
Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Antioxidant ampoule serum
FEATURES
Strengthens skin barrier, improves skin elasticity, provides a healthy glow
BEST FOR
suitable for all skin types
CHECKS
Free of fragrance, colorants, parabens, alcohol
Who Is It For?
Adults (inferred) Both Women And MenWhat Does It Help With?
Strengthening Skin Barrier Improving Skin ElasticityBudget
Mid-rangeHow To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What Physiogel Says
Product Description:
An antioxidant ampoule that strengthens the skin barrier 4X while improving skin elasticity for a healthy glow.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Water/Eau, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, 2,3-Butanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Panthenol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Allantoin, Madecassoside, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Dextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Piper Nigrum (Pepper) Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine.
Key Ingredients
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Pro-vitamin B5 (Panthenol), Ferulic Acid
Ingredients Details
Alcohol Denat.
Common Name(s): Alcohol denat.,denatured ethanol,solvent antimicrobial astringent
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Alcohol denat. dissolves oil-soluble and water-soluble cosmetic actives, provides rapid antimicrobial activity at concentrations above 60โ70% by denaturing microbial proteins, delivers a refreshing cooling sensation through evaporative cooling on skin, and temporarily enhances the penetration of topical actives by transiently disrupting the stratum corneum lipid bilayer organisation.
Why It's Used: Formulators choose alcohol denat. for its irreplaceable combination of solvent power, antimicrobial activity, and penetration-enhancing properties. no other cosmetic solvent simultaneously provides the cooling sensory experience of alcohol (from evaporative cooling at the skin surface), the immediate antimicrobial activity required for sanitisers (from protein denaturation above 60%), and the transient sc lipid disruption that improves active ingredient delivery (essential in actives-rich toners and essences). for denatured alcohol specifically, denaturing agents (typically 5% isopropanol or bitrex) prevent consumption without affecting cosmetic function.
How It Works: Alcohol denat. works through multiple mechanisms depending on concentration: (1) solvent action โ alcohol's hydroxyl group provides hydrogen bonding with water while the short alkyl chain provides interaction with organic solutes, enabling dissolution of both hydrophilic and moderately lipophilic cosmetic actives in a single solvent; (2) antimicrobial โ above 60% concentration, ethanol denatures microbial proteins by disrupting non-covalent bonds maintaining protein secondary and tertiary structure โ the alcohol molecules intercalate between protein chains, disrupting the hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds that maintain enzyme active site geometry. this non-specific protein denaturation is immediately bactericidal and virucidal with no resistance mechanism possible; (3) sc penetration enhancement โ at lower concentrations (5โ30%), ethanol transiently fluidises the sc lipid bilayer by intercalating between the ordered lipid lamellae, disrupting the crystal packing and increasing lipid bilayer fluidity. this transient fluidisation increases the diffusion coefficient of co-applied actives through the sc for up to 30 minutes post-application; (4) astringency โ alcohol's protein precipitating action at the skin surface contracts superficial proteins, temporarily tightening pores and reducing oiliness.
Typically Found In: Toners,hand sanitisers,actives serums
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 5%โ95%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Ethanol concentration-dependent antimicrobial efficacy: below 40% โ minimal bactericidal effect (insufficient protein denaturation); 40โ60% โ bacteriostatic, not bactericidal; 60โ70% โ peak bactericidal efficacy against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and vegetative bacteria (optimal water content maintains protein hydration required for denaturation to proceed); 80โ90% โ remains effective but slightly reduced from decreased water activity; 95โ100% โ reduced efficacy (insufficient water for protein denaturation). the 70% 'sweet spot' for sanitisers reflects this concentration-efficacy peak, not a formulation convenience.
Last Verified: Cosing database,alcohol denat. ethanol solvent antimicrobial review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Ascorbic Acid
Common Name(s): Vitamin c,l-ascorbic acid,l-ascorbate
CAS Number: 50-81-7
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Ascorbic acid neutralizes free radicals, stimulates collagen production, inhibits melanin synthesis for a brighter complexion, and supports skin repair.
Why It's Used: It is used because it offers comprehensive antioxidant and brightening benefits supported by extensive clinical evidence. it is the most bioavailable form of vitamin c for topical application.
How It Works: As an antioxidant, it donates electrons to neutralize reactive oxygen species. it is an essential cofactor for the hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis. it inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production, reducing hyperpigmentation.
Typically Found In: Vitamin c serums,brightening moisturizers,antioxidant formulations,spf products,eye creams
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ vitamin c
Secondary Functions: Collagen booster,tyrosinase inhibitor,ph adjuster
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 5%โ20% (effective range: 10โ20%; ph must be below 3.5 for activity)
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetically produced or corn/plant-derived
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced by reichstein synthesis or guangxi fermentation process from glucose. some plant-derived versions exist.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 2/5 โ low to moderate; low ph formulations can cause initial tingling or stinging, especially at concentrations above 15%
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Acidic ph can irritate sensitive or compromised skin barriers. highly unstable โ oxidizes rapidly when exposed to air, light, and heat (turns orange/brown). use in the morning under spf.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Use with caution โ start at lower concentrations (5โ10%). stabilized derivative forms (vitamin c derivatives) may be better tolerated.
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Very safe; well-studied. key concern is formulation stability, not safety. ewg hazard score: 1.
Works Well With: Vitamin e (tocopherol) โ synergistic antioxidant effect,ferulic acid โ stabilizing and boosting,spf,hyaluronic acid,niacinamide (use at different times if concentrations are high)
Avoid Combining With: Retinol (use at separate times โ ph incompatibility),benzoyl peroxide (oxidizes vitamin c),ahas/bhas (cumulative irritation risk)
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
L-ascorbic acid is the only form of vitamin c that is proven bioactive in skin at the molecular level. its instability (rapid oxidation) has driven development of numerous stable derivatives including ascorbyl glucoside, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,pinnell et al. studies,journal of the american academy of dermatology
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Dipropylene Glycol
Common Name(s): Dipropylene glycol,glycol co-solvent,humectant formulation aid
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides humectant, co-solvent, and fragrance fixative in cosmetic formulations, improving active ingredient dissolution and product texture while delivering mild skin conditioning.
Why It's Used: Glycol solvents are essential for dissolving actives with limited water or oil solubility โ the intermediate polarity of glycol ethers provides access to the wider solubility parameter space between pure water and oil phases.
How It Works: Hydroxyl and ether groups provide h-bonding for water miscibility; the organic chain provides compatibility with lipophilic actives. medium-chain glycols (c3โc6) provide the optimal balance of water compatibility, lipophilic active dissolution, and skin-compatible humectancy.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations,co-solvent systems
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ humectant
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%โ30%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Glycol ether co-solvents enhance sc penetration of co-applied actives by increasing their thermodynamic activity in the sc lipid phase โ high thermodynamic activity (near saturation) drives diffusion by concentration gradient even when absolute concentration is low.
Last Verified: Cosing database,dipropylene glycol glycol solvent review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Glycerin
Common Name(s): Glycerol,glycerine,1,2,3-propanetriol
CAS Number: 56-81-5
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Glycerin pulls water from the environment and deeper skin layers into the outer skin layer (epidermis), boosting moisture levels and keeping skin soft, smooth, and plump.
Why It's Used: It is used in virtually every moisturizer, serum, and cleanser because it is highly effective at hydrating skin, is well-tolerated by all skin types, and enhances the texture and spreadability of formulations.
How It Works: As a humectant, glycerin forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules, trapping them in the skin. it also reinforces the skin barrier by integrating into lipid structures between skin cells.
Typically Found In: Moisturizers,serums,cleansers,toners,sheet masks,sunscreens,body lotions,shampoos,conditioners
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Humectant
Secondary Functions: Skin barrier support,emollient,solvent
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%โ30% (typical: 3โ10%)
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ plant-derived (coconut, soy, palm) or synthetic
Halal Status: Yes โ when plant-derived or synthetic; verify source with supplier
Source Notes: Derived from plant oils via hydrolysis or saponification; synthetic versions also available. palm-derived glycerin carries sustainability concerns.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low; non-irritating at all standard concentrations
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Extremely rare allergic reactions; generally safe for all skin types including sensitive and baby skin
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Widely recognized as safe. ewg hazard score: 1. no significant concerns for irritation, sensitization, or toxicity at typical concentrations (up to 50%).
Works Well With: Hyaluronic acid,ceramides,niacinamide,panthenol,urea,peptides,retinol,ahas/bhas
Avoid Combining With: No known incompatibilities at standard concentrations
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Glycerin is an endogenous skin component found naturally in the stratum corneum. aquaporin-3 channels in keratinocytes facilitate glycerin transport, making it integral to natural skin hydration pathways.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,ewg skin deep,inci decoder
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12