Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream versus The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on January 19, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe eye moisturizers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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.
Eye Moisturizer
Eye moisturizers help add moisture back into the skin around the eyes; these can be creams, gels, or serums.
Eye Moisturizer
Eye moisturizers help add moisture back into the skin around the eyes; these can be creams, gels, or serums.
Ingredient Info
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream 29 ingredients
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream 30 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream 29 ingredients
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream 30 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream 29 ingredients
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream 30 ingredients
Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Pentaerythrityl Distearate • Shea Butter Ethyl Esters • Cetearyl Olivate • Phenoxyethanol • Benzyl Alcohol • Sorbitan Olivate • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Sodium Hydroxide • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Copernicia Cerifera Cera • Propanediol • Glycogen • Sodium Gluconate • Retinol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Dehydroacetic Acid • Citric Acid • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol • Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate • Tocopherol • Xanthan Gum • Humulus Lupulus Extract
Water • 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
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterThe INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
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 TriglycerideThe INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 GlycerinThe INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.
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.
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 8.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 11.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholThe INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 9.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 14.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken and improve the texture of products.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is also an emulsifier. Due to its properties, it can prevent water and oil ingredients from separating.
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 11.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 19.
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 HydroxideThe INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 12.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateThe INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 13.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 28.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an emulsifier and helps condition the skin. It is amino acid-based.
In higher amounts, it may act as a cleansing agent.
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 14.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.
This is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateThe INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 18.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 20.
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.
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 20.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 21.
Dehydroacetic Acid is fungicide and bactericide. It is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Preservatives help elongate the shelf life of a product.
Dehydroacetic Acid is not soluble in water.
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 21.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream contains this as ingredient number 23.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream 29 ingredients
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream 30 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream 29 ingredients
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream 30 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream 29 ingredients
Lakooo
Good, but not a stand-alone eye product
Like everything from the Inkey List, this is affordable, reliable, and well formulated, if not a product...
Good, but not a stand-alone eye product
Like everything from the Inkey List, this is affordable, reliable, and well formulated, if not a product no one can live without. To get the full benefit, you must also use a hydrating toner/mist and the Inkey List's Brighten-I cream at night.
The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream 30 ingredients
Lakooo
Good, but not a stand-alone eye product
Like everything from the Inkey List, this is affordable, reliable, and well formulated, if not a product...
Good, but not a stand-alone eye product
Like everything from the Inkey List, this is affordable, reliable, and well formulated, if not a product no one can live without. To get the full benefit, you have to use a hydrating toner/mist and pair this eye cream with the Inkey List caffeine eye cream in the morning and retinol eye cream at night.
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 41 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream.
See 41 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 32 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream.
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