Q + A Seaweed Peptide Eye Gel Versus Q + A Caffeine Eye Serum

Q + A Seaweed Peptide Eye Gel Versus Q + A Caffeine Eye Serum

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Tripeptide-29 and Fucus Vesiculosus Extract to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to soften the look of wrinkles and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Glycerin

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Tripeptide-29

Fucus Vesiculosus Extract

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Limonium Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Thymus Serpyllum Extract

Sodium Gluconate

Carbomer

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Potassium Sorbate

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Hydroxide

Alcohol

Citric Acid

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Tripeptide-29, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Limonium Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Carbomer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Citric Acid

Propylene Glycol

Betaine

Pentylene Glycol

Caffeine

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water

Collagen

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Punica Granatum Extract

Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate

Sodium Phytate

Lactobacillus Ferment

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Levulinate

Glyceryl Caprylate

Sodium Anisate

Lactic Acid

Water, Propylene Glycol, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Caffeine, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Collagen, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Phytate, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Lactic Acid

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.

This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.

In formulas, it:

Is it bad for your skin?

The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.

Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.

In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.

This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.

Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).

Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.

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.

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.

Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.

This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.

Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).

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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