Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum Versus Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Bakuchiol, Retinol, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Ferulic Acid, Ubiquinone, Quercetin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Phospholipids, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caffeine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Tetrapeptide-21, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Mandelic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentBisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Pandanus Conoideus Fruit Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Isododecane, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosterols, Phenoxyethanol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cyclodextrin, Bisabolol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinal, Pandanus Conoideus Fruit Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Sodium Polyaspartate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Trihydroxystearin
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.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 Water
