ELEMIS Advanced Skincare S.O.S. Emergency Cream
Works for
1 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Moisturizing15 ingredients credited for this claimGood evidence
“Advanced Skincare S.O.S. Emergency Cream Emergency 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:
alanine, arginine.
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: arginine, cetearyl alcohol.
Anti-blemish2 ingredients credited for this claimWeak evidence
“Emergency cream provides a soothing treatment that calms blemish prone skin.”
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Anti-agingNot advertised by the brand · 5 ingredients credited for this claimModerate evidence
This product contains aspartic acid, centella asiatica leaf extract, serine, threonine. 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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy6 strong irritants: Lavandula angustifolia extract, Lavandula hybrida oil + 4 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Glycerin~4.2–6.3%
- 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 GlycerinOryza sativa starch~3.7–5.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Cetearyl alcohol~2.2–3.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholPhenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolCarbomer~1.6–2.4%
- 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 CarbomerCentella asiatica leaf extract~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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.
More about Centella asiatica leaf extractChlorphenesin~0.16–0.32%
Sodium hydroxide~1–1.5%
Disodium edta~0.5–1%
Bisabolol~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
More about BisabololLavandula angustifolia extract~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used for fragrance and contains volatile compounds that can irritate the skin
More about Lavandula angustifolia extractLavandula hybrida oil~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
Plant extract that can be irritating and is a known allergen
More about Lavandula hybrida oilSodium pca~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
More about Sodium pcaSodium lactate~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product
More about Sodium lactateSodium dehydroacetate~0.3–0.6%
Arginine~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin
More about ArginineLinalool~0.15–0.7%
Aspartic acid~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino-acid that helps increase skin hydration and might help to slightly improve skin firmness, potentially reducing lines and wrinkles
More about Aspartic acidPca~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
More about PcaSalix alba bark extract~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect
More about Salix alba bark extractTocopherol~0.15–0.6%
- 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 TocopherolAnthemis nobilis flower oil~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil that is used as a fragrance and can be irritating. It might have some anti-oxidant effect in skin
More about Anthemis nobilis flower oilCommiphora myrrha oil~0.1–0.5%
Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil that can be very irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
More about Eucalyptus globulus leaf oilPogostemon cablin oil~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Caramel~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Glycine~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
More about GlycineAlanine~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to lighten the skin, but solid evidence is lacking
More about AlanineSerine~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
More about SerineValine~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Threonine~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
More about ThreonineIsoleucine~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino acid that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and support skin's barrier function
More about IsoleucinePotassium sorbate~0.1–0.35%
Proline~0.1–0.4%
Limonene~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimonenePhenylalanine~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Histidine~0.05–0.2%
Bixa orellana seed extract~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Potassium hydroxide~0.05–0.15%
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Oryza sativa starch, Cetearyl alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Centella asiatica leaf extract, Chlorphenesin, Sodium hydroxide, Disodium edta, Bisabolol, Lavandula angustifolia extract, Lavandula hybrida oil, Sodium pca, Sodium lactate, Sodium dehydroacetate, Arginine, Linalool, Aspartic acid, Pca, Salix alba bark extract, Tocopherol, Anthemis nobilis flower oil, Commiphora myrrha oil, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, Pogostemon cablin oil, Caramel, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Potassium sorbate, Proline, Limonene, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Bixa orellana seed extract, Potassium hydroxide
Compare prices
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
Affiliate links · prices updated regularly
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 19 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Centella asiatica in Dermatology: An Overviewonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 3Contact dermatitis due to Madecassolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 4
- 5
- 6
Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.