Higher Education Skincare Night Owl Caffeinated Eye Crème
Works for
MoisturizingCaprylic/capric triglyceride, Cetyl alcohol + 15 moreWorks
“Designed to visibly de-puff, brighten, hydrate and tighten the skin under your eyes with soft focus, light reflective technology, this eye cream belongs in your skincare routine.”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: caprylic/capric triglyceride, dimethicone.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Retinol, Ubiquinone + 2 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (retinol, ubiquinone) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Anti-agingNot advertised by the brand · Retinol, Ubiquinone + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
ExfoliationNot advertised by the brand · Retinol, Retinyl palmitateWorks well
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: retinol.
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · Retinol, Yeast extract + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Sorbitan sesquioleate, Retinyl palmitate + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~6.6–8.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideGlyceryl stearate~3.8–4.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateStearic acid~2.9–3.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidCetyl alcohol~2.4–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholSimmondsia chinensis seed oil~2.1–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oilSorbitan sesquioleate~1.6–2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used to help oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Sorbitan sesquioleateCaffeine~1.4–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals. Can have a dehydration effect that might somewhat decrease the look of puffy eyes
More about CaffeineDimethicone~1.3–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeOlea europaea fruit oil~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation
More about Olea europaea fruit oilPolysorbate 20~0.65–1%
Phenoxyethanol~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolKojic dipalmitate~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymerAcrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerSodium pca~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
More about Sodium pcaCaprylyl glycol~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolEthylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.6%
Sodium hydroxide~0.3–0.55%
Lecithin~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinBoron nitride~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to absord oil and evenly disperse other ingredients (for example, pigment) in product formulation
More about Boron nitrideDisodium edta~0.25–0.45%
Hexylene glycol~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps create a more spreadable product texture
More about Hexylene glycolRetinyl palmitate~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
More about Retinyl palmitateAcetyl carnitine hcl~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Might be helpful in decreasing sebum production making the skin less oily. Is claimed to be able to support ceramide production in skin that leads to better hydration, but evidence is lacking. Is able to attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Acetyl carnitine hclSodium metabisulfite~0.1–0.2%
Retinol~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
More about RetinolGlycerin~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinYeast extract~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and skin lightening properties. It can help calm down inflammation in skin
More about Yeast extractButylene glycol~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolUbiquinone~0.1–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Coenzyme Q10. It helps neutralize free radicals in skin, improves skin hydration and might be helpful agains fine lines and wrinkles. It can be an allergen
More about UbiquinoneSodium hyaluronate~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateHydrolyzed corallina officinalis extract~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Caulerpa lentillifera extract~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Ingredient list view
Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glyceryl stearate, Stearic acid, Cetyl alcohol, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Sorbitan sesquioleate, Caffeine, Dimethicone, Olea europaea fruit oil, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Kojic dipalmitate, Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Sodium pca, Caprylyl glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium hydroxide, Lecithin, Boron nitride, Disodium edta, Hexylene glycol, Retinyl palmitate, Acetyl carnitine hcl, Sodium metabisulfite, Retinol, Glycerin, Yeast extract, Butylene glycol, Ubiquinone, Sodium hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed corallina officinalis extract, Caulerpa lentillifera extract
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Higher Education SkincareNight Owl Caffeinated Eye CrèmeYOUR PRODUCT | YEOUTHRetinol Eye Cream | Paula's choiceClinical Ceramide-Enriched Eye Cream | ReplenixBrightening Eye Cream for Discoloration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 91% | 90% | 90% |
| Price | — | $10.48 | $39.20 | $46.50 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 6 of 13 | 5 of 13 | 6 of 13 |
| Key difference | — | Dipeptide-2 | Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 | Vitamin C |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Dr. Bailey Skin Care Advanced Corrective Eye CreamZO Skin Health Eye Brightening Crème
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 15 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 4Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oilonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 5Safety Assessment of Boron Nitride as Used in Cosmetics cir-safety.org
- 6Topically applied L-carnitine effectively reduces sebum secretion in human skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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