My iN.gredients Caffeine Under-Eye Solution Versus Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Epigallocatechin Gallate to soften the look of wrinkles.
This anti-aging eye mask is formulated around Persea Gratissima Oil and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingPoloxamer 235
EmulsifyingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantTocophersolan
AntioxidantEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Poloxamer 235, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocophersolan, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Poloxamer 338
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantStearic Acid
CleansingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningPei-10
Hydrated Silica
AbrasiveSodium Chloride
MaskingFructan
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSpirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingCurcumin
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPotassium Chloride
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientKaolin
AbrasiveCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingC13-15 Alkane
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAroma
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, C9-12 Alkane, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Squalane, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylresorcinol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Pei-10, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Chloride, Fructan, Maltodextrin, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Curcumin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Arginine, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Kaolin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polyisobutene, Pvp, C13-15 Alkane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Aroma
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 PropanediolWater. 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