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Skincare ingredients, checked.
What each ingredient does, when to use it, what to keep it away from, and the cosmetic strength limits where you live. Free, and no account needed.
- Ingredients
- 47
- Concerns
- 8
- Sources cited
- 1,705
- From regulators
- 513
47 / 47
47 of 47 ingredients shown
New here? Start with Niacinamide, Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), Salicylic Acid (BHA) or Ceramides.
Hydration
CeramidesThe lipids skin makes for itself, topped back up on the surface — it is what keeps skin from feeling tight, dry and rough.Morning or evening · Daily · 42 sourcesEctoinA water-holding molecule found in bacteria that survive in extremely salty, dry places — on skin it keeps the surface hydrated, so it looks less dry and feels less tight.Morning or evening · Daily · 22 sourcesEnzyme ExfoliantsPlant enzymes that loosen the dull, flaky-looking cells on the surface so they lift away, without the low pH an acid exfoliant needs.Varies by form · 26 sourcesFerments / ProbioticsThe liquid left behind when yeast or bacteria ferment — the organisms themselves are gone by the time it reaches a bottle, and what remains helps skin hold on to moisture and look calmer and smoother.Morning or evening · Daily · 39 sourcesGlycerinThe most widely used hydrating ingredient in skincare — it holds water at the skin's surface, so skin looks plumper and feels softer.Morning or evening · Daily · 39 sourcesHyaluronic AcidA humectant that holds water in the skin's surface layers, so skin looks plumper and feels more comfortable through the day.Morning or evening · Daily · 33 sourcesPanthenol (B5)One of the gentlest ingredients in skincare — it holds water in the skin's surface and takes the edge off irritation.Morning or evening · Daily · 40 sourcesPetrolatumThe plainest occlusive there is — it slows the water leaving skin, so dry, tight, flaky-looking skin looks smoother and stays comfortable for longer.Morning or evening · Daily · 36 sourcesPHA (Polyhydroxy Acid)A gentler exfoliating acid that lifts away dull surface build-up while holding water at the surface, so skin looks smoother without looking stripped.Morning or evening · Up to daily · 35 sourcesSqualaneA light, stable oil that skin already makes a little of for itself — it softens the surface and leaves skin looking smoother and more supple.Morning or evening · Daily · 21 sourcesUreaSkin makes urea of its own, and adding more of it holds water in the surface layers — so dry, rough-looking areas look smoother and feel softer.Morning or evening · Daily · 38 sourcesVitamin EAn oil-soluble antioxidant that doubles as a softening, conditioning oil — it tops up the skin's own antioxidant reserve while leaving skin looking smoother and better hydrated.Morning or evening · Daily · 36 sources
Redness
AllantoinA quietly reliable calming ingredient — it softens the look of dry, rough patches and takes the edge off the appearance of redness.Morning or evening · Daily · 19 sourcesAzelaic AcidA multi-tasker that works on the look of redness, dark marks and breakout-prone skin at the same time.Morning or evening · Daily · 56 sourcesAzuleneThe deep blue compound that gives calming creams their colour, used to soften the look of redness.Evening · Daily · 28 sourcesBeta-GlucanA polysaccharide drawn from oats, yeast or mushrooms that forms a light moisture-holding film on the surface of the skin and calms the look of redness.Morning or evening · Daily · 30 sourcesBisabololThe calming part of chamomile, on its own — it softens the look of redness, and over weeks helps even out tone.Morning or evening · Daily · 29 sourcesCentella AsiaticaA botanical extract — often sold as cica — that calms the look of redness and holds moisture in the skin's surface.Morning or evening · Daily · 34 sourcesCentella Derivatives (Cica)The purified soothing molecules taken out of the centella plant — madecassoside and its relatives — used to calm the look of redness in skin that has been through something.Morning or evening · Daily · 29 sourcesFerulic Acid + ResveratrolTwo plant antioxidants that come in one bottle but do different jobs — ferulic acid helps skin look calmer and feel better conditioned, resveratrol helps tone look brighter and more even.Morning or evening · Daily · 51 sourcesOat ExtractFinely milled whole oat that helps skin look calmer and less red, and feel soft and comfortable.Morning or evening · Daily · 38 sources
Breakouts
Green Tea ExtractA plant antioxidant that helps breakout-prone skin look clearer and calmer, and takes some of the shine off through the day.Morning or evening · Daily · 31 sourcesLHAAn oil-loving relative of salicylic acid that sinks in slowly, so it clears away surface build-up a little at a time rather than all at once.Morning or evening · Up to daily · 31 sourcesMandelic Acid (AHA)The largest of the common exfoliating acids — it works more gradually on the surface than glycolic acid does, loosening dull build-up for a smoother, more even-looking finish.Evening · 3× a week to daily · SPF next morning · 42 sourcesPimple PatchesA small sticker worn over one spot — it covers the blemish and keeps your hands off it, so the spot looks flatter and less red while it settles.Morning or evening · Daily · 30 sourcesSalicylic Acid (BHA)The oil-soluble exfoliant — it works inside the pore rather than only on the surface, which is why it is the usual first choice for congestion.Morning or evening · Varies by form · 66 sourcesZinc PCAA gentle, water-soluble ingredient that pairs the mineral zinc with PCA, a moisture-binding component skin makes naturally, for a comfortable and clearer-looking complexion.Morning or evening · Daily · 32 sources
Pigmentation
4-ButylresorcinolA targeted brightening ingredient that helps stubborn dark spots and uneven patches look lighter, for a more even-looking complexion.Morning or evening · Daily · 32 sourcesAlpha ArbutinA gentle brightening ingredient that helps dark spots and uneven patches look lighter, for a more even-looking complexion.Morning or evening · Daily · 29 sourcesCysteamineA brightening ingredient used on stubborn dark spots and age spots, to help the skin look more even in tone.Evening · Daily · 44 sourcesGlycolic Acid (AHA)The smallest and most studied of the alpha-hydroxy acids — it loosens dull surface buildup at the very outermost layer, and its strongest showing is on the look of uneven tone.Evening · 3× a week to daily · SPF next morning · 33 sourcesKojic AcidA brightening ingredient from fungal fermentation that helps dark spots and uneven patches look lighter over time.Evening · Daily · 35 sourcesLicorice Root ExtractA gentle plant extract that helps dark spots and uneven patches look lighter, while calming the look of redness at the same time.Morning or evening · Daily · 51 sourcesNAG (N-Acetyl Glucosamine)A gentle amino sugar that helps dark spots and uneven patches look less noticeable, working a different way from most brightening ingredients.Morning or evening · Daily · 27 sourcesTranexamic AcidA gentle brightening ingredient that helps stubborn dark spots and post-blemish marks look lighter, for a more even-looking complexion.Morning or evening · Daily · 43 sourcesVitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid)The pure form of vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps dark spots look lighter, tone look more even, and skin look firmer and smoother.Morning · Daily · 38 sourcesVitamin C DerivativesGentler, more stable forms of vitamin C that help skin look brighter and tone look more even, and give it antioxidant support against everyday environmental stress.Morning or evening · Daily · 49 sources
Pores
Wrinkles
BakuchiolA plant-derived active that works on the look of fine lines and wrinkles, with a gentle feel that suits skin which finds retinol uncomfortable.Morning or evening · Daily · 29 sourcesCoQ10An antioxidant your skin already makes, topped up on the surface to help it hold its own against everyday environmental stress and to soften the look of fine lines.Morning or evening · Daily · 33 sourcesLactic Acid (AHA)The gentler of the two classic AHAs — it smooths the look of surface texture, and because lactate is part of skin's own moisture, it tends to feel less stripping than glycolic acid.Evening · 3× a week to daily · SPF next morning · 57 sourcesRetinolA vitamin A derivative that works on the look of fine lines and uneven texture. It is the one active that most rewards easing in slowly.Evening · 3× a week to daily · SPF next morning · 42 sources
Firmness
Copper PeptidesA copper-carrying form of a small skin peptide, used in leave-on serums to help skin look firmer and fine lines look softer.Morning or evening · Daily · 24 sourcesPeptidesShort chains of amino acids used in firming skincare, best known for helping skin look firmer and fine lines look softer.Morning or evening · Daily · 41 sources
Eye Area
CaffeineA naturally occurring plant compound, and one of the most common ingredients in eye products, used to help the under-eye area look brighter and more refreshed.Morning or evening · Daily · 29 sourcesPeptides (Eye Area)Short chains of amino acids in an eye product, used to soften the look of fine lines around the eyes and help the skin there look smoother.Morning or evening · Daily · 34 sourcesRetinol (Eye Area)Retinol formulated for the skin around the eyes, where it works on the look of fine lines, crow's feet and under-eye darkness.Evening · 2× a week to daily · SPF next morning · 42 sources
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