It’s nice to see Sephora starting to carry more Tony Moly products now. If you don’t know, Tony Moly is a cosmetics brand based in South Korea and the name Tony Moly means “putting style into packaging(+)“! Oh, how appropriate! That’s why everything from the brand is so so cute! Don’t believe me? Just look at the product I am reviewing today! ^_^

Yes, this super adorable panda-looking thing is an actual makeup product! Looking at it makes me feel like a little girl all over again. :D I have recently purchased two eye base products from the brand and today I’ll start with the Panda’s Dream Brightening Eye Base.
It is an eye-brightening serum base packaged in a stick form so you can easily apply it around your eyes to illuminate the skin and combat dark circles. When you remove the panda cap, there is a piece of round plastic covering the product to keep it from drying out (as seen below) and I recommend you keep it on after every use. The product is released by twisting the bottom, just like when you twist a lipstick. The size of the stick is pretty chubby and the tip is flat and wide making it easy and quick to swipe it over large areas of the face (if you wish to use it anywhere else besides under the eye area).

The “serum base” stick has a firm, “dry-balm” pasty texture and is pearly white in color (the product contains pearl extracts). You can apply the product directly on the face but in my experience, it is better to warm up the product first by gently rubbing your ring finger over the tip of the stick a few times and apply to your skin with your finger. Use gentle tapping motions to blend. The warmth from your finger will melt the product just a bit to a creamier and slightly tackier finish. I find that you have better control applying it this way and you also prevent the product from tugging the delicate skin around the eyes.
I detect a clean, fruity smell type but it’s very faint and you may not notice it at all during application.

The pearly white color seen in the tube blends really easily into the skin. I wouldn’t say it blends “seamlessly” into the skin, though, since you can tell the area where you apply the product, but you just can’t tell where it ends. Used under eyes, it visibly brightens and illuminates, and I instantly look more awake. My dark circles are softened, but not completely diminished, with just little product used. It doesn’t look stark against my medium skin at all but please do keep in mind that I don’t have severe dark circles to begin with.
Additionally, you can use it as a concealer booster, too! In fact, I recommend you use it in conjunction with the concealer as the product alone seems to “fill-in” fine lines. It primes the skin and helps the concealer go on smoother, blend easier, and therefore you use less concealer per application! :) It works well with both liquid and cream concealer in my experience without causing extra cakiness or tweaking the concealer’s texture. The product is so airy-light once blended you might not even notice it being there at all.

I also tried it as an eyeshadow primer (because you know, I like to maximize the potential of my makeup!) and I wish I hadn’t! It did actually intensify the color payoff but it also changed the texture of the shadows considerably due to it having a slightly glowing finish. The worst part was when everything creased and faded within a half hour. I really can’t fault the product, though, since it isn’t marketed as an eyeshadow primer.
Besides the eye area, I also use it to lighten the redness around my nose and mouth. The difference it makes is subtle, but there, and sometimes that’s enough. It seems to blur out the appearance of pores just slightly, too, but I wouldn’t recommend it especially for oily skin as it doesn’t help control oil at all. So in short, only use it for what it’s made for — an under eye brightener. :)

For the price, I do think it’s worth a try. It effectively brightens the under eye area as promised (though I think the effectiveness may vary based on the severity of your dark circles) and the packaging is just too cute to pass up! I have another Tony Moly eye product that I am testing right now so please stay tuned for my next review! :)
You barely have dark circles Jaa! ^^ But the packaging looks SO cute. Not sure if I really need it but the packaging alone is already worth having, lol. So cute!
X Alice
Haha right? Before I bought it, I thought, well, if it doesn’t work out, at least I have a super cute-looking product sitting on my vanity! ;)
These photos are so adorable! :D
Looks like a very interesting product!
Thanks, Natalie! :) I like it the more I use it! :)
Is it wrong for me to say… I don’t even care what you use it for because the packaging is cute? LOL
Hahaha there’s nothing wrong about that at all! I might have bought it just for the cute factor at first! Glad it works well, too! :)
The packaging is adorable! I used to collect pandas as a child. :)
You collected pandas?? As in, actual panda the animal? 8-O Woah!
No no, stuffed animals. :)
Ooops! Haha that makes more sense! ^_^”
I have very dark circles so I wonder how it would work on me!
You may need to follow with a concealer! I think this one might be too thin to use alone if you have severe dark circles. :-/
The packaging is really adorable. I have a weak spot for stuff like that and always hoard the packaging even if the product itself is long gone.
LindaLibraLoca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
I love buying products with cute packaging but I’m not sure I’d “hoard” them when they’re empty, though. :D What was the last product you purchased purely for the packaging?
A MAC lipgloss from the Wash and Dry Collection. But, to prove my point: I bought the Wonderwoman Bronzer years ago from the corresponding MAC Collection, even though the color didn’t suit me, and after it broke during our last move and all the product is gone, I still can’t throw it out…
It’s so cute, I’d honestly buy it only for the packaging ^^” It’s too bad Tony Moly is so unreachable from Europe but if I ever have the chance to get my hands on some of their products… >:D
eBay ships worldwide! ;D Sometimes it’s still cheaper to have it shipped to me instead of buying directly from a local store! :D
The packaging is too cute to pass up indeed.. and the price isn’t bad at all! My dark circles are pretty dark… so I do wonder how well it would work.. heck, but for that price and the amount of cuteness.. it sure is worth finding out :P
LOL true that! I mean, if it doesn’t work all that well, the cuteness factor alone is still worth the money in my opinion! ^_^
Ah! So precious! I have the cooling eye Panda! Can’t wait to use that once it gets hot here! I love the first picture of the panda all tucked into bed. It reminds me of where I should be, lol!
LOL I know right? It makes me sleepy every time looking at it. 555! How do you like the cooling one? Which reminds me, I need to get the review out ASAP!
Adorable!
There is a tiny store in K town in Manhattan. I am afraid to go in there, though. I will probably end up hauling too many of the cutesy stuff, you know? ;D
LOL! That always happens to me when I visit Mitsuwa. I always walk out with loads of Japanese makeup and tools and snacks and etc! Such a dangerous place! ;D
It’s so cute! I’ve actually had this on my wishlist for a little while now. Every time I pop in at Sephora it’s sold out. Hoping I can get it soon.
Same here at my local Sephora! Always out of stock! >.< Can you ask the SA to hold one for you?
What a unique little product- and so adorable! You’ve photographed it so nicely :)
http://www.vibrantbeautyblog.com
Really too cute, prob everyone is thinking the same! I want some Tony Moly, saw the products of this brand in several beauty videos – love!
Oh nice! I didn’t know this was something YouTubers are talking about! What else are they recommending? Who are your favorite YouTubers?
Oh the highlighters and concealers of TonyMoly, as well as their CC and BB compacts. Oh you know – when procrastinating -> browsing all over youtube. I really like Thekatizzle and Pony’s beauty diary. But the bigger names like Michelle Phan, Nikkietutorials, Bubzbeauty etc get watched as well :)