Azure Hyaluronic & Collagen Anti-Aging Eye Serum Versus Ekel Collagen Intensive Eye Cream

Azure Hyaluronic & Collagen Anti-Aging Eye Serum Versus Ekel Collagen Intensive Eye Cream

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Dipropylene Glycol

Betaine

Sodium Hyaluronate

Retinol

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Beta-Glucan

Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil

Panthenol

Niacinamide

Butylene Glycol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Cholesterol

Brassica Campestris Sterols

Ceteth-3

Ceteth-5

Tocopheryl Acetate

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Polysorbate 20

Alcohol

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Arginine

Carbomer

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

1,2-Hexanediol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Parfum

Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Ceteth-3, Ceteth-5, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Arginine, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Beeswax

Glyceryl Stearate

Polysorbate 60

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Propylene Glycol

Sorbitan Sesquioleate

PEG-100 Stearate

Dimethicone

Triethanolamine

Methylparaben

Adenosine

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Centella Asiatica Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Oenothera Biennis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Linalool

Benzyl Benzoate

Hexyl Cinnamal

Limonene

Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Adenosine, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

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.

Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.

And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.

Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.

The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.

One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

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.

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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