NARS Cosmetics Climax Liquid Eyeliner Versus One/Size by Patrick Starrr Point Made Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Beheneth-30
CleansingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPolyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Simethicone
Emollient
Bentonite
Absorbent
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Trioleate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates Copolymer, Beheneth-30, Aminomethyl Propanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Simethicone, Bentonite, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Laurate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Trioleate, Sucrose Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77266
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Cellulose
Absorbent
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Poloxamer 407
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Methylpropanediol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Cellulose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Poloxamer 407, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, BHT, CI 77266
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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 WaterCI 77266 is a high-purity pigment used to create an intense black color in cosmetics. It is made up of fine particles of pure carbon. This ingredient is also often listed as Carbon Black in ingredient lists.
You'll likely find this ingredient in mascaras, eyeliners, brow products, and eye shadow.
In the US, this ingredient can only be used if it meets strict FDA specifications. Certain versions even require batch-by-batch certification after extensive safety evaluation.
In the European Union, this ingredient is permitted as a colorant and classified as a "nanomaterial" based on its particle size (meaning it requires deeper assessment).
The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has reviewed nano-sized carbon black specifically and concluded that it does not pose a risk to human health when used in cosmetic products applied to healthy, intact skin and formulated to avoid inhalation.
Studies support this regulatory stance. Laboratory studies on nano-carbon black show potential for cytotoxicity and inflammatory effects in immune cells; it is important to highlight these findings are based on in vitro (not done on a living organism) testing or inhalation scenarios rather than normal topical cosmetic use.
Occupational studies involving industrial workers exposed to airborne carbon black have not shown a clear link between cumulative exposure and cancer risk. These findings are not directly applicable to cosmetics; cosmetic formulations bind pigments within creams, gels, and liquids that are not inhaled.
Overall, evidence shows that this ingredient is safe under regulatory guidelines and purity standards, especially when formulated to avoid airborne exposure.
Even with regulatory approval and a long history of use, some consumers might prefer to avoid ingredients that are petroleum-derived or that fall under the “nanomaterial” category.
Choosing whether to use CI 77266 isn’t necessarily about safety alone; it can also be about personal philosophy, comfort level with synthetic versus natural ingredients, and how much weight you place on ongoing research and regulatory oversight.
Makeup is highly individual, and personal preference plays an important role in deciding what feels right for you.
Learn more about CI 77266
