Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C™ Bright & Plump Moisturizer

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Propanediol
3. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
4. C9-12 Alkane
5. Glycerin
6. Tocopheryl Acetate
7. Behenyl Alcohol
8. Stearic Acid
9. Ferulic Acid
10. Cetyl palmitate
11. Polyglyceryl-2 stearate
12. Oleic Acid
13. Soy acid
14. Polymethylsilsesquioxane
15. Sodium Hyaluronate
16. Hydrolyzed collagen
17. Hydrolyzed elastin
18. Diamond Powder
19. Curcuma Longa Root Extract
20. Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
21. Tocopherol
22. Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
23. Glyceryl Stearate
24. Gluconolactone
25. Stearyl Alcohol
26. Polyglyceryl-6 distearate
27. Carbomer
28. Coco-caprylate/Caprate
29. Sodium PCA
30. Disodium EDTA
31. Vegetable Oil
32. Jojoba esters
33. Sodium stearoyl lactylate
34. Cetyl Alcohol
35. Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
36. Histidine HCL
37. Sodium Lactate
38. Xanthan Gum
39. Polyglyceryl-3 beeswax
40. Sodium carboxymethyl beta-glucan
41. Calcium gluconate
42. Ceramide NP
43. Glycine Soja Sterols
44. Sucrose stearate
45. Carnosine
46. Lactic Acid
47. Lecithin
48. Polyglyceryl-10 laurate
49. Wheat amino acids
50. Ethylhexylglycerin
51. Mica
52. EDTA
53. Sodium Hydroxide
54. Potassium Sorbate
55. Sodium Benzoate
56. Phenoxyethanol

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains siliconesContains animal-derivedContains fragrance

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

SOLVENT

PropanediolC9-12 Alkane

ANTIOXIDANT

Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopheryl Acetate

DENATURANT

Glycerin

BINDING

Behenyl Alcohol

CLEANSING

Stearic Acid

Other ingredients

Ferulic AcidCetyl palmitatePolyglyceryl-2 stearateOleic AcidSoy acidPolymethylsilsesquioxaneSodium HyaluronateHydrolyzed collagenHydrolyzed elastinDiamond PowderCurcuma Longa Root ExtractZingiber Officinale Root ExtractTocopherolHaematococcus Pluvialis ExtractGlyceryl StearateGluconolactoneStearyl AlcoholPolyglyceryl-6 distearateCarbomerCoco-caprylate/CaprateSodium PCADisodium EDTAVegetable OilJojoba estersSodium stearoyl lactylateCetyl AlcoholButyrospermum Parkii ButterHistidine HCLSodium LactateXanthan GumPolyglyceryl-3 beeswaxSodium carboxymethyl beta-glucanCalcium gluconateCeramide NPGlycine Soja SterolsSucrose stearateCarnosineLactic AcidLecithinPolyglyceryl-10 laurateWheat amino acidsEthylhexylglycerinMicaEDTASodium HydroxidePotassium SorbateSodium BenzoatePhenoxyethanol

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Propanediol

Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Lipophilic Vitamin C derivative, antioxidant and brightening; more stable than VC, oil-soluble, must pair with oil phase

C9-12 Alkane

C9-12 alkanes; solvent and emollient. Lightweight feel, verify source and refining history.

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Behenyl Alcohol

Fat alcohol emulsifier/thickener at 1-3%; low comedogenic risk, check solubility in strong acid/base systems, add antioxidants.

Stearic Acid

Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel

Ferulic Acid

Antioxidant, often combined with vitamin C and E; 0.5-2%, photolabile

Cetyl palmitate

Waxy ester increasing viscosity and providing heavy feel; used as emulsifier carrier, low comedogenicity, strong occlusion.

Polyglyceryl-2 stearate

Polyglyceryl ester emulsifier; mild, non-ionic, suitable for O/W emulsions with good stability.

Oleic Acid

Oleic acid for emolliency/emulsification; high levels may increase skin penetration

Soy acid

Not decoded yet

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Silicone polymer for emolliency, matte effect, and suspension; used in foundations or powder suspensions, typical usage 1-5%, smooth skin feel.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Hydrolyzed collagen

Hydrolyzed protein for film-forming and moisture; molecular weight limits penetration, check source for shellfish allergies

Hydrolyzed elastin

Hydrolyzed elastin, moisturizer; MW determines penetration, large MW surface conditioning.

Diamond Powder

Diamond powder as abrasive; high hardness, check particle uniformity

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Turmeric root extract, contains curcumin, colorant/antioxidant; high doses may sensitize.

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Root extract for scent and toning; may irritate compromised skin.

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract

Haematococcus pluvialis extract rich in astaxanthin; potent antioxidant; used in anti-aging and photoprotection formulas.

Glyceryl Stearate

Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification

Gluconolactone

Multifunctional agent for chelation and permeation; acidic, may irritate at high levels, buffer recommended.

Stearyl Alcohol

Stearic alcohol; fatty alcohol for emulsion thickening/structure, often blended with soaps, moderate comedogenicity.

Polyglyceryl-6 distearate

Non-ionic emulsifier; mild, PEG-free, good compatibility for cream systems.

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Coco-caprylate/Caprate

Lightweight mid-chain ester, quick spreading, suitable for oily skin, non-comedogenic.

Sodium PCA

Sodium PCA, NMF component, 1-10% humectant; salty/tacky at high levels.

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Vegetable Oil

Generic vegetable oils for hair/skin conditioning; specify oil type and oxidative stability.

Jojoba esters

Jojoba esters, light emollient ester, low comedogenic; sebum-like, excellent spreadability.

Sodium stearoyl lactylate

Mild emulsifier/stabilizer for O/W; control usage to prevent viscosity issues

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetyl alcohol for emulsification/thickening; high concentration >10% may irritate.

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Shea butter for occlusive moisturizing; high melt point, rich texture, caution for oily skin.

Histidine HCL

Amino acid salt for pH buffering and hair conditioning; gentle buffering system, potential sensitization at high concentrations.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Polyglyceryl-3 beeswax

Beeswax-derived emulsifier, mild and biodegradable; offers emollience for sensitive formulations

Sodium carboxymethyl beta-glucan

Modified glucan for thickening and cleansing aid; low irritation, suitable for most formulas

Calcium gluconate

Chelator and conditioner, improves stability; water-soluble calcium source

Ceramide NP

Ceramide N3 for barrier repair; lipophilic, needs oil phase or emulsion, avoid high standalone use.

Glycine Soja Sterols

Plant-derived emollient and conditioner; high purity and suitable for sensitive skin

Sucrose stearate

Succrose ester emulsifier/emolient with cleansing properties; HLB determines emulsion type.

Carnosine

Dipeptide skin conditioner with antioxidant and buffering properties; used in synergy with other actives.

Lactic Acid

AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.

Lecithin

Phospholipid emulsifier at 1-5%; biocompatible, moisturizing/antioxidant, prone to oxidation (add TBHQ), mild for sensitive skin.

Polyglyceryl-10 laurate

Mild non-ionic emulsifier for O/W systems; cetyl ester structure may irritate sensitive skin, use at 0.5-3%.

Wheat amino acids

Wheat amino acids for hair/skin; contains gluten, allergy caution

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Mica

Mineral colorant for pearlescence; heavy metal screening required

EDTA

Chelating agent for stability; use metal salts, keep concentration low (<0.1%) to maintain pH.

Sodium Hydroxide

Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin