When I first tried Lancôme’s Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum, I fell in love with texture, the innovative packaging and the results. The brand’s first-ever triple-chamber serum was designed to release three different formulas simultaneously to preserve their stability and increase their efficacy. This serum became one of the brand’s best-sellers—nearly overnight—so it only made sense that the franchise would expand. The newest addition to the collection is Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum Eye, which is packed with vitamin C and other key ingredients to target multiple signs of aging around the eyes.
To get a behind-the-scenes look at how the product is created, Lancôme invited me to its impressive lab—L’Oréal North America Research & Innovation—in New Jersey. (This is one of a couple sites around the world where products from all of L’Oréal’s brands are developed.) I was able to see the key ingredients in their raw form (so cool!) and watch a packaging engineer disassemble the product to learn about each part. I was a already a fan of the eye serum before my visit, but seeing its inner-workings made me appreciate it that much more.
The Benefits of This Eye Serum
Though eye cream may not be necessary for everyone, those with signs of aging around the eyes that they’d like to correct should consider it a staple. If you look at the label on many of your face products, they say “avoid the eye area.” This is especially true with products that contain notoriously irritating ingredients like vitamin C. That’s why eye cream is important. “Having a product that has been tested for the eyes, like this one that was tested by ophthalmologists and dermatologists, is valuable,” says Glendora, CA dermatologist Chris Tomassian, MD, who was also on-site at the lab.
This serum is great for anyone concerned with puffiness under the eyes, crow’s-feet, crepey skin or droopy upper eyelids. It’s able to effectively address multiple concerns because of its triple-dose formula. The first chamber includes a combination of vitamin C and niacinamide. The second chamber includes hyaluronic acid and peptides, and the third contains vitamin F. When you press the applicator to dispense the product, all three formulas come out together. Then, you can mix them together on the back of your hand before applying. “By separating the ingredients into three chambers, we’re able to achieve the best functionality and best sensory experience possible,” says Stephanie Morris, associate principal chemist of skin-care development at L’Oréal North America Research & Innovation.
Dr. Tomassian is also a fan of the formula. “One of the biggest problems with skin-care ingredients is that they don’t like to be put together because they don’t remain stable,” he tells me. “By separating them into individual chambers, it helps preserve the stability and shelf-life of the product. That’s what makes this product awesome.”
The Clinical Testing
In an eight-week clinical study with 84 women, the brand discovered significant results of this eye serum. Fine lines around the eye area were reduced by 31.9 percent and puffiness was reduced by 15.9 percent. Crow’s-feet were reduced by 12.1 percent, and radiance was increased by 13 percent. Additionally, drooping of the upper eyelids was reduced by 8.2 percent. This result is especially significant because the upper eyelids are very tough to treat with skin care. Also, most eye creams are not designed to be used on the upper eyelid, but rather below the eyes and on the crow’s-feet.
The participants were also asked to self-assess their results. Four out of five women (80 percent) agreed that after one week, the skin around their eyes looked firmer and smoother, and the overall texture had improved.
How to Use It
When you use the product for the first time, you need to activate it by pumping the dispenser several times until all three formulas appear. Two of them look similar (they’re clear), but they are different. Mix them all together on the back of your hand or on your fingertips. Then, press the serum into the skin around your eyes, including your upper eyelid.
The serum does contain fragrance, but Dr. Tomassian says this is not a concern unless you have an allergy. “Most people are actually not allergic to fragrance, although it is a common allergen,” he explains. “For many people, fragrance increases the sensoriality of a product. It’s a way for them to want to use their products. This is really nice, but if you’re someone with eczema or really sensitive skin, I would recommend patch-testing it first. Apply it somewhere else before putting it on your upper eyelids to prevent any allergies.”
