ApotheCare Essentials PhotoYoung Firming Night Cream
Works for
1 of 2 advertised claims delivered
MoisturizingParaffinum liquidum, Petrolatum + 7 moreStrong evidence
“Photo Young Firming Night Cream”
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, hydrolyzed collagen.
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: hydrolyzed collagen, cetyl alcohol.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum
Anti-agingNo ingredient credited for this claimLimited evidence
“Benefits Boosted by leaves and infused with collagen Visibly smooths fine lines and firms skin Formulated without parabens, artificial dyes, petrolatum, propylene glycol, or phthalates Purity of Nature. Progressed by Science. Precision plant extractions.”
This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.
This ingredient ginkgo biloba leaf extract might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin and help it fight off some of the sun damage.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Ginkgo biloba leaf extractModerate evidence
This product contains antioxidants (ginkgo biloba leaf extract) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy7 strong irritants: Parfum, Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate + 5 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale3 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Paraffinum liquidum~6.7–8.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Mineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function
More about Paraffinum liquidumIsopropyl palmitate~4.2–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a thicker product consistency
More about Isopropyl palmitatePetrolatum~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss
More about PetrolatumGlycerin~2.4–3%
- 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 GlycerinStearic acid~2.1–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidCeresin~1.6–2%
Glyceryl stearate~1.5–1.8%
- 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 stearateCetyl alcohol~1.3–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholSorbitan oleate~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sorbitan oleateEuphorbia cerifera wax~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Phenoxyethanol~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolTriethanolamine~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell
More about TriethanolamineLaureth-23~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Laureth-23Parfum~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumCarbomer~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
More about CarbomerRubus fruticosus leaf extract~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hydrolyzed collagen~0.35–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A typically plant-derived compound that is supposed mimic human collagen. Cannot penetrate the skin barrier so is not particularly useful in skincare products beyond attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Hydrolyzed collagenDisodium edta~0.25–0.45%
Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate~0.01–0.02%
Ginkgo biloba leaf extract~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation in skin. It can be irritating
More about Ginkgo biloba leaf extractLimonene~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneBenzyl salicylate~0.15–0.25%
Geraniol~0.1–0.2%
Citronellol~0.1–0.2%
Benzyl alcohol~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
More about Benzyl alcoholLinalool~0.05–0.1%
Ingredient list view
Water, Paraffinum liquidum, Isopropyl palmitate, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Stearic acid, Ceresin, Glyceryl stearate, Cetyl alcohol, Sorbitan oleate, Euphorbia cerifera wax, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Laureth-23, Parfum, Carbomer, Rubus fruticosus leaf extract, Hydrolyzed collagen, Disodium edta, Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, Limonene, Benzyl salicylate, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl alcohol, Linalool
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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.
| ApotheCare EssentialsPhotoYoung Firming Night CreamYOUR PRODUCT | POND'SFace Cream Dry Skin | JergensSkin Firming Daily Toning Moisturizer | 3W ClinicCollagen White Brightening Emulsion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 71% | 66% | 65% |
| Price | — | $6.42 | $5.39 | $22.90 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | — | Centella Asiatica Extract | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"ApotheCare Essentials - PhotoYoung Firming Night Cream" has a good moisturizing formula. 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 (glycerin and hydrolyzed collagen) 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 (paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum, hydrolyzed collagen, cetyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.
Irritation risk
This moisturizer contains a bunch of common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide any known benefit for the skin. It might not be the best choice if your skin is sensitive. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. 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.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 8 studies and safety reviews.
- 1A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Isopropyl Isostearatejournals.sagepub.com
- 3
- 4Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5
- 6
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