Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Moisturizing15 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Fortified with Centella and Borage Oil, the anti-ageing, moisturising formula helps to boost micro-circulation and strengthen thinning skin, whilst Liquorice Extract targets dark circles and puffiness.”
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, butylene glycol.
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: chondrus crispus extract, borago officinalis seed oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: dipeptide-2, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, panthenol
Anti-aging4 ingredients credited for this claimModerate support
“Smoothens the appearance of crow's feet, fine lines and crepey skin for a refined eye contour.”
This product contains dipeptide-2, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. These ingredients might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: Calendula officinalis flower extractMedium risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Ethylhexyl stearate~6.1–7.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Ethylhexyl stearateHydrolyzed corn starch~4–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps improve the product texture
More about Hydrolyzed corn starchBorago officinalis seed oil~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant oil that is effective in reducing irritation in skin, restore the barrier function and support its hydration
More about Borago officinalis seed oilCetearyl alcohol~2.3–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholButylene glycol~1.9–2.3%
- 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 glycolGlyceryl stearate~1.7–2%
- 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 stearatePentaerythrityl distearate~1.5–1.8%
Tocopheryl acetate~1.2–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A 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.
More about Tocopheryl acetateDicaprylyl carbonate~1–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonatePhenoxyethanol~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolSodium polyacrylate~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a gel-like product texture, as well as to stabilize emulsions
More about Sodium polyacrylateSodium stearoyl glutamate~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sodium stearoyl glutamatePanthenol~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolGlycerin~0.5–0.7%
- 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 GlycerinLecithin~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinBenzoic acid~0.25–0.5%
Escin~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
A compound obtained from horse chestnut. It is claimed that this chemical can improve circulation, but there is no evidence available that it works in skin
More about EscinDehydroacetic acid~0.3–0.55%
Hesperidin methyl chalcone~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Might help neutralize free radicals in skin. Is claimed to be able to improve the appearance of undereye darkness but evidence is missing. Can be an allergen and cause irritation
More about Hesperidin methyl chalconeRuscus aculeatus root extract~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Steareth-20~0.35–0.6%
Ammonium glycyrrhizate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.2–0.4%
Chondrus crispus extract~0.25–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
More about Chondrus crispus extractCentella asiatica extract~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.
More about Centella asiatica extractChlorhexidine digluconate~0.15–0.3%
Hydrolyzed yeast protein~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Polyaminopropyl biguanide~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. There seem to be an increasing number of cases of allergic reactions to it
More about Polyaminopropyl biguanideCalendula officinalis flower extract~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Can be irritating
More about Calendula officinalis flower extractDipeptide-2~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
More about Dipeptide-2Potassium sorbate~0.15–0.25%
Tocopherol~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolPalmitoyl tetrapeptide-7~0.1–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
More about Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7Ingredient list view
Water, Ethylhexyl stearate, Hydrolyzed corn starch, Borago officinalis seed oil, Cetearyl alcohol, Butylene glycol, Glyceryl stearate, Pentaerythrityl distearate, Tocopheryl acetate, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium polyacrylate, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Panthenol, Glycerin, Lecithin, Benzoic acid, Escin, Dehydroacetic acid, Hesperidin methyl chalcone, Ruscus aculeatus root extract, Steareth-20, Ammonium glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chondrus crispus extract, Centella asiatica extract, Chlorhexidine digluconate, Hydrolyzed yeast protein, Polyaminopropyl biguanide, Calendula officinalis flower extract, Dipeptide-2, Potassium sorbate, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7
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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.
| Time BombSmart Balm Eye CreamYOUR PRODUCT | e.l.f. Cosmetics50 MG CBD Eye Cream | SwisslineYouth Inducing Eye Cream | BAD HABITEyes Open Caffeine & Peptide Eye Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 59% | 57% | 57% |
| Price | $26.84 | $15.00−$11.84 | $264.41+$237.57 | $19.00−$7.84 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 8 | 4 of 8 | 4 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | Cbd | Madecassoside | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
Judging from the ingredient list, "Time Bomb - Smart Balm Eye Cream" works well for improving skin hydration The formulation is based on a combination of good humectants and emollients. Both are needed to increase the skin hydration level. Panthenol, glycerin, butylene glycol and hydrolyzed corn starch in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Emollients in this formulation (palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, borago officinalis seed oil, chondrus crispus extract, cetearyl alcohol and dicaprylyl carbonate) 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
- We like that this moisturizer contains peptides (palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 0.10% - 0.25% and dipeptide-2 0.15% - 0.25%). There are many different kind of peptides and they are naturally present in our skin. They all are a combination of amino-acids. Some of them work as natural anti-biotics, promote wound-healing and production of collagen. The science is still not settled on how effective peptides in skincare are, but it is very likely that they have a benefit. Peptides might help restore the skin barrier and fight the signs of aging. At the very least, peptides work as humectants: they attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve its hydration.
Irritation risk
This moisturizer contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. 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 71.82CA$ in Canada, for 57.73$ in the United States and from 20.30£ up to 25.62£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 22 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 4
- 5
- 6
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