Works for
MoisturizingCeramide np, Vitis vinifera seed oil + 15 moreWorks well
“Essential Moisturizer”
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:
avena sativa kernel flour, 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, chondrus crispus extract.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: ceramide np
Anti-agingCentella asiatica extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice + 1 moreMay help
“Essential Moisturizer Rejuvenating Tremella & Natural Vitamin C (45) A multi-transformational natural Vitamin C complex to powerfully illuminate and visibly rejuvenate skin, morning and night.”
This product contains centella asiatica 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.
Evens skin toneNo ingredient credited for this claimNot delivered
“This advanced formula biohacks dullness and discoloration with a stable botanical C complex, peptide-rich actives, and lipid-replenishing compounds that enhance cellular regeneration and strengthen the dermal barrier.”
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Centella asiatica extract, Vitis vinifera seed oil + 6 moreMay help
This product contains antioxidants (centella asiatica extract) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy5 strong irritants: Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil, Pelargonium graveolens oil + 3 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic4 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale4 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice~23–34%
- 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 juiceVitis vinifera seed oil~8.2–12.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
More about Vitis vinifera seed oilCoco-caprylate/caprate~4.5–6.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture
More about Coco-caprylate/caprateSqualane~3.6–5.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
More about SqualaneCetearyl alcohol~2.5–3.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholGlycerin~1.7–2.6%
- 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 GlycerinAdansonia digitata oil~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Baobab oil. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Adansonia digitata oilCamellia oleifera seed oil~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An emollient that does not leave a greasy finish
More about Camellia oleifera seed oilWater~1.1–1.6%
Glyceryl stearate citrate~0.95–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin
More about Glyceryl stearate citrateAvena sativa kernel flour~0.9–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of colloidal oatmeal. Can contain potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Is effective in supporting skin barrier
More about Avena sativa kernel flourHydrogenated vegetable oil~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Hydrogenated vegetable oilButyrospermum parkii butter~0.5–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
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
More about Butyrospermum parkii butterTerminalia ferdinandiana fruit extract~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant effect in skin, but evidence is lacking
More about Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit extractChondrus crispus extract~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
More about Chondrus crispus extractTremella fuciformis extract~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A mushroom extract that might help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Tremella fuciformis extractCentella asiatica extract~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.
More about Centella asiatica extractCeramide np~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
More about Ceramide npRosmarinus officinalis leaf oil~0.2–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Has anti-bacterial properties and might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skin
More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oilPelargonium graveolens oil~0.15–0.7%
Tocopheryl acetate~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateBackhousia citriodora leaf extract~0.2–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract used mostly as a fragrance. Can have some anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties
More about Backhousia citriodora leaf extractCitric acid~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidSodium levulinate~0.15–0.65%
Acacia senegal gum~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps mask the small of other ingredients and improve the product texture
More about Acacia senegal gumXanthan gum~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumGlyceryl caprylate~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that can also help water and oil mix together, as well as prevent bacteria growth in products
More about Glyceryl caprylatePotassium sorbate~0.1–0.3%
Linalool~0.1–0.3%
Sodium benzoate~0.05–0.25%
Limonene~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneIngredient list view
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Vitis vinifera seed oil, Coco-caprylate/caprate, Squalane, Cetearyl alcohol, Glycerin, Adansonia digitata oil, Camellia oleifera seed oil, Water, Glyceryl stearate citrate, Avena sativa kernel flour, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit extract, Chondrus crispus extract, Tremella fuciformis extract, Centella asiatica extract, Ceramide np, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil, Pelargonium graveolens oil, Tocopheryl acetate, Backhousia citriodora leaf extract, Citric acid, Sodium levulinate, Acacia senegal gum, Xanthan gum, Glyceryl caprylate, Potassium sorbate, Linalool, Sodium benzoate, Limonene
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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.
| lesseEssential MoisturizerYOUR PRODUCT | Lion PosePep Talk Barrier Repair Cream with Peptides + Ceramides + Triple Lipid Complex | RemedyBarrier Repairing Rich Cream | DermaticaNourishing Ceramide + Peptides | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 55% | 53% | 53% |
| Price | $140.00 | $54.00−$86.00 | $19.99−$120.01 | $21.35−$118.65 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 6 of 10 | 6 of 10 | 5 of 10 |
| Key difference | — | Sh-Polypeptide-9 | Niacinamide | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Obagi SCAR REFINING GELMother Science Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Malassezin + Growth Factors
Product summary
"lesse - Essential Moisturizer" 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. Avena sativa kernel flour, glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice 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 np, adansonia digitata oil, avena sativa kernel flour, vitis vinifera seed oil and chondrus crispus 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
- As a plus, this moisturizer also contains Ceramides (ceramide np 0.35% - 0.85%). Ceramides are a type of lipids that our skin produces itself. They are a building block of the skin's barrier. Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or extracted from plants. They work well for softening the skin surface and "patch holes" in the skin's barrier.
Irritation risk
This moisturizer contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the 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.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 20 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6Centella asiatica in cosmetologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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