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Glad2Glow Berry Peptide Eye Cream Versus Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex

Glad2Glow Berry Peptide Eye Cream Versus Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 to soften the look of wrinkles. This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Nia

Glad2Glow Berry Peptide Eye Cream Versus Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 to soften the look of wrinkles.

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Dimethicone

Methylpropanediol

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Maris Aqua

Cyclopentasiloxane

Cetyl Alcohol

Octyldodecanol

Glyceryl Stearate

Niacinamide

Cyclohexasiloxane

Hydroxyacetophenone

1,2-Hexanediol

Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

PEG-75 Stearate

Tocopheryl Acetate

Steareth-20

Ceteth-20

Butylene Glycol

Bisabolol

Pentylene Glycol

Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate

Gentiana Scabra Root Extract

Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid

Caffeine

Sodium Hyaluronate

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Tocopherol

Ceramide EOP

Ceramide AP

Ceramide Ns

Ceramide Ng

Ceramide As

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Smithsonite Extract

Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract

Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract

Zea Mays Kernel Extract

Palmaria Palmata Extract

Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate

Ceramide NP

Echinacea Purpurea Extract

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract

Trehalose

Sophora Flavescens Root Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Dendrobium Nobile Stem Extract

Erythritol

Xanthan Gum

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Disodium EDTA

Cyclodextrin

Polysorbate 20

Carbomer

Arginine

Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Methylpropanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Maris Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-75 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-20, Ceteth-20, Butylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Pentylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tocopherol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide As, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Smithsonite Extract, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide NP, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dendrobium Nobile Stem Extract, Erythritol, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Arginine

Methylheptyl Isostearate

Diglycerin

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil

PEG-100 Stearate

Isohexadecane

Propanediol

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Algae Extract

Retinol

Saccharomyces Lysate Extract

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Dunaliella Salina Extract

Panthenol

Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein

Dipeptide-2

Medicago Sativa Seed Extract

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Glucosamine Hcl

Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil

Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract

Silanetriol

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Lecithin

Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide

Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Dimethiconol

Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone

Pantolactone

Sodium Lactate

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Laureth-23

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Urea

Polyglycerin-3

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Cetyl Palmitate

Trideceth-6 Phosphate

Potassium Sorbate

Oleth-20

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Isostearic Acid

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Sodium Benzoate

BHA

Potassium Citrate

Citric Acid

BHT

Sodium Hydroxide

Aminomethyl Propanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Diglycerin, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Algae Extract, Retinol, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Dipeptide-2, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Medicago Sativa Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Bisabolol, Caffeine, Glucosamine Hcl, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Silanetriol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Lecithin, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Dimethiconol, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Pantolactone, Sodium Lactate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Laureth-23, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Urea, Polyglycerin-3, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Oleth-20, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Isostearic Acid, Steareth-20, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, BHA, Potassium Citrate, Citric Acid, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.

Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.

It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.

As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.

Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.

Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:

Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.

It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.

Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.

It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.

A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.

In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.

You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.

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.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.

As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.

Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.

You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.

Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.

Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.

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.

Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.

Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.

This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.

A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.

Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.

Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.

Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.

Its main roles are:

Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.

The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.

Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.

Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.

The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics

There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.

Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.

The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.

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.

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

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.

Glyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.

Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.

This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.

A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.

Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.

Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

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.

Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:

Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.

On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.

Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.

Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.

It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.

The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.

Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).

True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.

Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.

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.

Steareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.

As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.

You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.

Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

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.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

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.

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!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

02

Product index

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03

Comparison edit

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