(Micro) First Impressions: Whoo Hwanyu Imperial Youth Contour Eye Cream

 

You can find all the info about this on Odile's site:

https://themonodist.com/the-history-of-whoo-hwanyu-imperial-youth-contour-eye-cream/

For me, this might be the One Eye Cream To Rule Them All.

I have, admittedly, not used very much of this, one 0.6ml blister but a little went a long way.

Granted, that probably sounds ridiculous but not only is the texture perfect for me, it seems to have delivered visible benefits in the time I've been using it.

Here's my previous eye-area product discussion-review: https://commercialpoemferments.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-sleep-crease-saga-continued.html

Background

I didn't actually order the Hwanyu, I'd ordered samples of the Hera Signia Core Lifting Serum that Odile recommended to me on the sub when I asked for a serum on the Alter Daily Help Thread that wasn't an LG product.

The Hera went out of stock so StyleJolly sent me a load of other samples to make up for not being able to supply it.

It was a huge amount of samples, including this Whoo product and the Sulwhasoo Ultimate S serum, amongst others from Sum:37, Hera, O HUI and Whoo. Plus some random sheetmasks and upgraded shipping.

Fragrance

Barely noticeable. Which might be because I'm using tiny amounts or because it's a sample or because it genuinely isn't highly fragranced.

This is my first Whoo eye cream so I don't know their conventions here, although the Cheongidan eye serum (which I'm trialling now) doesn't seem to have much fragrance either. And the Sooryehan Chunsam Sanghwang Regenerating Eye Cream fragrance seems to be less strong than the face cream.

Texture

This is by far the thickest cream I have ever encountered.

It's not even a balm-like cream, it's the texture of a lipbalm stick. You could probably put it in a lipbalm tube and it would twist up with no issues.

Well, that might be a slight exaggeration but it might work, although $4 for 0.6ml I'm not going to try to lipbalmify it!

It's so thick that if it doesn't melt properly, it reconstitutes itself - on my finger or on my eye area, the latter of which then requires much gentle pressing to make it spreadable. However, as I'll say below, this might be a me-problem.

The Melt

When I say it's a thick, solid texture, that's kind of an understatement.

But if you don't have really cold hands, it may not be such of an issue.

If it's cold here, and when I've been testing it the temperature has been dropping to -5c overnight where I live, then the Hwanyu is super challenging. Even when I think I've melted it between my fingers, I haven't necessarily managed it.

I have extremely cold hands and I therefore struggle to make this cream melt into a more fluid texture, we're talking maybe a few minutes of rubbing my fingertips gently together.

The reason I think you may not have this issue if your hands aren't as cold as mine is that is does warm up relatively easy in the right circumstances.

I put some of the Hwanyu on one fingertip and put my hand above the hot radiator. I put my other hand palm down above said radiator for about one minute.

The cream actually melted really quickly, about 10 seconds, and then when I then rubbed my fingertips together, it was easy to apply.

Whilst the Whoo Cheongidan Radiant Regenerating Cream and Sooryehan Chunsam Sanghwang Regenerating Cream do require a bit of warming, it's much easier and quicker to melt those into a more fluid texture, even with my cold hands.

Initial effects

One 0.6ml sample isn't enough to determine how well it really works but the initial effects are promising.

I've used it most nights for three weeks and obviously only a tiny amount each time.

I'd argue that you really don't need very much to cover the whole under-eye area.

If I estimate conservatively and say I've used it at least 10 times, that's 0.06ml per usage. I'm pretty sure I used it most nights, although I can't be sure as I didn't record it.

I have also used the Sulwhasoo Ultimate S serum five times in that time period as well and I've got the Missha Chogongjin Youngan Jin Cream as another new product alongside the rest.

I notice that my sleep creases are OK - not gone but they seem less severe - but more significantly, my deep line under my right eye seems improved.

Sadly, I don't think the Missha helps as much as other creams with the sleep creases but it is a thick gel to oil texture rather than a thick cream. Otherwise I do enjoy the Missha (for the price).

I look less tired when I use the Hwanyu, but my sleep schedule has been erratic of late so it's hard to say for sure. I would say I look less tired than I would expect with the disruption to my sleep. This is definitely true because now I've had several weeks of not using the Hwanyu and still an erratic sleep schedule and I'd argue that I look more tired.

Should the work this set of products has wrought for my right eye fine line - although my instinct is to put it down to the Hwanyu - be temporary, I'm still happy with that for now.

I'd also say that it makes me look well rested, even when I'm not. That's a very good bonus as the thinning skin in my eye area, or fat loss or whatever it is, tends to make me look tired regardless of how well I sleep. And that's an immediate effect that's really valuable outcome.

Maybe it would have more impact if I used it AM as well but that feels like a lot of work, given the melt time.

Final Word

The Hwanyu is superior to the other creams I've tried and raved about for my eye area - notably Whoo Cheongidan Radiant Regenerating Cream and Sooryehan Chunsam Sanghwang Regenerating Cream.

The Hwanyu also more finicky than those two face creams and the eye cream as it cannot be used at all unless it's melted.

However, it also dries incredibly quickly on the skin whereas the less rigid eye products I've tried recently - the Hera Age Away Aesthetic Eye Cream, Whoo Cheongidan Illuminating Regenerating Eye Serum, Sooryehan Chunsam Eye Cream - all take longer to dry. These other products don't take ages to dry but I do have to wait nonetheless.

My suspicion, as well, is that these non-Hwanyu products won't work as well as a thick cream but you never know! They might also work great as a day time option, although I'd have to consider the drying times.

Another point would be whether it might be wise to trial other Whoo eye creams as I might be able to get the superficial, temporary (but still desirable) results for less monies. Granted, the Hwanyu may provide better results longer term than the lower tier lines.

Is the Hwanyu worth the price?

It's better than anything else I've tried but it would be a significant investment to buy a full size.

What is perhaps remarkable is that I'm even considering it!

I've got a good amount of the Sooryehan Chunsam Sanghwang Regenerating cream left so I don't have to decide yet.

Eye cream might be a slot I will have to stick with LG for.

The Cheongidan eye cream full size is half the price of the Hwanyu so, when I'm ready to do another order, I'll get some samples of the Cheongidan.

In the meantime, my interim opinion is that I'm not sure about the Hera eye cream but I'm also trialling a Whoo eye serum and then, because I've ordered a Hera Signia trial kit in order to try the serum, I'll also have a sample of the Hera Signia eye cream to try (although that's nearly as pricey as the Hwanyu on StyleJolly!)