Your Eye Cream Has Some Pretty Steep Competition

Certain beauty products — think NARS blush in Orgasm or Clinique's Black Honey lipstick — are so good, they're practically famous and have devoted, loyal followings. While we love many of these, we've been wondering why others have been quietly flying under the radar. With that in mind, meet our series,Cult Classics, in which we'll introduce you to the products you should really, truly know about (and try, like, right now). They're not brand-new, but trust us: They've got staying power. There are plenty of people who swear by eye creams, applying them every morning and every night. Folks cocktail their creams, reaching for denser consistencies in the winter and more lightweight gels in the warmer months. People dig those eye creams — but, I've never been one of those people. Call me crazy, but I've never really seen the benefit. My dark circles never improved, my eyes never seemed all that much brighter. So, after test-driving a bevy of different formulas, I quietly gave up on my eye cream expedition. That was until our fearless leader, Megan, passed me some of Laurel Whole Plant Organic's Eye Serum.  The brand's products are all 100% organic, and its ingredients are sourced mostly from artisan U.S. farms. So, it's basically farm-to-table beauty. But, what makes the serum good enough to make even me a believer?  First, it's not a cream; it's oil-based. Not a thin, watery oil, either; this stuff is rich, thick, and nourishing. One drop is all you need for each under-eye area. It's intensely hydrating — so necessary for this time of year, when we've all pretty much forgotten what "warm and humid" feels like. The two powerhouse ingredients are organic, steamed, distilled rose essential oil from Iran — and licorice root. The rose oil is clutch for reducing the apperance of wrinkles and fine lines. Maybe you think this doesn't apply to you yet. But, have you ever had a particularly vodka-soaked night, followed by a rough morning, when your eyes seem oddly puffy and wrinkly at the same damn time? Well, this fixes that — immediately. Licorice root, on the other hand, helps with dark circles — something I've been plagued with since my early 20s. Two tear-drop-shaped, dark splotches took up residence alongside my nose around my 23rd birthday, and nothing I've done has actually helped to reduce them — until now. Licorice root is an anti-inflamatory, so it has basically ousted those guys from beneath my eyes. What's more, I started to see the difference after the very first night. No kidding. You can use this serum both in the morning and at night. While I rely on it for some serious p.m. hydration, I actually work it into my makeup routine in the morning, too. The serum blends seamlessly with my concealer, which helps it slide on that much easier. Plus, it stays put. If you're like me, you've already started using oils on your entire body. (In fact, Laurel WPO's body oil is what I smooth onto my limbs post-shower). So, an oil-based eye serum seems like a natural progression. This is definitely a product you're going to want to hang onto, especially if you're new to the whole eye-cream thing — or are, like me, just disillusioned by past product failures. As a recent convert, I can tell you: This thing is a winner. Laurel Whole Food Organics Eye Serum, $68, available in March at Laurel Skin.