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Bad Habit Eyes Open Caffeine And Peptide Eye Cream Versus Clarins Total Eye Lift

Bad Habit Eyes Open Caffeine And Peptide Eye Cream Versus Clarins Total Eye Lift This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and calm redness. This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formul

Bad Habit Eyes Open Caffeine And Peptide Eye Cream Versus Clarins Total Eye Lift

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and calm redness.

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine to soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glycerin

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Dimethicone

Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Pentylene Glycol

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Mica

Caffeine

Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract

Dunaliella Salina Extract

Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Panthenol

Saccharide Isomerate

Cetearyl Glucoside

Glyceryl Stearate

PEG-100 Stearate

Butylene Glycol

Coconut Alkanes

Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer

Polysorbate 60

Sorbitol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Chlorphenesin

Jojoba Alcohol

Potassium Jojobate

Steareth-20

Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone

Bisabolol

Sodium Phytate

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Citric Acid

Asparagopsis Armata Extract

Silica

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Sodium Hyaluronate

N-Hydroxysuccinimide

Dipeptide-2

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Chrysin

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Caprylyl Glycol

T-Butyl Alcohol

Glucose

Chlorhexidine Digluconate

Sodium Citrate

Pantolactone

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Biotin

CI 77891

CI 77491

CI 16035

CI 19140

Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Mica, Caffeine, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Coconut Alkanes, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorphenesin, Jojoba Alcohol, Potassium Jojobate, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Bisabolol, Sodium Phytate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Citric Acid, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Silica, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Glucose, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Sodium Citrate, Pantolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Biotin, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 16035, CI 19140

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Propanediol

Betaine

Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides

Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract

Acacia Farnesiana Flower Wax

Steareth-21

Carbomer

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Disodium EDTA

Escin

Parfum

Dimethiconol

Sodium Hydroxide

Alcohol

Harungana Madagascariensis Extract

Olea Europaea Fruit Extract

Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract

Tin Oxide

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2

Dextran

Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Acacia Farnesiana Flower Wax, Caffeine, Steareth-21, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 77891, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disodium EDTA, Escin, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Tin Oxide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Dextran

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.

Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).

Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.

While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.

As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.

Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.

You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.

Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.

Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.

Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.

Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.

It plays several roles in a formula:

Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.

Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.

However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.

Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.

Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.

Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.

This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.

A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.

Cetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.

Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.

Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.

Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.

Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.

Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.

Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.

Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.

It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.

Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Glycerin (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.

Glyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.

Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.

This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.

A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.

Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.

Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.

PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.

Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:

Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.

On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.

Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Tocopheryl 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%.

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. Remember to stay hydrated!

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Ingredients & structured notes

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