Murad Renewing Eye Cream Versus IMAGE skincare Vital C Hydrating Eye Recovery Gel

Murad Renewing Eye Cream Versus IMAGE skincare Vital C Hydrating Eye Recovery Gel

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

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate to soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Butylene Glycol

Tricaprylyl Citrate

Pentylene Glycol

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2

Jojoba Esters

Glycerin

Boron Nitride

Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride

Cetyl Alcohol

Stearic Acid

Glyceryl Stearate

PEG-100 Stearate

Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Dimethicone

Cetyl Phosphate

Urea

Yeast Amino Acids

Trehalose

Inositol

Taurine

Betaine

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Iris Florentina Root Extract

Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract

Glycine Soja Sterols

Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Retinol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract

Oenothera Biennis Oil

Tocopherol

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Borago Officinalis Seed Oil

Dipeptide-2

Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Sodium PCA

Panthenol

Oleyl Alcohol

Steareth-20

Lecithin

Carbomer

Polysorbate 20

Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate

Aminomethyl Propanol

Disodium EDTA

Silica

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol

Chlorphenesin

CI 77891

Water, Butylene Glycol, Tricaprylyl Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Dimethicone, Cetyl Phosphate, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Dipeptide-2, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Oleyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Lecithin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, CI 77891

Cetearyl Alcohol

Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline

Ceteareth-20

Cyclopentasiloxane

PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer

PEG-8 Dimethicone

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract

Sodium Hydroxide

Linoleic Acid

Phospholipids

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Hexylene Glycol

Sodium Lactate

Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil

PEG-8

Limonene

Echinacea Angustifolia Extract

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Citrate

Chlorhexidine Digluconate

N-Hydroxysuccinimide

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Hyaluronic Acid

Centella Asiatica Extract

Potassium Sorbate

Acetyl Octapeptide-3

Glycine

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Olea Europaea Leaf Extract

Retinyl Palmitate

Citric Acid

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Darutoside

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Glucose

Chrysin

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract

Biotin

Carrageenan

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 20, Ceteareth-20, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Steareth-20, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, PEG-8, Limonene, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Glycine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Darutoside, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glucose, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Biotin, Dipeptide-2, Carrageenan, Tocopherol, Lecithin

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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.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.

Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.

In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.

Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.

This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.

This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.

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).

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.

Dipeptide-2 is a peptide. It can help to reduce the effects of aging.

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.

Glycine Soja Sterols are plant-derived fatty alcohols (phytosterols) from soybean.

You can think of them like the plant world's version of cholesterol; they're structurally similar enough to slot into your skin's lipid barrier and help it do its job.

Phytosterols aid skin barrier recovery by traveling deeper into the skin rather than just sitting on top of it. Once inside, they reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and keep skin feeling soft / supple.

Research on phytosterols in keratinocyte and macrophase models has shown meaningful inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators. This supports their reputation as a calming ingredient for reactive or sensitive skin.

Subjects with soy allergies did not show a reaction to phytosterols in safety tests, but it wouldn't hurt to patch test if you do have a soy allergy.

Fungal acne: Malassezia uses sterols to build its own cell walls so there's a theoretical concern that it could also make use of sterol ingredients in skincare.

Though no study has actually proven this happens with topical products, we err on the side of caution and list this ingredient as not safe for fungal acne. However, it may not be a trigger for everyone.

Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone (HMC) is a modified form of hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid. It has antioxidant properties.

In preclinical research, HMC has been studied for its ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation related to UVB exposure. Outside of cosmetics, HMC has been looked at for its effects on capillary leakage and swelling. This is why you'll often see this ingredient in eye creams.

Overall, HMC is a gentle and supportive ingredient. Further research is needed on the claims that this ingredient can "erase dark circles".

Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.

Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:

It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".

"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.

This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.

Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:

Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.

You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.

A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.

Fungal acne note: Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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