Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
- Anti-aging
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
"EltaMD - Skin Recovery Serum" is effective for: Moisturizing and Anti-inflammatory
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 1.30% - 1.90%. Panthenol helps strengthen the skin barrier, improve hydration and reduce inflammation in skin.
- Humectants (sodium hyaluronate 0.05% - 0.15%, panthenol 1.30% - 1.90%, glycine 0.05% - 0.20%, glycerin 2.70% - 4.00% and arginine 0.45% - 1.05%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 59.50$ in the United States and for 111.18A$ in Australia.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
For your most radiant results, use with the entire Skin Recovery System. * Compared to toner and moisturizer.
Source: Bluemercury
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:
arginine, glycerin.
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, dimethicone.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
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
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
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 to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
A silicone that improves product texture and helps dissolve other ingredients. Can form a non-greasy film on the skin to prevent moisture loss
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
An emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture
Improves the texture of the product and helps soften the skin. Helps oil and water mix together and can be used as a cleansing agent
A silicone that forms a light film on the skin surface helping to bind water and temporarily absorb oils creating a matt and powdery feel
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
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?
It also contains powerful antioxidants that protect against free radicals that cause skin aging.
Source: Bluemercury
This product contains centella asiatica leaf extract. This ingredient 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.
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?
Glycine helps to prevent tissue breakdown, while taurine helps stressed skin recover, revealing a more smoother and even appearance.
Source: Dermstore
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low
Could be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, evening out the skin tone and neutralizing free radicals, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing | |
| Anti-aging | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 58/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
User reviews (0)
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 EltaMD Skin Recovery Serum | Current | $59.50 | |
 BeautyLab BeautyLabreg; 4D Hyaluronic Acid + B5 Serum | 56% | - | |
 CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Serum | 56% | $16.67 | |
 No7 Future Renew Serum | 56% | $42.95 | |
 BeautyLab® 4D Hyaluronic Acid + B5 Serum | 56% | $25.00 | |
Olay Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Face Serum, Fragrance-Free, All Skin Types | 55% | $14.99 |
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
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
A silicone that forms a light film on the skin surface helping to bind water and temporarily absorb oils creating a matt and powdery feel
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A silicone that improves product texture and helps dissolve other ingredients. Can form a non-greasy film on the skin to prevent moisture loss
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
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Potential irritants
Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating
Could be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, evening out the skin tone and neutralizing free radicals, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness
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.
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Used to improve stability of the formulation
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
An emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
A silicone that improves product texture and helps dissolve other ingredients. Can form a non-greasy film on the skin to prevent moisture loss
A silicone that forms a light film on the skin surface helping to bind water and temporarily absorb oils creating a matt and powdery feel
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture
Could be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, evening out the skin tone and neutralizing free radicals, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness
Used to create a thicker product consistency
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
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to 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
Improves the texture of the product and helps soften the skin. Helps oil and water mix together and can be used as a cleansing agent
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.
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Used to improve stability of the formulation
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Ingredient list view
Water, Propanediol, Isododecane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-11, Panthenol, Coco-caprylate/caprate, Taurine, Sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Arginine, Butylene glycol, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isohexadecane, Centella asiatica leaf extract, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/carboxyethyl acrylate crosspolymer, Caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, Coco-glucoside, Polysorbate 80, Decyl glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric acid, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, Glycine, Sodium hyaluronate
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmetics
- Cosmeceuttical Critigue: Taurine
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Centella asiatica in Dermatology: An Overview
- Contact dermatitis due to Madecassol
- The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols
- In Vitro Assessment of Skin Irritation Potential of Surfactant-based Formulations by Using a 3-D Skin Reconstructed Tissue Model and Cytokine Response
- Allergen of the Year—Alkyl Glucoside
- Ecofriendly surfactant is allergen of the year
- Effect of Topical Application of Glycine and Proline on Recalcitrant Leg Ulcers of Prolidase Deficiency
- Functional glycine receptor in cultured human keratinocytes
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care