Educational guide
IT Cosmetics Confidence In An Eye Cream Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix Synchronized Recovery Complex
IT Cosmetics Confidence In An Eye Cream Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix Synchronized Recovery Complex This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate s
This guide cannot diagnose a condition or recommend a personal treatment plan. Discuss medical questions with a qualified professional.
IT Cosmetics Confidence In An Eye Cream Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix Synchronized Recovery Complex
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair eye moisturizer is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate and Caffeine to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Isohexadecane
Propanediol
Glyceryl Stearate
PEG-20 Stearate
Niacinamide
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
Hydroxyproline
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Stearic Acid
PEG-100 Stearate
Palmitic Acid
Glycine
Octyldodecanol
Polyacrylamide
Silica Silylate
Butylene Glycol
Phenoxyethanol
Caffeine
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Pentylene Glycol
CI 77891
Tocopherol
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Caprylyl Glycol
Carbomer
Mica
Laureth-7
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Proline
Alanine
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Myristic Acid
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Ceramide NP
Adenosine
Sodium Lactate
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Polysorbate 20
Sodium Hydroxide
CI 77491
Tin Oxide
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-20 Stearate, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Hydroxyproline, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Glycine, Octyldodecanol, Polyacrylamide, Silica Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Pentylene Glycol, CI 77891, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Mica, Laureth-7, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Proline, Alanine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Myristic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ceramide NP, Adenosine, Sodium Lactate, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77491, Tin Oxide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Disteardimonium Hectorite
Isopropyl Isostearate
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
Sucrose
Trehalose
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Tripeptide-32
Faex Extract
Lactobacillus Ferment
Algae Extract
Sodium Rna
Hydrolyzed Algin
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Silybum Marianum Extract
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Sorbitol
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Morus Bombycis Root Extract
Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
Tocopheryl Acetate
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
Sodium Polyaspartate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Phytosphingosine
Ethylhexylglycerin
Polysilicone-11
Isododecane
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Polyethylene
Propylene Carbonate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Lecithin
Glucose
Fructose
T-Butyl Alcohol
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Hydroxyacetophenone
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Potassium Sorbate
Water, Dimethicone, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Isopropyl Isostearate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Sucrose, Trehalose, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Tripeptide-32, Faex Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Algae Extract, Sodium Rna, Hydrolyzed Algin, Caffeine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysilicone-11, Isododecane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Polyethylene, Propylene Carbonate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Lecithin, Glucose, Fructose, T-Butyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491
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Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Ci 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!