Works for
1 of 2 advertised claims delivered
MoisturizingPanthenol, Sesamum indicum seed oil + 11 moreStrong evidence
“Moisturizing 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, pantolactone.
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: squalane, sesamum indicum seed oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
Anti-agingLactococcus ferment lysate, Ascorbyl palmitate + 2 moreLimited evidence
“Helps supply the skin with intensive moisture, reduces the look of dryness lines, and promotes healthy-looking, invigorated skin.”
This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.This ingredient - lactococcus ferment lysate - could be helpful for preventing or repairing signs of aging in theory, but there is no evidence that it actually works.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy4 strong irritants: Limonene, Alcohol + 2 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~4.5–6.7%
- 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 GlycerinSesamum indicum seed oil~3.7–5.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A good moisturizing plant oil. Due to the high linoleic acid content, it helps soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss and support skin barrier function
More about Sesamum indicum seed oilMacadamia integrifolia seed oil~2.7–4.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Macadamia integrifolia seed oilSqualane~2.1–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
More about SqualaneCetearyl alcohol~1.7–2.5%
- 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 alcoholDicaprylyl carbonate~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonateLactococcus ferment lysate~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Consists of remains of dead bacteria cells. Is likely helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin. Might be helpful in reducing inflammation and neutralizing free radicals in skin
More about Lactococcus ferment lysateHydrogenated vegetable glycerides~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Help soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Hydrogenated vegetable glyceridesPotassium cetyl phosphate~0.85–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Potassium cetyl phosphateTocopheryl acetate~0.5–1.15%
- 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 acetatePanthenol~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolHydrogenated palm glycerides~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin
More about Hydrogenated palm glyceridesXanthan gum~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumEthylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.75%
Potassium sorbate~0.3–0.6%
Limonene~0.15–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneOpuntia ficus-indica stem extract~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Citric acid~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidAlcohol~0.15–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholLactic acid~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
More about Lactic acidCaprylic/capric triglyceride~0.15–0.6%
- 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 triglycerideParfum~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumSodium chloride~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideSodium benzoate~0.05–0.25%
Pantolactone~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about PantolactoneAscorbyl palmitate~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.
More about Ascorbyl palmitateLinalool~0.05–0.1%
Ascorbic acid~0.01–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging
More about Ascorbic acidIngredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Sesamum indicum seed oil, Macadamia integrifolia seed oil, Squalane, Cetearyl alcohol, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Lactococcus ferment lysate, Hydrogenated vegetable glycerides, Potassium cetyl phosphate, Tocopheryl acetate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated palm glycerides, Xanthan gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium sorbate, Limonene, Opuntia ficus-indica stem extract, Citric acid, Alcohol, Lactic acid, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Parfum, Sodium chloride, Sodium benzoate, Pantolactone, Ascorbyl palmitate, Linalool, Ascorbic acid
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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.
| SYSMoisturizing CreamYOUR PRODUCT | BABORLIFTING RX Collagen Cream | MDOIntense Hydrating Moisturizer | MDO by Simon Ourian MDD. Intense Hydrating Moisturizer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 67% | 65% | 65% |
| Price | — | — | $105.61 | $105.87 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 6 of 7 | 6 of 7 | 6 of 7 |
| Key difference | — | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 | Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 | Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 |
| Irritancy | High | High | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
Based on the ingredients included, "SYS - Moisturizing Cream" works well for moisturizing the skin. 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. Humectants in this product (panthenol, glycerin and pantolactone) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Emollients in this formulation (sesamum indicum seed oil, squalane, cetearyl alcohol, hydrogenated vegetable glycerides and macadamia integrifolia seed oil) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.
Ingredient callouts
- This product also contains vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). It can be an effective active for anti-aging and evening out the skin tone, but in this moisturizer it is used for stabilizing other ingredients in the formulation. In this concentration (0.01% - 0.10%) it cannot have a noticeable benefit for the skin.
- This formulation also includes panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.40% - 0.95% concentration. In this concentration, panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
Irritation risk
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 at around 40.00$ in the United States and for 53.90CA$ in Canada.
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.
- 1
- 2
- 3Triglyceride composition of Sesamum indicum seed oilonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 4
- 5
- 6Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
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