
“Deep 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:
anhydroxylitol, betaine.
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: caprylic/capric triglyceride, chondrus crispus extract.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: isosorbide dicaprylate, panthenol, urea
This product contains antioxidants (rubus idaeus seed oil, vaccinium macrocarpon seed oil) 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.
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Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolAn 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 SqualaneSoftens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oilA silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideHelps soften the upper layer of the skin. Early studies suggest that it can help strengthen the skin barrier
More about Isosorbide dicaprylateA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function
More about XylitylglucosideOne 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 GlycerinNaturally present in skin (urea makes up about 7% of natural moisturizing factors in skin). Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Also has a positive effect on the skin barrier beyond the humectant action. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients. Is an exfoliating ingredient when used in high concentrations
More about UreaHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
More about BetaineAn emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateHelps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearateHelps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
More about CarbomerHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrir function
More about AnhydroxylitolNaturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
More about Sodium pcaA 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 acetateAn active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
More about BisabololHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolA preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolBeing 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.
More about Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbateA plant oil that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin
More about Rubus idaeus seed oilA good emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and, due to the high linoleic acid content, can support the skin's barrier function
More about Solanum lycopersicum seed oilHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function
More about XylitolA plant oil that can help neutralize free radicals, soften the upper layer of the skin, and support skin's barrier function
More about Vaccinium macrocarpon seed oilAn emollient that helps create a nice silky finish on the skin
More about Polyquaternium-51A sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin
More about TrehaloseHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinRed algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
More about Chondrus crispus extractA good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
More about Glycine soja oilHelps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Punica granatum seed oilAn active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
More about BisabololA plant oil that is effective in reducing irritation in skin, restore the barrier function and support its hydration
More about Borago officinalis seed oilHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Laminaria ochroleuca extractHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin.
More about Polyglutamic acidOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateWorks as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
More about Alaria esculenta extractHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Could be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function
More about GlucoseWater, Pentylene glycol, Squalane, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Dimethicone, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Butyrospermum parkii oil, Isosorbide dicaprylate, Cetearyl alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Glycerin, Urea, Betaine, Glyceryl stearate, Peg-100 stearate, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium pca, Tocopheryl acetate, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Rubus idaeus seed oil, Solanum lycopersicum seed oil, Ceteth-10 phosphate, Dicetyl phosphate, Xylitol, Chlorphenesin, Vaccinium macrocarpon seed oil, Polyquaternium-51, Trehalose, Allantoin, Potassium lactate, Chondrus crispus extract, Glycine soja oil, Sodium hydroxide, Punica granatum seed oil, Bisabolol, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium edta, Borago officinalis seed oil, Zinc citrate, Laminaria ochroleuca extract, Polyglutamic acid, Hydrolyzed sclerotium gum, Sodium hyaluronate, Triacetin, Alaria esculenta extract, Glucose
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
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.
| MD Complete by Dr. Brian ZelicksonDeep MoisturizerYOUR PRODUCT | CetaphilRestoring Water Gel | The OrdinaryNatural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides | M-61Major Moisture! | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 47% | 42% | 42% |
| Price | — | $17.99 | $9.10 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 10 of 25 | 11 of 25 | 9 of 25 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Linoleic Acid | Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11 |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Neogenisis Barrier Renewal CreamSimple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Night Cream
Based on the ingredient list, "MD Complete by Dr. Brian Zelickson - Deep Moisturizer" can work well for skin moisturization. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. MD Complete by Dr. Brian Zelickson - Deep Moisturizer ticks this box. Panthenol, urea, anhydroxylitol, betaine and glycerin in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Isosorbide dicaprylate, borago officinalis seed oil, butyrospermum parkii oil, glycine soja oil and solanum lycopersicum seed oil in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
The product retails for 39.99$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 23 studies and safety reviews.
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