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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Phytosphingosine

Skin Conditioning

Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.

Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.

Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.

Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.

More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:

Learn more about Phytosphingosine

Cholesterol

Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning

Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.

Our skin naturally contains cholesterol in the outermost layer. Besides cholesterol, it also contains ceramides and fatty acids. Cholesterol makes up about 1/4 of your skin's outer layer and barrier. Your skin barrier is responsible for keeping allergens and microbes out. Having a healthy skin barrier is also responsible for keeping your skin firm and plump.

Our bodies use cholestrol to create vitamin D, steroid hormones, and more.

Learn more about Cholesterol

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.

C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream

Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex

When to use

Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream 78 ingredients

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex 48 ingredients

100 Routines

61% use in am

39% use in pm

95% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

232 Routines

18% use in am

82% use in pm

94% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream 78 ingredients

5.0 /5

from 2 ratings

Expensive (1) Works Well (1)

Lapaki

2 years ago

Review

Far better than I expected
When I bought this eye moisturizer, I was only hoping for a slightly fresher, more awake look. I didn't expect my dark circles, which have been with me eversince, to becoome this much less visible and almost vanish. Love it! 🧡 It also doesn't irritate my otherwise sensitive skin around the eyes. I'm using it on a daily basis in my morning routine and am very happy with Show more

Drunk Elephant

C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream

ebru bahadir

10 days ago

Review

Best one yet so far for my hyperpigmentad under eyes

#expensive

#works well

Drunk Elephant

C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex 48 ingredients

3.3 /5

from 4 ratings

Hydrating (2) Expensive (2) Doesn't Work (1)

K

4 months ago

Review

didn't work at all, also gave me tiny pimples around the eyes

#broke me out

#doesn't work

Estée Lauder

Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex

Lapaki

2 years ago

Review

Another bad experience...
After about a week the skin around my eyes started reacting to it, not in a pleasant way - bit burning, irritation and redness... Had to stop using it and gave it to my mother. Works fine for her but she doesn't have sensitive skin.

Estée Lauder

Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex