Skin science article
Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Eye Cream Versus Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream
Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Eye Cream Versus Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This bright
Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Eye Cream Versus Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This brightening eye moisturizer is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Dimethicone
Glycerin
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Niacinamide
Alcohol Denat.
Propylene Glycol
Silica
Propanediol
Polysilicone-11
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Carbomer
Ceteareth-20
Caffeine
Sodium Citrate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Lactate
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Adenosine
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Boron Nitride
Dipropylene Glycol
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Caprylyl Glycol
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polysorbate 20
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Tocopherol
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Chlorphenesin
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Niacinamide, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Silica, Propanediol, Polysilicone-11, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Ceteareth-20, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Adenosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Boron Nitride, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Chlorphenesin
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Triheptanoin
Ascorbyl Glucoside
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Arachidyl Alcohol
Cetearyl Alcohol
C13-15 Alkane
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Sh-Polypeptide-121
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Hyaluronic Acid
Zerumbone
Bacillus Ferment
Tocopheryl Acetate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Behenyl Alcohol
Arachidyl Glucoside
Cetyl Alcohol
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Sodium Metabisulfite
Phenoxyethanol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hexylene Glycol
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sh-Polypeptide-121, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hyaluronic Acid, Zerumbone, Bacillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
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.
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).
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.
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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
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.
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!