Spoon and Balm

RMK is a high end Japanese brand that I haven't heard much about except for a few mentions in Lisa Eldridge's videos. The Eye Balm is the newest addition to their skin care range, designed to be used at night as a treatment product to moisturise and replenish the eye area and combat dehydration and signs of ageing. I always find it difficult to gauge the effectiveness of eye creams as I'm fortunate to not have many issues when it comes to fine lines, darkness, dryness or puffiness. I'm also frequently too lazy to use a separate product for my eye area, preferring instead to slather moisturiser all over and be done with it. But the baobab, argan, olive, jojoba and grape seed oils in the ingredients, unique balm texture and somewhat puzzling inclusion of a flattish metal spatula had me intrigued.

RMK Eye Balm, 'How to massage'

RMK advises to use the applicator to scoop out a rice grain amount and melt the solid balm with the fingers before applying it to the eye area. They provide step-by-step instructions, complete with accompanying illustrations, about how to use the spatula as part of a recommended massage. I did try it once and found it bizarre. I've never thought to place a kitchen utensil over my eye, but that's essentially what it is. The main point seems to be the cool surface of the spoon calms and soothes the eye area and moving the spoon around and targeting the "pressure points" promotes circulation. In the process, any balm that you've freshly applied to your eye area gets partly transferred onto the spoon. It's also a bit unhygienic and bothersome to have to clean or wipe the spoon afterwards each time. There might be some longer term benefits to carrying out a massage routine nightly, but I'll be smearing it on with my fingers and leaving it at that.

The texture is reminiscent of a lip balm or Vaseline (petrolatum is after all, the first ingredient). It's a bit hard and waxy at first, but softens with warmth. It's quite unusual for an eye cream — it's not a traditional, thicker cream like Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes, or a lighter, fresher, more watery serum like Alpha-H Absoluté Eye Complex. It doesn't immediately sink in, but instead sits on top of the skin like a protective, nourishing barrier. I imagine the 12.5g tub lasting a long time given you need only a very small amount with each application. I do think the balm is effective at softening and hydrating the eye area overnight, but for me it's a bit too close to Vaseline mixed with a face oil to justify the elevated price tag.

Ingredients: Petrolatum, Isocetyl Myristate, Paraffin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Microcrystalline Wax, Octyldodecanol, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Polyethylene, Fragrance (Parfum), Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, BHT, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Royal Jelly Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Iron Oxides (CI 77492)

Disclosure: RMK Eye Balm was sent to me for review. Post contains affiliate links.