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COLLISTAR Milano Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Eye Contour Versus iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Extreme Cream Eye

COLLISTAR Milano Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Eye Contour Versus iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Extreme Cream Eye This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This anti-aging

COLLISTAR Milano Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Eye Contour Versus iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Extreme Cream Eye

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Pentylene Glycol

Butylene Glycol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydroxyacetophenone

Fructose

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Algin

Caprylyl Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Propanediol

Glycerin

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Phytate

Withania Somnifera Root Extract

Sodium Hydroxide

Glyceryl Caprylate

Bacillus Ferment

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

Citric Acid

Ethylhexylglycerin

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Water, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Fructose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Bacillus Ferment, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

C13-15 Alkane

Squalane

Lauryl Laurate

Polyglyceryl-5 Polyricinoleate

Magnesium Sulfate

Quaternium-90 Bentonite

Polyglyceryl-20 Octadecabehenate/Laurate

Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide

Prolinamidoethyl Imidazole

Arginine

Acmella Oleracea Extract

Coffea Arabica Seed Oil

Centella Asiatica Extract

Tremella Fuciformis Extract

Glyceryl Glucoside

Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract

Tulipa Gesneriana Flower Extract

Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract

Gluconolactone

Bisabolol

Allantoin

Sodium PCA

Oryza Sativa Bran Oil

Maltodextrin

Dextran

Glyceryl Behenate

Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate

Tocopherol

Stearic Acid

Calcium Gluconate

Triethyl Citrate

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Zinc Stearate

Water, C13-15 Alkane, Squalane, Propanediol, Lauryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-5 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Magnesium Sulfate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Polyglyceryl-20 Octadecabehenate/Laurate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Prolinamidoethyl Imidazole, Arginine, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Tulipa Gesneriana Flower Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Gluconolactone, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Fructose, Maltodextrin, Dextran, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate, Tocopherol, Stearic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Triethyl Citrate, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Zinc Stearate

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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.

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

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (also known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide that is often called a "topical Botox alternative".

It works by mimicking how Botox relaxes muscles; it interferes with the signaling process that tells your facial muscles to contract. This can help soften expression lines like forehead wrinkles or crow's feet over time.

The comparison to Botox does have limits because the molecule is water-loving and relatively large.

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 has a hard time absorbing deeply enough through the skin's outer barrier to actually reach the muscles.

So whether it truly works the way Botox does at a biological level is still up for debate, but early clinical outcomes are fairly encouraging.

A 12 week human study of a multi-ingredient regimen containing this ingredient saw:

While some studies have observed improvements in wrinkle appearance, it is important to note that more consistent results are seen in multi-ingredient formulations (vs just Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 alone).

Some research studies also used higher concentrations (up to 10%) while this ingredient is usually found in concentrations up to 0.005% in leave-on formulations.

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 is a peptide that goes by another name, eyeseryl, due to claims that it can help reduce eye puffiness.

The manufacturer claims this ingredient reduces eye puffiness by:

An in-vivo study from the manufacturer found 95% of volunteers saw eye bag improvement by the end of the study.

Eye puffiness is caused by two major factors: fluid retention and fat.

Those with fluid retention may see improvement from using this ingredient. However, those with eye fat will need surgical intervention in order to get rid of puffiness.

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.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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.

Fructose is fruit/plant sugar. It can be found in apples, figs, and honey.

This ingredient is a humectant. Humectants help draw moisture from the air to your skin, keeping your skin hydrated.

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.

Hydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.

As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.

Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.

This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.

You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.

Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.

An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.

So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.

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.

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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