At a glance
My test and thoughts of the eye contour serum SubQ Eyes from the Canadian skincare brand Hylamide.
The SubQ Eyes anti-aging eye serum by the Canadian skincare brand Hylamide has been part of my skincare routine for years. I don’t use it continuously, but I repurchase it regularly. Yet, I’ve never given it the honor of a dedicated review. So I’m going to fix that mistake right away! 😉
To tell you the truth, I don’t even remember when I started using it… Maybe three years ago?
When I discovered the Deciem brand, I first joined the The Ordinary bandwagon, like everybody else. And I really enjoyed discover these not so ordinary products!
And then, I took a look at the other brands from the Canadian group, especially Niod, which seemed very cutting-edge (and quite difficult to apprehend as I told you in this article on copper peptides) but also Hylamide.
Hylamide, for me, is somewhere between Niod and The Ordinary: a very sophisticated skincare brand, quite innovative but concepts far easier to grasp than Niod, and with very decent prices.
Their range is quite short (only 10 skincare products) but it addresses the main skin issues with anti-oxidants, high-performance moisturizing ingredients and lots of peptides to name a few! For me, these are perfect products to complement my “stronger” treatments (acids, retinol, etc.).
I didn’t try everything from the brand, far from it, but I bought the products from the SubQ line several times, because I like their versatility!
Today, I’m going to take a closer look at their eye contour serum, SubQ Eyes. Here is my review!
Hylamide SubQ Eyes, product presentation:
Hylamide describe themselves as “the first skincare line that brings active ingredients to every layer of the skin”.
The brand claims formulas able to offer results not only on the surface but also in the deep layers of the skin. To achieve this, they use a wide range of molecular sizes in their formulas, which have the ability to penetrate multiple layers of the skin.
This simply means that the ingredients are able to go where you want them to go! 😉
Here, with SubQ Eyes, you get a multitasking eye contour product that will not only improve hydration and comfort (more on the surface) but also improve micro-circulation (which is a phenomenon that occurs in the deeper layers of the skin) to reduce dark circles and puffiness.
There are also ingredients that target the visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and loss of firmness (this is a very long-term action 😉 ).
Specifically, in the formula, you can find:
– Flavanoid Bio-active Glucoside to help boost circulation and reduce dark circles,
– a Darutoside complex for a more toned upper eyelid,
– a complex of Walgerin-1 peptides that reduces the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes. These ingredients are believed to promote more visible anti-aging results than retinol with less irritation,
– some moisturizing glycerin,
– some nourishing squalane,
– antioxidants such as Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, a high-tech version of EGCG found in green tea, and vitamin E,
– there are also calming plant extracts (extracts of Fucus Vesiculosus, Ascophyllum Nodosum …),
– and a very slightly exfoliating PHA ingredient.
And all this in a lightweight texture, which looks like a liquid emulsion (I consider it as a serum, personally).
The bottle actually looks like mini-serum, with a small pipette. It has a capacity of 15ml but you only need one drop for both eyes, so it lasts quite a long time (3-4 months if you use it only once a day, as I do 🙂).
Hylamide SubQ Eyes, my experience:
As for my eye contour, as I often say, I try to have reasonable expectations, because I know that cosmetics have their limits, especially on some of my concerns!
I have deep dark circles, which no skincare product can do anything about, but they’re also quite tinted (my eye contour doesn’t have the same color as the rest of my face). As I get older, I have more and more fine lines and my upper eyelid is increasingly less toned.
On the other hand, I don’t have any eye bags (you can’t have it all 😉 ).
So in short, if I can find an eye contour product that will leave my skin comfortable all day, and that helps a little with the color of my dark circles, that’s all I need! I just want a slightly refreshed look and a smoother skin.
Usually, for my skin comfort and the effect on fine lines, I rely on my eye contour moisturizer (I always use my Belif cream, which apparently refuses to end), but for dark circles, I’ve tried tons of products and few have really made an impact!
But I find that SubQEyes actually helps to reduce the color of my dark circles! Especially if I use Drunk Elephant C-Tango Eye Cream in the morning, I really think it makes a difference!
At least, I found that my dark circles are more visible when I don’t use it. I alternate it with Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Triple Correction Eye Serum which I love to use to smooth out my eye area but which sadly costs an arm.
I don’t think it works on the same skin issue, but if I had to choose, I think I’d stick with Hylamide SubQ Eyes (because, to tell you the truth, I use my tretinoin product around my eyes, so my wrinkles should be reduced at one point!).
And the fact that the price is affordable is a real plus.
Anyway, I use this Hylamide serum in combination with my Belif cream every night. And I intend to keep repurchasing it!
The brand Hylamide is only distributed on Deciem’s website (I put a link to the product below) as well as in their stores.
Note: I don’t know how to explain it, but from time to time, the SubQ eyes can have a tendency to tingle a little when I apply it. It’s not consistent at all and it always goes away very quickly. I don’t really know why this happens but since it’s very temporary and it doesn’t happen all the time, it doesn’t scare me any more than that… I just wanted to point it out!
In conclusion:
I am a faithful client of this Hylamide SubQ Eyes serum because I find it quite complete and well suited to my eye contour concerns.
It may be a little too lightweight if you have a very dry eye contour, but personally, I see it more as a serum so I always combine it with a moisturizing cream on top 🙂
Product Review in detail
Summary
Hylamide SubQ Eyes
"High-strength serum concentrate uses a wide array of peptides, plant saccharides and active technologies to rehydrate the fragile eye area, while targeted technologies improve the look of fine lines, crow's feet, puffiness and dark circles."
Recommendation
A good staple product!
Price
$19
Details
Pros
- the formula contains many interesting ingredients, based on innovative technologies,
- the light and non-greasy but comfortable texture,
- the action on the lack of firmness, fine lines, dark circles and puffiness.
- the brightening effect on my eye contour,
- the bottle lasts super long, one drop is enough for both eyes,
- its price is fair IMO.
Cons
- the glass packaging, and the pipette, not ideal for this kind of products (I already smashed one bottle on the floor once, and I was gutted 😭),
- sometimes it tingles a little and I don't know why (but it's not always, so it's a little weird),
- if you have a dry eye contour, you will probably need a cream on top.
product name
SubQ Eyes
brand name
Hylamide
size
15ml
made in
Canada
packaging
A tiny glass bottle with a pipette, and an apple green label.
fragrance
Fragrance-free (and it doesn't smell like anything)
texture
A very fluid emulsion, very serum-like.
For Who
– mature skin,
– dehydrated skin,
– pigmented dark circles and puffiness.
Concerns
– very tinted and pigmented dark circles,
– puffiness,
– saggy eye contour area,
– wrinkles, fine lines around the eye area,
– dehydration of the eye contour area.
Method
I use the SubQ Eyes mainly in the evening but it can be used in the morning and/or evening.
I take about one drop of product that I apply just before using my face serums, and before my evening eye contour moisturizer. I massage it very gently, without rubbing, to spread it around the eye contour (underneath, and also on the upper eyelid). I then finish by applying some light pressure with my fingertips to be sure that the product is absorbed into the skin.
Key Ingredients
The SubQ Eyes serum contains several ingredients based on innovative technologies such as:
– Flavanoid Bio-active Glucoside to help boost blood circulation and reduce dark circles,
– a Darutoside complex for a more toned upper eyelid,
– a complex of Walgerin-1 peptides that reduces the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes. These ingredients are believed to promote more visible anti-aging results than retinol with less irritation (according to the brand 😉 ).
In its formula, you can also find:
– moisturizing glycerin,
– nourishing squalane,
– antioxidants such as Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, a high-tech version of EGCG found in green tea, and vitamin E,
– there are also calming plant extracts (extracts of Fucus Vesiculosus, Ascophyllum Nodosum …),
– and a very slightly exfoliating PHA.
Ingredients
Aqua (water), glycerin, methyl methacrylate/peg/ppg-4/3 methacrylate crosspolymer, albizia julibrissin bark extract, propanediol, myristoyl nonapeptide-3, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside, gallyl glucoside, darutoside, aminobutyric acid, fucus vesiculosus extract, ascophyllum nodosum extract, asparagopsis armata extract, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, mangifera indica seed butter, lecithin, orbignya oleifera seed oil, squalane, sorbitol, tocopheryl acetate, propyl gallate, polyacrylate crosspolymer-6, pentylene glycol, cetearyl isononanoate, ceteareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, xanthan gum, ceteareth-12, cetyl palmitate, gluconolactone, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, hexylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, dehydroacetic acid, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin.
Ingredients not included
– mineral oil,
– silicone,
– alcohol,
– fragrance,
– essential oils,
– dyes.