Educational guide
StriVectin 360° Tightening Eye Serum Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
StriVectin 360° Tightening Eye Serum Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2 to soften t
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StriVectin 360° Tightening Eye Serum Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate to strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Propanediol
Glycerin
Myristyl Nicotinate
Dimethicone
Pullulan
Maris Aqua
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Dextrin
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Dipeptide-2
Caffeine
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
1,2-Hexanediol
Phospholipids
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Bacillus Ferment
Silica
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Steareth-20
Adenosine
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Butylene Glycol
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Glyceryl Caprylate
Tocopherol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Xanthan Gum
Mica
Citric Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Citrate
Benzoic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Hydroxide
CI 77891
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Myristyl Nicotinate, Dimethicone, Pullulan, Maris Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dextrin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Dipeptide-2, Caffeine, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phospholipids, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Bacillus Ferment, Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Steareth-20, Adenosine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Mica, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77891
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Methyl Gluceth-20
PEG-75
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Cola Acuminata Seed Extract
Hydrolyzed Algin
Pantethine
Lecithin
Tripeptide-32
Sodium Rna
Bisabolol
Glycereth-26
Squalane
Sodium Hyaluronate
Oleth-3 Phosphate
Caprylyl Glycol
Lactobacillus Ferment
Oleth-3
Oleth-5
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Faex Extract
Choleth-24
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Ceteth-24
Tocopheryl Acetate
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Hexylene Glycol
Carbomer
Triethanolamine
Trisodium EDTA
BHT
CI 14700
CI 19140
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-75, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Pantethine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Tripeptide-32, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Rna, Bisabolol, Glycereth-26, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Faex Extract, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceteth-24, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hexylene Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Trisodium EDTA, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
Reviews
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.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
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.
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.