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Skin science article

Niod Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate Serum Versus Rodial Pink Diamond Instant lifting Serum

Niod Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate Serum Versus Rodial Pink Diamond Instant lifting Serum This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the lo

Niod Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate Serum Versus Rodial Pink Diamond Instant lifting Serum

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the look of dark spots.

This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Propanediol

Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract

Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract

Niacinamide

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

Decapeptide-22

Oligopeptide-78

Palmitoyl Decapeptide-21

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52

Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50

Pentapeptide-18

Acetyl Hexapeptide-30

Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate

Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18

S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic Acetate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Darutoside

Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside

Gallyl Glucoside

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Zinc PCA

Methylglucoside Phosphate

Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate

Copper Lysinate/Prolinate

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Superoxide Dismutase

Escin

Ascorbic Acid

Ammonium Glycyrrhizate

Polyglucuronic Acid

Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract

Asparagopsis Armata Extract

Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract

Olea Europaea Leaf Extract

Polypodium Vulgare Rhizome Extract

Cetraria Islandica Thallus Extract

Sphagnum Magellanicum Extract

Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract

Centella Asiatica Extract

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

Arginine

Panthenol

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Glycine Soja Protein

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein

Lecithin

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Xanthan Gum

Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose

Silanetriol

Sodium Dextran Sulfate

Sorbitol

Pentylene Glycol

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Citric Acid

Glycolic Acid

Lactic Acid

Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer

PPG-26-Buteth-26

Polyvinyl Alcohol

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Propyl Gallate

Potassium Sorbate

Caprylyl Glycol

Glyceryl Caprylate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Sodium Benzoate

Benzyl Alcohol

Phenylpropanol

Dehydroacetic Acid

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Niacinamide, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Decapeptide-22, Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Decapeptide-21, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Pentapeptide-18, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Darutoside, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Zinc PCA, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Superoxide Dismutase, Escin, Ascorbic Acid, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Polyglucuronic Acid, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Polypodium Vulgare Rhizome Extract, Cetraria Islandica Thallus Extract, Sphagnum Magellanicum Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Arginine, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Glycine Soja Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Lecithin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Silanetriol, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sorbitol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Polyvinyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propyl Gallate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenylpropanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer

Carbomer

Mica

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract

Sodium Hydroxide

Cyclopentasiloxane

Buteth-3

Pvp

Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate

Ethylhexyl Cocoate

Disodium EDTA

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Parfum

Silica

Dimethiconol

Propylene Glycol

Tributyl Citrate

Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate

Citronellol

Water, Butylene Glycol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Mica, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Buteth-3, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Pvp, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Disodium EDTA, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Silica, Dimethiconol, Propylene Glycol, Tributyl Citrate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Citronellol

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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.

Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.

This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.

As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.

The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.

This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.

It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.

Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.

At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.

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.

Dehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.

As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.

It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

This ingredient is a plant-derived protein made by breaking down wheat proteins into smaller amino acids and peptides. It has skin and hair conditioning properties.

People with known wheat allergy or a history of immediate reactions should be cautious with leave-on products containing hydrolyzed wheat proteins.

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.

As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.

Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.

This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.

A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

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.

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

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01Water. 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.
  2. 02So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
  3. 03You'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!
  4. 04Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  5. 05Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  6. 06Your 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.
  7. 07Aquaporin-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.
  8. 08This 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.
  9. 09Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
  10. 10Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
  11. 11Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
  12. 12It’s often used to:
  13. 13Propanediol 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.
  14. 141,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
  15. 15It is a:
  16. 16Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  17. 17Emollient, helping to soften skin
  18. 18Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  19. 19Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
  20. 20Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

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