Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum Versus Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
Updated on July 18, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe eye moisturizers. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
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 common allergens, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum 39 ingredients
Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream 21 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum 39 ingredients
Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream 21 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPapaver Rhoeas Extract
EmollientBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHieracium Pilosella Extract
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyquaternium-80
CleansingDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Polyglycerin-6, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Niacinamide, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinol, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Papaver Rhoeas Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Hieracium Pilosella Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ceramide NP, Pentylene Glycol, Lecithin, Methylpropanediol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-80, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dehydroacetate
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Palmitate, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sorbitan Palmitate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Astaxanthin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterThis ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum 39 ingredients
Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream 21 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Sunday Riley 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum 39 ingredients
Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream 21 ingredients
TL;DR: Expensive, but softens my under eye wrinkles tremendously!
I received this as a sample from Sephora while getting something else, and since I was looking for an eye cream, trialed this.
I actually really like it, and it didn't irritate my under eye area at all. Didn't notice any breakouts in the area while using it either, and it left my skin nice and hydrated. I pat it into my skin Show more
This has been fantastic for healing the skin around my eyes after a bout of nasty blepharitis caused by blasting my eyes with too much vitamin c.
Highly recommended for recovery of dry, damaged skin.
