Mario Badescu Special Hand Cream with Vitamin E
Works for
1 of 1 advertised claim delivered
Moisturizing6 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Rich in antioxidants, Special Hand Cream With Vitamin E offers silky smooth hydration in a rich but fast-absorbing formula.”
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:
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: triticum vulgare germ oil, cetyl alcohol.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: paraffinum liquidum
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · 1 ingredient credited for this claimModerate support
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: retinyl palmitate.
Anti-agingNot advertised by the brand · 1 ingredient credited for this claimModerate support
This product contains retinyl palmitate. 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?
Irritancy12 strong irritants: Retinyl palmitate, Parfum + 10 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
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Ingredients
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Water~40–60%
Glyceryl stearate~5.8–8.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateParaffinum liquidum~4–5.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Mineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function
More about Paraffinum liquidumZea mays oil~2.3–3.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A good moisturizing plant oil. Due to the high linoleic acid content, it helps soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss and support skin barrier function
More about Zea mays oilTocopheryl acetate~1.8–2.7%
- 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 acetatePropylene glycol~1.4–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolCetyl alcohol~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholTriticum vulgare germ oil~1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A good emoillient. Contains vitamin E which can help neutralise free radicals, however the oil is unstable. Avoid if you have gluten or wheat sensitivity (including food allergies).
More about Triticum vulgare germ oilRetinyl palmitate~0.55–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
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
More about Retinyl palmitateGlycerin~0.5–1.15%
- 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 GlycerinParfum~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumTriethanolamine~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell
More about TriethanolaminePropylparaben~0.2–0.4%
Titanium dioxide~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
More about Titanium dioxideAmyl cinnamal~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
Benzyl alcohol~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
More about Benzyl alcoholCitronellol~0.1–0.4%
Eugenol~0.05–0.25%
Geraniol~0.05–0.25%
Hexyl cinnamal~0.05–0.25%
Isoeugenol~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Butylphenyl methylpropional~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
A fragrance. Can trigger allergic reactions and be irritating
More about Butylphenyl methylpropionalLimonene~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneLinalool~0.05–0.1%
Methyl 2-octynoate~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Alpha-isomethyl ionone~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A fragrance. Potential allergen and can be irritating
More about Alpha-isomethyl iononeIngredient list view
Water, Glyceryl stearate, Paraffinum liquidum, Zea mays oil, Tocopheryl acetate, Propylene glycol, Cetyl alcohol, Triticum vulgare germ oil, Retinyl palmitate, Glycerin, Parfum, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Titanium dioxide, Amyl cinnamal, Benzyl alcohol, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hexyl cinnamal, Isoeugenol, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl 2-octynoate, Alpha-isomethyl ionone
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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.
| Mario BadescuSpecial Hand Cream with Vitamin EYOUR PRODUCT | MediFlowerPerfume In Hand Cream - 3 Types | TONYMOLYScent Of The Day Hand Cream - 5 Types | PalmersCocoa Butter Intensive Relief Hand Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 59% | 57% | 57% |
| Price | $8.00 | $7.90 | $5.19−$2.81 | $2.63−$5.37 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 6 | 2 of 6 | 2 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Beeswax | Ceramide Np | Petrolatum |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | High | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"Mario Badescu - Special Hand Cream with Vitamin E" is a well-rounded moisturizing product. As we expect from a proper moisturizer, the formula includes a combo of effective humectants and emollients. These are the two different types of ingredients that are essential for improving the skin hydration and supporting a healthy skin barrier. Humectants in this product (glycerin) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Emollients in this formulation (paraffinum liquidum, triticum vulgare germ oil, cetyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.
Ingredient callouts
- this moisturizer includes a form of retinoids (vitamin A) - retinyl palmitate 0.55% - 1.30%, but this type of vitamin A is not very effective. It could in theory help with fine lines and wrinkles, but the effect is most likely minimal.
Irritation risk
This moisturizer contains a bunch of common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide any known benefit for the skin. It might not be the best choice if your skin is sensitive. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Mario Badescu" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Price
The product retails for 14.00CA$ in Canada, for 19.95A$ in Australia, for 8.00$ in the United States and for 85.00HK$ in Hong Kong.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.
- 1A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Content of fatty acids in corn (Zea mays L.) oil from Ecuadorresearchgate.net
- 3Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 6
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