RITUALS

The Ritual of Sakura Body Cream

Name: RITUALS - The Ritual of Sakura Body Cream
Brand: RITUALS

Efficacy 75/100·High irritancy

Efficacy measures how well the formula delivers the claims the brand advertises · 2 of 2 advertised claims delivered

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Product claims breakdown

Anti-aging

CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT at ~1.3–1.6% + 2 more curated actives

Good evidence

This product contains centella asiatica extract. 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.

CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACTRole: Key activeA plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.~1.3–1.6%

TOCOPHEROLRole: Under-dosedPure 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~0.25–0.45%

UBIQUINONERole: Key activeCoenzyme 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~0.95–1.15%

Moisturizing

9 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Good evidence

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: caprylic/capric triglyceride, dimethicone.

ALLANTOINRole: Under-dosedHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~0.3–0.6%

CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDERole: Key activeA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~2.5–3%

CYCLOPENTASILOXANERole: Key activeA silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin~6–7.4%

DIMETHICONERole: Key activeA 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~0.3–0.55%

GLYCERINRole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~3.1–3.8%

HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OILRole: Key activeA 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~2.1–2.5%

TOCOPHEROLRole: Under-dosedPure 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~0.25–0.45%

UBIQUINONERole: Key activeCoenzyme 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~0.95–1.15%

Anti-oxidation

UBIQUINONE at ~0.95–1.15% delivers this without it being on the label

Quiet bonus

This product contains antioxidants (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).

The following ingredients - centella asiatica extract also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.

TOCOPHEROLRole: Under-dosedPure 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~0.25–0.45%

UBIQUINONERole: Key activeCoenzyme 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~0.95–1.15%

Irritancy

27 flagged ingredients — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 27 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~0.55–0.8%est.

ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

Benzyl alcoholA preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

Benzyl salicylateA fragrance. Is a likely irritantHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

Cinnamyl alcohol—High~0.15–0.3%est.

CitralA fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritantHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

CoumarinA fragrance. Is a likely skin allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

Hexyl cinnamalA fragrance with jasmine smell. A likely irritantHigh~0.2–0.35%est.

Isoeugenol—High~0.15–0.3%est.

LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

Alpha-isomethyl iononeA fragrance. Potential allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinLow~2.5–3%est.

Centella asiatica extractA plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.Low~1.3–1.6%est.

Tocopheryl acetateA 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.Low~0.65–1%est.

Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureLow~0.45–0.65%est.

Ceteareth-12Helps water and oil mix togetherLow~0.4–0.6%est.

Ceteareth-20Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient propertiesLow~0.4–0.6%est.

Sodium metabisulfiteA preservativeLow~0.1–0.2%est.

PolyacrylamideUsed to improve product texture and help oil and water mix togetherLow~0.25–0.4%est.

Laureth-7Helps oil and water mix togetherLow~0.2–0.4%est.

Potassium sorbateA preservativeLow~0.15–0.25%est.

Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHLow~0.15–0.3%est.

Sorbic acidA preservativeLow~0.15–0.3%est.

Sodium citrateHelps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve productsLow~0.1–0.15%est.

Comedogenic

Cetearyl alcohol ~3.7–4.5% — rinse-off or low %

Low risk

We flag 2 ingredients with a low-to-moderate comedogenic rating — at these concentrations, or in rinse-off use, they're unlikely to clog pores for most skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product textureMed~3.7–4.5%est.

Ceteareth-20Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient propertiesMed~0.4–0.6%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels