Skin science article
Clinique All About Eyes Versus Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer
Clinique All About Eyes Versus Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer This eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Phytosphingosine to hydrate skin. This brightening moisturizer is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside t
Clinique All About Eyes Versus Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer
This eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Phytosphingosine to hydrate skin.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Water
Isostearyl Palmitate
Polyethylene
Butylene Glycol
Polysilicone-11
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Morus Bombycis Root Extract
Caffeine
Phytosphingosine
Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Whey Protein
Olea Europaea Fruit Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Cholesterol
Linoleic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Pyridoxine Dipalmitate
Sucrose
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Glyceryl Laurate
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Petrolatum
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Propylene Carbonate
Sodium Chloride
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
CI 77491
CI 77492
CI 77499
Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Isostearyl Palmitate, Polyethylene, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Caffeine, Phytosphingosine, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Whey Protein, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine Dipalmitate, Sucrose, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Laurate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Squalane
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Acetyl Sh-Hexapeptide-5 Amide Acetate
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Propanediol
Jojoba Esters
Tocopherol
Acetyl Zingerone
Cetyl Palmitate
Caprylyl Glycol
Cetyl Alcohol
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Sodium Hydroxide
Sorbitan Olivate
Sorbitan Palmitate
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hexylene Glycol
Sodium Phytate
Polysorbate 60
Sorbitan Isostearate
Lecithin
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Glycine Soja Oil
Lysolecithin
Bacillus Ferment
Citric Acid
Polyglutamic Acid
Beta-Sitosterol
Phytic Acid
Squalene
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acetyl Sh-Hexapeptide-5 Amide Acetate, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Propanediol, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Acetyl Zingerone, Cetyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lecithin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Lysolecithin, Bacillus Ferment, Citric Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Beta-Sitosterol, Phytic Acid, Squalene, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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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.
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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
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!