Alpha-H
H8 3 Step
face neck eyes
Alpha-H
face neck eyes
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General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
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Take the skin testUniting three of the brand's bestsellers, this H8 3 Step routine is everything you need for deeply hydrated and nourished skin in need of a tall glass of water. A simple yet hardworking three-step routine for thirsty skin, Alpha-H's H8 3 Step set unites the brand's beloved Balancing cleanser with aloe vera, Hyaluronic 8 Serum with Primalhyal Ultrafiller as well as the Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50. Start with the hydrating non-foaming creamy cleansing lotion is perfect for normal, dry and sensitive skin types. Its 3-in-1 function means that it completely removes all traces of make-up (including waterproof mascara) as well as toning and re-balancing the skin's natural pH level. Containing aloe vera to condition and soothe alongside vitamin E to hydrate and neutralise free radicals, this cleanser will leave the skin perfectly cleansed, soft and soothed without the tight, drying effect of many cleansers. Next up is the Hyaluronic 8 Serum with Primalhyal Ultrafiller - an intensely hydrating serum that visibly firms, plumps and revitalises the complexion. The Hyaluronic 8 Serum gets its name from the eight potent ingredients that make it up, including multi-weighted forms of hyaluronic acid that transform the appearance of dull, tired and dehydrated skin to restore radiance and elasticity whilst reducing the appearance of expression lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet. Finally, finish your routine with Alpha-H's Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+. Enriched with vitamin E and aloe vera to trap moisture and keep skin hydrated; this lightweight sunscreen offers the perfect substitute to your usual moisturiser, leaving skin wonderfully matte and prepped for foundation. Providing a sheer veil of high factor protection with no 'white mask' effect, it's a sunscreen dream come true.
This product comes as two separate formulas. An ingredient used in both appears under both headings, and is counted once in the total.
H8 3 Step is a cushioning skincare product from Alpha-H, a brand based in Australia. Its job is UV protection, with the rest of the formula working on hydration and soothing. The ingredient list runs to 59 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
By its ingredient list the formula reads as moderately cushioned — emollient enough to feel like a cream, without the heaviest occlusives near the top. Silicones in the formula tend to give a smooth, blurred finish and help it grip under makeup. Hydration is handled by Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate and Trehalose, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
It is a chemical (organic-filter) sunscreen, using Homosalate, Octocrylene, Avobenzone, Octisalate and Uvinul T 150. Between them those filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so the formula is broad-spectrum in the meaningful sense: it reaches past 340 nm, where the ageing wavelengths sit. The formula contains a photounstable filter alongside a stabiliser, which is the standard and effective way to keep it from degrading in sunlight.
Hydration: Very high. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose and Urea.
Soothing: High. Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity, and here that comes from C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Panthenol and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract.
On richness alone it suits Balanced skin best, and is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry), Combination (oily) and Oily skin. Nothing in the list is flagged as a common irritant, which is a reasonable starting point for reactive skin — though a patch test is still the only way to know.
The formula contributes little or nothing on antioxidant protection, oil control and firmness signalling. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.
Reading the full list, the formula is essential-oil-free, no drying alcohol, paraben-free, microplastic-free, sulfate-free and dye-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging. It does contain fragrance, worth knowing if your skin reacts to any of them.
It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes before moisturiser. Tap along the orbital bone with your ring finger; product migrates upward on its own. It carries UV filters, so it belongs in your morning routine.
This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation for sensitive skin
Brightens and balances complexion for a more uniform appearance
Regulates sebum production to reduce shine and greasiness
Refines texture by gently exfoliating rough, uneven patches
None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.
Chemical (organic) filter system · broad-spectrum through UVA I
Another solvent-filter: modest UVB coverage, mostly there to carry other filters.
Mostly present to stabilise avobenzone rather than for its own modest UVB coverage. Degrades slowly into benzophenone over a product's shelf life.
The workhorse UVA filter, and the fragile one: it loses a large share of its protection within an hour of sun unless the formula pairs it with a stabiliser such as octocrylene or Tinosorb S.
A weak filter used mainly as a solvent — it dissolves the crystalline filters (avobenzone, oxybenzone) so they can be formulated at all.
The most efficient UVB absorber available by weight, which is why high-SPF formulas reach SPF 50+ without feeling heavy. Contributes nothing to UVA.
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Hexadecanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester; Octyl palmitate
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Stearic acid, monoester with glycerol
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Benzoic acid, C12-15 alkyl esters
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Hexadecan-1-ol
11th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
12th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid
13th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
15th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Hyaluronic acid, sodium, salt
17th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
alpha-D-Glucopyranoside, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl
18th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Urea
19th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
A photounstable filter is present, paired with a stabiliser
"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.
Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Parfum
Cyclomethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl Dimethicone
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.
This product is the "Eye" step.
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 59 ingredients on the label.
Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula
Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells
Lifts oil and dirt, or holds oil and water together
Draws water into the upper layers of skin
Dissolves and carries everything else
Sets the acidity the formula needs to work
Absorbs or scatters ultraviolet light
Changes how skin behaves rather than how it feels
Binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula
Forms a film that slows water loss
Neutralises free radicals from UV and pollution
Botanical material, usually for antioxidants or scent
Keeps the product free of microbial growth
Changes how the product smells or looks
Loosens or dissolves dead surface cells
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Water
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Hexadecanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester; Octyl palmitate
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Sorbitan stearate
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Stearic acid, monoester with glycerol
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Benzoic acid, C12-15 alkyl esters
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Hexadecan-1-ol
8th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
D-Glucose homopolymer, dodecyl ether
9th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Phenoxyethanol
10th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Octane-1,2-diol
11th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
12th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid
13th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
14th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Parfum is a term for ingredient labelling used to identify that a product contains a material or a combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular odour. According to Article 19 of the Cosmetics Regulation, 'Perfume and aromatic compositions and their raw materials shall be referred to by the terms ‘parfum’ or ‘aroma’. '
15th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Hyaluronic acid, sodium, salt
16th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a copolymer of ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate, dimethylacrylamide, lauryl methacrylate and laureth-4 methacrylate, crosslinked with trimethylolpropane triacrylate
17th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
alpha-D-Glucopyranoside, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl
18th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Urea
19th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
20th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,3-dihydroxypropane
21st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium Acetylhyaluronate
22nd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Diisopropyl adipate
23rd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Lecithins. The complex combination of diglycerides of fatty acids linked to the choline ester of phosphoric acid
24th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Propenoic acid, Polymer with 2-Methyl-1-[(1-Oxo-2-Propenyl)Amino]-1-Propanesulfonic Acid
25th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol
26th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Octanoic acid, monoester with glycerol
27th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Xanthan gum
28th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
29th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Amino-3-hydroxypropanoic acid
30th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Carrageenan, sodium salt
31st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Glucose
32nd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein is the hydrolysate of pea protein derived by acid, enzyme or other method of hydrolysis
33rd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium chloride
34th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Alginic acid, sodium salt
35th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Disodium hydrogenorthophosphate
36th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Propenoic acid, homopolymer, esters with 1,2,3-propanetriol
37th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Potassium dihydrogenorthophosphate
38th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Pullulan is a polysaccharide produced from starch by cultivating the yeast, Aureobasidium pullulans
39th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract is the extract of the leaves of Vaccinium myrtillus, Ericaceae.
40th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Butanedioic acid, monosodium salt
41st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl ester
42nd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Cyano-3,3-Diphenyl Acrylic Acid 2-Ethylhexyl Ester
43rd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Cyclomethicone is a generic name for a mixture of cyclic dimethyl polysiloxane compounds that conform to the formula, where n has a value between 4 and 6.
44th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1-[4-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione
45th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Ethylhexyl salicylate
46th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Propanoic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-, isooctadecyl ester
47th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Benzoic acid, 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltriimino)tris-,tris(2-ethylhexyl) ester; octyl triazone
48th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane
49th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
C16-18 alcohols, ethoxylated (20 mol EO average molar ratio)
50th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Alcohols, C16-18
51st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (40 mol EO average molar ratio)
52nd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Silicon dioxide
53rd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2,2',2''-Nitrilotriethanol
54th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer is a copolymer of ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate and vinylpyrrolidone monomers
55th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Siloxanes and silicones, hexadecyl methyl, dimethyl
56th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Octanamide, N-Hydroxy-
57th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
58th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Butanamide, 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-, (2R)-; dl-Panthenol
59th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol; .alpha.-tocopherol; Vitamin E
AQUA, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, SORBITAN STEARATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, LAURYL GLUCOSIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CITRIC ACID, GLYCERIN, PARFUM, SODIUM HYALURONATE, POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6, TREHALOSE, UREA, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PROPANEDIOL, SODIUM ACETYLATED HYALURONATE, DIISOPROPYL ADIPATE, LECITHIN, ACRYLIC ACID/ACRYLAMIDOMETHYL PROPANE SULFONIC ACID COPOLYMER, DIMETHYLMETHOXY CHROMANOL, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, XANTHAN GUM, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, SERINE, SODIUM CARRAGEENAN, GLUCOSE, HYDROLYZED PEA PROTEIN, SODIUM CHLORIDE, ALGIN, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, GLYCERYL POLYACRYLATE, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, PULLULAN, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS LEAF EXTRACT, SODIUM SUCCINATE, HOMOSALATE, OCTOCRYLENE, CYCLOMETHICONE, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE, ISOSTEARYL NEOPENTANOATE, ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, CETEARETH-20, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PEG-40 STEARATE, SILICA, TRIETHANOLAMINE, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, CETYL DIMETHICONE, CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID, DISODIUM EDTA, PANTHENOL, TOCOPHEROL.
CITRIC ACID, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM ACETYLATED HYALURONATE, PANTHENOL.
Balancing Cleanser: Use morning and evening. Apply Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser to damp skin, massage gently for up to a minute and then rinse off with warm water or a warm damp face cloth. To remove eye make-up and lipstick, apply a small amount to a damp cotton pad and circle gently around the area that needs cleansing. Hyaluronic 8: Apply 2-3 drops each morning to a cleansed face, neck and décolletage. Follow with your preferred Alpha-H daily moisturiser with SPF. Daily Essential Moisturiser: Apply Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ every morning to clean skin (on top of your preferred serum if your skin is excessively dry). Allow a few minutes to absorb before applying make-up.
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Balanced skin best. It is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry), Combination (oily), Oily skin.
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
5 ingredients could feed malassezia: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Peg-40 Stearate. That describes the yeast's food supply, not a prediction that they will cause a breakout.
Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not medical clearance — check anything you use daily with your doctor or midwife.
No — it contains Parfum.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
No — it contains Cyclomethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl Dimethicone.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is essential-oil-free.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
It layers well with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Retinoids (retinol, retinal), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide.
Use it morning and evening, before moisturiser.
It lists 59 ingredients, of which 9 are recorded as actives.
Alpha-H, a brand based in Australia.
It filters UV with Homosalate (homosalate), Octocrylene (octocrylene), Avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), Octisalate (ethylhexyl salicylate), Uvinul T 150 (ethylhexyl triazone).
Yes. Its filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so protection reaches past 340 nm into the deep-UVA range associated with ageing and pigmentation.
Unlikely. It filters with organic (chemical) filters only, which dissolve into the formula rather than sitting on the surface, so they do not leave a white cast.
It contains none of the filters named in the Hawaii and Key West reef legislation (oxybenzone and octinoxate). "Reef safe" is not a regulated term, so treat that as a fact about the filter list rather than a certification.
Yes. Let it set for a couple of minutes before foundation so it does not pill, and reapply over makeup with a stick or powder rather than rubbing more in.
Every two hours of sun exposure, and immediately after swimming, sweating heavily or towelling off.
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