The Max Serum
The IMAGE skincare The Max Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 56 ingredients (47 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The IMAGE skincare The Max Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 56 ingredients (47 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
16/11
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
7/11
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Sucrose Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
2
3
|
A
|
Glyceryl Linoleate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
|
citrus grandis peel oil
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
6
|
|
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
|
|
1
|
|
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
(Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydroxyethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pullulan
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Binding) |
|
|
|
B
|
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Isomalt
(Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Flavoring Agent, Humectant) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
B
|
Centella Asiatica Extract
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic) |
|
|
1
|
|
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
(Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
|
|
1
|
|
imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
PVP
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Antistatic Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
(Moisturising, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Sodium Lactate
(Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Humectant, Keratolytic) |
|
|
2
3
|
|
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
Glycine Soja Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Superoxide Dismutase
(Reducing, Skin Conditioning, Antioxidant) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
PEG-8
(Humectant, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
(Chelating Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial) |
|
|
|
|
Phaseolus Radiatus Meristem Cell Culture Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
|
|
Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Plankton Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
7
|
|
Citral
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
(Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Biotin
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antiseborrhoeic) |
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EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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