Jun 20, 201714 min read

Tarte Maracuja C-Brightener Eye Treatment Review + Full Physical, Chemical, Marketing and Price Anal

Heyyyy Beautiesss

Tarte Cosmetics have a range of skincare items and today, I am going to be talking about the Tarte Maracuja C-Brightening Eye Cream

Tarte Maracuja C-Brightener Eye Cream Description/Details

The Tarte Maracuja Eye Cream is an eye cream and treatment that contains 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of product. It has a shelf life of 6 months and is made in the USA. The Tarte Eye Cream costs $46.00 AUD ($34.18 USD) and can be purchased from Tarte Online.

How/When To Use

1• Use the ring fingers to lightly dab and gently smooth eye treatment along the orbital bone toward the temples, into the under eye area and along the brow bone toward the bridge of the nose

2• For optimal results, use morning and night

Use the Tarte Eye Cream after Serum and before Moisturiser

Physical Analysis

I am going to go over physical aspects of the product and then move on to the chemical, marketing and price analysis.

Packaging

The Tarte Eye Cream comes in a little dark blue glass type jar with a wood coloured lid. The jar is quite small but there is a fair amount of product in it. The wooden top is bigger than the jar and is extremely air tight, so the product isn’t going to become damaged as easily. All materials used don’t feel cheap and are really sturdy.

All in all, I absolutely love the packaging of the eye cream, it gives me forest vibes.

Consistency/Texture

The Consistency of the Tarte Maracuja Eye Treatment is a thick cream. Due to the thick consistency of the product, it spreads so easily, so you don’t need to use much which means you won’t have to repurchase very regularly.

The cream does come in a relatively small tub, but because the consistency is SO thick, you literally only need a TINY bit on your finger because it spreads so far.

Smell

The Tarte Maracuja Eye Treatment has a very very faint, pleasent lavender-like smell. There are no added fragrance ingredients, so the faint smell comes from other ingredients in the formula. I absolutely love the smell and I love how it’s faint because I tend to like products more without a strong artificial fragrance.

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Feel/How it Works

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The Tarte Maracuja Eye Cream is an eye treatment cream that plumps, nourishes and hydrates the eye area. All of these things contribute to a brightening effect (hence the name C-Brightener).

To apply the eye cream, you get a tiny bit on your finger, and then slowly massage it on the undereye and upper eye area, up to the brows. Continue to massage back and fourth until all of the product has rubbed in. I have to say, this part is so soothing. Your literally massaging cream into the eye area, which feels so calming, especially after a long day.

In terms of visible effects, it is hard to tell, especially since I haven’t got extremely dark undereyes or anything. What I can say is that is certainly hydrates the eye area, which has obvious benefits. However, if your expecting a miracle, you are probably not going to get it.

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This isn’t just with this eye cream, it’s with any. The results are going to be very gradual, light and hard to see, but you will start to feel that your skin is more nourished and hydrated, especially when applying makeup.

As I said, if you are someone who has extremely dark bags under the eyes, you might see more immediate visual results than I did because I have never really had problems with my eye area, I got this cream to make sure my undereyes are hydrated and not necessarily for bags or darkness. I really love using eye cream though to prevent any damage and to make sure that my eye area and particularly undereye area are staying moisturised constantly.

I am now going to move on to the chemical side of things!

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Ingredient List

Water/Aqua/Eau, glycerin, butylene glycol, mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, dimethicone, hydrogenated castor oil isostearate, polyglyceryl-10 pentaisostearate, pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, behenyl alcohol , cetearyl alcohol, caprylyl methicone, panthenol, sodium stearoyl lactylate, caprylyl glycol, alcohol, sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, squalane, sodium polyacrylate, isohexadecane, cyclopentasiloxane, mica, dipropylene glycol, hordeum vulgare extract, polysorbate 80, glycosphingolipids, tocotrienols, elaeis guineensis oil, tocopheryl acetate, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, glycosaminoglycans, phospholipids, adenosine, tocopherol, sodium hyaluronate, disodium EDTA, passiflora edulis seed oil, beta-glucan, 1,2-hexanediol, ascorbyl palmitate, retinyl palmitate, trisodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, titanium dioxide (CI 77891)

Chemical (Formula) Analysis

The Tarte Maracuja Eye Treatment contains 46 ingredients – 45 of these are in the base formula and 1 is in the pigment list. The formula is ranked by the Cosmetic Analysis Database as a ‘Recommended/Good’ formula. The Cosmetic Analysis Database analyses and ranks all individual ingredients in the formula into 5 categories based on functioning- highly recommended, recommended, average, not recommended and to be avoided- and then returns an overall formula ranking based on this.

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Note- I am unsure of the exact concentration of any of the ingredients in the formula as companies are not required to disclose this.

The Good/Recommended formula ranking is a result of 6 highly recommended ingredients, 27 recommended ingredients, 7 average ingredients, 4 not recommended ingredients and 1 to be avoided ingredient.

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The 6 highly recommended/very good ingredients in the Tarte Maracuja Eye Cream are Panthenol, Glycosphingolipids, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate and Retinyl Palmitate.

Panthenol is a skin conditioning agent that promotes healing, reduces inflammation, stabilises damaged skin barriers, calms irritated skin, maintains the skin in good condition and holds and retains moisture.

Glycosphingolipids are skin conditioning and emollient agents that strengthen the lipid barrier of the skin, maintain the skin in good condition and protect, soften and smooth the skin

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Phospholipids are skin conditioning agents that improve the retention of moisture and protect the skin as well as maintain it in good condition.

Tocopherol (Vitamin E) is a skin conditioning and antioxidant agent that has a lot of benefits for the skin. It prevents infection and promotes healing, improves skin moisture, smooths the skin and maintains it in good condition. It’s antioxidant properties mean that it can protect the skin and protect it from damage by external factors such as free radicals. Tocopherol also has light protection (SPF 10) properties and can help to prevent damage to products by oxidation.

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Ascorbyl Palmitate is a antioxidant agent that has many benefits. It helps wound healing, promotes cell renewal, protects from free radicals, affixes connective tissue and smooths the skin.

Retinyl Palmitate is skin conditioning and antioxidant agent that protects from free radicals, regenerates cells, maintains the skin in good condition and protects against light induced damage.

The 27 recommended/Good ingredients in the formula include Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaricinoleate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Cocos Nucifera, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalene, Mica, Dipropylene Glycol, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Polysorbate 80, Tocotrienole, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Tocopherol Acetate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycosaminoglycans, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Passiflora Edulis Oil, Oat Beta Glucan, Potassium Sorbate and Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

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Glycerin softens and smooths the skin and draws moisture into the skin. Butylene Glycol holds and retains moisture, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil softens and smooths the skin and keeps it in good condition. Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate maintains the skin in good condition.

Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaricinoleate and Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate soften and smooth the skin. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate maintains the skin in good condition and has antioxidant properties that allow it to help to protect the skin from external factors.

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil) softens and smoothes the skin as well as moisturising and protecting it.

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Caprylyl Glycol holds and retains moisture and softens and smooths the skin. Squalene maintains the skin in good condition, soften and smoothes it and replenishes the lipids on the top layer of the skin. Mica protects from UV rays. Dipropylene Glycol holds and retains moisture, Hordeum Vulgare Extract softens and smooths the skin and maintains it in good condition.

Tocotrienole maintains the skin in good condition. Elaeis Guineensis Oil softens and smooths the skin. Tocopherol Acetate is an antioxidant agent that protects the skin from damage by external factors. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate holds and retains moisture and keeps the skin in good condition. Glycosaminoglycans softens and smooths the skin and maintains it in good condition.

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Adenosine preserves moisture, maintains the skin in good condition and stabilises the pH value of the skin. Sodium Hyaluronate holds and retains moisture and has a skin tightening effect. Passiflora Edulis Oil softens and smooths the skin.

Oat Beta Glucan are polysaccharide sugars derived from yeast or oats. It is a skin soothing and antioxidant agent that protects the skin from free radicals, soothes the skin and improves signs of redness on the face.

Potassium Sorbate prevents damage by micro-organisms and helps to extend the shelf life of products by preventing rancidity.

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Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) reflects UV rays and protects against sunburn. It also acts as a pigment ingredient.

The 4 Not Recommended ingredients are Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA and Hexylene Glycol

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer closes the pores and is hard to decompose. Isohexadecane promotes comedone and wrinkle construction, build a waterproof barrier and dry the skin, prevents the skin from breathing and can lead to heat build-up.

Disodium EDTA is irrelevant to the environment. Hexylene Glycol can cause allergies and kill skin friendly bacteria.

The 1 To Be Avoided ingredient is Trisodium EDTA. Trisodium EDTA is toxicologically toxic and is difficult to decompose.

So In Summary….

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There are 10 ingredients in the formula that hold and retain moisture including Panthenol, Phospholipids, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine and Sodium Hyaluronate.

There are 14 ingredients in the formula that soften and smooth the skin including Glycosphingolipids, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaricinoleate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cocos Nucifera, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalene, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Glycosaminoglycans and Passiflora Edulis Oil.

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There are 14 ingredients in the formula that maintain the skin in good condition including Panthenol, Glycosphingolipids, Phospholipids, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalene, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Tocotrienole, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycosaminoglycans and Adenosine.

There are 3 ingredients in the formula that promote healing including Panthenol, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and Ascorbyl Palmitate.

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There are 5 antioxidant agents in the formula including Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Tocopherol Acetate.

There are 7 ingredients in the formula that protect the skin including Glycosphingolipids, Phospholipids, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Tocopherol Acetate.

There are 2 ingredients in the formula that help cell renewal including Ascorbyl Palmitate and Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A).

There are 2 UV Protecting ingredients in the formula including Mica and Titanium Dioxide.

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There is 1 ingredient in the formula that can close the pores including Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurat

There is 1 ingredient in the formula that promote comedone construction- Isohexadecane

There is 1 ingredient in the formula that can dry the skin – Isohexadecane

There are 3 ingredients that are irrelevant and damaging to the environment including Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurat and Trisodium EDTA.

There is 1 allergenic ingredient in the formula- Hexylene Glycol,

There is 1 toxicological suspicious ingredient in the formula- Trisodium EDTA

All in all, the Tarte C-Brightening Eye Cream has a really good formula. There are a tonne of beneficial ingredients in the formula and the good outweighs the bad by far.

Mechanism Eye Cream Works On

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Soothing, calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients are the mechanisms that eye creams work on. If you look at it, the undereye area becomes puffy and bags are formed when the delicate skin around the eyes is irritated. The skin around the eyes is thinner than everywhere else on the face, so can obviously become irritated easier. The thinness of the skin around the eyes also means that the blood vessels underneath are going to be more visible, which can produce a shadow effect and create a ‘dark’ look.

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For an eye cream to work, it must contain a variety of soothing and calming ingredients that are going to reduce signs of inflammation, which will result in a reduction in puffiness.

There are 6 ingredients in the formula that have anti-inflammatory and calming effects including Mango Seed Extract, Vitamin E, C and K and Maracuja Oil, among more.

Moisturising ingredients also help eye cream work. They hydrate and plump the undereye area, meaning blood vessels can become less visible, making darkness and bags lessen. These hydrating/moisturising ingredients can also eventually work to brighten the undereye area.

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There are 20 ingredients in the formula that moisturise the skin including Panthenol, Phospholipids, Vitamin E, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaricinoleate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cocos Nucifera, qualene, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Glycosaminoglycans and Passiflora Edulis Oil,

Given that Tarte Maracuja C-Brightening Eye Cream contains a VARIETY of moisturising, soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, it certainly has the chemical make-up to perform extremely well to hydrate the undereyes and eventually contribute to a visual brightening effect and reduction of darkness.

Marketing Analysis

Is this product marketed accurately?

In order to assess the accuracy of marketing, I looked up how Tarte describes the product and then made up questions that I set out to answer to see if they were correct or not.

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Tarte describes the Maracuja Eye Cream by saying…..

“Refresh, renew and recharge tired eyes with our eye treatment enriched with C-brighter™ technology. By harnessing the power of maracuja fruit, vitamin C and advanced botanicals, this skintuitive™ eye treatment visibly hydrates, firms and brightens the delicate eye area.

Maracuja oil: rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) known to replenish, rebuild, and brighten skin

Vitamin C: gives the appearance of brighter skin; powerful anti-aging elixir promotes active skin recovery and rejuvenation; maximum hydration quenches dry skin

Product performance: This intense, multi-tasking eye treatment contains rice bran, mango and coconut naturally-rich in antioxidants to fight signs of aging and free radical damage. Oat sugars instantly smooth and visibly tighten skin. The nutrient-rich formula also delivers the ultimate in hydration for smooth, youthful-looking eyes. Ophthalmologist tested”

Tarte also lists the following as skinvigorating ingredients- maracuja, vitamin C, sodium hyaluronate, mango seed butter and coconut oil.

Questions I Have After Reading Marketing

Does the cream renew, refresh and recharge the undereye area?

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As I said in the Chemical Section, eye creams can correct puffiness, dullness and ‘blackness’ around the undereye area. The skin here is extremely thin, and this means it is more likely to become irritated, which causes puffiness. Blood vessels are more visible because they are closer to the surface, which can create ‘bags’ and darkness.

Calming, soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients in eye creams can help alleviate these issues.

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Anti-inflammatory ingredients help to calm irritation to the undereye area, which soothes the skin and result’s in ‘puffiness’ going away.

There are 6 calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients including Panthenol, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mango Seed Extract, Vitamin C and Vitamin K, among more.

Along with this, there are 4 cell renewing ingredients including Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Vitamin E and Vitamin C.

All in all, the cream does renew, refresh and recharge the undereye area. The formula contains a variety of calming, soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, which contribute to this.

Tarte have marketed this claim accurately and the formula and the ingredients in it does reflect what they are saying here.

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Does the eye cream hydrate, firm and brighten the delicate skin area?

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Again, Blood vessels are more visible around the undereye area because they are closer to the surface, which can create ‘bags’ and darkness. Moisturising ingredients hydrate the undereye area, making the skin more plump. This reduces darkness and bags becasuse the blood vessels become less visible.

There are 19 ingredients in the formula that hold and retain moisture and soften the skin including Panthenol, Phospholipids, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalene, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Glycosaminoglycans, Passiflora Edulis Oil, among more.

These ingredients do in fact hydrate, firm and brighten the undereye skin, meaning Tarte have accurately marketed this hydrating, firming and brightening claim.

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Is Maracuja Oil in the formula and what is it’s chemical name? Is it rich in essential fatty acids that are known to replenish, rebuild and brighten skin?

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Maracuja Oil is in the formula as Passiflora Edulis Oil (proper chemical name). Maracuja Oil is a plant-based emollient agent that is made up of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and essential fatty acid’s. This means that the benefits of all of these ingredients are combined in Maracuja Oil, making it more powerful and effective.

Maracuja Oil can deeply penetrate the skin, which has moisturising and hydrating effects. It can reduce inflammation, relieve discomfort such as itching. It also has antioxidant properties, which means it protects the skin from damage by external factors.

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Given that Vitamin C and Vitamin A are powerful antioxidant ingredients, the antioxidant properties are doubled in Maracuja Oil. The high volume of Vitamin C in the formula means that Maracuja Oil has anti-aging effects (remember, Vitamin C is needed for synthesis Collagen, which improves skin elasticity, plumps and brightens the skin). Maracuja Oil also helps cell renewal. These vitamins also have hydrating properties, which of course leads to brightening of the skin.

Maracuja Oil is rich in essential fatty acid’s and does replenish, rebuild and brighten the skin so Tarte have accurately marketed the benefits of it in the formula.

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Is Vitamin C in the formula? Does Vitamin C provide maximum hydration, promote skin recovery and rejuvenation, have anti-aging effects and make the skin brighter?

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Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate) is in the formula. Vitamin C has many, many benefits. It promotes healing and fixes damaged tissue, which can help fasten up the process of any skin issues. It is an antioxidant agent that can protect the skin from damage by external factors such as free radicals and can protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun and UV rays. Vitamin E also softens and smooths the skin, improves skin circulation and retains moisture, making the skin hydrated.

Vitamin C improves the skin elasticity, brightens the complexion and tones and plumps the skin. It is needed by the body to create hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, which are essential components of collagen. This means if there is no Vitamin C, there is no collagen production. Collagen rejuvenates cells and renews the skin from the deepest layer and in this way can reduce wrinkles and signs of aging.

All in all Tarte have accurately marketed Vitamin C and it’s benefits because Vitamin C does hydrate the skin, promote skin recovery, brighten the complexion and does have anti-aging effects.

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Are Sodium Hyaluronate, Mango Seed Butter and Coconut Oil in the formula? Do these ingredients have benefits for the skin and could they be classed as ‘skinvigorating’ ingredients?

Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Mango Seed Butter (Mangifera Indica Seed Oil) and Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera) are all in the formula.

Sodium Hyaluronate is a humectant agent that draws in moisture from the environment into the skin and hold and retains it. This means it is a very powerful moisturising and hydrating ingredient.

Mango Seed Butter is a plant-based emollient and skin conditioning agent. It is made up of essential fatty acids, oleic acid and stearic acid, along with Vitamin A and C. Mango Seed Butter has many benefits for the skin including plumping the skin and promoting skin elasticity, brightens the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines, moisturising the skin and treating dry skin. It also soothes the skin and calms inflammation.

Cocos Nucifera is a plant-based emollient and solvent agent. It is derived from the oil in the coconut palm fruit. It has multiple benefits including deeply penetrating the skin to moisture and hydrate it, which contributes to skin softening and smoothing. It also has anti-aging benefits because it improves the elasticity of the skin, which can prevent visible signs of aging

Tarte have accurately marketed the benefits of Sodium Hyaluronate, Mango Seed Butter and Coconut Oil in the formula.

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Does the product contain Oat Sugars? Do these instantly smooth and visibly tighten the skin?

Oat Sugars are in the formula as Oat Beta Glucan. Oat sugars are polysaccharide sugars derived from yeast or oats.They have many benefits including moisturising, smoothing and softening the skin. They have anti-aging and antioxidant properties, and can improve skin elasticity. Out Sugars have anti-inflammatory and healing properties which helps to calm irritated skin. Along with this, Oat Sugars can help to prevent damage to the skin by external factors such as free radicals.

Tarte have accurately marketed Oat Sugars because they do smooth the skin and do have anti-aging benefits which can contribute to a visible skin tightening effect.

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Overall, Tarte have accurately marketed the Maracuja C-Brightening Eye Cream and all claims about the product and mentioned beneficial ingredients are accurate and can be backed up by chemistry.

Price Analysis

Is this product priced accurately?

$46.00 AUD – $34.18 USD

I think the Tarte Eye Cream is priced accurately. It contains really beneficial ingredients, comes with a fair amount of product, works really well and comes in nice packaging. When it comes to skincare, especially eye creams and serums, etc, you do get what you pay for and you are not going to get an eye cream for any cheaper than this that has a good formula with beneficial ingredients.

All in all, I certainly think the Tarte Maracuja C-Brightening Eye Cream is priced accurately.

My Overall Thoughts/Conclusion on Tarte Eye Cream

The Tarte Maracuja C-Brightening Eye Cream is a really good product. It has a really good formula with a VARIETY of beneficial ingredients and performs really well. There are hardly any negative ingredients in the formula and the good outweighs the bad by FAR.

I absolutely love putting this on after a long day because it soothes the skin so much. When you massage the product into the skin it just feels like bliss. The next morning the undereye area is so soft and moisturiser and I love it.

Overall, the Tarte Maracuja C-Brightening Eye Cream is a really good product that I do recommend. When I run out, I am certainly going to repurchase!!