Works for
ExfoliationRetinyl palmitateNot delivered
“Works to exfoliate dead skin cells around pores, helping to prevent congestion, which can lead to breakouts”
This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Salicyloyl phytosphingosine, Coconut alkanes + 22 moreWorks well
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, sodium hyaluronate.
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: helianthus annuus seed oil, plukenetia volubilis seed oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: salicyloyl phytosphingosine
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Retinyl palmitate + 1 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~45–55%
Coconut alkanes~6.3–7.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Coconut alkanesMethylheptyl isostearate~4.4–5.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Cetyl alcohol~2.6–3.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholGlyceryl stearate~2.4–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearatePeg-100 stearate~2.1–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearateIsohexadecane~1.8–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Improves the texture of the product and helps soften the skin. Helps oil and water mix together and can be used as a cleansing agent
More about IsohexadecaneButylene glycol~1.4–1.8%
- 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 glycolCarthamus tinctorius seed oil~1.2–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin and might help calm down inflammation
More about Carthamus tinctorius seed oilSqualane~1.1–1.3%
- 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 SqualaneSimmondsia chinensis seed oil~0.75–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oilAleurites moluccanus seed oil~0.6–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Aleurites moluccanus seed oilPlukenetia volubilis seed oil~0.6–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant oil that works as a good moisturizer by softening the upper layer of the skin. Might be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin and reducing blemishes due to the large content of linoleic acid
More about Plukenetia volubilis seed oilHelianthus annuus seed oil~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilRosa canina fruit extract~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties, but evidence is lacking
More about Rosa canina fruit extractRosmarinus officinalis leaf extract~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extractLeontopodium alpinum meristem cell culture~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Marrubium vulgare meristem cell culture~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Polymethyl methacrylate~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is used to enhance product texture and can help to optically mask skin imperfections
More about Polymethyl methacrylateGlycerin~0.35–0.65%
- 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 GlycerinCoco-caprylate/caprate~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture
More about Coco-caprylate/caprateGlycol distearate~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glycol distearatePolyacrylamide~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve product texture and help oil and water mix together
More about PolyacrylamideOleth-20~0.4–0.6%
C13-14 isoparaffin~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin, dissolve other ingredients and create a thicker product consistency
More about C13-14 isoparaffinCaprylyl glycol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolSalicyloyl phytosphingosine~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might have anti-aging benefits but solid study data is lacking
More about Salicyloyl phytosphingosineGlycol stearate~0.3–0.6%
Xanthan gum~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumTocopheryl acetate~0.3–0.55%
- 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 acetatePropanediol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolCaesalpinia spinosa gum~0.3–0.6%
Laureth-7~0.3–0.55%
Disodium edta~0.25–0.5%
Ethyl ferulate~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Myristyl alcohol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating
More about Myristyl alcoholStearyl alcohol~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Stearyl alcoholAminomethyl propanol~0.25–0.5%
Phospholipids~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Emollients that are naturaly present in skin. In addition, they help water and oil mix together in the product
More about PhospholipidsSodium hyaluronate~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateIsostearic acid~0.35–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture
More about Isostearic acidRetinyl palmitate~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
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 palmitateAscorbic acid~0.25–0.45%
- 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 acidLauryl alcohol~0.3–0.5%
Lecithin~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinTocopherol~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure 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
More about TocopherolPhenoxyethanol~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolChlorphenesin~0.15–0.3%
Glyceryl caprylate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that can also help water and oil mix together, as well as prevent bacteria growth in products
More about Glyceryl caprylateGlyceryl undecylenate~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together and helps preserve the product formulation
More about Glyceryl undecylenateParfum~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumIngredient list view
Water, Coconut alkanes, Methylheptyl isostearate, Cetyl alcohol, Glyceryl stearate, Peg-100 stearate, Isohexadecane, Butylene glycol, Carthamus tinctorius seed oil, Squalane, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Aleurites moluccanus seed oil, Plukenetia volubilis seed oil, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Rosa canina fruit extract, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Leontopodium alpinum meristem cell culture, Marrubium vulgare meristem cell culture, Polymethyl methacrylate, Glycerin, Coco-caprylate/caprate, Glycol distearate, Polyacrylamide, Oleth-20, C13-14 isoparaffin, Caprylyl glycol, Salicyloyl phytosphingosine, Glycol stearate, Xanthan gum, Tocopheryl acetate, Propanediol, Caesalpinia spinosa gum, Laureth-7, Disodium edta, Ethyl ferulate, Myristyl alcohol, Stearyl alcohol, Aminomethyl propanol, Phospholipids, Sodium hyaluronate, Isostearic acid, Retinyl palmitate, Ascorbic acid, Unknown, Unknown, Lauryl alcohol, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl caprylate, Glyceryl undecylenate, Parfum
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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 HealthInstant Pore RefinerYOUR PRODUCT | BIOTHERMLIFE PLANKTON ELIXIR ANTI-AGING SERUM | LancômeGÉNIFIQUE ULTIMATE SERUM | L'Oréal ParisYouth Code Skin Activating Ferment Pre-Essence | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 53% | 52% | 48% |
| Price | $68.00 | — | $81.85+$13.85 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 12 | 3 of 12 | 3 of 12 |
| Key difference | — | Ascorbyl Glucoside | Adenosine | Adenosine |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | High |
| Drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Clinicians Complex Tissue Growth FactorKiehl's s Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 21 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 5
- 6Allergic contact dermatitis induced by rosemary leaf extract in a cleansing gelpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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