ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense
Works for
MoisturizingUrea, Crithmum maritimum extract + 3 moreWorks well
“Visibly healthier skin in just 2 weeks. Our best-selling antioxidant serum strengthens skin's protective barrier and defends against the environmental stressors that speed up aging, so skin stays hydrated, calm, and resilient.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": urea, 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).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: urea
Anti-agingGlycolic acid, Camellia sinensis leaf extractWorks well
“Boosts collagen and hyaluronic acid production for skin hydration”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains glycolic acid.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Anti-blemishSide benefit · Salicylic acid, Glycolic acid + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: glycolic acid
ExfoliationSide benefit · Urea, Salicylic acid + 1 moreWorks well
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: glycolic acid, salicylic acid.
Evens skin toneSide benefit · Glycolic acid, Salicylic acid + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: glycolic acid, salicylic acid
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Artemisia vulgaris extract + 2 moreMay help
This product contains antioxidants (camellia sinensis leaf 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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy7 strong irritants: Alcohol, Artemisia vulgaris extract + 5 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
3 of 3 community members would buy it again.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Alcohol~8.1–9.9%
- 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 AlcoholPropylene glycol~4.6–5.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolSalicylic acid~1.25–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
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)
More about Salicylic acidUrea~2.5–3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Naturally present in skin (urea makes up about 7% of natural moisturizing factors in skin). Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Also has a positive effect on the skin barrier beyond the humectant action. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients. Is an exfoliating ingredient when used in high concentrations
More about UreaPterocarpus soyauxii wood extract~2–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Phellodendron amurense bark extract~1.7–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might have an anti-inflammatory effect
More about Phellodendron amurense bark extractHordeum distichon extract~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Camellia sinensis leaf extract~1.2–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractArtemisia vulgaris extract~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might have some anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It can be irritating
More about Artemisia vulgaris extractPlantago lanceolata leaf extract~0.7–1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might have anti-oxidant properties
More about Plantago lanceolata leaf extractCrithmum maritimum extract~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An algae extract that might have anti-oxidant properties
More about Crithmum maritimum extractSpiraea ulmaria extract~0.5–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sodium hydroxide~0.45–0.7%
Glycolic acid~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
More about Glycolic acidButylene glycol~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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 glycolSodium carbonate~0.4–0.65%
Sodium chloride~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideDisodium edta~0.25–0.45%
T-butyl alcohol~0.25–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to dissolve other ingredients and to improve smell of products. It could be irritating
More about T-butyl alcoholDenatonium benzoate~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Phenoxyethanol~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolParfum~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumCitronellol~0.15–0.25%
Hexyl cinnamal~0.1–0.2%
Limonene~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneLinalool~0.05–0.15%
Ingredient list view
Water, Alcohol, Propylene glycol, Salicylic acid, Urea, Pterocarpus soyauxii wood extract, Phellodendron amurense bark extract, Hordeum distichon extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Artemisia vulgaris extract, Plantago lanceolata leaf extract, Crithmum maritimum extract, Spiraea ulmaria extract, Sodium hydroxide, Glycolic acid, Butylene glycol, Sodium carbonate, Sodium chloride, Disodium edta, T-butyl alcohol, Denatonium benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Citronellol, Hexyl cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
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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.
| ZO Skin HealthDaily Power DefenseYOUR PRODUCT | Dr Dennis GrossAlpha Beta Pore Perfecting Serum | Dr. Dennis Gross | skintific2% SALICYLIC ACID ANTI ACNE SERUM | BFFBalancing Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 92% | 91% | 90% |
| Price | $190.00 | $20.00−$170.00 | — | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Key difference | — | Retinol | Oligopeptide-1 | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | High | High | Medium | High |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Murad Intensive Age-Diffusing SerumDollar Shave Club Rescue Serum
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 14 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 4Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
- 6A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparationssciencedirect.com
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