Skin science article
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel Versus Derma E Vitamin C No Dark Circles Perfecting Eye Cream
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel Versus Derma E Vitamin C No Dark Circles Perfecting Eye Cream This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine to soften the look of wrinkles. This brightening eye moisturizer is formulated around Sodium A
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel Versus Derma E Vitamin C No Dark Circles Perfecting Eye Cream
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine to soften the look of wrinkles.
This brightening eye moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Propanediol
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
1,2-Hexanediol
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Corn Starch Modified
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Panthenol
Allantoin
Adenosine
Tocopherol
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Caffeine
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Corn Starch Modified, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
Coco-Caprylate
Titanium Dioxide
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Cocoglycerides
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Ceteareth-6 Olivate
Diethylhexyl Succinate
Lauryl Glucoside
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Kaolin
Bentonite
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Triheptanoin
Curcumin
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Niacinamide
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Sorbitol
Mica
Tocopheryl Acetate
Xanthan Gum
Jojoba Esters
Sodium Phytate
Alumina
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Silica
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil
Benzyl Acetate
Geraniol
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Citral
Linalool
Decanal
Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil
Potassium Sorbate
Tin Oxide
Iron Oxides
C13-16 Isoparaffin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Titanium Dioxide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cocoglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Kaolin, Bentonite, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Triheptanoin, Curcumin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Panthenol, Sorbitol, Mica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Phytate, Alumina, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Caffeine, Silica, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil, Benzyl Acetate, Geraniol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citral, Linalool, Decanal, Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides, C13-16 Isoparaffin, 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.
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.
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.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
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.
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!