Element Eight O2 Growth Factor Eight Active Cream

Based on the ingredients included, "Element Eight - O2 Growth Factor Eight Active Cream" works well for moisturizing the skin. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. Element Eight - O2 Growth Factor Eight Active Cream ticks this box. Humectants in this product (acetyl tetrapeptide-5, glycerin, glycine, hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate) 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). Caprooyl phytosphingosine, ceramide eop, ceramide np, ceramide ns and palmitoyl tripeptide-1 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

• As a plus, this moisturizer also contains Ceramides (caprooyl sphingosine 0.25% - 0.50%, caprooyl phytosphingosine 0.30% - 0.55%, ceramide eos 0.30% - 0.55%, ceramide eop 0.35% - 0.60%, ceramide ap 0.30% - 0.60%, ceramide ns 0.40% - 0.65% and ceramide np 0.45% - 0.70%). Ceramides are a type of lipids that our skin produces itself. They are a building block of the skin's barrier. Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or extracted from plants. They work well for softening the skin surface and "patch holes" in the skin's barrier.
• This moisturizer also contains Peptides (myristoyl pentapeptide-17 0.25% - 0.50%, acetyl tetrapeptide-5 0.30% - 0.50%, palmitoyl tripeptide-1 0.30% - 0.60%, myristoyl hexapeptide-16 0.25% - 0.50%, sh-oligopeptide-2 0.45% - 0.70% and sh-oligopeptide-1 0.45% - 0.70%). Peptides are a very big group of ingredients. They all consist of a different combination of aminoacids. Our skin produces Peptides naturally. Some of them work as natural antibiotics, promote wound-healing and production of collagen. The scientists are still studying how effective the topical application of Peptides is, but it is very likely that they are helpful. Peptides might be able to support skin barrier restoration and even have an anti-aging benefit. At the very least, they certainly help attract water to the skin and support the hydration in this way.

Irritation risk

This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide 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.