Serious Skincare

Serious Skincare InstA-Tox Instant Wrinkle Smoothing Serum Twin Pack

Name: Serious Skincare - InstA-Tox Instant Wrinkle Smoothing Serum Twin Pack
Brand: Serious Skincare

Efficacy75/100IrritancyMedium

See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-aging

Retinyl palmitate, Magnesium aluminum silicate + 1 more

May help

What the product description says

“InstA-Tox Wrinkle Smoothing Serum smoothes right over lines and wrinkles, temporarily minimizing the appearance of wrinkled skin on the face and neck.”

Source: Skinstore

This product contains retinyl palmitate. 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.

Retinyl palmitateKey activeEffect: MediumThree steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect~0.95–1.15%

Magnesium aluminum silicateEffect: LowMight be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and, when combined with zinc carbonate and malonic acid, reducing fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating elastin production. Also helps stabilize the product formulation~5.3–6.5%

Copper gluconateEffect: LowTypically 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~2.3–2.8%

Anti-oxidation

Side benefit · Camellia oleifera leaf extract, Copper gluconate

Works well

This product contains antioxidants (camellia oleifera leaf extract) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).

Camellia oleifera leaf extractKey activeEffect: HighA plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation, even though it is not usually used in sufficient concentration in cosmetics~1.8–2.2%

Moisturizing

Side benefit · Magnesium aspartate, Copper gluconate + 3 more

Works

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": sodium hyaluronate, butylene glycol.

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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

Magnesium aspartateKey activeEffect: MediumMight be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and calm down inflammation in skin~3.9–4.7%

Copper gluconateKey activeEffect: HighTypically 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~2.3–2.8%

Sodium hyaluronateKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin~1.4–1.7%

Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed 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~1.6–2%

Caprylyl glycol· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowHelps preserve products and creates a nice product texture~0.5–0.75%

Evens skin tone

Side benefit · Retinyl palmitate, Copper gluconate

May help

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: copper gluconate, retinyl palmitate.

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

1 strong irritant: Retinyl palmitate

Medium risk

We flagged 4 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Retinyl palmitateThree steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effectHigh~0.95–1.15%est.

Copper gluconateTypically 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 missingMedium~2.3–2.8%est.

Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.5–0.75%est.

Hexylene glycolHelps create a more spreadable product textureMedium~0.15–0.25%est.

Comedogenic

Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients

None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Sodium silicate~9.2–11.2%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Sodium silicate

Magnesium aluminum silicate~5.3–6.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-aging

Might be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and, when combined with zinc carbonate and malonic acid, reducing fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating elastin production. Also helps stabilize the product formulation

More about Magnesium aluminum silicate

Magnesium aspartate~3.9–4.7%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-inflammatory

Might be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and calm down inflammation in skin

More about Magnesium aspartate

Zinc~2.9–3.6%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Zinc

Gluconate

Not recognized

Copper gluconate~2.3–2.8%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-oxidationExfoliationAnti-blemishEvens skin tone

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

More about Copper gluconate

Camellia oleifera leaf extract~1.8–2.2%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-oxidationAnti-inflammatory

A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation, even though it is not usually used in sufficient concentration in cosmetics

More about Camellia oleifera leaf extract

Butylene glycol~1.6–2%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

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

More about Butylene glycol

Sodium hyaluronate~1.4–1.7%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

More about Sodium hyaluronate

Retinyl palmitate~0.95–1.15%

Key activeIrritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Anti-agingEvens skin toneAnti-blemishExfoliation

Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect

More about Retinyl palmitate

Caprylyl glycol~0.5–0.75%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol

Phenoxyethanol~0.3–0.6%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol

Hexylene glycol~0.15–0.25%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Cleansing

Helps create a more spreadable product texture

More about Hexylene glycol

Iron oxides~0.2–0.35%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Sun protection

An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear

More about Iron oxides

Ingredient list view

Water, Sodium silicate, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Magnesium aspartate, Zinc, Unknown, Copper gluconate, Camellia oleifera leaf extract, Butylene glycol, Sodium hyaluronate, Retinyl palmitate, Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene glycol, Iron oxides

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/11 18:28 GMT

$59.20

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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.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
	Serious SkincareInstA-Tox Instant Wrinkle Smoothing Serum Twin PackYOUR PRODUCT	SkingredientsSkin Veg	Paula's choiceHydralight Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner	Jan MariniAge Intervention Peptide Extreme
Match	—	33%	33%	32%
Price	$59.20	$56.10−$3.10	—	$135.00+$75.80
Shared key ingredients	—	1 of 5	2 of 5	2 of 5
Key difference	—	Gluconolactone	Panthenol	Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8
Irritancy	Medium	Low	Low	Low
Drying alcohol	—	—	—	—
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 6 studies and safety reviews.

Serious SkincareInstA-Tox Instant Wrinkle Smoothing Serum Twin Pack

Buy on Amazon$59.20 · as of 11/11 18:28 GMT

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy on Amazon$59.20 · as of 11/11 18:28 GMT

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.