PRODUCT REVIEW

BIOTHERM Aquasource Gel Normal/Combination Skin

Works for:

based on ingredients and %

Moisturizing
Evens skin tone
Exfoliation

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Zinc gluconate 0.45% - 0.65%Tocopherol 0.25% - 0.4%

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Buy from Amazon CA CA$50.00

Price as of 2/11/2023 7:37 GMT. More info

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Product summary

"BIOTHERM - Aquasource Gel Normal/Combination Skin" is a well-rounded moisturizing product. This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients. These both types of ingredients are essentials for improving the skin hydration and keeping the skin barrier healthy. Glycerin and hydroxyethyl urea in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Emollients in this formulation (ceramide np, cholesterol, glycine soja oil, prunus armeniaca kernel oil and butyrospermum parkii butter) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.

Ingredient callouts

Another benefit is that this moisturizer contain ceramides (ceramide np 0.60% - 0.90%). Ceramides are an important part of our natural skin barrier. The ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or come from plants. They help soften the skin and can help "fill the gaps" in the skin barrier, keeping the skin hydrated and resilient for longer.

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.

Price

The product retails for 50.00CA$ in Canada, for 104.59A$ in Australia and for 38.53£ in the United Kingdom.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

What can the product work for?

Evens skin tone

What does the product description say?

This iconic moisturizer, now with an even more regenerative action and visible efficiency on brightness, leave skin softer, smoother, more even, and radiant in as little as 10 days.

Source: Sephora CA

This product might be able to help reduce hyperpigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains hydroxyethyl urea. The effect, if any, is likely to be small. Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: capryloyl salicylic acid.

capryloyl salicylic acid 0.25% - 0.4%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: MEDIUM

zinc gluconate 0.45% - 0.65%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

Typically used to stabilize the product formulations. It is a salt of a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) and in larger concentrations, can help shed the dead cells from the skin surface revealing smoother skin. It can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals, but solid research is missing. Due to the zinc content, might help calm down inflammation in skin

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

An ultra-hydrating gel with enhanced aura leaf for extra glowing, hydrated skin.

Source: Sephora CA

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, hydroxyethyl urea.

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: butyrospermum parkii butter, dimethicone.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: ceramide np, hydroxypalmitoyl sphinganine

hydroxypalmitoyl sphinganine 0.25% - 0.4%

Irritation risk: