DefenAge

24/7 Barrier Balance Cream

Name: DefenAge - 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream
Brand: DefenAge

Efficacy 100/100·Medium irritancy

Efficacy measures how well the formula delivers the claims the brand advertises · 2 of 2 advertised claims delivered

Based on the ingredients included, "DefenAge - 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream" works well for moisturizing the skin.

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Product summary

Based on the ingredients included, "DefenAge - 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream" works well for moisturizing the skin. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. DefenAge - 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream ticks this box. Panthenol, hyaluronic acid, yeast extract and caprylyl glycol 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 (butyrospermum parkii butter, helianthus annuus seed oil, carthamus tinctorius oleosomes, macadamia integrifolia seed oil and caprylyl glycol) 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

We particularly like that there is a good concentration of Niacinamide (2.40% - 3.00%) in this moisturizer. Niacinamide is a well-studied multi-tasking active. It is a great ingredient to have in a moisturizer. It is stable, and can work well in almost any hydrating formulation. There is solid evidence that Niacinamide can help support skin barrier, regulate oil production and reduce acne and clogged pores. It also helps to fight photodamage and help improve the skin tone, reducing pigmentation marks.

This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: caprylic/capric triglyceride

Irritation risk

This moisturizer contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. 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 95.00$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Product claims breakdown

Anti-aging

NIACINAMIDE at ~2.4–3% + 3 more curated actives

Strong evidence

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains niacinamide.

Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.

NIACINAMIDERole: HeroIs proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production~2.4–3%

HYALURONIC ACIDRole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation~0.95–1.15%

UBIQUINONERole: Key activeCoenzyme Q10. It helps neutralize free radicals in skin, improves skin hydration and might be helpful agains fine lines and wrinkles. It can be an allergen~0.3–0.55%

BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTERRole: Key activeA 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~4.6–5.6%

Moisturizing

9 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Strong evidence

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: hyaluronic acid, yeast extract.

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, helianthus annuus seed oil.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: niacinamide, panthenol

PANTHENOLRole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~0.35–0.65%

HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OILRole: Key activeA 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~1.5–1.9%

SEA WHIP EXTRACTRole: Key activeMight help neutrlize free radicals, calm down inflammation, and attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.5–0.75%

UBIQUINONERole: Key activeCoenzyme Q10. It helps neutralize free radicals in skin, improves skin hydration and might be helpful agains fine lines and wrinkles. It can be an allergen~0.3–0.55%

YEAST EXTRACTRole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and skin lightening properties. It can help calm down inflammation in skin~2–2.4%

CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDERole: Under-dosedA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~0.25–0.5%

Anti-oxidation

UBIQUINONE at ~0.3–0.55% delivers this without it being on the label

Quiet bonus

This product contains antioxidants (ubiquinone) 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 - yeast extract also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.

ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACTRole: Under-dosedCan be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating~0.35–0.65%

SEA WHIP EXTRACTRole: Key activeMight help neutrlize free radicals, calm down inflammation, and attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.5–0.75%

UBIQUINONERole: Key activeCoenzyme Q10. It helps neutralize free radicals in skin, improves skin hydration and might be helpful agains fine lines and wrinkles. It can be an allergen~0.3–0.55%

Anti-blemish

NIACINAMIDE at ~2.4–3% delivers this without it being on the label

Quiet bonus

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACTRole: Under-dosedCan be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating~0.35–0.65%

Carthamus tinctorius oleosomesRole: Key activeHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~5.9–7.2%

Butyrospermum parkii butterRole: Key activeA 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~4.6–5.6%

Macadamia integrifolia seed oilRole: Key activeA plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin~3.3–4%

Yeast extractRole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and skin lightening properties. It can help calm down inflammation in skin~2–2.4%

Helianthus annuus seed oilRole: Key activeA 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~1.5–1.9%

PhospholipidsRole: Key activeEmollients that are naturaly present in skin. In addition, they help water and oil mix together in the product~1.2–1.4%

Hyaluronic acidRole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation~0.95–1.15%

Sea whip extractRole: Key activeMight help neutrlize free radicals, calm down inflammation, and attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.5–0.75%

PanthenolRole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~0.35–0.65%

UbiquinoneRole: Key activeCoenzyme Q10. It helps neutralize free radicals in skin, improves skin hydration and might be helpful agains fine lines and wrinkles. It can be an allergen~0.3–0.55%

Irritancy

12 flagged ingredients — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 12 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Vaccinium macrocarpon fruit extractA berry extract. Might have some anti-oxidant propertiesHigh~0.45–0.65%est.

Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extractCan be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritatingHigh~0.35–0.65%est.

Ophiopogon japonicus root extractPlant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and support skin barrier function, but research on its effectiveness in skin is lackingLow~0.65–0.95%est.

Vaccinium angustifolium fruit extractA plant extract tha can have anti-oxidant properties, but evidence of effectiveness in skin is lackingLow~0.4–0.6%est.

Tocopheryl acetateA 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.Low~0.3–0.6%est.

Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrateA preservative that comes from radishes fermented by a bacteria. New research suggests that the preservation properties in the ingredient come from an ammonium salt that is not present naturally in radish root but used in its cultivation. Is problematic because the exact amount of the preservative agents is difficult to determineLow~0.25–0.45%est.

Phytic acidAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), but is mostly used to stabilize product formulations in cosmeticsLow~0.25–0.45%est.

Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinLow~0.25–0.5%est.

Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureLow~0.2–0.35%est.

EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeLow~0.15–0.25%est.

Hexylene glycolHelps create a more spreadable product textureLow~0.1–0.2%est.

Potassium sorbateA preservativeLow~0.1–0.25%est.

Comedogenic

Butyrospermum parkii butter ~4.6–5.6% — rinse-off or low %

Some risk

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating ≥ 2. In leave-on products at higher concentrations they can clog pores for acne-prone skin types.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Butyrospermum parkii butterA 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 radicalsHigh~4.6–5.6%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels