Protocol Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide Hydration Cream
Works for
Anti-agingNiacinamide, Hyaluronic acid + 2 moreWorks well
“Provides deep, long term moisture to create springy, youthful skin.”
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.
MoisturizingNiacinamide, Panthenol + 8 moreWorks well
“Provides deep, long term moisture to create springy, youthful skin.”
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, hyaluronic 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, helianthus annuus seed oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: niacinamide, panthenol
Evens skin toneSide benefit · NiacinamideWorks well
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: niacinamide
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.
Anti-blemishSide benefit · Niacinamide, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract + 1 moreWorks well
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.
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Tocopherol, Rosa canina seed oil + 1 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (tocopherol) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, AlcoholMedium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Cocos nucifera oil~4.6–6.9%
- 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 oilRosa canina seed oil~4.3–6.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. It might have anti-oxidant properties. Might help reduce inflammation in skin and help against blemishes
More about Rosa canina seed oilGlycerin~3–4.5%
- 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 GlycerinNiacinamide~2.4–3.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about NiacinamideStearic acid~2–3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidHyaluronic acid~1.5–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation
More about Hyaluronic acidTocopherol~1.1–1.7%
- 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 TocopherolAloe barbadensis leaf juice~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceRosmarinus officinalis leaf extract~0.8–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extractAzadirachta indica seed oil~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Panthenol~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolUnspecified form of vitamin c~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Beta-carotene~0.35–0.8%
Helianthus annuus seed oil~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilPropanediol~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolAlcohol~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholXanthan gum~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumTetrasodium glutamate diacetate~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps stabilize the product formulation
More about Tetrasodium glutamate diacetatePhenoxyethanol~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolIngredient list view
Water, Cocos nucifera oil, Rosa canina seed oil, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Stearic acid, Unknown, Hyaluronic acid, Tocopherol, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Unknown, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Azadirachta indica seed oil, Panthenol, Unspecified form of vitamin c, Beta-carotene, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Propanediol, Alcohol, Xanthan gum, Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, Phenoxyethanol
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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.
| ProtocolHyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide Hydration CreamYOUR PRODUCT | RilastilAcnestil Attiva Cream | CetaphilHydrating Night Cream | 12 GRABSOlibetaine Rich Hyaluron Moist Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 92% | 89% | 89% |
| Price | $54.00 | $15.61−$38.39 | $1.33−$52.67 | $19.80−$34.20 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 9 | 5 of 9 | 5 of 9 |
| Key difference | — | Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate | Petrolatum | Adenosine |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Mukti Organics Tinted Moisturiser With SunscreenAbib Hydration Creme Water Tube
Product summary
Based on the ingredient list, "Protocol - Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide Hydration Cream" can work well for skin moisturization. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. Protocol - Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide Hydration Cream ticks this box. Humectants in this product (glycerin, hyaluronic acid and aloe barbadensis leaf juice) 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). Helianthus annuus extract, helianthus annuus seed oil, cetyl alcohol and stearic acid 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 love that this moisturizer contains a good concentration of niacinamide 4.40% - 6.60%. Niacinamide is a perfect active in a moistruizer because it helps calm down inflamation in skin and support the skin barrier. More than that, it is helpful for most common skin concerns: it helps regulat oil production, help reduce acne and clogged pores, improve skin tone and prevent pigmentation marks. It also helps fight photodamage.
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.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 19 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Nutrient composition of rose (Rosa canina L.) seed and oilsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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