Formula · 6.9

Brand · 6.9

The Act · cream with ceramides and vitamin C · Russia

The Act Vitamin C Face Cream

The Act Vitamin C Face Cream
6.9

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.7Actives with strong evidence: 1 of 5
  • Active concentration0.9After the 1 % line: vitamin c, jojoba oil — the concentration is likely token
  • Completeness for the purpose0.7For “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 67 %; without petrolatum or mineral oil, which seal moisture; a broad formula across 3 purposes
  • Tolerance0.5Debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); use together with care: retinoid + vitamin c; comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): octyl stearate
  • adults
  • dry skin
  • children
  • oily skin
  • sensitive skinstart low
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
  • breastfeedingask a doctor
  • rosaceaask a dermatologist
  • before sunSPF is a must in the daytime
  • acne-pronemay clog pores in leave-on face products
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • silicones · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “silicones” group — form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job.
When:
  • leave-on
  • morning
  • evening
on skin — morning and evening after cleansing; in shampoo and conditioner — at every wash
When to expect an effect: barrier, dryness — 2–4 weeks; wrinkles, tone — 8–12 weeks; acne — 6–8; tone, glow — 4–8 weeks; softness — immediately; barrier — 2–4 weeks; soothing and less tightness — within days
What is normal: flaking, dryness, mild redness for 2–4 weeks (retinisation); stinging at high concentration; a light film on the skin

Ingredients — 35 components · 5 work

What works: 5 of 35 ingredients: ceramides, retinoid, vitamin c and 2 more. Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job.

Strengths: active concentration

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: actives with strong evidence: 1 of 5; completeness for the purpose: for “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 67 %; tolerance: debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens

Questions: fragrance and its allergens: fragrance — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

  • Ceramides + skin-identical components — reinforce each otherceramides with cholesterol and fatty acids restore the barrier better than alone
  • Retinoid + Ceramides — reinforce each othera ceramide cream alongside a retinoid markedly reduces the dryness and flaking of the first weeks without blunting its effect
  • Retinoid + Vitamin C — use together with careL-ascorbic acid needs a pH below 3.5, a retinoid a neutral one; in one product one of them works worse — better to split: vitamin C in the morning, retinoid at night
  • Вода base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Каприлик/Каприк Триглицериды base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Цетеарил Оливат base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Сорбитан Оливат base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Коко-Каприлат/Капрат base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Глицерил Стеарат base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Этилгексил Стеарат base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Глицерин base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Церамид NP works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: ceramides NP, AP, EOP
  • Церамид AP works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: ceramides NP, AP, EOP
  • Церамид EOP works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: ceramides NP, AP, EOP
  • Фитосфингозин base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Холестерол Веганский base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Трегалоза base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Линолевая Кислота base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Линоленовая Кислота base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Токоферол Ацетат base: coating, fillers · vitamin E at hundredths of a percent: keeps the oils of the formula (a cream or a capsule fill) from going rancid; at that share it protects the product, it is not vitamin E as an active
  • Ретинол Ацетат works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: retinyl palmitate
  • Масло Жожоба works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: seed oil
  • Аскорбил Тетраизопальмитат works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THDA, VC-IP)
  • Экстракт Плодов Авокадо base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Экстракт Морошки base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Экстракт Василька Синего base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Экстракт Цедры Апельсина base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Экстракт Виноградной Косточки base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Бетаин base: coating, fillers · a substance from beet: applied to skin it holds water and eases tightness, taken by mouth it is an ordinary food ingredient.
  • Аллантоин works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: allantoin
  • Гидроксиэтил Акрилат/Натрия Акрилоилдиметилтаурат Сополимер base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Натрия Лауроил Лактилат base: coating, fillers · protect the product from bacteria and mould; used within the EU-permitted concentrations
  • Карбомер base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Ксантановая Камедь base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Феноксиэтанол base: coating, fillers · the most widespread cosmetic preservative: it keeps the product sterile. Permitted in the EU up to 1 %, recognised as safe at that level.
  • Этилгексилглицерин base: coating, fillers · a preservative booster and skin-conditioning ingredient: it barely preserves on its own but helps phenoxyethanol work and lowers the amount needed.
  • Отдушка questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Лимонная Кислота base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • Хлорфенезин base: coating, fillers · a preservative, usually paired with phenoxyethanol. Permitted in the EU up to 0.3 %.
  • Диацетат Глутамата Тетранатрия base: coating, fillers · protect the product from bacteria and mould; used within the EU-permitted concentrations

The Act Vitamin C Face Cream is a product whose active ingredient is ceramides + retinoid + vitamin c + jojoba oil. The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. The effect is supported by studies: ceramides. There is little evidence of effect: retinoid, vitamin c, jojoba oil. The effect is moderately supported: allantoin. The formula has 35 ingredients, 5 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Parfum (the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works). Use together with care: retinoid + vitamin c. Well-matched pairs in the formula: ceramides + skin-identical components; retinoid + ceramides. Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, dry skin, children, oily skin. sensitive skin, atopic skin, breastfeeding, rosacea, before sun, acne-prone — ask a doctor. pregnancy, fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: on skin — morning and evening after cleansing; in shampoo and conditioner — at every wash. When to expect an effect: barrier, dryness — 2–4 weeks. Label score — 6.9 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 1 of 5; after the 1 % line: vitamin c, jojoba oil — the concentration is likely token; for “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 67 %; without petrolatum or mineral oil, which seal moisture; a broad formula across 3 purposes; debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); use together with care: retinoid + vitamin c; comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): octyl stearate). Retinoids are not used during pregnancy; sun protection is required in the daytime afterwards.

Who it does not suit

  • pregnancydo not use
  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: strong burning, swelling — stop; persistent redness — stop; a darkened serum has oxidised

Per the maker's leaflet: Retinoids are not used during pregnancy; sun protection is required in the daytime afterwards.

Is this product right for your skin?

The score describes the formula, not your skin: the same product dries one person and saves another. Describe your skin type, reactions and goals, attach a photo of the ingredient list or the product — we will go through every ingredient and say whether it suits you, what to pair it with and what to avoid.

Cosmetic ingredient checkDecode my tests

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