Minimalist Vitamin K + Retinal 01% Eye Cream Versus Plum Goodness 3% Vitamin C, 3% Peptide & 3% Caffeine Under Eye Cream With Mandarin

Minimalist Vitamin K + Retinal 01% Eye Cream Versus Plum Goodness 3% Vitamin C, 3% Peptide & 3% Caffeine Under Eye Cream With Mandarin

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Retinal to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the look of dark spots.

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Caffeine to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Niacinamide

Dimethicone

Propanediol

Caffeine

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Brassica Glycerides

Diisopropyl Sebacate

Maltodextrin

Glyceryl Glucoside

Behenyl Alcohol

Butylene Glycol

Phytonadione Epoxide

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Pentylene Glycol

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Zerumbone

N-Hydroxysuccinimide

Dipeptide-2

Steareth-20

Chrysin

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Xanthan Gum

Retinal

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone

Phenoxyethanol

Carbomer

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Ethylhexylglycerin

Citric Acid

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Caffeine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Brassica Glycerides, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Maltodextrin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Phytonadione Epoxide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Zerumbone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide-2, Steareth-20, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Xanthan Gum, Retinal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Undecane

Tridecane

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Isoamyl Laurate

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Caprylyl Glycol

Triolein

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Tapioca Starch

Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Cyclodextrin

Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Methyl Gluceth-20

Glyceryl Stearate

PEG-100 Stearate

Sorbitol

Isostearyl Hydroxystearate

Benzyl Alcohol

Hydroxyacetophenone

Sodium Citrate

Sodium Gluconate

Sucralose

Dilauryl Thiodipropionate

Water, Undecane, Tridecane, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Caffeine, Isoamyl Laurate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Triolein, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Cyclodextrin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitol, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose, Citric Acid, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

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.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

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!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

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