Ole Henriksen Reformulated Its Banana Bright Eye Crème to Serve Sensitive Skin

We received a complimentary sample of Ole Henriksen's Banana Bright+ Eye Crème so our writer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

As someone who's had serious dark under-eye circles since I was a kid, I'd been on the hunt for a brightening eye cream (that actually works) for years before I discovered the original Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème. It's the top-selling eye cream at Sephora and a Byrdie go-to for reducing the appearance of dark circles—plus, Kim Kardashian is reportedly a fan. It earned a permanent place in my routine the moment I applied it to my skin.

But while the original formula was an immediate beauty bag staple for me, there were reports from those with more sensitive skin that the formula caused irritation and allergic reaction. Ole Henriksen could have continued to reap the benefits of chart-topping sales of Banana Bright despite the complaints and recent innovations in vitamin C—but instead, the brand sprung into action to reformulate a more effective, gentler, fragrance-free iteration.

And today, that reformulation—Banana Bright+—has officially hit shelves. Curious how the new Banana Bright+ formula compares to the original and if it's worth the $42 price tag? I've been testing the new and improved formula for two months; read my full, honest review, ahead.

About My Skin: Dark, dry under-eyes

I have dark, genetic under-eye circles that can't be erased with a topical eye cream alone (I'd need filler for that). And that's okay! My dark circles aren't caused by hyperpigmentation or an actual tint to the skin—they're actually a result of my muscles showing through my (very) thin under-eye skin. Because my under-eye skin is already so thin and dry in my late 20s, I tend to reach for eye creams with a peachy tint that can deliver an immediate brightening effect by neutralizing some of the blue tones in my under-eyes, and ones that offer some antioxidant protection to help protect my skin in this area from aging more rapidly.

Ingredients: Vitamin C powerhouse

So, contrary to the name of this eye cream, banana is not one of its ingredients; the name is inspired by banana powder, a yellow-tinted powder that makeup artists use to brighten and color-correct dull skin. 

Instead, the hero ingredient here is vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that benefits the skin in several ways: It shields against environmental stressors, promotes collagen production, and helps lighten brown spots or discoloration. (It's the same superstar in Ole Henriksen's popular Banana Bright Vitamin C serum). In this formula specifically, we have an upgraded vitamin C trio (compared to the original Banana Bright).

"Since the launch of Banana Bright Eye Crème, we discovered an exciting gold complexed vitamin C active that inspired us to upgrade Banana Bright Eye Crème to deliver bigger and brighter benefits," says Riva Barak, SVP of Product Development at Ole Henriksen. "Banana Bright+ combines this upgraded gold complexed vitamin C with the two additional powerhouse forms of vitamin C included in the original–3,O-ethyl ascorbic acid (aka ethyl ascorbic acid) and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate–to deliver more potent benefits to the skin. 

It's important to note, however, that in rare cases, those with very sensitive skin can experience irritation with vitamin C—and that goes for any brand and any product. Fortunately, with Banana Bright+, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian notes that "the product contains some anti-inflammatory ingredients that are generally calming to skin, such as jojoba oil and shea butter," to help combat some of the less desirable effects that sensitive skin types can experience with vitamin C. The vast majority of users won't experience a single problem, but if you have extremely sensitive skin or have had reactions to vitamin C in the past, it's always a good idea to perform a patch test first.

The Feel: Rich and creamy

The new (now vegan) Banana Bright+ is even more luxurious than its predecessor. "With the vegan upgrade to the formula, the texture of Banana Bright+ Eye Crème has also received a slight upgrade," says Barak. "We wanted to build on the beautiful, luxurious texture of the original formula, while improving how the new formula coats and sinks into the skin, providing improved makeup wear, crease resistance (new benefit), and immediate brightening benefits."

The Results: Diminished dark circles

I used Ole Henriksen's Banana Bright+ Eye Crème every morning for two months and found that my under-eyes were significantly more hydrated, makeup went on smoother, and my dark circles were more neutralized with each application. It's important to note that my dark circles were only cosmetically lightened (not permanently lightened) because of the peachy, orangey-tint to the product, which helps to cancel out the blue tones in your under-eyes. This goes away when I wash any remnants of the product away in the evening. No eye cream can erase my dark circles because, like I mentioned before, my dark circles are a result of my eye muscles showing through my thin under-eye skin.

With that being said, I love the rich, buttery texture of Banana Bright+, which deeply hydrates and plumps fine lines without feeling heavy under SPF and makeup. I also know that the powerful—but gentle—trio of vitamin C is giving me the ultimate protection from free radicals to protect my under-eye skin from further thinning, drooping, and wrinkling over time.

Overall, it's an incredible formula that's perfect for daily use—it's fragrance-free, it doesn't pill, plumps fine lines, and has the added benefit of immediate brightening of the under-eye area (especially when you layer it under concealer). The new and improved Banana Bright+ is even better than the original, and it's something I'll definitely be repurchasing over and over. This has also been tested and chosen as best for dark circles for our best eye creams for men.

The Value: $42 lasts months and months

At $42, this is certainly not a drugstore product. But, when compared to other prestige competitors (many of Sephora’s other best-selling eye creams will set you back $50 or more), this is actually relatively affordable.

While there are definitely cheaper vitamin C-infused eye creams on the market, this jar has years of research behind it, quality ingredients, and will last you for about six months. (I've been using it for two months straight and I'm not even halfway through the jar.) To me, it's totally worth it to have a product that immediately improves the appearance of my under-eye circles while also improving and protecting my skin over time. But only you can make the decision for yourself.

Similar Products: Lots to choose from

GLAMGLOW BRIGHTEYES Illuminating Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream ($39): GLAMGLOW’s formula includes caffeine, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to plump and hydrate under the eyes. It also includes “illuminating spheres” to disguise dark under-eyes. It’s priced at $39 for a half-ounce—comparable to Ole Henriksen's Banana Bright+ Eye Crème—so it’s worth trying them both to see which you prefer.

Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream ($64): A much pricier option is Drunk Elephant’s C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, which is $64 for a half-ounce. Its main star is vitamin C—it’s packed with five different kinds. While the vitamin C tones and firms, peptides improve the look of fine lines and cucumber extract works as an antioxidant.