Verified Beauty Data

Dupe report Nº 008 / Eye creams · Pro-Xylane / proxylane

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex Dupe: L'Oréal Makes Both

L'Oréal owns SkinCeuticals and the proxylane patent — and puts the same molecule in a $25 drugstore eye cream.

Some links earn us a commission. It never changes the verdict — the methodology is public.

02 / The scoreboard

5 formulas, one number that matter

Read the actives column first — it is the apples-to-apples comparison. $ per gram of active is what the working ingredients cost you; the base-formula score is supporting evidence, not the verdict.

Product Actives vs original $ / g of active Price Base formula Verdict
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex (0.5 oz / 15 ml) Disclosed by brand $0.00 $113.00 15 mL 100% the reference The original
Partial overlap missing actives — different formula wearing the keywords
L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment (0.5 oz / 14 ml) Disclosed by brand — not disclosed $25.00 14 mL 21% highest measured The winner Amazon →

✓ same % as original ≠ different % ? in formula, % undisclosed — not in formula

03 / The original

Why the original is the original

The hero active is Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol — trade name Pro-Xylane. It is a sugar-protein mimetic molecule that supports skin's structural glycosaminoglycans: the water-binding matrix that gives the dermis its volume and elasticity. Developed by L'Oréal Research, it was granted a patent by the L'Oréal Group. SkinCeuticals has been an L'Oréal Group brand since 2005.

That ownership detail is the entire story of this report. L'Oréal holds the proxylane patent. L'Oréal owns SkinCeuticals. And L'Oréal also sells the Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment — a $25 drugstore eye cream that lists Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol as its ninth ingredient. The same molecule, from the same parent company, at confirmed INCI presence in both formulas. The A.G.E. Eye Complex retails for $113. The Revitalift Triple Power Eye retails for $25. The price difference is $88.

The honest framing: the A.G.E. Eye Complex adds ingredients the Revitalift does not have. Dipeptide-2 (anti-puffiness), Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (signal peptides for firmness), and a multi-component dark-circle complex — N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Hesperetin Laurate — that targets the bruising-pigment and drainage pathways around the eye. These are real actives doing real clinical work. The $88 premium buys those additions. What it does not buy is exclusive access to proxylane: L'Oréal put the same molecule in a drugstore formula and charges $25 for it.

04 / The candidates

Every candidate, examined

01 / L'Oreal Paris

The winner
L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment (0.5 oz / 14 ml) bottle
— per g of active
$25.00 retail · 14 mL
21% base formula · highest of 6

L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment (0.5 oz / 14 ml)

Shared formula DNA 8 of 40 original ingredients present
Aqua Glycerin Dimethicone Isohexadecane Paraffin Propylene Glycol Silica Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate Cetyl Peg Hexyl Laurate Nylon-12 Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol Methylsilanol Polyethylene Ascorbyl Glucoside Caprylic Octyldodecanol Phenoxyethanol Tocopheryl Acetate Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide Peg-6 Isostearate Triethanolamine Sodium Citrate Methylparaben Chlorphenesin Caffeine Titanium Dioxide Ethylparaben Menthoxypropanediol Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone Pentasodium Pentetate Aluminum Hydroxide Stearic Acid Hesperetin Laurate N-Hydroxysuccinimide Dipeptide-2 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Oligopeptide Chrysin

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol — the Pro-Xylane molecule — confirmed present at ingredient position 9. This is not approximate: it is the same INCI name, from the same L'Oréal Group that holds the patent. Also shares Isohexadecane, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Titanium Dioxide, Chlorphenesin, and Triethanolamine with the original. 8 of the original's 40 base ingredients shared.
What differs
Missing the A.G.E. Eye's multi-active dark-circle and firmness complex: no N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, or Hesperetin Laurate (anti-bruising / pigment drainage); no Dipeptide-2 (anti-puffiness); no Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 or Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (signal peptides). These are real ingredients the original adds beyond proxylane — the $88 price gap buys that additional clinical layer. The Revitalift adds Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, and Tocopherol — different supporting actives, not the same clinical intent.
Who it's for
The winner. You are paying $25 for proxylane instead of $113, from the same parent company that invented it. If your goal is proxylane in an eye cream, the Revitalift Triple Power Eye delivers it. If the peptide and dark-circle complex matter to you — and they are real additions — the original justifies the premium on those grounds. 4.4 stars across 7,200 Amazon ratings.
Ships in
Tube good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by L'Oreal Paris on their product page.

$25.00 for 14 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

Buy on Amazon $18.06 Amazon price as of 2026-06-13; $25.00 direct retail.

02 / Neutrogena

Skip
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Eye Cream (0.5 fl oz / 14 ml) bottle
— per g of active
$22.00 retail · 14 mL
10% base formula · 2nd of 6

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Eye Cream (0.5 fl oz / 14 ml)

Shared formula DNA 7 of 40 original ingredients present
Aqua Glycerin Dimethicone Isohexadecane Paraffin Propylene Glycol Silica Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate Cetyl Peg Hexyl Laurate Nylon-12 Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol Methylsilanol Polyethylene Ascorbyl Glucoside Caprylic Octyldodecanol Phenoxyethanol Tocopheryl Acetate Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide Peg-6 Isostearate Triethanolamine Sodium Citrate Methylparaben Chlorphenesin Caffeine Titanium Dioxide Ethylparaben Menthoxypropanediol Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone Pentasodium Pentetate Aluminum Hydroxide Stearic Acid Hesperetin Laurate N-Hydroxysuccinimide Dipeptide-2 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Oligopeptide Chrysin

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
Shares 7 base ingredients with the original: Polyethylene, Isohexadecane, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Glycerin, and Phenoxyethanol. A well-reviewed ($22, 12,000 ratings) anti-aging eye cream.
What differs
Proxylane is absent — the hero active from the A.G.E. Eye is not in this formula. The active mechanism is Retinol (vitamin A), which works via the retinoid pathway to accelerate cell turnover. That is a different mode of anti-aging action entirely. If proxylane's glycosaminoglycan-support mechanism is what you are targeting, retinol does not replicate it.
Who it's for
Skip as a proxylane dupe. Worth considering as a parallel retinol-based eye cream if collagen stimulation via vitamin A is the goal — but it does not deliver what the A.G.E. Eye delivers. Two different mechanisms for anti-aging around the eye; the Neutrogena is not a substitute for proxylane.
Ships in
Tube good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by Neutrogena on their product page.

$22.00 for 14 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

price on Amazon ($20.99) — not recommended as a dupe

03 / CeraVe

Skip
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream (0.5 oz / 14 ml) bottle
— per g of active
$14.00 retail · 14 mL
6% base formula · 3rd of 6

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream (0.5 oz / 14 ml)

Shared formula DNA 5 of 40 original ingredients present
Aqua Glycerin Dimethicone Isohexadecane Paraffin Propylene Glycol Silica Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate Cetyl Peg Hexyl Laurate Nylon-12 Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol Methylsilanol Polyethylene Ascorbyl Glucoside Caprylic Octyldodecanol Phenoxyethanol Tocopheryl Acetate Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide Peg-6 Isostearate Triethanolamine Sodium Citrate Methylparaben Chlorphenesin Caffeine Titanium Dioxide Ethylparaben Menthoxypropanediol Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone Pentasodium Pentetate Aluminum Hydroxide Stearic Acid Hesperetin Laurate N-Hydroxysuccinimide Dipeptide-2 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Oligopeptide Chrysin

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
Shares 5 base ingredients: Triethanolamine, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, and Phenoxyethanol. A gentle, fragrance-free eye cream with ceramide NP, AP, and EOP for skin-barrier repair.
What differs
No proxylane whatsoever. CeraVe Eye Repair Cream is a ceramide-and-niacinamide formula for barrier hydration and repair — a different product category than a proxylane eye cream. It does not target glycosaminoglycan matrix support, dark circles via the bruising-pigment pathway, or peptide-driven firmness.
Who it's for
The sensitive-skin or budget pick for a gentle, barrier-supportive eye cream — not a proxylane dupe. At $14 it is an excellent option for anyone whose goal is ceramide-based hydration and basic niacinamide brightening around the eye. Flag it clearly: this is not a SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye dupe. It is a different product for a different goal.
Ships in
Jar good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by CeraVe on their product page.

$14.00 for 14 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

price on Amazon ($14.44) — not recommended as a dupe

04 / The Ordinary

Skip
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG (1 fl oz / 30 ml) bottle
— per g of active
$8.00 retail · 30 mL
4% base formula · 4th of 6

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG (1 fl oz / 30 ml)

Shared formula DNA 4 of 40 original ingredients present
Aqua Glycerin Dimethicone Isohexadecane Paraffin Propylene Glycol Silica Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate Cetyl Peg Hexyl Laurate Nylon-12 Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol Methylsilanol Polyethylene Ascorbyl Glucoside Caprylic Octyldodecanol Phenoxyethanol Tocopheryl Acetate Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide Peg-6 Isostearate Triethanolamine Sodium Citrate Methylparaben Chlorphenesin Caffeine Titanium Dioxide Ethylparaben Menthoxypropanediol Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone Pentasodium Pentetate Aluminum Hydroxide Stearic Acid Hesperetin Laurate N-Hydroxysuccinimide Dipeptide-2 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Oligopeptide Chrysin

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
Shares Caffeine, Glycerin, and Phenoxyethanol with the original — 4 of the original's 40 ingredients. A lightweight serum with 5% caffeine for puffiness and dark circles via vasoconstriction and antioxidant (EGCG) action.
What differs
No proxylane. No eye cream emollient base. This is a lightweight dropper serum — not a cream — with no emollients, ceramides, or structural actives. At $8 for 30 mL it is the most affordable option here, but it operates on a completely different mechanism (caffeine-driven puffiness) versus proxylane's glycosaminoglycan-matrix support.
Who it's for
Skip as a proxylane dupe. Consider as an add-on for morning depuffing if caffeine is the specific goal — the 5% caffeine + EGCG combination is strong, effective, and cheap. It does not replicate the A.G.E. Eye's structural mechanism. Many people layer both: this in the morning, a richer eye cream at night.
Ships in
Dropper bottle good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by The Ordinary on their product page.

$8.00 for 30 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

price on Amazon ($9.20) — not recommended as a dupe

05 / Methodology

How we verified this

Verified 2026-06-13

Every formula on this page was tokenized — split into its individual INCI ingredients — and matched against the EU CosIng ingredient database, so "Aqua," "Water," and "Eau" all resolve to the same ingredient.

The base-formula match score works like this: sharing a rare ingredient counts far more than sharing a common one. Almost every serum contains water and glycerin — that proves nothing. Almost nothing contains Ethoxydiglycol or Laureth-23, so when a candidate shares those with the original, it says something real about how the formula was built. (For the statisticians: it is an IDF-weighted Jaccard similarity over the normalized ingredient lists.)

Scores are computed, not opinions. The verdict tags are our editorial read of the actives, the scores, and the prices — and the methodology stays public so you can disagree with us precisely.

Where the ingredient lists come from

  1. Disclosed by brand

    Ingredient percentages published by the brand itself, on its own product page — the strongest provenance.

Sources for this report

  • Brand DTC product pages (live crawl 2026-06)
  • Dermstore / Sephora product page (live crawl 2026-06)

06 / Questions

Frequently asked

What is the best SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex dupe?
L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment ($25) is the real dupe. It contains Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol (Pro-Xylane) at ingredient position 9 — the same molecule as the A.G.E. Eye Complex, from the same parent company (L'Oréal Group) that owns both the patent and SkinCeuticals. At $25 versus $113 for the original, that is an $88 saving on the key active.
What is proxylane (Pro-Xylane) and what does it do?
Proxylane is the trade name for Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol — a sugar-protein mimetic molecule developed by L'Oréal Research. It is designed to support the skin's structural glycosaminoglycans: the water-binding, space-filling polysaccharide matrix in the dermis that gives skin its volume and resistance to mechanical stress. As this matrix degrades with age, skin loses fullness and resilience. Proxylane mimics the xylose sugar unit that primes glycosaminoglycan assembly, supporting the matrix from the molecular level. L'Oréal holds the patent and licenses the molecule to its own brands, including SkinCeuticals.
Does L'Oréal really own SkinCeuticals?
Yes. L'Oréal Group acquired SkinCeuticals in 2005. SkinCeuticals operates as a prestige dermatology brand within the L'Oréal portfolio. L'Oréal also holds the patent on Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol (proxylane). Both the $113 SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex and the $25 L'Oréal Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment come from the same parent company and contain the same molecule. The $88 price difference reflects prestige-channel positioning, not a different key active.
Is SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex worth $113?
That depends on whether the additional actives justify the premium over the $25 Revitalift. The A.G.E. Eye adds a multi-mechanism dark-circle complex — N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Hesperetin Laurate — targeting the bruising and pigment pathways that cause dark circles. It also adds Dipeptide-2 for anti-puffiness drainage and signal peptides (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide) for firmness. These are real clinical additions. If dark circles and puffiness are primary concerns, the full formula is more targeted. If proxylane for structural support is the main goal, the Revitalift delivers that at $25.
Which Revitalift eye cream has proxylane?
Only the Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment (0.5 oz / 14 mL, ~$25) confirms Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol in its INCI. Other L'Oréal Revitalift eye products — including the Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum and the Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream — use different active systems (hyaluronic acid, caffeine, retinol). Do not assume the whole Revitalift line carries proxylane — verify the INCI for each specific product.
What is a cheaper alternative to SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex?
For the proxylane active: L'Oréal Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment (~$25). For gentle barrier-supportive eye care without proxylane: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream ($14) covers ceramides and niacinamide at an accessible price. For puffiness specifically: The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG ($8) delivers high-dose caffeine for depuffing, but is a serum, not a cream, and does not replicate the proxylane mechanism.
Is A.G.E. Eye Complex good for dark circles?
Yes — the A.G.E. Eye Complex contains one of the more substantive dark-circle formulas in the market: N-Hydroxysuccinimide (targets hemoglobin-breakdown pigment), Chrysin (a flavonoid that addresses bruising discoloration), Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone and Hesperetin Laurate (anti-bruising and drainage-support flavonoids), and Dipeptide-2 (promotes lymphatic drainage to reduce under-eye puffiness). The Revitalift Triple Power Eye does not include these. If dark circles are the primary concern, the A.G.E. Eye Complex's additional actives are doing real work that the proxylane-only dupe does not replicate.
What does "A.G.E." stand for in SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex?
A.G.E. stands for Advanced Glycation End-products — protein-sugar cross-links that accumulate in the skin matrix with age, contributing to stiffness and volume loss. Proxylane is the formula's primary agent addressing the glycosaminoglycan matrix degradation associated with A.G.E. accumulation. The name reflects the formula's core mechanism: supporting the structural matrix around the eye that AGE processes degrade over time.

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