SEPHORA COLLECTION Firming Day Cream - Firm Illuminate
Works for
1 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Moisturizing12 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
“Firming Day Cream .”
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, sodium hyaluronate.
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, myristyl myristate.
Anti-aging2 ingredients credited for this claimWeak support
“It helps smooth the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines for more bouncy skin.”
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Parfum, Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh 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%
Glycerin~4.3–6.5%
- 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 GlycerinDicaprylyl ether~3.6–5.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin while creating a non-greasy feel on the skin. Helps to dissolve other ingredients
More about Dicaprylyl etherNeopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate~2.8–4.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~2.1–3.2%
- 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 triglyceridePolyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate~1.7–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearateMyristyl myristate~1.5–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenic
More about Myristyl myristate1,2-hexanediol~0.5–1.2%
Polyacrylate crosspolymer-6~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Silica~1.1–1.6%
Vaccinium myrtillus fruit extract~0.5–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but research on its efficacy in skin is lacking
More about Vaccinium myrtillus fruit extractLauroyl lysine~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice product texture
More about Lauroyl lysineSclerotium gum~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create gel-like formulas and stabilize emulsions
More about Sclerotium gumC14-22 alcohols~0.35–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that helps stabilize product formulations
More about C14-22 alcoholsSodium acrylates copolymer~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Sodium acrylates copolymerPotassium sorbate~0.3–0.6%
Saccharum officinarum extract~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sugar extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Saccharum officinarum extractHydrolyzed vegetable protein~0.15–0.7%
Parfum~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumSodium hyaluronate~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateO-cymen-5-ol~0.05–0.1%
C12-20 alkyl glucoside~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about C12-20 alkyl glucosideLecithin~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinCitrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that is used as a fragrance. Can be irritating and lead to photosensitivity
More about Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extractCitrus limon fruit extract~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating and cause photosensitivity
More about Citrus limon fruit extractSodium hydroxide~0.1–0.45%
Ci 77891~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Titanium dioxide~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Titanium dioxidePanthenol~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolSynthetic fluorphlogopite~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A mineral that is used as an optical filter (makes the skin looks nicer through light reflection) and to improve the texture of cosmetic products
More about Synthetic fluorphlogopiteAcer saccharum extract~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that contains small percentage of AHAs. Is unlikely to have any skin benefit due the small concentration of the active compounds
More about Acer saccharum extractSodium benzoate~0.05–0.25%
Tocopherol~0.1–0.3%
- 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 TocopherolAscorbyl glucoside~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
More about Ascorbyl glucosideHelianthus annuus seed oil~0.05–0.25%
- 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 oilTin oxide~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A colorant that can add a pearl-like appearance to the formulation
More about Tin oxideIngredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl ether, Neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, Myristyl myristate, 1,2-hexanediol, Polyacrylate crosspolymer-6, Silica, Vaccinium myrtillus fruit extract, Lauroyl lysine, Sclerotium gum, C14-22 alcohols, Sodium acrylates copolymer, Potassium sorbate, Saccharum officinarum extract, Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, Parfum, Sodium hyaluronate, O-cymen-5-ol, C12-20 alkyl glucoside, Lecithin, Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract, Citrus limon fruit extract, Sodium hydroxide, Ci 77891, Titanium dioxide, Panthenol, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Acer saccharum extract, Sodium benzoate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl glucoside, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Tin oxide
Compare prices
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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.
| SEPHORA COLLECTIONFirming Day Cream - Firm IlluminateYOUR PRODUCT | endota spaBlue Light Defence Hydro Cream | COSRXThe Retinol 0.1 Cream | BentonLet's Carrot Moisture Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 63% | 63% | 63% |
| Price | $17.00 | $134.85+$117.85 | $18.18+$1.18 | $18.20+$1.20 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 8 | 5 of 8 | 5 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | Urea | Retinol | Ceramide Np |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 25 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5
- 6Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin agingncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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