Skin science article
Youth To The People Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate Versus Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream
Youth To The People Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate Versus Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten d
Youth To The People Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate Versus Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
This eye moisturizer is formulated around Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters to hydrate skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Propanediol
Glycerin
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Citrus Junos Seed Oil
Panthenol
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Jania Rubens Extract
Lactobacillus Ferment
Maltodextrin
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Momordica Cochinchinensis Seed Extract
Punica Granatum Seed Extract
Sodium Carrageenan
Adenosine
Biotin
Caffeine
Caprylyl Glycol
Chrysin
Dipeptide-2
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Hydroxyacetophenone
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hydroxide
1,2-Hexanediol
Niacinamide
Tocopherol
Alcohol
Cellulose
CI 77891
Citric Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Lecithin
Sodium Acetate
Sodium Citrate
Steareth-20
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
Xanthan Gum
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Phenoxyethanol
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Citrus Junos Seed Oil, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maltodextrin, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Momordica Cochinchinensis Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Sodium Carrageenan, Adenosine, Biotin, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Chrysin, Dipeptide-2, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Hydroxyacetophenone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Cellulose, CI 77891, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lecithin, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Citrate, Steareth-20, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Xanthan Gum, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
C10-18 Triglycerides
Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Cetearyl Olivate
Stearyl Alcohol
Octyldodecanol
Sorbitan Olivate
Behenyl Alcohol
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Medicago Sativa Seed Extract
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Gluconolactone
Phytosterols
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Squalene
Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer
Myristyl Myristate
Water, Glycerin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Medicago Sativa Seed Extract, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Gluconolactone, Phytosterols, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Squalene, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Myristyl Myristate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
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.
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.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.