Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
- Anti-aging
- Anti-oxidation
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: low
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"Cetaphil - Repair & Renew Serum" is effective for: Moisturizing
This product could be helpful for: Anti-aging, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- An effective concentration of Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) - about 3.40% - 5.10%. Panthenol helps strengthen the skin barrier, improve hydration and reduce inflammation in skin.
- Humectants (pantolactone 0.05% - 0.20%, sodium hyaluronate 0.80% - 1.20%, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid 1.10% - 1.70% and panthenol 3.40% - 5.10%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - bifida ferment lysate also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
A synthetic version of green tea polyphenol that helps neutralize free radicals in skin
Consists of remains of dead yeast bacteria cells. Helps to hydrate the skin and reduce irritation. Might has some anti-oxidant effect
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
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
It’s also formulated with Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and smooth skin, and Pro‐Vitamin B5 to improve moisture retention.
Source: Cetaphil
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, pantolactone.
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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Consists of remains of dead yeast bacteria cells. Helps to hydrate the skin and reduce irritation. Might has some anti-oxidant effect
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. A version of it is naturally present in skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency
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
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Let go of the day’s stresses while you sleep with CETAPHIL Repair & Renew Serum. This PM face serum is designed to repair the skin barrier and defend against free radical damage while helping to support the skin’s natural renewal process overnight, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, discoloration and redness caused by external daily stressors.
Source: Cetaphil
This product contains centella asiatica leaf extract, epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside. These ingredients might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. It can be irritating to sensitive skin. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It could, however, itself be irritating.
A synthetic version of green tea polyphenol that helps neutralize free radicals in skin
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
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
Let go of the day’s stresses while you sleep with CETAPHIL Repair & Renew Serum. This PM face serum is designed to repair the skin barrier and defend against free radical damage while helping to support the skin’s natural renewal process overnight, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, discoloration and redness caused by external daily stressors.
Source: Cetaphil
This product contains ingredients (bifida ferment lysate) that could help reduce hyperpigmentation (for example, post-acne marks or age spots) in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.
Consists of remains of dead yeast bacteria cells. Helps to hydrate the skin and reduce irritation. Might has some anti-oxidant effect
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing | |
| Anti-aging | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 75/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cetaphil Repair & Renew Serum | Current | ≈ $21.92 | |
 EltaMD Skin Recovery Serum | 57% | $59.50 | |
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides | 57% | ≈ $8.44 | |
 BIODANCE Pore tightening collagen ampoule | 56% | ≈ $42.13 | |
Simple Booster Serum 3% Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin B | 56% | ≈ $6.61 | |
Plaisir Hyaluronic Acid 2% Serum | 56% | - |
Key Actives
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. It can be irritating to sensitive skin. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It could, however, itself be irritating.
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
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Consists of remains of dead yeast bacteria cells. Helps to hydrate the skin and reduce irritation. Might has some anti-oxidant effect
A synthetic version of green tea polyphenol that helps neutralize free radicals in skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. A version of it is naturally present in skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Potential irritants
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. It can be irritating to sensitive skin. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It could, however, itself be irritating.
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Consists of remains of dead yeast bacteria cells. Helps to hydrate the skin and reduce irritation. Might has some anti-oxidant effect
A synthetic version of green tea polyphenol that helps neutralize free radicals in skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. A version of it is naturally present in skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
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
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. It can be irritating to sensitive skin. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It could, however, itself be irritating.
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
Ingredient list view
Water, Propanediol, Panthenol, Dibutyl adipate, Pentylene glycol, Bifida ferment lysate, Epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside, Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, Caprylyl glycol, Sodium hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium citrate, Citric acid, Centella asiatica leaf extract, Sodium gluconate, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Sphingomonas ferment extract, Pantolactone, 1,2-hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone
- Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Bifidobacterium longumlysate, a new ingredient forreactive skin
- Use of Probiotics for Dermal Applications
- Efficacy of a New Topical Nano-hyaluronic Acid in Humans
- Physiochemical properties and application of hyaluronic acid: a systematic review
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Centella asiatica in Dermatology: An Overview
- Contact dermatitis due to Madecassol
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols