StriVectin Super-C SPF 30 Vitamin C Face Moisturizer Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex

StriVectin Super-C SPF 30 Vitamin C Face Moisturizer Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex

This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ergothioneine to brighten dull-looking 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

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%

Homosalate 7%

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%

Octocrylene 10%

Water

Propanediol

Dimethicone

Cetearyl Alcohol

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Ergothioneine

Mannitol

Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate

Myristyl Nicotinate

Citrus Japonica Fruit Extract

Oryza Sativa Germ Extract

Morinda Citrifolia Extract

Oryza Sativa Extract

Glycerin

Glycine Soja Oil

Tocopheryl Acetate

Cetearyl Glucoside

Lecithin

Ubiquinone

Butylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Decyl Glucoside

Hexylene Glycol

Caprylyl Glycol

Polysilicone-11

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Aminomethyl Propanol

Disodium EDTA

Parfum

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Limonene

Linalool

Benzyl Benzoate

Geraniol

Citral

CI 19140

CI 16035

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ergothioneine, Mannitol, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Myristyl Nicotinate, Citrus Japonica Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Ubiquinone, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Citral, CI 19140, CI 16035

Methyl Trimethicone

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Sucrose

Petrolatum

Polysorbate 40

Trehalose

Algae Extract

Morus Bombycis Root Extract

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Lactobacillus Ferment

Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Betula Alba Bark Extract

Hydrolyzed Algin

Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract

Jojoba Alcohol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Isopropyl Jojobate

Jojoba Esters

Isohexadecane

Faex Extract

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone

Cholesterol

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract

Sodium Rna

Caffeine

Polysorbate 80

Phytosphingosine

Squalane

Potassium Sulfate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Tripeptide-32

Tromethamine

BHT

CI 77491

CI 77492

CI 77499

Methyl Trimethicone, Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Sucrose, Petrolatum, Polysorbate 40, Trehalose, Algae Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Jojoba Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Isopropyl Jojobate, Jojoba Esters, Isohexadecane, Faex Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Cholesterol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Rna, Caffeine, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Squalane, Potassium Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tripeptide-32, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499

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.

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.

As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.

It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.

A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.

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.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

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.

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

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.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.

Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.

It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.

One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.

Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.

Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.

The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.

Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.

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!

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