Superdrug Vitamin E Superbalm

Name: Vitamin E - Superdrug Vitamin E Superbalm
Brand: Vitamin E

Efficacy 75/100·High irritancy

Efficacy measures how well the formula delivers the claims the brand advertises · 1 of 2 advertised claims delivered

Judging from the ingredient list, "Vitamin E - Superdrug Vitamin E Superbalm" works well for improving skin hydrationThis product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: vi…

Edit

Product summary

Judging from the ingredient list, "Vitamin E - Superdrug Vitamin E Superbalm" works well for improving skin hydration

This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: vitamin e

Irritation risk

This moisturizer contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the 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 3.99£ in the United Kingdom.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Product claims breakdown

Moisturizing

9 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Strong evidence

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: beeswax, butyrospermum parkii butter.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: petrolatum

PETROLATUMRole: HeroOne of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss~4.6–6.9%

BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTERRole: Key activeA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals~22–33%

CERA ALBARole: Key activeForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~3.2–4.7%

COCOS NUCIFERA OILRole: Key activeAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic~4.8–7.2%

PERSEA GRATISSIMA OILRole: Key activeAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function~0.6–1.35%

PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS SEEDRole: Key activeHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~1.5–2.2%

TOCOPHEROLRole: Under-dosedPure 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~0.55–1.3%

BEESWAXRole: Key activeForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~2.3–3.5%

VACCINIUM MACROCARPON SEED OILRole: Key activeA plant oil that can help neutralize free radicals, soften the upper layer of the skin, and support skin's barrier function~0.35–0.85%

Anti-aging

2 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Partial evidence

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 - butyrospermum parkii butter - could be helpful for preventing or repairing signs of aging in theory, but there is no evidence that it actually works.

This ingredient vaccinium macrocarpon seed oil might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin and help it fight off some of the sun damage.

TOCOPHEROLRole: Under-dosedPure 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~0.55–1.3%

Cocos nucifera oilRole: Key activeAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic~4.8–7.2%

PetrolatumRole: Key activeOne of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss~4.6–6.9%

Hydrogenated castor oilRole: Key activeA plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency~3.6–5.5%

Cera albaRole: Key activeForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~3.2–4.7%

BeeswaxRole: Key activeForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~2.3–3.5%

Prunus amygdalus dulcis seedRole: Key activeHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~1.5–2.2%

Persea gratissima oilRole: Key activeAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function~0.6–1.35%

Macadamia ternifolia seed oilRole: Key activePlant oil from nuts that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Contains a high concentration of oleic acid that can weaken skin's barrier function and increase water-loss while enhancing penetration of other ingredients~0.45–1.1%

Vaccinium macrocarpon seed oilRole: Key activeA plant oil that can help neutralize free radicals, soften the upper layer of the skin, and support skin's barrier function~0.35–0.85%

Irritancy

10 flagged ingredients — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 10 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

AromaAn unspecified blend of fragrant irritating ingredientsHigh~1.2–1.8%est.

Alpha-isomethyl iononeA fragrance. Potential allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.45%est.

LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.35%est.

Hydrogenated castor oilA plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistencyLow~3.6–5.5%est.

Cera albaForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergenLow~3.2–4.7%est.

Tocopheryl acetateA 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.Low~0.85–1.3%est.

Persea gratissima oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier functionLow~0.6–1.35%est.

Macadamia ternifolia seed oilPlant oil from nuts that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Contains a high concentration of oleic acid that can weaken skin's barrier function and increase water-loss while enhancing penetration of other ingredientsLow~0.45–1.1%est.

Vaccinium macrocarpon seed oilA plant oil that can help neutralize free radicals, soften the upper layer of the skin, and support skin's barrier functionLow~0.35–0.85%est.

BhtA preservativeLow~0.1–0.45%est.

Comedogenic

Butyrospermum parkii butter ~22–33% — rinse-off or low %

Some risk

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating ≥ 2. In leave-on products at higher concentrations they can clog pores for acne-prone skin types.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicalsHigh~22–33%est.

Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenicHigh~4.8–7.2%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels