SkinBetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream Versus Plated Skin Science Eye Serum

SkinBetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream Versus Plated Skin Science Eye Serum

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propanediol

Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate

Glyceryl Stearate

C10-18 Triglycerides

Glycerin

Jojoba Esters

Niacinamide

Ethylhexyl Olivate

Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Triheptanoin

Butylene Glycol

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate

Acetyl Hexapeptide-37

Sodium Hyaluronate

Glyceryl Glucoside

Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Astaxanthin

Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract

Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract

Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract

Tocopheryl Acetate

Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters

Tremella Fuciformis Extract

Tocopherol

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Sucrose Stearate

C9-12 Alkane

Gluconolactone

Calcium Gluconate

Polyurethane-10

Ethylhexylglycerin

Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Sodium Phytate

Citric Acid

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Water, Propanediol, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triheptanoin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Astaxanthin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sucrose Stearate, C9-12 Alkane, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Polyurethane-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Pentylene Glycol

Trideceth-9

Human Platelet Extract

PEG-5 Isononanoate

Panthenol

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Undaria Pinnatifida Extract

Hyaluronic Acid

Caprylyl Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Hydrolyzed Gelatin

Arginine

Silanetriol

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Xanthan Gum

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate

Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract

Asparagopsis Armata Extract

Coffea Arabica Seed Extract

Carnosine

Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Trideceth-9, Human Platelet Extract, PEG-5 Isononanoate, Panthenol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Arginine, Silanetriol, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carnosine

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

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.

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.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

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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