Pestle & Mortar Hydrate Moisturizer
Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Moisturizing12 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Contains a combination of naturally moisturising ingredients such as jojoba and squalane”
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, butylene glycol.
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: myristyl myristate, simmondsia chinensis seed oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyroyl hydroxythreonine, palmitoyl tripeptide-5
Anti-aging5 ingredients credited for this claimModerate support
“anti-ageing moisturiser assists in minimising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles”
This product contains palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyroyl hydroxythreonine, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, tetradecyl aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric urea trifluoroacetate. These ingredients 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-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · 3 ingredients credited for this claimModerate support
This product contains antioxidants (punica granatum 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?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: Lavandula angustifolia flower oilMedium 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%
Glycerin~4.1–6.1%
- 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 GlycerinEthylhexyl palmitate~3.7–5.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Ethylhexyl palmitateGlyceryl stearate~2.4–3.7%
- 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~2.1–3.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearateButylene glycol~1.6–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolMyristyl myristate~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenic
More about Myristyl myristateSqualane~1.2–1.8%
- 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 SqualaneSimmondsia chinensis seed oil~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Softens 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 oilPalmitoyl tripeptide-5~0.8–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
More about Palmitoyl tripeptide-5Palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyroyl hydroxythreonine~0.5–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Tetradecyl aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric urea trifluoroacetate~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A peptide. It helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin, support skin's barrier function and might have some slight anti-aging effect through stimulating skin's own production of hyaluronic acid
More about Tetradecyl aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric urea trifluoroacetateCamellia sinensis leaf extract~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractPunica granatum extract~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and even out the skin tone, but is typically used in products in a concentration that is too low to be effective
More about Punica granatum extractCarbomer~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
More about CarbomerTocopherol~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolDisodium edta~0.05–0.3%
Phenoxyethanol~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolLavandula angustifolia flower oil~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A fragrant plant oil, can be irritating
More about Lavandula angustifolia flower oilIngredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Glyceryl stearate, Peg-100 stearate, Butylene glycol, Myristyl myristate, Squalane, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Palmitoyl tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyroyl hydroxythreonine, Tetradecyl aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric urea trifluoroacetate, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Punica granatum extract, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Disodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Unknown, Lavandula angustifolia flower 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.
| Pestle & MortarHydrate MoisturizerYOUR PRODUCT | Beauty PieYouthbomb Biologic Collagen Peptide Cream | REVOLUTION SKINCAREUltimate Skin Strength Night Cream | Revision SkincareIntellishade TruPhysical | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 57% | 54% | 52% |
| Price | $56.85 | $231.36+$174.51 | $13.22−$43.63 | $72.80+$15.95 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 9 | 5 of 9 | 6 of 9 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Ceramide Np | Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
Based on the ingredients included, "Pestle & Mortar - Hydrate Moisturizer" works well for moisturizing the skin. This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients. These both types of ingredients are essentials for improving the skin hydration and keeping the skin barrier healthy. Glycerin and butylene glycol 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 (myristyl myristate, simmondsia chinensis seed oil, squalane, ethylhexyl palmitate 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
- We like that this moisturizer contains peptides (palmitoyl tripeptide-5 0.80% - 1.20% and palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyroyl hydroxythreonine 0.50% - 1.10%). There are many different kind of Peptides and they are naturally present in our skin. They all are a combination of aminoacids. Some of them work as natural antibiotics, promote wound-healing and production of collagen. The science is still not settled on how effective Peptides are in skincare, but it is very likely that they have a benefit. Peptides might help restore the skin barrier and fight the signs of aging. At the very least, Peptides work as humectants: they attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve its hydration.
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 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.
Price
The product retails from 43.00£ up to 44.95£ in the United Kingdom, for 66.00$ in the United States and for 92.40CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 6 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
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