Skin science article
Clarins Double Serum Eye Versus Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum
Clarins Double Serum Eye Versus Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier. This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niaci
Clarins Double Serum Eye Versus Olay Eyes Eye Lifting Serum
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Propanediol
Squalane
Niacinamide
Pentylene Glycol
Glycerin
Boron Nitride
Maltodextrin
C14-22 Alcohols
Caffeine
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
1,2-Hexanediol
Parfum
Tocopheryl Acetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
Escin
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables
Polysorbate 60
Sorbitan Isostearate
Caramel
Marrubium Vulgare Extract
Phenethyl Alcohol
Anthriscus Sylvestris Extract
Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
T-Butyl Alcohol
Sodium Hydroxide
Citric Acid
Maris Sal
Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Boron Nitride, Maltodextrin, C14-22 Alcohols, Caffeine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Escin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caramel, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Anthriscus Sylvestris Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Maris Sal
Dimethicone
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyethylene
Panthenol
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Allantoin
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Dimethiconol
Laureth-4
Laureth-7
Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
Disodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Phenoxyethanol
Titanium Dioxide
Mica
Iron Oxides
Caprylyl Glycol
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dimethiconol, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
Emollient, helping to soften skin
Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
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!