The INKEY List Brighten-I Eye Cream Versus Herbivore Super Nova 5% THD Vitamin C + Caffeine Brightening Eye Cream
This eye moisturizer is formulated around Punica Granatum Seed Oil to hydrate skin.
This brightening eye moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Caffeine to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Polysilicone-11
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Polysilicone-11, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Trihydroxystearin, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingC9-12 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Triheptanoin, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearyl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ubiquinone, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, C9-12 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Sodium Phytate, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Bacillus Ferment, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
