Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Eye Cream Versus KORA Organics Berry Bright Vitamin C Eye Cream

Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Eye Cream Versus KORA Organics Berry Bright Vitamin C Eye Cream

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Adenosine to soften the look of wrinkles.

This brightening eye moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Dimethicone

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Glycerin

Cetyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Polymethyl Acrylate

Methyl Methacrylate

PEG-40 Stearate

Cera Alba

Beeswax

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Stearic Acid

Stearyl Alcohol

Sorbitan Tristearate

Triethanolamine

Caffeine

Methylparaben

Silica

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Dextran Sulfate

Myristyl Alcohol

Escin

Palmitic Acid

Rhamnose

Phenoxyethanol

Adenosine

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Tocopheryl Acetate

Poloxamer 338

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Pentylene Glycol

Water, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethyl Acrylate, Methyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Stearate, Cera Alba, Beeswax, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Tristearate, Triethanolamine, Caffeine, Methylparaben, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Myristyl Alcohol, Escin, Palmitic Acid, Rhamnose, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Poloxamer 338, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Pentylene Glycol

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Rosa Canina Seed Oil

Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil

Cetearyl Alcohol

Coconut Alkanes

Lactobacillus Ferment

Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides

Cetearyl Olivate

Sorbitan Olivate

Propanediol

Persea Gratissima Oil

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Lactobacillus

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Potassium Sorbate

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract

Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Sclerotium Gum

Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract

Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract

Sodium Phytate

Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Potassium Hydroxide

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil

Tocopherol

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Alcohol

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Glycerin, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water, Coconut Alkanes, Lactobacillus Ferment, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lactobacillus, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Potassium Sorbate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Alcohol

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Ascorbyl Glucoside (AA-2G) is one of the most stable vitamin C derivatives out there.

It's made by attaching a glucose molecule to ascorbic acid; this glucose "cap" shields the vitamin C from air, light, heat, and metal ions that normally cause pure ascorbic acid to oxidize.

Once on your skin, the enzyme alpha-glucosidase snips off the glucose and gradually releases active ascorbic acid right where it's needed. Basically, it behaves like a slow-release pro-vitamin C with less of a stinging that high-strength ascorbic acid can cause.

The research supports the classic vitamin C benefits as well. In lab and human studies, AA-2G slowed down the skin's production of melanin (the pigment behind dark spots) and helped shield skin cells against sun damage better than ascorbyl phosphate.

These studies also showed AA-2G released vitamin C over a longer period.

A frequently cited manufacturer trial found that a 2% AA-2G face cream significantly improved wrinkle depth and skin roughness after 45 days.

And in 2009, a clinical trial showed it meaningfully lightened dark patches on the gums compared to a placebo.

There's also collagen-synthesis support (since vitamin C is a required cofactor for that) and an antioxidant effect too.

Typical usage is usually between 0.5-5% and most studies/products land around 2%.

AA-2G performs best when formulated at a mildly acidic pH (~5-7) which is much gentler than the pH that pure vitamin C demands (~2.5-3.5).

Just one thing worth knowing: the in-skin conversation rate is only about 55-60% by weight. So a 5% AA-2G product delivers roughly 2.75-3% of actual active vitamin C. On top of that, skin absorption is relatively low because the ingredient is water-soluble.

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.

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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