Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E

Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E
5.2
/ 10
Moisturizing
0.3 Humectancy icon Humectancy
10.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
0.3Anti-wrinkle icon/ 10
Anti-wrinkle
Rich
in Antioxidants

Review

Does Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E work?

Based on the ingredient list analysis by CreamScan AI, these are the key benefits you can expect from using Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E:

  • Strong occlusive moisturizing. This exceptionally occlusive moisturizer, ideal for dry and very dry skin, has a moderate moisturizing rating of 5.2 out of 10, impaired by the lack of humectants.
  • Little anti-wrinkle effect: Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E has an anti-wrinkle rating of 0.3 out of 10, so you may expect a positive, although insignificant, effect on wrinkles.
  • Antioxidant protection.

Moisturizer with the right occlusivity for dry to very dry skin, ideally to be used with extra humectants

According to CreamScan analysis, Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E is quite moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 5.2 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? Significantly more occlusive. It has a low Humectancy of 0.3 out of 10 and a maximum Occlusivity of 10 out of 10, primarily due to the high content of Vegetable Oil (est. ≈45.0%), Mineral Oil (est. ≈6.0%) and Beeswax (est. ≈4.0%).

This type of product, when used as a standalone moisturizer, can deliver an exceptional level of occlusive hydration that is adequate for dry to very skin. The occlusive profile of Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E suggests a rich, thick texture, making it perfectly suited for dry skin.

However, it contains a low level of humectants, and people with dry skin would definitely benefit from adding more humectants to their moisturizing routine beyond what this product offers. If this is your only moisturizer, it may be worth including a humectant-rich product, such as a serum, in your skincare routine.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Little anti-wrinkle efficacy

According to CreamScan analysis, Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E has a minimal anti-wrinkle rating of 0.3 out of 10.

It contains one ingredient with proven anti-wrinkle efficacy: Glycolic Acid (est. ≈1.0%), 
 a highly effective ingredient in peelings but with moderate anti-wrinkle efficacy in leave-on skincare products, as supported by a single clinical study. This study, involving 72 participants (Thibault et al.), demonstrated that a lotion with 5% GA reduced the fine wrinkling score by 6% after 34 days of use, compared to a vehicle (the same formulation without GA).
 
Among others, Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E also contains Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, an ingredient often marketed as effective in reducing wrinkles. However, the studies supporting the anti-wrinkle claims of Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract provide insufficient evidence of its efficacy according to CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards. Therefore, this ingredient does not contribute to the anti-wrinkle rating.
 
Moisturizers, when used regularly, are proven to prevent wrinkle formation and even reduce existing wrinkles. Therefore, this product, like any other moisturizer, can deliver some anti-wrinkle effects through its moisturizing action.
 

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the anti-wrinkle rating calculation.

Rich in skin-protecting antioxidants

We estimate that Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream with Vitamin E is rich (> 3%) in antioxidants, specifically Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract (est. ≈11.0%).

A key benefit of antioxidants is their ability to reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals and therefore prevent accelerated skin aging. Studies also show that antioxidants can protect against environmental damage such as UV radiation and pollution, and help reduce inflammation and skin redness.

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
45
22
11
6
4
3
2
1.5
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Vegetable Oil
Function:
Origin:
Water
Function:
Origin:
Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract
Function:
Origin:
Mineral Oil
Function:
Origin:
Beeswax
Function:
Origin:
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Function:
Origin:
Isopropyl Myristate
Function:
Origin:
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter
Function:
Origin:
Glycolic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Tocopherol
Function:
Origin:
Cetyl Alcohol
Function:
Origin:
Propylene Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Diazolidinyl Urea
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Benzoate
Function:
Origin:
Methylparaben
Function:
Origin:
Propylparaben
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
56.8
45.0
6.0
4.0
1.5
0.3
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
5.2
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 0.3 10
0.3
0.3
Occlusivity All occlusives 56.8 20
10.0
45.0
6.0
4.0
1.5
0.3
Moisturizing rating
5.2
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
0.3
All humectants 0.3 10
0.3
All humectants
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
45
6
4
1.5
0.3
All occlusives 56.8 20
10.0
All occlusives
56.8
45.0
6.0
4.0
1.5
0.3
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
1.5 /10 5 1 0.3
n/a
- 11 -
Total
0.3
Glycolic Acid
0.3
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
1.5 /10
when present at, %
5
in this formula, est. %
1
Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
11
Anti-wrinkle rating
0.3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
11
0.3
All antioxidants 11.3 3 Rich in antioxidants
All antioxidants
11.3
Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract
11
Tocopherol
0.3
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
None
All soothing 0 5 No
All soothing
0
None
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Vegetable Oil
Est. %45
Function
Origin
Vegetable OilAn occlusive moisturizing and emollient fatty oil obtained from various plant sources. It consists mainly of triglycerides and saturated or unsaturated fatty acids.
Water
Est. %22
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract
Est. %11
Function
Origin
Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf ExtractAn antioxidant and fragrant extract from the leaves of the olive tree. It contains a promising anti-aging compound called Oleuropein, and a prospective anti-pigment compound called Cornoside.
Mineral Oil
Est. %6
Function
Origin
Mineral OilAlso known as liquid paraffin, it is an amazing moisturizer (the second most occlusive one after Petrolatum). It is also an excellent emollient that fills the micro-cracks on the surface of the skin, making it appear smoother. Mineral oil is considered safe.
Beeswax
Est. %4
Function
Origin
BeeswaxA waxy substance made by bees while they are building their honeycombs. It is an occlusive moisturizing and emollient ingredient with wound healing and antimicrobial properties similar to those of honey. Its bleached, purified form is called Cera alba.
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Est. %3
Function
Origin
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol EstersA mixture of lipids isolated from lanolin. They are similar to the lipids from the skin’s lipid barrier. It is a very good emollient and leaves a shiny and glossy finish on the skin.
Isopropyl Myristate
Est. %2
Function
Origin
Isopropyl MyristateA fast-spreading, cost-effective, non-greasy emollient that is typically used for lubrication, spreadability, or to remove “tackiness” from a product. Isopropyl Myristate is listed as a common comedogenic ingredient by acne.org.
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed ButterAlso known as cocoa seed butter, it is a popular emollient and occlusive moisturizer. Skincare products with cocoa butter as their main ingredient have a sweet, chocolatey scent. Cocoa butter is listed as a common comedogenic ingredient by acne.org.
Glycolic Acid
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Glycolic Acid

The second most used AHA (after lactic acid) known for its potent exfoliating and smoothing effects. It increases skin cell turnover, which is beneficial for treating acne. When used in peels, glycolic acid has confirmed anti-wrinkle efficacy, though it is less effective in leave-on products like creams and serums.

Tocopherol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Tocopherol

Simply another name for vitamin E. Tocopherol is a fantastic ingredient and especially beneficial for dry and inflamed skin. It has occlusive moisturizing, emollient, antioxidant, and photoprotective properties.

Cetyl Alcohol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Cetyl AlcoholA waxy solid fatty alcohol derived from palm oil. It is most commonly used as a co-emulsifier and affects the final aesthetic of the product, leaving a soft and silky feeling on the skin. Cetyl alcohol is also used as a viscosity controlling agent.
Propylene Glycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Propylene GlycolA clear, thick, odorless liquid of synthetic origin. Its main function is to stabilize cosmetic products exposed to varying temperatures. It is also a moderately strong humectant with similar properties to glycerin.
Diazolidinyl Urea
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Diazolidinyl UreaA synthetic preservative that is effective against most common bacteria. It is not considered broad-spectrum because it does not act against any type of yeast or mold. It is therefore commonly paired with antifungal preservatives.
Sodium Benzoate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Sodium BenzoateA preservative that usually works in combination with other preservatives. It has to be at low pH (<5.5) to be effective.
Methylparaben
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
MethylparabenA preservative that keeps a product unspoiled. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding parabens, although the concentrations found in cosmetic formulations are generally considered to be safe.
Propylparaben
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
PropylparabenA preservative that keeps a product unspoiled. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding parabens, although the concentrations found in cosmetic formulations are generally considered to be safe.