Skin science article
COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream Versus Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C™ Vitamin C Power Eye Cream
COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream Versus Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C™ Vitamin C Power Eye Cream This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Snail Secretion Filtrate and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This anti-aging e
COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream Versus Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C™ Vitamin C Power Eye Cream
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Snail Secretion Filtrate and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Tocopheryl Acetate to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
1,2-Hexanediol
Niacinamide
Water
Palmitic Acid
Arginine
Carbomer
Stearic Acid
Betaine
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Sodium Polyacrylate
Allantoin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Panthenol
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
Adenosine
Xanthan Gum
Myristic Acid
Copper Tripeptide-1
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Water, Palmitic Acid, Arginine, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Myristic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
C9-12 Alkane
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Ferulic Acid
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Behenyl Alcohol
Methyl Trimethicone
Methyldihydrojasmonate
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Diamond Powder
Caffeine
Ubiquinone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Squalane
Soluble Collagen
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Tribehenin
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Sodium Hydroxide
Myristyl Alcohol
Steareth-20
Mica
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Butylene Glycol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, C9-12 Alkane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Ferulic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Carbomer, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Diamond Powder, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ubiquinone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Squalane, Soluble Collagen, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tribehenin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Mica, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
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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.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
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!