom- The Blue Cocoon

The Blue Cacoon will work to revive and replenish the undereye area. Perfect organic eye creams for dark circles and wrinkles- you (just like everyone else) will fall in love. This product will help with dehydration, puffiness, inflammation, and irritation. Imagine a miracle potion and this is what pops into your head. You’ll decrease the sight of wrinkles and fine lines while nourishing your eye area. Ingredients I love in this Marula Seed Oil, Blue Tansy Oil, Geranium Rose Oil, Lavender Oil. This is undeniably a pricey option, but a little goes a long way and if you’re like anyone else that has tried it- you’ll never stop talking about it.

LilFox- Cucumber & Black Seed Vixen Organic Eye Butter

This organic eye butter will depuff, hydrate and soothe your eye area while you sleep. With potent ingredients like cucumber seed oil, black cumin, rosehip oil, and chamomile- you’ll wake up looking refreshed.

The Best Organic Night Creams

It’s time to ditch the chemical filled night creams and go for an all-natural and organic night cream.

Oils like primrose, pomegranate, and jasmine are some of the night shift’s hardest and most dedicated workers. They promote cell turnover and collagen production so that you wake up youthful. Avocado oil and shea butter are rich base choices for natural night time moisture. Look for one containing retinol to help smooth wrinkles. Since retinol is sensitive in light it’s an ideal ingredient in your night cream. So lights out, night cream on.

Annmarie Gianni- Anti-aging Facial Oil

This facial oil is the best anti-aging and the best night cream for dry skin. I guess we can call it an oil- but if you want to minimize wrinkles and replenish your skin overnight, this is your night cream. Infused with magical herbs and crafted with antioxidant-rich oils, your skin will be visibly firmer and tighter.

Imagine a killer skin team: jojoba oil, goji berries, chia seeds, and plantago all coming together in one bottle, and viola, made specially for you.

Annmarie Giani- Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin

This is going to be the best night cream for oily skin. It cleans, moisturizes, and clams while balancing your natural oils and unclogging pores. Your skin will be left soft with a bright and beautiful dewy complexion. With amazing ingredients like hazelnut oil, black cumin seed oil, white willow bark, adn neem oil- this is exactly what your skin is asking for.

Juice Beauty- Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Natural Night Cream

This is a deeply moisturizing night cream, dare I say one of the best night creams for glowing skin and best anti-aging cream. Free of nasty chemicals and toxins, this hydrating formula will give your skin a blast of fruit stem cells and vitamin C to renew the skin. Hyaluronic Acid (famous for being an incredible night cream ingredient) will nourish your skin on the next level.

For beauty from the inside-out, check out our Beauty Collagen Complex. 

Sources:

1. The Dangers of Triethanolamine.” Natura Veda, 2 Oct. 2017, https://www.naturaveda.com/education/12-toxic-and-carcinogenic-compounds-found-in-beauty-and-skin-care-products/the-dangers-of-triethanolamine/.
2. Fiume, M. M., Heldreth, B., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Hill, R. A., Klaassen, C. D., & Snyder, P. W. (2013). Safety assessment of triethanolamine and triethanolamine-containing ingredients as used in cosmetics. International journal of toxicology, 32(3_suppl), 59S-83S.