innisfree Perfect 9 Repair Eye Cream Versus Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This brightening eye moisturizer is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Adenosine to fade the look of dark spots and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Parfum
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPrunella Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTaraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Glucose
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Squalane, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Polyacrylate-13, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behenyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Polyisobutene, Parfum, Propanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Glucose, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Tocopherol, Sparassis Crispa Extract
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Polysilicone-11
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Steareth-20
CleansingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Lauroyl Lysine, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polysilicone-11, CI 77891, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Steareth-20, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Chrysin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citric Acid, Biotin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.
The way it works is fairly well mapped out:
Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.
The clinical backing is pretty solid too.
A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.
A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.
On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.
This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.
Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.
Learn more about AdenosineCyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneDimethicone 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.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
