Sebamed Extreme Dry Skin Relief Face Cream 5% Urea
Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Moisturizing9 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Extreme Dry Skin Relief Face Cream 5% Urea”
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.
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, cetearyl alcohol.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol, urea
Anti-aging1 ingredient credited for this claimModerate support
“Highly active herbal active ingredients from tiger grass support collagen synthesis for improved elasticity and help smooth dryness lines.”
This product contains asiaticoside. 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-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · 3 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
This product contains antioxidants (asiaticoside) 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?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: ParfumMedium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
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Ingredients
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Water~40–60%
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~6.8–10.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideUrea~4.2–6.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Naturally present in skin (urea makes up about 7% of natural moisturizing factors in skin). Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Also has a positive effect on the skin barrier beyond the humectant action. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients. Is an exfoliating ingredient when used in high concentrations
More about UreaGlycerin~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 GlycerinTocopheryl acetate~2.3–3.4%
- 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 acetateGlyceryl stearate citrate~1.8–2.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin
More about Glyceryl stearate citratePanthenol~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolCetearyl alcohol~1.2–1.8%
- 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 alcoholAsiaticoside~0.85–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An active compound of Centella Asiatica plant extract. In combination with other active compounds of Centella Asiatica extract (madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid), asiaticoside has been shown to be helpful in wound-healing, restoring skin barrier function and supporting collagen production in skin. It can, however, itself be irritating
More about AsiaticosideAsiatic acid~0.6–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An active compound of Centella Asiatica plant extract. In combination with other active compounds of Centella Asiatica extract (asiaticoside, madecasosside and madecassic acid) asiatic acid has been shown to be helpful in wound-healing, restoring skin barrier function and supporting collagen production in skin. It can, however, itself be irritating
More about Asiatic acidMadecassic acid~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An active compound of Centella Asiatica plant extract. In combination with other active compounds of Centella Asiatica extract (asiaticoside, madecasosside and asiatic acid), madecassic acid has been shown to be helpful in wound-healing, restoring skin barrier function and supporting collagen production in skin. It can, however, itself be irritating
More about Madecassic acidBisabolol~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
More about BisabololCitric acid~0.35–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidSodium carbomer~0.15–0.7%
Sodium hydroxide~0.1–0.45%
Parfum~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumBenzyl alcohol~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
More about Benzyl alcoholPhenoxyethanol~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolSodium benzoate~0.05–0.25%
Ingredient list view
Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Urea, Glycerin, Tocopheryl acetate, Glyceryl stearate citrate, Panthenol, Cetearyl alcohol, Asiaticoside, Asiatic acid, Madecassic acid, Bisabolol, Citric acid, Sodium carbomer, Sodium hydroxide, Parfum, Benzyl alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium benzoate
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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.
| SebamedExtreme Dry Skin Relief Face Cream 5% UreaYOUR PRODUCT | MEDI-PEELCENCICA ALLA CREAM | COSRXPure Fit Cica Cream | NATUREKINDSuper Barrier Urea 5 Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 58% | 57% | 57% |
| Price | $10.99 | — | $18.08+$7.09 | $14.70+$3.71 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 7 of 8 | 6 of 8 | 6 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Madecassoside | Madecassoside |
| Irritancy | Medium | High | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"Sebamed - Extreme Dry Skin Relief Face Cream 5% Urea" is a well-rounded moisturizing product. The formulation is based on a combination of good humectants and emollients. Both are needed to increase the skin hydration level. Panthenol, urea and glycerin 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). Caprylic/capric triglyceride, cetearyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate citrate 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
- Actives derived from an extract of the Centella Asiatica plant (also known as Gotu Kola) - madecassic acid 0.45% - 1.05%, asiatic acid 0.60% - 1.35% and asiaticoside 0.85% - 1.30% The Centella Asiatica Actives, even in low concentration, can help reduce inflammation in skin, strengthen the skin barrier and reduce photodamage. They can also help to decrease scarring.
- Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 1.40% - 2.10% concentration. In this concentration, Panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
Irritation risk
This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide 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 10.99$ up to 16.95$ in the United States and for 80.75A$ in Australia.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 10 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Topical urea in skincare: A reviewpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2
- 3Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 4
- 5Centella asiatica in cosmetologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Contact dermatitis due to Madecassolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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