Simple

Soothing Eye Balm

Name: Simple - Soothing Eye Balm
Brand: Simple

Efficacy 100/100·Low irritancy · In 4 routines

Efficacy measures how well the formula delivers the claims the brand advertises · 1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

"Simple - Soothing Eye Balm" is a well-rounded moisturizing product.

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Product summary

"Simple - Soothing Eye Balm" is a well-rounded moisturizing product. As we expect from a proper moisturizer, the formula includes a combo of effective humectants and emollients. These are the two different types of ingredients that are essential for improving the skin hydration and supporting a healthy skin barrier. Humectants in this product (panthenol, pantolactone, sodium hyaluronate and caprylyl glycol) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Emollients in this formulation (butyrospermum parkii butter, cetearyl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, c13-14 isoparaffin and caprylyl glycol) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.

Ingredient callouts

This formulation also includes panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.45% - 1.00% concentration. In this concentration, panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.

Irritation risk

This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be low. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.

Price

The product retails for 10.44CA$ in Canada, for 11.12A$ in Australia, for 8.43$ in the United States and for 7.12£ in the United Kingdom.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Product claims breakdown

Moisturizing

5 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Strong evidence

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: pantolactone, 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: butyrospermum parkii butter, cetearyl alcohol.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol

PANTHENOLRole: HeroHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~0.45–1%

BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTERRole: Key activeA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals~2.8–4.3%

CYCLOPENTASILOXANERole: Key activeA silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin~2.1–3.2%

PANTOLACTONERole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.3–0.75%

SODIUM HYALURONATERole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin~0.05–0.25%

Irritancy

5 mild flags; all low irritation

Low risk

We flag 5 ingredients with theoretical low-level irritation potential — at these levels none are a concern for most skin.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureLow~1.2–1.8%est.

Laureth-7Helps oil and water mix togetherLow~0.5–1.2%est.

PolyacrylamideUsed to improve product texture and help oil and water mix togetherLow~0.15–0.55%est.

Simmondsia chinensis seed oilSoftens 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.Low~0.1–0.45%est.

Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Low~0.05–0.2%est.

Comedogenic

Butyrospermum parkii butter ~2.8–4.3% — rinse-off or low %

Some risk

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating ≥ 2. In leave-on products at higher concentrations they can clog pores for acne-prone skin types.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicalsHigh~2.8–4.3%est.

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product textureMed~1–1.5%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels