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Josie Maran Argan Smooth Skin Resurfacing Serum
Josie Maran

Josie Maran Argan Smooth Skin Resurfacing Serum

Efficacy37/100IrritancyLow·0% recommend (1 review)
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Argania spinosa kernel oil, Coconut alkanes + 3 more
Works
What the product description says
“What it is: A resurfacing serum that refines texture, boosts hydration, and supports natural cellular turnover.”
Source: Sephora

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: argania spinosa kernel oil, coco-caprylate/caprate.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

Argania spinosa kernel oilKey active· EmollientEffect: HighAn emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties~23–34%
Coconut alkanesKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn emollient that helps soften the skin~4.9–7.3%
Coco-caprylate/caprateKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumHelps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture~3.9–5.8%
Brassica campestris seed oilKey activeEffect: MediumHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~0.9–1.35%
Camelina sativa seed oilKey activeEffect: HighHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~0.2–0.75%
Exfoliation
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Argan Smooth Skin Resurfacing Serum”
Source: Sephora

This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 3 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Glyceryl oleateHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritatingHigh~2.2–3.3%est.
Argania spinosa kernel oilAn emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant propertiesMedium~23–34%est.
Coconut alkanesAn emollient that helps soften the skinMedium~4.9–7.3%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Coconut alkanesAn emollient that helps soften the skin2/5~4.9–7.3%est.

User reviews

Would you recommend?
0%·yes

0 of 1 community members would buy it again.

0% would100% wouldn't
  • Kimberley· Mar 2024Doesn't recommend

    It feels nice but didn’t change my skin in any way. Wouldn’t buy again.

What reviewers noticed
Marker shows the average response

Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Argania spinosa kernel oil~23–34%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties

More about Argania spinosa kernel oil
Oleyl lactate~8.5–12.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Oleyl lactate
Coconut alkanes~4.9–7.3%
Key activeComedogenic 2/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin

More about Coconut alkanes
Coco-caprylate/caprate~3.9–5.8%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture

More about Coco-caprylate/caprate
Octyldodecyl pca~2.9–4.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Octyldodecyl pca
Glyceryl oleate~2.2–3.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating

More about Glyceryl oleate
Isostearyl lactate~1.8–2.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Isostearyl lactate
Brassica campestris seed oil~0.9–1.35%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Brassica campestris seed oil
Opuntia ficus-indica flower extract~0.55–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Opuntia ficus-indica flower extract
Camelina sativa seed oil~0.2–0.75%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Camelina sativa seed oil
Isosorbide disunflowerseedate~0.15–0.65%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Isosorbide disunflowerseedate
Ingredient list view

Argania spinosa kernel oil, Oleyl lactate, Coconut alkanes, Coco-caprylate/caprate, Octyldodecyl pca, Glyceryl oleate, Isostearyl lactate, Brassica campestris seed oil, Opuntia ficus-indica flower extract, Camelina sativa seed oil, Isosorbide disunflowerseedate

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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.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Josie MaranArgan Smooth Skin Resurfacing SerumYOUR PRODUCTNourish OrganicPure Hydrating Face SerumVegan Mia OrganicsHarmony Adaptogwn Concentrated Face Oil SerumJunglückCERAMIDES SERUM
Match—34%28%23%
Price—$19.99——
Shared key ingredients—1 of 21 of 21 of 2
Key difference—Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OilSunflower Seed OilAnhydroxylitol
Irritancy Low Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 4 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Natural vegetable fats in the prevention of irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  3. 3
    Contact Sensitization to Emulsifying Agents: An Underrated Issue?journals.lww.com
  4. 4
    Physical and chemical characteristics and fatty acids composition of seeds oil isolated from Camelina sativa (L) cultivated in Mongoliaresearchgate.net
Josie Maran Argan Smooth Skin Resurfacing Serum
Josie MaranArgan Smooth Skin Resurfacing Serum
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.