"Image skincare - Vital C Hydrating Intense Moisturiser" has a good moisturizing formula. This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients. These both types of ingredients are essentials for improving the skin hydration and keeping the skin barrier healthy. Erythritol, glycerin, mannitol, saccharomyces cerevisiae extract and sodium hyaluronate 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 (ceramide ns, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, butyrospermum parkii butter and caprylic/capric triglyceride) 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
This product also contains Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). It can be an effective active for anti-aging and evening out the skin tone, but in this moisturizer it is used for stabilizing other ingredients in the formulation. In this concentration (0.45% - 0.65%) it cannot have a noticeable benefit for the skin.
This moisturizer includes a form of Retinoids (vitamin A) - retinyl palmitate 0.50% - 0.75%, but this type of vitamin A is not very effective. It could in theory help with fine lines and wrinkles, but the effect is most likely minimal.
Another benefit is that this moisturizer contain ceramides (ceramide ns 0.50% - 0.75%). Ceramides are an important part of our natural skin barrier. The Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or come from plants. They help soften the skin and can help "fill the gaps" in the skin barrier, keeping the skin hydrated and resilient for longer.
This moisturizer also contains Peptides (palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 0.40% - 0.60% and palmitoyl tripeptide-1 0.45% - 0.65%). 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.
This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: vitamin e, vitamin c, sodium ascorbyl phosphate and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
Irritation risk
There are quite a few common irritants in this product, including ingredients without particular skin benefits. We would not recommend it for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. 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 from 74.00$ up to 78.00$ in the United States, from 31.50£ up to 1101.00£ in the United Kingdom and for 110.00CA$ in Canada.
This product contains palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, retinyl palmitate, vitis vinifera seed extract.
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.
A plant extract that contains resveratrol and other anti-oxidant compounds that can help neutralize free radicals, reduce inflammation in skin and even out its tone. Can be also used to stabilize the product formulation
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:
erythritol, 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:
butyrospermum parkii butter, caprylic/capric triglyceride.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with
the hydration level: ceramide ns, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
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Evens skin tone
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm
that it
actually works: retinyl palmitate.
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (vitis vinifera seed extract) that can help neutralize
free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
A plant extract that contains resveratrol and other anti-oxidant compounds that can help neutralize free radicals, reduce inflammation in skin and even out its tone. Can be also used to stabilize the product formulation
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
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
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Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise
Can it deliver?
Moisturizing
Anti-aging
Total Promises Fulfilled score:
87/100.
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US Retailers
$74.00
In stock
VITAL C hydrating intense moisturizer
$74.00
In stock
Size: 1.7 fl. oz
VITAL C Hydrating Intense Moisturizer
SkincareRX
$74.00
In stock
Size: 1.7 fl. oz
VITAL C Hydrating Intense Moisturizer
$74.00
In stock
Size: 1.7 fl. oz
VITAL C Hydrating Intense Moisturizer
$78.00
In stock
Size: 0.2 Pounds
Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Intense Moisturizer, 1.7 Fl Oz
Price as of 2/28/2023 1:33 GMT.
More info
UK Retailers
£31.50
In stock
Size: 0.2 Pounds
Image Skin Care V-102N Vital C Hydrating Intense Moisturiser 50ml
Price as of 2/21/2023 16:31 GMT.
More info
Allbeauty
£39.75
In stock
Size: 50 ml
Vital C Hydrating Intense Moisturizer
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Allbeauty
£86.00
In stock
Vital C Hydrating Intense Moisturiser
CA Retailers
CA$110.00
In stock
Size: 0.2 Pounds
Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Intense moisturizer, 1.7 oz
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-aging
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
Works for:
Anti-blemish,
Anti-aging,
Evens skin tone,
Exfoliation
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Works for:
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-aging,
Moisturizing
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
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-aging
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
