Skin science article
Fenty Beauty Flash Nap Instant Revival Priming Eye Gel-Cream Versus Fenty Beauty Thicc N Smooth Rich Peptide Eye Cream
Fenty Beauty Flash Nap Instant Revival Priming Eye Gel-Cream Versus Fenty Beauty Thicc N Smooth Rich Peptide Eye Cream This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Sodium Hyaluronate to soften the look of wrinkles and
Fenty Beauty Flash Nap Instant Revival Priming Eye Gel-Cream Versus Fenty Beauty Thicc N Smooth Rich Peptide Eye Cream
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Sodium Hyaluronate to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Propanediol
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Sorbitan Olivate
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Hyaluronic Acid
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Escin
Menthyl Lactate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Dimethicone
Potassium Hydroxide
Sodium Metabisulfite
Hydroxyacetophenone
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Phenoxyethanol
Mica
CI 77891
Benzyl Salicylate
Hexyl Cinnamal
Limonene
Linalool
Parfum
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Escin, Menthyl Lactate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Stearic Acid
Trioctyldodecyl Citrate
Niacinamide
Squalane
Arachidyl Alcohol
Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Caffeine
Polyglutamic Acid
Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Sodium PCA
Manganese PCA
Magnesium PCA
Zinc PCA
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice
Panthenol
Tocopherol
Gluconolactone
Synthetic Beeswax
Maltodextrin
Glucose
Arachidyl Glucoside
Behenyl Alcohol
Glyceryl Caprylate
Lauroyl Lysine
Sodium Polyacrylate
Xanthan Gum
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Caprylyl Glycol
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Citric Acid
CI 77491
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Propanediol, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Niacinamide, Squalane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caffeine, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium PCA, Manganese PCA, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Escin, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Gluconolactone, Synthetic Beeswax, Maltodextrin, Glucose, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Mica, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract yet.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
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.
We don't have a description for Escin yet.
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.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Mica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
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:
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.
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!