Botanics Simply Calm Hydrating Face Cream
Works for
1 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Moisturizing16 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Simply Calm Hydrating Face 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, sodium hyaluronate.
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, caprylic/capric triglyceride.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
Anti-blemish1 ingredient credited for this claimWeak support
“A cruelty-free, vegan and natural face cream powered cannabis sativa seed oil to calm and soothe stressed and blemish-prone skin.”
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy4 strong irritants: Limonene, Lavandula angustifolia oil + 2 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~40–60%
Glycerin~4.4–6.5%
- 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 GlycerinEthylhexyl palmitate~3.7–5.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Ethylhexyl palmitateButyrospermum parkii butter~2.8–4.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
More about Butyrospermum parkii butterPolyglyceryl-6 distearate~2–3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin
More about Polyglyceryl-6 distearateCannabis sativa seed oil~1.7–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant oil that due to its high linoleic acid content can help strengthen skin's barrier function and soften its upper layer
More about Cannabis sativa seed oilCetyl alcohol~1.4–2.2%
- 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 alcoholCaprylic/capric triglyceride~1.3–2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideStearic acid~1.1–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidPhenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolVitis vinifera seed oil~0.55–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
More about Vitis vinifera seed oilPanthenol~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolCarbomer~0.4–0.9%
- 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 CarbomerSodium stearoyl glutamate~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sodium stearoyl glutamateCaprylyl glycol~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolSodium hyaluronate~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateAloe barbadensis leaf juice~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceXanthan gum~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumEthylhexylglycerin~0.15–0.65%
Potassium hydroxide~0.15–0.65%
Sodium phytate~0.15–0.55%
Citrullus lanatus seed oil~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hexylene glycol~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps create a more spreadable product texture
More about Hexylene glycolTocopherol~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolTetrahexyldecyl ascorbate~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
More about Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbateLimonene~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneHelianthus annuus seed oil~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilLavandula angustifolia oil~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil. Potential allergen and can be irritating. It has some anti-bacterial properties
More about Lavandula angustifolia oilCucumis sativus fruit extract~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might be somewhat helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and neutralizing free radicals but its typical concentration in a product is too low for having an effect
More about Cucumis sativus fruit extractTheobroma cacao extract~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Citrus nobilis peel oil~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skin
More about Citrus nobilis peel oilRosmarinus officinalis leaf/stem oil~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Linalool~0.01–0.1%
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Polyglyceryl-6 distearate, Cannabis sativa seed oil, Cetyl alcohol, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Stearic acid, Phenoxyethanol, Vitis vinifera seed oil, Panthenol, Carbomer, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Caprylyl glycol, Sodium hyaluronate, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Xanthan gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium hydroxide, Sodium phytate, Citrullus lanatus seed oil, Hexylene glycol, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Limonene, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Lavandula angustifolia oil, Cucumis sativus fruit extract, Theobroma cacao extract, Citrus nobilis peel oil, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf/stem oil, 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.
| BotanicsSimply Calm Hydrating Face CreamYOUR PRODUCT | Elizabeth GrantCollagen Re-Inforce 3D Advanced 24HR Face Cream | ManufakturaAnti-Pollution Night Face Cream with Daisy | AcadermaBetter With Age - Rejuvenating Rich Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 60% | 59% | 59% |
| Price | $8.80 | $70.00+$61.20 | — | $80.00+$71.20 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 8 | 6 of 8 | 7 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 | Niacinamide | Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9 |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
Based on the ingredient list, "Botanics - Simply Calm Hydrating Face Cream" can work well for skin moisturization. The formulation is based on a combination of good humectants and emollients. Both are needed to increase the skin hydration level. Humectants in this product (panthenol, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and caprylyl glycol) 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). Cannabis sativa seed oil, vitis vinifera seed oil, butyrospermum parkii butter, caprylic/capric triglyceride and helianthus annuus seed oil in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
Ingredient callouts
- This formulation also includes panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.40% - 0.95% concentration. In this concentration, panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
Irritation risk
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.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Botanics" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.
Price
The product retails for 9.99£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 18 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) as a Resource for Green Cosmeticstandfonline.com
- 4Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 5
- 6Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin agingncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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