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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 versus Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm .

Published on April 21, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain ceramides

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum British Brand United Kingdom
Eye Moisturizer American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Eye Moisturizer

Eye moisturizers help add moisture back into the skin around the eyes; these can be creams, gels, or serums.

Price

Shop

Buy Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3

Starts at $53.00
Shop

Buy Ceramighty AF Eye Balm

Starts at $60.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Vitamin E (2)
Ceramides
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (7)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (5)
Acne Trigger (3)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators
Ceramides (3)

Benefits

Hydrating (9)
Redness Reducing (6)
Reduces Irritation (6)
Anti-Aging (4)
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (6)
Acne Trigger (3)
Rosacea
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 1.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

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 Propanediol

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 4.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 33.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 7.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 12.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 9.

5
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 13.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 6.

6
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 18.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 37.

7
What it does: Cleansing, Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Linoleic Acid is Vitamin F and a fatty acid. It is an emollient and helps thicken texture. Linoleic acid helps with hydrating skin and nourishing the skin's barrier. The top layer of skin, or epidermis, contains high amounts of linoleic acid naturally.

Your body uses linoleic acid to build ceramides and prostaglandins. Ceramides keep your skin's barrier plump and firm. Prosaglandins help control inflammation and healing.

This makes linoleic acid effectives for reducing inflammation, hydrating skin, and firming skin. A side effect may include extra protection against UV damage and free radicals. This is due to linoleic acid strengthening the skin barrier.

Low levels of linoleic acid is also associated with acne-prone skin. By keeping sebum soft, it prevents pores from clogging.

Linoleic acid can is in common foods such as nuts, sunflower oil, corn oil, and soybean oil.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

CHEM: 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (9Z, 12Z)-

Learn more about Linoleic Acid

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 24.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 5.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ceramide NP is a type of ceramide.

Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.

Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.

If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.

Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP

Learn more about Ceramide NP

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 25.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 19.

9
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan 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

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 40.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 31.

10
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 42.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 43.

11
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 45.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 8.

12
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 contains this as ingredient number 46.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm contains this as ingredient number 40.

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

36% are loved or liked
19% have mixed ratings
34% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet
40% are loved or liked
21% have mixed ratings
36% are disliked or very disliked
2% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 47 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating
Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1)
nasaye's avatar

nasaye

3 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Nice enough for evening routine. I don't see the retinal making any major difference.

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm 42 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Lapaki's avatar

Lapaki

1 year ago · Dry Skin
Review

Restorative and soothing eye balm
After the great experience with DE's C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, I got the ceramid rich eye balm for my...

Restorative and soothing eye balm
After the great experience with DE's C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, I got the ceramid rich eye balm for my evening routine. Once again, I am very happy with the results! 💜 Skin is plumper, fine lines are reduced, I wake up with firm, bouncy skin, and it hasn't caused any skin irritation, on the contrary - it is very soothing and hydrating.

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