Belif Aqua Bomb Eye Gel Versus The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream

Belif Aqua Bomb Eye Gel Versus The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propanediol

Glycerin

1,2-Hexanediol

Niacinamide

Panthenol

Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch

Butylene Glycol

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Betaine

Tromethamine

Sodium Polyacrylate

Allantoin

Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract

Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract

Rosa Canina Fruit Extract

Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract

Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate

Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate

Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Sodium Gluconate

Adenosine

Caffeine

Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide

Cholesterol

Glutathione

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Alcohol Denat.

Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate

Squalane

Desamido Collagen

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Citrus Aurantifolia Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Limonene

Citronellol

Geraniol

Citral

Linalool

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Betaine, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Adenosine, Caffeine, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Cholesterol, Glutathione, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alcohol Denat., Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Squalane, Desamido Collagen, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate

Cetyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Behenate

Phenoxyethanol

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Jojoba Esters

Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract

Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax

Phospholipids

Ethylhexylglycerin

Xanthan Gum

Glycine Soja Oil

Polysorbate 60

Sodium Phytate

Glycolipids

Sorbitan Isostearate

Citric Acid

Glycine Soja Sterols

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Benzoate

Tocopherol

Carbomer

Darutoside

Sodium Lactate

Polysorbate 20

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Jojoba Esters, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Squalane, Caffeine, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Phospholipids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phytate, Glycolipids, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Glycine Soja Sterols, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Darutoside, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Reviews

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.

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.

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.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).

It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.

This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.

Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.

Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.

No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).

Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.

This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.

Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.

Read more about squalene with an "e".

Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.

The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.

Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.

A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.

The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.

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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