"Obagi - HYDRATE LIGHT" has a good moisturizing formula. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. Obagi - HYDRATE LIGHT ticks this box. Panthenol, glycerin, polyglutamic acid, saccharide isomerate and saccharomyces lysate extract 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). Ceramide eop, ceramide np, phytosphingosine, cholesterol and helianthus annuus seed wax 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.

Ingredient callouts

We particularly like that there is a good concentration of Niacinamide (1.70% - 2.10%) in this moisturizer. Niacinamide is a well-studied multi-tasking active. It is a great ingredient to have in a moisturizer. It is stable, and can work well in almost any hydrating formulation. There is solid evidence that Niacinamide can help support skin barrier, regulate oil production and reduce acne and clogged pores. It also helps to fight photodamage and help improve the skin tone, reducing pigmentation marks.
As a plus, this moisturizer also contains Ceramides (ceramide eop 0.20% - 0.40%, phytosphingosine 0.30% - 0.50%, ceramide ap 0.25% - 0.45% and ceramide np 0.30% - 0.50%). 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.

This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: lecithin

Irritation risk

This moisturizer contains actives that can be irritating. 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.

What can the product work for?

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

HYDRATE LIGHT

Source: From product name

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, polyglutamic acid.

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: dimethicone, cholesterol.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: ceramide ap, ceramide eop, ceramide np, niacinamide, panthenol, phytosphingosine

panthenol 0.45% - 0.65%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

phytosphingosine 0.3% - 0.5%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

A type of lipid that is naturally present in skin. It might help in repairing skin barrier function and has anti-bacterial effect

polyglutamic acid 0.25% - 0.45%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin.

Anti-blemish

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

niacinamide 1.7% - 2.1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production

phytosphingosine 0.3% - 0.5%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

A type of lipid that is naturally present in skin. It might help in repairing skin barrier function and has anti-bacterial effect

Anti-aging

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains niacinamide.

Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.

niacinamide 1.7% - 2.1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

glycine soja seed extract 0.4% - 0.6%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

An emollient that helps soften the skin. Might be somewhat helpful in evening the skin tone.

Evens skin tone

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: niacinamide

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: glycine soja seed extract.

Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.

niacinamide 1.7% - 2.1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

glycine soja seed extract 0.4% - 0.6%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

An emollient that helps soften the skin. Might be somewhat helpful in evening the skin tone.

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

niacinamide 1.7% - 2.1%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Evens skin tone, Anti-blemish, Anti-aging, Reduces irritation, Reduces redness, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial

panthenol 0.45% - 0.65%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Reduces redness, Reduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

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Potential irritants

coco-glucoside 0.8% - 1.2%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Cleansing

Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating

pullulan 0.3% - 0.5%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Mattifying

Creates a thin drying film on the skin resulting in a short-term tightening effect

Comodogenic ingredients

cetearyl alcohol 1.5% - 1.9%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium

Works for: Cleansing, Moisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

All ingredients

water 45% - 55%

Irritation risk:

Plain old water

dimethicone 5.6% - 6.8%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Mattifying

A 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

dimethyl isosorbide 4.5% - 5.5%

Irritation risk:

Used to dissolve other ingredients in a product and can enhance their ability to penetrate the skin

Ingredient list view

Water, Dimethicone, Dimethyl isosorbide, Glycerin, Isododecane, Isononyl isononanoate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl alcohol, Jojoba esters, Saccharide isomerate, Coco-glucoside, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Isohexadecane, Helianthus annuus seed wax, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed caesalpinia spinosa gum, Panthenol, Xanthan gum, Glycine soja seed extract, Polysorbate 60, Saccharomyces lysate extract, Wine extract, Sclerotium gum, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Pullulan, Caesalpinia spinosa gum, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, Sodium lauroyl lactylate, Polyglutamic acid, Silica, Ceramide np, Ceramide ap, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Ceramide eop, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric acid, Sodium citrate, Potassium sorbate

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Price
WIMJ similarity score		85%	90%	88%	86%	85%	85%	83%	83%	82%	82%	82%
Key ingredients	niacinamide panthenol +14 more	Common: niacinamide ceramide np +6 more Other: ceramide ns ceramide as +4 more	Common: niacinamide phytosphingosine +7 more Other: potassium azeloyl diglycinate oligopeptide-10 +6 more	Common: niacinamide panthenol +7 more Other: palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 palmitoyl tripeptide-1 +5 more	Common: niacinamide ceramide eop +6 more Other: titanium dioxide butyrospermum parkii butter +1 more	Common: niacinamide ceramide np +6 more Other: ceramide ns ceramide as +4 more	Common: niacinamide ceramide eop +6 more Other: sodium hyaluronate biosaccharide gum-1	Common: niacinamide ceramide eop +7 more Other: bakuchiol sodium hyaluronate +3 more	Common: niacinamide ceramide eop +6 more Other: sodium hyaluronate caprylic/capric triglyceride	Common: niacinamide ceramide eop +8 more Other: lactic acid alpha-arbutin +8 more	Common: niacinamide panthenol +7 more Other: ceramide as ceramide ns +9 more	Common: niacinamide phytosphingosine +5 more Other: potassium azeloyl diglycinate sodium hyaluronate +1 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW
Potential Irritants	pullulan Has skin benefit? coco-glucoside Has skin benefit? +11 more	disodium edta Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +5 more	chlorhexidine digluconate Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +5 more	citric acid Has skin benefit? trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate Has skin benefit? +5 more	disodium edta Has skin benefit? sodium lauroyl lactylate Has skin benefit? +3 more	disodium edta Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +5 more	benzoic acid Has skin benefit? trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate Has skin benefit? +5 more	ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? sodium lauroyl lactylate Has skin benefit? +3 more	hexylene glycol Has skin benefit? caprylyl glycol Has skin benefit? +6 more	calendula officinalis flower extract Has skin benefit? acacia decurrens flower wax Has skin benefit? +18 more	alcohol Has skin benefit? curcuma longa root extract Has skin benefit? +15 more	citric acid Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +6 more
All ingredients	water Has skin benefit? dimethicone Has skin benefit? +41 more	daucus carota sativa root extract Has skin benefit? water Has skin benefit? +32 more	water Has skin benefit? dibutyl adipate Has skin benefit? +35 more	water Has skin benefit? cetearyl alcohol Has skin benefit? +29 more	water Has skin benefit? niacinamide Has skin benefit? +30 more	daucus carota sativa root extract Has skin benefit? water Has skin benefit? +32 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +26 more	water Has skin benefit? isohexadecane Has skin benefit? +35 more	water Has skin benefit? cetearyl alcohol Has skin benefit? +27 more	water Has skin benefit? olea europaea fruit oil Has skin benefit? +47 more	water Has skin benefit? butylene glycol Has skin benefit? +51 more	water Has skin benefit? coco-caprylate Has skin benefit? +24 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

Obagi HYDRATE LIGHT

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Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

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Product summary

Ingredient callouts

Irritation risk

What can the product work for?

Works for

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

Anti-blemish

Anti-aging

Evens skin tone

Honesty check

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Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

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