Palmers s Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing Lotion
Works for
4 of 4 advertised claims delivered
Exfoliation2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“A unique blend of pure Cocoa Butter, Alpha & Beta Hydroxy Acids, Vitamin E and Shea Butter that exfoliates dry dead skin cells and uncovers healthier looking skin whilst providing deep moisturisation for a soft and smooth feel.”
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: lactic acid, salicylic acid.
Evens skin tone2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Fast absorbing, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Smoothing Lotion also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and evens skin tone.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: lactic acid, salicylic acid
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.
Moisturizing11 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“s Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing Lotion”
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:
lactic 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: cocos nucifera oil, dimethicone.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: paraffinum liquidum
Anti-aging2 ingredients credited for this claimModerate support
“s Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing Lotion”
This product contains lactic acid. 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.
Anti-blemishNot advertised by the brand · 1 ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy5 strong irritants: Citrus limon fruit extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract + 3 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic6 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale6 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Cyclotetrasiloxane~6.6–8.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Lactic acid~4.2–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
More about Lactic acidGlyceryl stearate~2.9–3.5%
- 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 stearatePeg-100 stearate~2.5–3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearateDimethicone~2–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about DimethiconeCetearyl alcohol~1.7–2%
- 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 alcoholCeteareth-20~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties
More about Ceteareth-20Paraffinum liquidum~1.3–1.6%
- 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 liquidumIsopropyl myristate~1–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin. Could be comedogenic
More about Isopropyl myristateButyrospermum parkii butter~0.75–1.1%
- 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 butterSalicylic acid~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
More about Salicylic acidSodium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sodium polyacryloyldimethyl taurateHydrogenated polydecene~0.5–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Hydrogenated polydeceneTrideceth-10~0.55–0.8%
Vaccinium myrtillus fruit extract~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but research on its efficacy in skin is lacking
More about Vaccinium myrtillus fruit extractSaccharum officinarum extract~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sugar extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Saccharum officinarum extractAcer saccharum extract~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that contains small percentage of AHAs. Is unlikely to have any skin benefit due the small concentration of the active compounds
More about Acer saccharum extractCitrus limon fruit extract~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating and cause photosensitivity
More about Citrus limon fruit extractCitrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that is used as a fragrance. Can be irritating and lead to photosensitivity
More about Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extractMyristyl myristate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenic
More about Myristyl myristateMyristyl laurate~0.25–0.45%
Tocopheryl acetate~0.25–0.45%
- 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 acetateSodium hydroxide~0.2–0.4%
Dibutyl sebacate~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Phenoxyethanol~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolMethylisothiazolinone~0.00075–0.0015%
Cocos nucifera oil~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic
More about Cocos nucifera oilParfum~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumCi 15985~0.1–0.15%
Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essentil oil from orange peel. Potential allergen and can be irritating
More about Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oilIngredient list view
Water, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Lactic acid, Glyceryl stearate, Peg-100 stearate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Paraffinum liquidum, Isopropyl myristate, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Salicylic acid, Sodium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, Hydrogenated polydecene, Trideceth-10, Vaccinium myrtillus fruit extract, Saccharum officinarum extract, Acer saccharum extract, Citrus limon fruit extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract, Myristyl myristate, Myristyl laurate, Tocopheryl acetate, Sodium hydroxide, Dibutyl sebacate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Cocos nucifera oil, Parfum, Ci 15985, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil
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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.
| Palmerss Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing LotionYOUR PRODUCT | AvèneAkérat Smoothing Exfoliating Cream | Eau Thermale AveneBody Akerat 10: Body Cream | CeraVeSA Lotion For Rough & Bumpy Skin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 71% | 69% | 68% |
| Price | $4.43 | $20.49+$16.06 | $23.47+$19.04 | $19.99+$15.56 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 0 of 9 | 2 of 9 | 3 of 9 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Urea | Ceramide Np |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
Judging from the ingredient list, "Palmers - s Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing Lotion" works well for improving skin hydration To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. Palmers - s Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing Lotion ticks this box. Humectants in this product (lactic acid) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Paraffinum liquidum, isopropyl myristate, cocos nucifera oil, dimethicone and cetearyl alcohol in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
Irritation risk
There are quite a few common irritants in this product, including ingredients without particular skin benefits. We would not recommend it for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 19.99$ in the United States and for 3.35£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 16 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 3
- 4Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 5A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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