This was supposed to be a “winter skin” post, but, as usual, time has slipped away and we find ourselves on Spring’s doorstep, ready with our cotton trenchcoats and dainty slip-on shoes. I think I’m going to have to start thinking like a magazine – months and months ahead – so that I manage to stay vaguely on-topic. In my drafts at the moment I have a post about central heating, one about winter vitamins and a “run up to Christmas” survival guide! Must try harder.

So now it’s not a winter skin post, it’s one about a few rich, luxurious eye creams I’ve been trying out that would be quite good for dry skin. Actually (and this is the wonderful thing about eye creams, I think) they are suitable for almost any skin type, because they’re only going to be applied around the eye area. I have combination skin on my face, but as I’m getting older I feel as though I need something a little richer around the eyes – something slightly more buttery and luxurious. I could never get away with applying buttery, rich creams to my face but they work splendidly around my eyes which is, incidentally, where all of my fine lines are. (The existence of these “zones” on my face is probably the main reason I feel so strongly about eye creams. Some people think they’re a waste of time, but I wouldn’t be without them. My eye area has different needs. And I enjoy the ritual of applying a separate product.)

I’m getting distracted – let’s talk about the eye creams in the picture. If you’re after light, refreshing textures then these will not be for you – and very young skin need not apply, it would probably find them too heavy. If you want an excellent all-round anti-ageing performer with a creamy, light texture then my favourite is the StriVectin SD. You can read the review here or buy it at Space NK here – it seems expensive at £49 but you get 30ml, twice as much as in a standard eye cream. If you’re looking for an eye cream with added utterly butterliness, something to melt into those fine lines and (hopefully) plump out the skin, give it a huge boost of moisture, then the ones in the picture above are worth a punt.

So here they are, from left to right:

The Gold Eye Lift cream from Omorovicza, £115 here. Yes, I know – a serious outlay. However, if you’re in the market for something seriously luxurious then it’s worth the serious outlay and more. This has a gorgeous texture – it’s more of an ointment than a cream. You don’t dip into the post and come out with a blob of product, you just kind of slide your fingertip over the surface and then pat onto the undereye. It’s actually very difficult to use this up quickly (thank God) and after a year I still have almost a full pot. It’s a dream under makeup and equally beautiful as an overnight treat – a lifting and tightening effect during the day and through the night it seems to really relax and rejuvenate the eye area. Definitely one to try and procure a sample of before you buy though, just to be on the safe side!

Next to the Omorovicza, on the bottom row, the Sanctuary Spa Peptide Repair Eye Cream, £18 from Boots.com. Strictly speaking, not really a rich and buttery offering but great for those worried about wrinkles. Also great for those with very tired, stressed eyes as this has one of the best instant cooling actions that I’ve ever come across! Now whether this is down to the alcohol in the formula (listed right up there at the top of the ingredients list), the chamomile extract or some other kind of wizardry, I can’t tell you, but there’s a definite cooling effect. It’s also packed full of peptides to help reduce the look of fine lines and works brilliantly beneath undereye concealer. I like this one a lot – lightweight, comforting, affordable.

Back to the heavyweights, and sat atop the budget buy we have Jo Malone’s Vitamin E Eye Cream. This is relatively new but I’ve been testing it for a couple of months now. The moisturising day cream from the same range was too rich for my skin, but the eye cream feels ever so slightly more delicate and it works well for me, moisturising the eye area very nicely with no oily residue. No residue at all, in fact, which makes it a good choice if you want to immediately apply makeup in the morning. It doesn’t feel as nourishing as the Omorovicza Gold Eye Lift, but it’s less than a third of the price at £35 (Jo Malone)

Finally, plonked to the right of my artfully-arranged composition is the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Cream. Packaged in a heavy glass jar, this one is probably the most buttery of the lot if you’re looking for full-on richness. Some might find it to have an overly-greasy feel, but that doesn’t last for long at all. What I would be careful of is overusing at bedtime, especially if you’re prone to any kind of puffiness – for some reason this one can make me a little “pouchy” in the morning if I’m too generous with the application. It’s brilliant for in-flight skin rescue, though and as a daytime eye cream for really dried-out skin. It’s £40 at Selfridges.com

I’ll leave you with a link to a review for Philosophy’s Miracle Worker – another rich, almost waxy cream that’s brilliant for dry skin around the eyes. What makes this one stand apart is that it’s packaged in a pump and not a jar – I have no idea what possesses all of these brands to stick everything into jars! Philosophy Miracle Worker Eye Cream is right up there, for me, as a reasonably affordable eye treatment for drier skin. Check it out here