Formula · 5.3

Brand · 5.3

Weleda · calendula, chamomile and pansy extracts · Switzerland

Weleda Skin Food Light

Weleda Skin Food Light
5.3

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.4Little evidence of effect
  • Completeness for the purpose0.6For “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 58 %; without ceramides — the bricks of the barrier; could be added without conflict: ceramides; a broad formula across 3 purposes
  • Tolerance0.6Debatable ingredient groups: denatured alcohol, fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): cocoa butter
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • children
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • dry skinmay dry
  • acne-pronemay clog pores in leave-on face products
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
Free from:
  • 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
morning and evening
When to expect an effect: soothing — days; no notable healing to expect

Ingredients — 21 component · 1 works

What works: 1 of 21 ingredients: calendula extract. 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.

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: little evidence of effect; completeness for the purpose: for “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 58 %; tolerance: debatable ingredient groups: denatured alcohol, fragrance and its allergens

Questions: denatured alcohol: alcohol — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores; fragrance and its allergens: limonene, fragrance, linalool, geraniol, citral — 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; carrageenan

  • Water (Aqua 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
  • Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil base: coating, fillers · a light emollient oil rich in linoleic acid (in tablets — a coating component); does not clog pores
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Alcohol questions · evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • Glyceryl Stearate Citrate base: coating, fillers · the basic cream emulsifier (neutral NSE form); the self-emulsifying SE form with added potassium stearate is a separate entry, 3 of 5; does not clog pores
  • Beeswax (Cera Alba base: coating, fillers · a thickening wax for balms and creams; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter base: coating, fillers · emollient/base; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • Cetearyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty-alcohol blend (C16–C18), an emulsifier and thickener, does not dry the skin; paired with ceteareth-20 — 4 of 5; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter base: coating, fillers · the plant base: emollient oils, waxes and care extracts
  • Limonene 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
  • Viola Tricolor Extract base: coating, fillers · the plant base: emollient oils, waxes and care extracts
  • Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract base: coating, fillers · the plant base: emollient oils, waxes and care extracts
  • Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: flower extract
  • Lanolin base: coating, fillers · sheep-wool wax, a rich softening and protective ingredient; does not clog pores
  • Carrageenan questions · a thickener from red seaweed. It is permitted but debated: in animal studies the degraded form irritated the gut, so people with inflammatory bowel disease are sometimes advised to avoid it. For food-grade carrageenan there is no such proof.
  • Xanthan Gum base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Lactic Acid base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Glyceryl Caprylate base: coating, fillers · a glycerin–caprylic acid ester: an emollient and co-emulsifier that also curbs microbial growth — boosts the preservative and lets the maker skip “heavy” ones
  • Fragrance (Parfum 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
  • Linalool 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
  • Geraniol 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
  • Citral 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

Weleda Skin Food Light is a product whose active ingredient is calendula extract. The concentration is not declared; the active sits after the 1 % line, but works at small shares. There is little evidence of effect: soothes and aids healing in small studies; few rigorous RCTs. The formula has 21 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Alcohol (evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores); Limonene, Fragrance (Parfum), Linalool, Geraniol, Citral (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); Carrageenan. 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 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, pregnancy, children. sensitive skin, dry skin, acne-prone, atopic skin — ask a doctor. Asteraceae allergy, fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: morning and evening. When to expect an effect: soothing — days; no notable healing to expect. Label score — 5.3 out of 10 (little evidence of effect; for “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 58 %; without ceramides — the bricks of the barrier; could be added without conflict: ceramides; a broad formula across 3 purposes; debatable ingredient groups: denatured alcohol, fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): cocoa butter).

Who it does not suit

  • Asteraceae allergychamomile, ragweed, calendula
  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: itching or rash with Asteraceae allergy — stop

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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