Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
- Exfoliation
- Moisturizing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Key actives
Product Summary
"ELEMIS - Dynamic Resurfacing Skin Smoothing Essence" is effective for: Evens skin tone and Exfoliation
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- This product contains acids (mandelic acid 0.25% - 0.40% and lactic acid 0.45% - 0.65%). Their concentration is low, and they will not have a strong exfoliating effect. Instead, they work to support the skin natural acid mantle and to attract water (as humectants). Lactic acid is particularly good in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin and improving the skin barrier.
- Humectants (sodium hyaluronate 0.20% - 0.35%, galactoarabinan 0.25% - 0.45%, glycerin 0.25% - 0.50%, glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer 0.60% - 0.95% and glycerin 4.90% - 6.00%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails from 48.00£ up to 1296.00£ in the United Kingdom, for 90.00$ in the United States, for 92.46A$ in Australia and for 126.00CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
A solution for dull skin, it improves the look of discoloration, visible pores and age spots without leaving the skin feeling dry or irritated.
Source: Feelunique
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: ellagic acid, mandelic acid
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It can help prevent and treat hyperpigmentation and even out the skin tone
Helps shed the upper layer of dead cells from the surface of the skin revealing smoother, brighter skin. It can help to reduce hyperpigmentation. It has anti-bacterial properties, and might help to reduce blemishes, as well as fine lines and wrinkles. It is considered to be gentler than glycolic acid
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Helps 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
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Elemis, Anti-Ageing The Dynamic Resurfacing Skin Smoothing Essence revitalises and perfects the skin's texture, enabling a smoother and brighter appearance.
Source: Allbeauty
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: mandelic acid.
Helps shed the upper layer of dead cells from the surface of the skin revealing smoother, brighter skin. It can help to reduce hyperpigmentation. It has anti-bacterial properties, and might help to reduce blemishes, as well as fine lines and wrinkles. It is considered to be gentler than glycolic acid
An enzyme extracted from papaya fruit. Can have an exfoliating effect on the skin. Can be irritating
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Dynamic Resurfacing Skin Smoothing Essence
Source: From product name
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": galactoarabinan, glycerin.
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).
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and provide a longer-lasting hydration. Can create a thicker product consistency
Consists of remains of dead bacteria cells. Is likely helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin. Might be helpful in reducing inflammation and neutralizing free radicals in skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
A plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient
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
Helps 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
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Elemis, Anti-Ageing The Dynamic Resurfacing Skin Smoothing Essence revitalises and perfects the skin's texture, enabling a smoother and brighter appearance.
Source: Allbeauty
This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.This ingredient - lactococcus ferment lysate - could be helpful for preventing or repairing signs of aging in theory, but there is no evidence that it actually works.
Consists of remains of dead bacteria cells. Is likely helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin. Might be helpful in reducing inflammation and neutralizing free radicals in skin
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
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
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Exfoliation | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Moisturizing | |
| Anti-aging |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 81/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 ELEMIS Dynamic Resurfacing Skin Smoothing Essence | Current | $48.00 | |
 Dermalogica liquid peel | 51% | $-1.00 | |
ADVANCED CLINICALS Dark Spot Corrector | 51% | $12.95 | |
 Skin Juice Facial in a Jar Purifying Pineapple | 50% | $65.00 | |
Paula's choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA and 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel | 50% | $39.00 | |
 Beauty Drops AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling | 50% | $6.95 |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus ferment lysate, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, Silica, Parfum, Betula alba juice, Glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer, Yeast extract, Lactic acid, Sodium benzoate, Sodium chloride, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl glycol, Tuber aestivum extract, Sodium hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Citric acid, Water, Mandelic acid, Glycerin, Phytic acid, Bentonite, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium hydroxide, Menthyl lactate, Propanediol, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Alcohol denat., Xanthan gum, Parfum, Citric acid, Disodium edta, Betula alba juice, Vanillyl butyl ether, Behenyl alcohol, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Galactoarabinan, Hexyl cinnamal, Ellagic acid, Papain, Hydrogenated castor oil, Benzyl salicylate, Stearyl alcohol, Tin oxide, Alpha-isomethyl ionone, Protease, Rhizobian gum, Sodium hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Subtilisin, Tocopheryl acetate, Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil, Ci 77891, Titanium dioxide
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