Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Eye™ Versus Q + A Peptide Serum

Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Eye™ Versus Q + A Peptide Serum

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Dipeptide-2 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder and Tripeptide-29 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Sodium Silicate

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

Sodium Magnesium Fluorosilicate

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Dipeptide-2

Ascorbic Acid

Tocopheryl Acetate

Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone

Retinyl Palmitate

Panthenol

Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract

Medicago Sativa Seed Extract

Carrageenan

Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract

PEG-8 Dimethicone

Silica

Octyldodecanol

Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract

Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica

BHT

Disodium EDTA

Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein

Steareth-20

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate

Carbomer

Chlorhexidine Digluconate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Potassium Sorbate

Citric Acid

Sodium Citrate

Sodium Benzoate

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Silicate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Magnesium Fluorosilicate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dipeptide-2, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract, Medicago Sativa Seed Extract, Carrageenan, Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Steareth-20, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol

Propylene Glycol

Betaine

Pentylene Glycol

Xanthan Gum

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder

Sodium Phytate

Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Sodium Levulinate

Tripeptide-29

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Magnesium PCA

Lactic Acid

Glyceryl Caprylate

Cocoyl Proline

Sodium Anisate

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Water, Propylene Glycol, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Phytate, Glycerin, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Sodium Levulinate, Tripeptide-29, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium PCA, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Cocoyl Proline, Sodium Anisate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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.

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