PRODUCT REVIEW
Balance Active Formula Retinol + Hyaluronic Booster
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Product summary
What can the product work for?
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
retinol
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
epigallocatechin gallate
0.1% -
0.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
A polyphenol found in tea. This particular compound abbreviated EGCG is the most powerful antioxidant among those extracted from tea (usually green tea). Unfortunately, EGCG is unstable, requires a low pH (below 4) to prevent quick degradation, and does not penetrate the skin very well. This is why the full anti-oxidant effect of EGCG is typically not realized when it is added to topical skincare
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
glycerin
1.8% -
2.7%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
caprylic/capric triglyceride
5.8% -
8.7%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
sodium hyaluronate
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
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Anti-blemish
retinol
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
epigallocatechin gallate
0.1% -
0.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
A polyphenol found in tea. This particular compound abbreviated EGCG is the most powerful antioxidant among those extracted from tea (usually green tea). Unfortunately, EGCG is unstable, requires a low pH (below 4) to prevent quick degradation, and does not penetrate the skin very well. This is why the full anti-oxidant effect of EGCG is typically not realized when it is added to topical skincare
Evens skin tone
retinol
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
epigallocatechin gallate
0.1% -
0.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
A polyphenol found in tea. This particular compound abbreviated EGCG is the most powerful antioxidant among those extracted from tea (usually green tea). Unfortunately, EGCG is unstable, requires a low pH (below 4) to prevent quick degradation, and does not penetrate the skin very well. This is why the full anti-oxidant effect of EGCG is typically not realized when it is added to topical skincare
Exfoliation
retinol
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
Anti-oxidation
retinol
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
epigallocatechin gallate
0.1% -
0.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
A polyphenol found in tea. This particular compound abbreviated EGCG is the most powerful antioxidant among those extracted from tea (usually green tea). Unfortunately, EGCG is unstable, requires a low pH (below 4) to prevent quick degradation, and does not penetrate the skin very well. This is why the full anti-oxidant effect of EGCG is typically not realized when it is added to topical skincare
tocopheryl acetate
0.15% -
0.55%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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.
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise | Can it deliver? |
---|---|
Anti-aging | |
Moisturizing |
Total Promises Fulfilled score:
87/100.
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Can it cause trouble?
- Overall product irritation risk
- Acne & comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Potential irritants
propylene glycol
3.7% -
5.6%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
retinol
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-aging,
Exfoliation,
Mattifying,
Anti-blemish,
Evens skin tone,
Anti-oxidation
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
1.3% -
2%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
User reviews (0)
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WIMJ similarity score |
84%
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90%
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90%
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89%
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89%
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89%
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89%
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88%
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88%
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87%
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87%
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Key ingredients |
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Irritancy | IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
LOW
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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All ingredients |
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Ingredients & concentrations
All ingredients
Key Actives
retinol
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-aging,
Exfoliation,
Mattifying,
Anti-blemish,
Evens skin tone,
Anti-oxidation
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
epigallocatechin gallate
0.1% -
0.3%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-blemish,
Evens skin tone,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-aging,
Moisturizing
A polyphenol found in tea. This particular compound abbreviated EGCG is the most powerful antioxidant among those extracted from tea (usually green tea). Unfortunately, EGCG is unstable, requires a low pH (below 4) to prevent quick degradation, and does not penetrate the skin very well. This is why the full anti-oxidant effect of EGCG is typically not realized when it is added to topical skincare
Show more
Potential irritants
propylene glycol
3.7% -
5.6%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
retinol
0.15% -
0.6%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-aging,
Exfoliation,
Mattifying,
Anti-blemish,
Evens skin tone,
Anti-oxidation
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
1.3% -
2%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
All ingredients
caprylic/capric triglyceride
5.8% -
8.7%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
propylene glycol
3.7% -
5.6%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
Show more
Ingredient list view
Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Propylene glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 stearate, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 behenate, Poloxamer 235, Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, Carbomer, Xanthan gum, Citric acid, Retinol, Sodium hyaluronate, Tocopheryl acetate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium ascorbate, Sodium hydroxide, Epigallocatechin gallate, Bht, Disodium edta, Bha
Sources
- Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis
- Propylene Glycol
- Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycol
- Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety
- Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)
- A comparative study of the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on histological, molecular, and clinical properties of human skin
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Great green tea ingredient? A narrative literature review on epigallocatechin gallate and its biophysical properties for topical use in dermatology
- Comparative Evaluation of Different Co-Antioxidants on the Photochemical- and Functional-Stability of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate in Topical Creams Exposed to Simulated Sunlight