Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-blemish
- Moisturizing
- Exfoliation
- Anti-oxidation
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
Based on the ingredient list, "SkinMedica - Acne System" can work well for skin moisturization. As we expect from a proper moisturizer, the formula includes a combo of effective humectants and emollients. These are the two different types of ingredients that are essential for improving the skin hydration and supporting a healthy skin barrier. Panthenol, mel and butylene glycol 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). C12-15 alkyl benzoate, mel and pentylene glycol 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
- This formulation also includes panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.45% - 1.05% concentration. In this concentration, panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
Irritation risk
There are quite a few common irritants in this product, including ingredients without particular skin benefits. We would not recommend it for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. 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 for 97.20$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Acne System
Source: From product name
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid. These ingredients is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
A potent anti-bacterial ingredient that is effective against acne. Often leads to skin dryness and can be irritating
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
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: salicylic acid.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
A plant extract that might contain salicylic acid
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Moisturizing
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": panthenol, mel.
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).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Enhances the product texture and makes it more spreadable. Helps reduce water loss from the outer layer of skin. Extands the shelf life by preventing bacteria growth
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and attract water to it
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
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
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (camellia sinensis extract) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
Tea extract. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin
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
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 SkinMedica Acne System | Current | $97.20 | |
Origins GinZing Glow Radiance-Boosting Gel Moisturiser | 67% | $22.80 | |
 YEOUTH Daytime Defense | 66% | $54.85 | |
Paula's choice PC4Men Soothe + Smooth | 66% | - | |
 Revolution Body Skincare Salicylic Body Blemish Moisture Gel | 66% | $8.00 | |
 SEKKISEI JUNKISUI Moisturizer | 63% | $35.00 |
Key Actives
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
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
Tea extract. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
A potent anti-bacterial ingredient that is effective against acne. Often leads to skin dryness and can be irritating
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
Potential irritants
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
A drying alcohol. Mainly used to dissolve other ingredients. Can increase the irritation potential of the formula
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
Helps oil and water mix together and used as a cleansing agent. Can be irritating and is better avoided for sensitive skin
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent
A potent anti-bacterial ingredient that is effective against acne. Often leads to skin dryness and can be irritating
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
A plant extract that might contain salicylic acid
A plant extract that might contain salicylic acid
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
A plant extract that might contain salicylic acid
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
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
Tea extract. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
A plant extract that might contain salicylic acid
A drying alcohol. Mainly used to dissolve other ingredients. Can increase the irritation potential of the formula
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
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
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
A plant extract that might contain salicylic acid
Helps oil and water mix together and used as a cleansing agent. Can be irritating and is better avoided for sensitive skin
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent
A potent anti-bacterial ingredient that is effective against acne. Often leads to skin dryness and can be irritating
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
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
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
Enhances the product texture and makes it more spreadable. Helps reduce water loss from the outer layer of skin. Extands the shelf life by preventing bacteria growth
Might help to reduce inflammation in skin, but solid research is lacking
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the product formulation
A plant extract that might contain salicylic acid
Ingredient list view
Aminomethyl propanol, Butylene glycol, Mel, Camellia sinensis extract, Ci 15985, Unknown, Ci 42090, Isoceteth-20, Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) extract, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Menthol, Panthenol, Salix nigra bark extract, Sd alcohol 40, Water, Salicylic acid, Allantoin, Butylene glycol, Cinnamomum camphora bark oil, Cocamidopropylamine oxide, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Menthol, Methylisothiazolinone, Panthenol, Peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, Peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Peg-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate, Ppg-26-buteth-26, Water, Salix nigra bark extract, Salvia officinalis leaf extract, Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate, Sodium hydroxide, Tetrasodium edta, Sodium citrate, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, Water, Benzoyl peroxide, Allantoin, Allyl methacrylates crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Butylene glycol, Butylparaben, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, Hydroxyphenyl propamidobenzoic acid, Ethylparaben, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, Pentylene glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Potassium sorbate, Propylparaben, Water, Salix nigra bark extract, Salvia officinalis leaf extract, Tetrasodium edta, Xanthan gum
- Safety Assessment of Alkyl PEG/PPG Ethers as Used in Cosmetics
- Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
- Beta Hydroxy Acids
- A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparations
- Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Study
- Profile of wound healing process induced by allantoin
- Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Topical Preparations with 10% Hamamelis Distillate in a UV Erythema Test
- Anti-inflammatory activity of hamamelis distillate applied topically to the skin
- ASSESSMENT REPORT ON HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA L., CORTEX HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA L., FOLIUM HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA L., FOLIUM ET CORTEX AUT RAMUNCULUS DESTILLATUM
- Methylisothiazolinone contact allergy: a review
- Amended Safety Assessment of PEGylated Oils as Used in Cosmetics
- Amended Safety Assessment of Butyl Polyoxyalkylene Ethers as Used in Cosmetics
- Allergic contact dermatitis caused by Salvia officinalis extract
- Final Report On the Safety Assessment of Sodium Alpha-Olefin Sulfonates
- Safety Assessment of Alkyl Taurate Amides and Taurate Salts as Used in Cosmetics
- Safety Assessment of Cross-Linked Alkyl Acrylates as Used in Cosmetics
- α-(-)-Bisabolol Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Ameliorates Skin Inflammation
- Final amended report on the safety assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Benzylparaben as used in cosmetic products
- Final report of the cosmetic ingredient review expert panel on the safety assessment of Polyisobutene and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene as used in cosmetics