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Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer ingredients: is it worth it?
This is a genuinely well-engineered barrier-focused moisturizer that earns its hype by formula, not marketing fluff.
This is a genuinely well-engineered barrier-focused moisturizer that earns its hype by formula, not marketing fluff.
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The efficacy score is driven by a robust mix of humectants (glycerin, saccharide isomerate, sodium hyaluronate), multiple ceramides plus essential fatty acids for barrier repair, and a peptide–ferment complex, all in a pH ~5.5 system with a balanced emollient base; there are no gold-standard anti-aging actives, but for hydration and barrier support this is high-performing and technically coherent.
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DemythSkin rates Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer 4.5/5 for efficacy and 4.7/5 for safety.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (23)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Saccharide Isomerate, Lecithin, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Ceramide AS, Ceramide NS, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Linolenic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Isohexadecane, Boron Nitride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polysorbate 80, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Myristic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate.
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (24)⌄
- Water (Aqua)
- Solvent base
- Glycerin
- Humectant for hydration
- Dimethicone
- Silicone emollient, skin protectant
- Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
- Emollient oil, texture enhancer
- Squalane
- Lightweight emollient lipid
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Emulsifier and emollient
- Cetyl Alcohol
- Fatty alcohol emollient, thickener
- Stearyl Alcohol
- Fatty alcohol emollient, structurant
- Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
- Emollient, essential fatty acid delivery
- Ceramide NP
- Barrier-replenishing lipid
- Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate
- Emulsifier, surfactant
- Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
- Emulsifier, refatting agent
- Saccharide Isomerate
- Long-lasting humectant
- Lecithin
- Emulsifier and lipid helper
- Sorbitan Oleate
- Emulsifier
- Hydrogenated Lecithin
- Emulsifier, lipid stabilizer
- Linoleic Acid
- Essential fatty acid, barrier support
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Hyaluronic acid salt humectant
- Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
- Peptide, barrier and hydration support
- Stearic Acid
- Fatty acid, structurant
- Hydroxyacetophenone
- Antioxidant and preservative booster
- Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
- Polymer thickener, stabilizer
- Ceramide AS
- Barrier-supporting ceramide
- Ceramide NS
- Barrier-supporting ceramide
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Glycerin: Fluhr et al., 'Glycerol and the skin: Holistic approach to its origin and functions', Br J Dermatol. 2008.
Ceramides: Draelos, 'The effect of ceramide-containing skin care products on eczema resolution duration', Cutis. 2008.
Saccharide Isomerate: Published manufacturer data and in vivo studies demonstrating long-lasting stratum corneum hydration.
Sodium Hyaluronate: Papakonstantinou et al., 'Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging', Dermatoendocrinol. 2012.
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4: Supplier technical dossier indicating improvement of barrier function and hydration via peptide-mediated support of tight junctions.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
A cheaper moisturizer that scores as high or higher
A different formula for the same concern (barrier repair) that scores at least as high on both efficacy and safety.
Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer: common questions
Is Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer worth it?
Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer scores 4.5 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Gold Standard) and 4.7 out of 5.0 for safety (Very Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a genuinely well-engineered barrier-focused moisturizer that earns its hype by formula, not marketing fluff.
What are the key active ingredients in Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer?
Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer contains no gold-standard actives. Its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.
Does Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer. It scores 4.7 out of 5.0 for safety.
How is Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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