Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Serum-in-Cream

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Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Serum-in-Cream

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About this product

The philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Serum-in-Cream is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 58 ingredients (44 low-risk) rates it Excellent (92/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Moisturizers
Ingredients
58
Low-risk
44
Fragrance
Contains fragrance
Origin
United States

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 13/15
Good for dry skin
Glyceryl Stearate Cetearyl Alcohol Isononyl Isononanoate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylyl Glycol Glycerin Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate Cyclohexasiloxane Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Cyclopentasiloxane PEG-8 Lactic Acid Lecithin
Caution for dry skin
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Maltodextrin Sorbitan Oleate Xanthan Gum Glycerin Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate t-Butyl Alcohol Alcohol Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Steareth-2 Steareth-21 Polysorbate 20 PEG-100 Stearate Alcohol Denat. Lecithin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 4/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Alcohol Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Alcohol Denat. Retinol
Sensitive Skin 5/23
Good for sensitive skin
Ascorbyl Palmitate Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract BHT BHA
Caution for sensitive skin
Iris Pallida Root Extract Cellulose Gum Sodium Citrate Sorbitan Oleate Acetic Acid Ascorbyl Palmitate Angelica Archangelica Root Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin t-Butyl Alcohol Citric Acid Alcohol Isopropyl Alcohol Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Sodium Benzoate Sorbic Acid Lactic Acid Alcohol Denat. Phenoxyethanol Limonene BHT Retinol BHA

Ingredients list

58 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (9)
All58 Skin Conditioning36 Fragrance19 Masking13 Emulsion Stabilising12 Solvent11 Viscosity Controlling11 Emollient10 Perfuming9
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Sodium Citrate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Chelating, Masking)
1
B
Isononyl Isononanoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antistatic Agent)
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
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
4
Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
B
Steareth-21
(Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
B
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
3
A
Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent)
Silicone
Silicone
2
A
Cyclohexasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent)
1
A
Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
1
Bifida Ferment Lysate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
A
PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
B
Steareth-2
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling)
1
Iris Pallida Root Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Tonic)
1
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
Glycine Soja Oil
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
2
Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
A
t-Butyl Alcohol
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Solvent, Perfuming)
2
3
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient)
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming)
1
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Cellulose Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
9
A
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
A
PEG-8
(Humectant, Solvent)
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
6
A
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking)
1
Chitosan
(Film Forming, Hair Fixing)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
4
B
Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Sorbitan Oleate
(Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
3
B
Behentrimonium Chloride
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Preservative)
6
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent)
Allergens
Allergens
1
A
Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
B
Potassium Phosphate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
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
Good for Oily Skin
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
1
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)
2
A
Isopropyl Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Acetic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
1
Angelica Archangelica Root Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Perfuming)
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract
(Fragrance, Refreshing, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Maltodextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Binding)
1
A
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Opacifying, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
4
B
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
1
A
Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
5
7
BHA
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
A
Sorbic Acid
(Fragrance, Preservative)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Isononyl Isononanoate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Protecting
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Astringent
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Skin Conditioning, Emollient

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains silicone
Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Retinol — higher EWG
BHA — higher EWG
May not suit dry skin
May not suit sensitive skin

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 →

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Sodium Citrate
Ph adjuster, Buffering agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Ph adjusterBuffering agentChelatingMasking
Isononyl Isononanoate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmollientAntistatic agent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientMaskingPerfumingSkin conditioningSolvent
Steareth-21
Sufactant, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B SufactantEmulsifyingSurfactant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion stabilising, Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emulsion stabilisingViscosity controlling
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmollientEmulsifyingSurfactant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningEmollientSolvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emulsion stabilising, Opacifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingOpacifyingFoam boostingViscosity increasingagent - aqueousViscosity increasing agentEmollientEmulsifyingViscosity controlling
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Steareth-2
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Viscosity controlling
Iris Pallida Root Extract
Masking, Perfuming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 MaskingPerfumingTonic
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion stabilising, Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emulsion stabilisingFilm formingViscosity controlling
Xanthan Gum
Binding agent, Emulsion stabilising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Binding agentEmulsion stabilisingSkin conditioningSurfactant -emulsifying agentViscosity increasing agentBindingGel formingViscosity controlling
+ 24 more — see the full ingredients list above
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Alcohol Denat.
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 4 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Cyclopentasiloxane
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningEmollientSolvent Silicone
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientEmulsifying Fungal-acne trigger
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Surfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Alcohol
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 2 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Retinol
Skin conditioning
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 9 CIR A Skin conditioning Bad for Sensitive Skin
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
BHT
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 CIR A AntioxidantFragranceMasking
Glycolic Acid
Exfoliant, Ph adjuster
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantPh adjusterBuffering agent Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Sorbitan Oleate
Fragrance, Emulsifying
Potentially comedogenic - can block poresRead moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceEmulsifyingSurfactant Bad for Oily SkinFungal-acne trigger
Limonene
Deodorant, Perfuming
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 DeodorantPerfumingSolvent Allergens
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A AntioxidantMasking Fungal-acne trigger
+ 4 more — see the full ingredients list above

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply near the end of your routine, after thinner serums.
  • 2 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Retinol)

Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.

Retinol

Vitamin C (ascorbic) 5–20%

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.

Ascorbyl Palmitate, ASCORBIC ACID

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid

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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