This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This smoothing eye moisturizer is formulated around Silica and Ascorbyl Glucoside to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantJojoba Esters
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythritol
HumectantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, 2,3-Butanediol, Jojoba Esters, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Bisabolol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Xanthan Gum, Bakuchiol, Caffeine, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Isostearic Acid, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Pentaerythritol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tocopherol, Copper Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCassia Angustifolia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarrageenan
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Formate
Buffering
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
ChelatingWater, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sucrose Polystearate, Triheptanoin, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-16 Isoalkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Saccharomyces Ferment, Diheptyl Succinate, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Extract, Carrageenan, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Panthenol, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cetyl Palmitate, Chlorphenesin, Lauroyl Lysine, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Formate, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric 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.
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol 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.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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!
Learn more about WaterXanthan 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.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
