Works for
1 of 1 advertised claim delivered
MoisturizingMadecassoside, Glycerin + 3 moreStrong evidence
“Our moisturizing aloe soothing gel hydrates and helps energize the look over-tired, stressed skin, leaving skin feeling soft and refreshed.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, aloe barbadensis leaf extract.
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).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: madecassoside
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Madecassoside, Camellia sinensis leaf extract + 2 moreStrong evidence
This product contains antioxidants (madecassoside) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - camellia sinensis leaf extract also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
Anti-agingNot advertised by the brand · Madecassoside, Camellia sinensis leaf extractModerate evidence
This product contains madecassoside. 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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Menthoxypropanediol, Citrus unshiu peel extractMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Butylene glycol~6.2–9.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Butylene glycolAcrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~4.4–6.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerPhenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolTromethamine~2.2–3.4%
Aloe barbadensis leaf extract~1.9–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf extractSodium polyacrylate~1.5–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a gel-like product texture, as well as to stabilize emulsions
More about Sodium polyacrylateDisodium edta~0.5–1%
Ethylhexylglycerin~1–1.5%
Menthoxypropanediol~0.55–1.3%
Madecassoside~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations
More about MadecassosideGlycerin~0.35–0.85%
- 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 GlycerinCamellia japonica leaf extract~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin
More about Camellia japonica leaf extractCamellia sinensis leaf extract~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractCitrus unshiu peel extract~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Opuntia coccinellifera fruit extract~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin
More about Opuntia coccinellifera fruit extractOrchid extract~0.05–0.2%
Ingredient list view
Water, Butylene glycol, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Sodium polyacrylate, Disodium edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Menthoxypropanediol, Madecassoside, Glycerin, Camellia japonica leaf extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Citrus unshiu peel extract, Opuntia coccinellifera fruit extract, Orchid extract
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| innisfreeVitalizing soothing gelYOUR PRODUCT | La Roche-PosayCicaplast Gel B5 minii | ILLIYOONCeramide Ato Soothing Gel | ROVECTINSkin Essentials Cica Care Balm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 59% | 56% | 55% |
| Price | $17.00 | — | $17.40 | $26.00+$9.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 4 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 4 |
| Key difference | — | Panthenol | Phytosphingosine | Betaine |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"innisfree - Vitalizing soothing gel" has a good moisturizing formula. The formulation is based on a combination of good humectants and emollients. Both are needed to increase the skin hydration level. Glycerin, aloe barbadensis leaf extract and butylene glycol in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Emollients in this formulation (aloe barbadensis leaf extract) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.
Ingredient callouts
- Actives derived from an extract of the Centella Asiatica plant (also known as Gotu Kola) - madecassoside 0.45% - 1.10% The Centella Asiatica Actives help strengthen and restore the skin barrier, decrease inflammation in skin and neutralize free radicals. They also can help to reduce scarring. The good news is that these actives work even in low concentrations.
Irritation risk
There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "innisfree" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.
Price
The product retails for 10.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 10 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Safety Assessment of Tromethamine as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
- 2Centella asiatica in Dermatology: An Overviewonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6Contact dermatitis due to Madecassolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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