
Rationale #2 The Hydragel
Benefits
Promise: Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
#2 The Hydragel
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:
alanine, arginine.
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: arginine, helianthus annuus seed oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: caprooyl phytosphingosine, caprooyl sphingosine, ceramide ap, ceramide eop, ceramide eos, ceramide np, ceramide ns
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
alanine | HIGH | ||
arginine | HIGH | ||
helianthus annuus seed oil | HIGH |
Other benefit: Anti-blemish
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: retinol. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
retinol | HIGH | ||
sodium ascorbyl phosphate | HIGH | ||
copper gluconate | LOW |
Other benefit: Anti-aging
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: aspartic acid, carnosine, lysine, serine, threonine.
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.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
retinol | HIGH | ||
serine | MEDIUM | ||
aspartic acid | MEDIUM |
Other benefit: Evens skin tone
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.
In addition, this product contains glutathione. This ingredient (ingredients) might help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the effect, if any, is likely to be small.
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: alanine.
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.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
glutathione | HIGH | ||
retinol | HIGH | ||
alanine | LOW |
Other benefit: Exfoliation
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: retinol.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
retinol | HIGH | ||
copper gluconate | LOW | ||
zinc gluconate | LOW |
Other benefit: Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (carnosine, glutathione, retinol, superoxide dismutase, ubiquinone) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
superoxide dismutase | HIGH | ||
carnosine | HIGH | ||
ubiquinone | HIGH |
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise | Can it deliver? |
---|---|
Moisturizing |
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Potential irritants

Ingredient | Irritancy | Skin Benefit |
---|---|---|
phenylpropanol | ||
santalum spicatum seed oil | ||
propylene glycol |
User reviews (0)
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WIMJ similarity score | 72% | 71% | 63% | 60% | 60% | 59% | 59% | 58% | 58% | 57% | |
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Ingredients & concentrations
- retinol
- ceramide np
- ceramide ns
- caprooyl sphingosine
- ceramide eos
- ceramide ap
- ceramide eop
- caprooyl phytosphingosine
- glycerin
- glycine
- Sunflower seed oil
- histidine
- isoleucine
- lysine
- magnesium aspartate
- serine
- squalane
- superoxide dismutase
- threonine
- Vitamin E
- tyrosine
- ubiquinone
- alanine
- zinc gluconate
- arginine
- aspartic acid
- carnosine
- cholesterol
- copper gluconate
- glutamic acid
- glutathione
- +27 more
Ingredient | Estimated concentration |
---|---|
45% - 55% | |
Plain old water | |
4.6% - 5.6% | |
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin | |
3.8% - 4.6% | |
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant | |
3% - 3.7% | |
Helps dissolve other ingredients in a formulation | |
2.2% - 2.7% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
1.9% - 2.3% | |
1.6% - 2% | |
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture | |
1.4% - 1.7% | |
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together | |
1.1% - 1.3% | |
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 | |
0.9% - 1.1% | |
0.7% - 1% | |
A gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finish | |
0.6% - 0.9% | |
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 | |
0.5% - 0.75% | |
Helps mask the smell of other ingredients and helps preserve the product formulation | |
0.5% - 0.75% | |
A vitamin C derivative. Studies show that is might be effective in reducing hyperpigmentation, but there are no studies confirming that it is effectively converted into the bioavailable form of Vitamin C in skin. It is not clear how this derivative compares in effectiveness to the topical application of bioavailable form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) | |
0.45% - 0.65% | |
0.5% - 0.75% | |
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. | |
0.45% - 0.65% | |
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating | |
0.4% - 0.6% | |
Stabilizes the product formulation | |
0.35% - 0.6% | |
An antioxidant enzyme that is naturally present in skin. It can help support skin barrier function and reduce inflammation in skin. It is used in topical medications for inflammatory skin conditions including atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis. There are three types of natural Superoxide Dismutase in human skin. The compound used in topical treatments and cosmetics are mimics of typically one of these natural variants | |
0.3% - 0.6% | |
Used to adjust the product's pH | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
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 | |
0.3% - 0.6% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
Used as a fragrance. It can be irritating and cause photosensitivity | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
A type of peptide. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin combatting the sun damage | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.3% - 0.6% | |
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture | |
0.4% - 0.6% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
A plant oil with a high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin and lead to allergic reactions. Can lead to photosensitivity | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skin | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
A highly irritating fragrance | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
An essential oil with a lemon-like smell that is extracted from a fruit grown in Asia. Used as a fragrance | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
An essential oil. Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating and sensitizing | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Might be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and calm down inflammation in skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Typically used to stabilize the product formulations. It is a salt of a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) and in larger concentrations, can help shed the dead cells from the skin surface revealing smoother skin. It can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals, but solid research is missing. Due to the zinc content, might help calm down inflammation in skin | |
0.45% - 0.65% | |
Used to absorb oil and can temporarily mattify skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
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. | |
0.3% - 0.6% | |
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
A preservative | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
A preservative | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
Coenzyme Q10. It helps neutralize free radicals in skin, improves skin hydration and might be helpful agains fine lines and wrinkles. It can be an allergen | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Helps preserve the product formulation | |
0.4% - 0.6% | |
Helps water and oil mix together | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
0.3% - 0.6% | |
An emollient that is naturally found in skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Typically used to stabilize the product formulations. It is a salt of polyhydroxy acid (PHA) and in larger concentrations, can help shed the dead cells from the skin surface revealing smoother skin. It can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals, but solid research is missing | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
An amino-acid that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
A plant extract that can be irritating. It might contain a compound anthocyanin that could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.3% - 0.5% | |
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant effect in skin, but evidence is lacking | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
An amino-acid that helps increase skin hydration and might help to slightly improve skin firmness, potentially reducing lines and wrinkles | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
A component of ceramides. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
A component of ceramides. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to lighten the skin, but solid evidence is lacking | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
0.2% - 0.4% | |
An amino acid that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and support skin's barrier function | |
0.2% - 0.35% | |
A preservative | |
0.2% - 0.35% | |
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
A preservative | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
A fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritant | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
A fragrance. Can be irritating | |
0.05% - 0.1% | |
0.1% - 0.15% | |
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin | |
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Sources
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- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Care
- Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egypt
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- New lipophilic pro-vitamin C, tetra-isopalmitoyl ascorbic acid (VC-IP), suppresses senile lentigo through controlling of melanocytes-keratinocytes interaction
- Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis
- Propylene Glycol
- Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycol
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- Air oxidation increases skin irritation from fragrance terpenes
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