*Review* Eye Depuffer from Erzulie Cosmetics (5 stars)

ErzulieCosmetics.Etsy.com - All Natural Mineral Cosmetics and Holistic Skincare (New England, United States)

Photo Credit: Erzulie Cosmetics

Product: "Eye Depuffer Balm Soothe (TM) All Natural Helps Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles Proven Highly Effective"
Order Date: January 31, 2011
My Total: $5.00 + $2.00 s&h

I have always had a problem with under-eye puffiness and shadows - my high school roommate used to tell me my "bags had bags." I have been on the lookout for different solutions for years and what I tried either didn't work or I didn't have the patience for - masks, lotions, cucumber slices, etc.

When I was full-on into my Etsy craze, I realized this was the perfect place to look for what might finally be the solution to my puffiness and dark circles! Imagine my surprise when my search yielded almost no results (still true) - search for anything on Etsy and you usually have to slowly wade through the massive number of products you're given, but that was not the case here.

When looking for a specific item, I like to find all the results that appeal to me and then methodically cancel them out until I'm down till one. This time, the choice was pretty much made for me. There were three sellers who had eye depuffers and while the photos for the other two were nicer - and therefore attracted me more - I'll admit that one of the main reasons I decided to try Erzulie first was because hers was significantly cheaper than the competition's.

Applying my depuffer balm!

Verdict

It works! That is, of course, as it should be, but so many times products like these do not work as advertised, so it was a wonderfully nice surprise.

I noticed a definite visible reduction in puffiness within ~6 weeks of regular application and now use it every night before I go to sleep. It also lessens the shadows under my eyes, but I would say that was secondary - does not have any color in it so there is no masking or covering up that goes on; I think the lessening of shadows is more of a side effect from the reduced puffiness.

For those people who wear makeup often (I do only about once every other month), they should stick to applying it before bed at night. I used this once in the morning and followed with an under-eye cover-up - it ended up looking odd and not drying smoothly, looking a little grainy/spotty.

+ PROS + works wonderfully: reduces puffiness, slightly reduces dark circles / shadows; has a lovely scent that is very calming and soothing as you go to sleep; easy to apply; very affordable and lasts a long time; great during the day for a refreshing pick-me up

-- CONS -- don't use with under-eye makeup

= BOTTOM LINE = Would recommend to everyone. When mine runs out I'll be buying another!

Shop Information

Opened: September 15, 2008
Items Currently for Sale: 311
Total Sales: 6,191
Feedback: 4,325 - 100% positive (4,277 positive, 44 neutral, 4 negative)

Links:
* ErzulieCosmetics - Etsy Shop
* Progress in Health and Erzulie - website
* Blog
* Facebook Page
* @naturalcosmetic - Twitter
* progressinhealth Channel - YouTube


NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed myself and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.

Discussion: Sellers Giving Feedback After Buyers

Sweetheart Cuff Bracelet, v1 by Victoria Camp Designs

I have always been a big ratings/feedback buyer - on eBay, Amazon Marketplace, etc. - and I continued this when I started buying on Etsy.

I like to give detailed feedback so I usually wait till I have actually used/worn/whatever the item and then I try to leave review on as many aspects of the purchase as possible - shipping, packaging, customer service, etc. Especially for things like bath and body products or edibles, I know that I am always looking for more details in the feedback before I decide to buy, so I try to give the type of information that I look for myself.

It took me awhile, but I began to notice that there was a pattern developing: every time I left my feedback for the seller, they then left theirs ... and it began to really, really annoy me! When sellers only leave feedback after they receive one from the buyer, it leaves the buyer feeling as if they are being held hostage - a neutral or negative feedback might result in receiving one themselves, even if on their end they may have done everything right.

I have since become a seller myself and know that it's sometimes difficult to remember to leave feedback - especially now that Etsy has buyers pay right away, in some cases there doesn't really seem much to review.

Additionally, waiting for the buyer gives the seller the opportunity to feel like they can give an explanation for any bad review they may get. I write "feel like" because they are not tied to one another, and while you can sometimes clearly see the connection (check out this example from the doughadeer feedback and the left for others section), if enough time has passed you can't unless you dig for it.

So, what would be a good solution / compromise?

My suggestions are as follows:

1. Sellers make a concerted effort to always leave feedback once the buyer's responsibilities are done (how they were as a customer if there was convoing beforehand, prompt payment).

2. The feedback system allows for the kind of "rebuttals" you see on eBay: i.e., a seller can reply to any neutral or negative feedback they get and that would then be shown, indented, under that specific feedback.

Checklist Greeting Card by Red Letter Studio

What do YOU think?

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