Ingredient Encyclopedia

1,2-Hexanediol

A multitasking glycol that hydrates lightly, dissolves ingredients that resist water, and makes the environment less hospitable to microbes. That last property lets formulators lean less on classic preservatives, which is why it shows up so often.

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

An ethyl-ether derivative of vitamin C, engineered to stay stable across a normal formulation pH while keeping a structure close to the parent molecule.

Butylresorcinol

4-Butylresorcinol

A well-studied resorcinol derivative regarded as one of the more effective cosmetic tyrosinase inhibitors for reducing the appearance of stubborn dark spots. It works by limiting pigment enzyme activity.

4-t-Butylcyclohexanol

A soothing agent that works on the nerve side of sensitivity rather than the immune side. It damps TRPV1, the receptor on sensory nerve endings that reports heat, acid and capsaicin, which is the channel behind the stinging and burning of reactive skin.

N-Acetyl Glucosamine

Acetyl Glucosamine

An amino-sugar that helps even skin tone and supports hydration, and is often paired with niacinamide to enhance the look of a brighter, smoother complexion. It is a building block of skin's natural moisturizing components.

Argireline

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

A synthetic hexapeptide marketed as a topical alternative to neurotoxin injections for expression lines.

Acetyl Octapeptide-3

A synthetic eight-amino-acid peptide sold as a topical route to softening expression lines, and closely related in concept to acetyl hexapeptide-8. It is meant to interfere with the signalling that drives repeated muscle contraction.

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

A peptide used mainly in eye products to support the look of firmer, less puffy skin and reduce the appearance of under-eye shadows. It is positioned for the delicate eye area.

Baobab Oil

Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil

A nourishing plant oil from the baobab tree seed, rich in fatty acids and vitamins, that softens skin and reinforces the moisture barrier. It absorbs moderately quickly.

Adenosine

Smooths fine lines and calms skin by supporting cellular energy and repair processes.

Alcohol Denat.

Ethanol made undrinkable by added denaturants, used as a fast-evaporating solvent. It dissolves ingredients that will not go into water, thins heavy textures into something that feels weightless, and helps other ingredients absorb — which is why it appears in a great many well-regarded sunscreens and essences.

Allantoin

Soothes irritation, softens rough or flaky skin, and supports healing of the outer barrier.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Calms irritation, hydrates the skin surface, and supports minor wound healing.

Alpha-Arbutin

Inhibits tyrosinase to gradually fade dark spots and even out tone without the irritation risk of hydroquinone.

Marshmallow Root Extract

Althaea Officinalis Root Extract

A mucilage-rich root extract that forms a soft, hydrating film to calm and comfort dry, irritated skin. It is a traditional demulcent soothing ingredient.

Aqua

Purified water, and in most skincare the single largest ingredient by weight. It is the solvent everything water-soluble dissolves into and the phase an emulsion is built around, which is why it usually sits first on an ingredient list.

Argan Oil

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Softens skin and supplies antioxidants that support elasticity and barrier function.

Arginine

An amino acid that serves as a skin-conditioning humectant and is also used to neutralize (raise the pH of) acidic formulas. It contributes to the skin's natural moisturizing factors.

Mugwort

Artemisia Vulgaris Extract

Soothes redness and calms reactive skin with traditional Korean herbal antioxidants.

Vitamin C

Ascorbic Acid

Neutralizes free radicals, brightens dull skin, and supports collagen production.

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Delivers a stable, water-soluble form of vitamin C that converts to active ascorbic acid in skin.

Ascorbyl Palmitate

An oil-soluble vitamin C ester used for antioxidant protection and to help stabilize formulas against oxidation. Its lipid solubility makes it easy to include in anhydrous and oil-based products.

Asiaticoside

A triterpenoid saponin isolated from Centella asiatica, studied for wound healing and collagen support.

Astaxanthin

A carotenoid antioxidant derived from microalgae, studied for reducing oxidative damage and supporting skin elasticity.

Oat Kernel Extract

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

A liquid extract of oat kernel carrying oat's soothing chemistry — beta-glucans and avenanthramides — used to calm irritation and support a compromised barrier.

Colloidal Oatmeal

Avena Sativa Kernel Flour

Calms itching, redness, and irritation while reinforcing the skin barrier.

Azelaic Acid

Fades post-acne marks and rosacea redness while gently unclogging pores.

Bakuchiol

Delivers retinol-like smoothing and firming without the flaking or sun sensitivity.

Bamboo Extract

Bambusa Vulgaris Extract

A silica-rich plant extract used to condition, soften and support the look of smooth, comfortable skin, with mild soothing and hydrating benefits. It is a common natural conditioning ingredient.

Behenyl Alcohol

A long-chain fatty alcohol, waxy and solid at room temperature, used to thicken creams and hold oil and water together. Despite the word alcohol it behaves nothing like ethanol: it softens rather than dries, in the same family as cetyl and stearyl alcohol.

Bentonite

A swelling clay that thickens and suspends in a formula, and in a mask absorbs surface oil and water as it dries.

Benzoic Acid

The acid counterpart of sodium benzoate and, like it, only meaningfully antimicrobial when the formula sits at an acidic pH. It covers bacteria and yeast, and pairs naturally with sorbic acid, which leans the other way toward mold.

Oxybenzone

Benzophenone-3

An organic filter that absorbs both UVB and some UVA radiation and has historically been used to broaden sunscreen protection. It is one of the more studied and debated chemical filters.

Benzoyl Peroxide

A potent antibacterial that kills acne-causing bacteria and clears breakouts fast.

Benzyl Alcohol

A naturally occurring aromatic alcohol used as a mild preservative and solvent to protect formulas from microbial growth. It also appears naturally in some essential oils.

Beta-Carotene

A carotenoid antioxidant and precursor to vitamin A that helps protect skin from oxidative stress and conditions the surface. It also lends a natural orange tint to formulas.

Beta-Glucan

Forms a lightweight, breathable film that calms irritation and helps skin hold on to water.

Betaine

An osmoprotectant humectant, derived from sugar beet, that hydrates skin and supports its resilience to dryness and stress.

Betaine Salicylate

A betaine complex of salicylic acid, developed as a gentler way to deliver BHA activity and popularised in Korean formulations.

BHT

A synthetic antioxidant that protects the oils and fragrance in a formula from going rancid. It is used at very small levels and its target is the product in the bottle, not the skin the product goes on.

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Strengthens the skin barrier and calms sensitivity using fermented probiotic filtrate.

Tinosorb S

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

Provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB absorption while remaining highly photostable.

Bisabolol

A chamomile-derived terpene alcohol used to calm irritation and support a more comfortable skin barrier.

Borage Seed Oil

Borago Officinalis Seed Oil

A plant oil with one of the highest natural concentrations of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), used to support the barrier and comfort dry, irritated skin. It replenishes essential fatty acids.

Sulforaphane

Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Sprout Extract

An indirect antioxidant from broccoli sprouts that switches on the skin’s own protective enzymes rather than being consumed itself.

Bromelain

A group of protein-digesting enzymes from pineapple, used as a wash-off exfoliant that loosens the protein links between dead surface cells without abrasion or a low-pH acid.

Avobenzone

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Absorbs UVA1 radiation broadly, offering the deepest UVA coverage among common organic filters.

Butylene Glycol

A small synthetic diol used as a humectant, solvent and viscosity modifier — it holds water and dissolves other ingredients so they disperse evenly through a formula.

Shea Butter

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Delivers intense emollient moisture and helps calm dry, irritated skin.

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

An ester emollient built from benzoic acid and medium-chain fatty alcohols. It is unusually good at dissolving other ingredients, so besides softening skin it often serves as the solvent that keeps a sunscreen's filters or a foundation's pigments evenly dispersed.

Caffeine

A stimulant antioxidant that constricts blood vessels and helps reduce puffiness, redness, and photoaging markers.

Calendula

Calendula Officinalis Extract

A marigold-derived botanical extract traditionally used to soothe irritated skin and support wound healing.

Tamanu Oil

Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil

A thick, dark plant oil traditionally used to soothe and condition skin and support the appearance of blemished or scarred areas. It is rich in fatty acids and natural antioxidants.

Camellia Oil

Camellia Japonica Seed Oil

A silky plant oil, traditional in Japanese skincare, that is high in oleic acid and antioxidants and absorbs relatively quickly to soften skin. It leaves a light, conditioned finish.

EGCG (Green Tea)

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

The main polyphenol in green tea, delivering strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

Hemp Seed Oil

Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil

A light plant oil with a balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fatty-acid profile that supports the skin barrier without a heavy feel. It contains no cannabinoids of note.

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

A hydroxamic acid used to keep formulas microbiologically stable, chiefly by binding the trace metal ions that moulds and yeasts need in order to grow. It is nearly always paired with a glycol such as glyceryl caprylate or propanediol rather than used alone.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

A lightweight emollient derived from coconut or palm oil and glycerin that softens skin and gives formulas a silky, fast-absorbing slip. It is widely used as a stable, non-greasy oil base.

Lipohydroxy Acid (LHA)

Capryloyl Salicylic Acid

A derivative of salicylic acid with an added fatty chain that makes it more lipophilic, so it exfoliates gradually at the skin surface and within pores. It is often described as a gentle, targeted BHA relative.

Caprylyl Glycol

A multifunctional glycol that hydrates and conditions skin while also enhancing a formula's preservative efficacy. It contributes a light, smooth skin feel.

Carbomer

A synthetic polymer that swells in water into a clear gel, which is why it appears high on the ingredient list of so many gel-textured serums and cleansers. It only thickens once neutralised with an alkali, so it usually travels alongside sodium hydroxide or triethanolamine on the label.

Papaya Enzyme

Carica Papaya Fruit Extract

A protein-digesting enzyme from papaya that loosens dead surface cells without the acidity of an AHA.

Carnosine

A dipeptide antioxidant that helps protect skin proteins from glycation and oxidative stress, supporting the look of firmer, healthier skin. It is used in anti-aging antioxidant blends.

Safflower Oil

Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

A linoleic-acid-rich plant oil that conditions skin and supports the moisture barrier with a light, non-greasy texture. It is chemically similar to sunflower oil.

Cornflower Extract

Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract

A floral extract traditionally used in eye and face care to calm and refresh the look of tired, sensitive skin. It offers mild soothing and hydrating benefits.

Centella Asiatica

Centella Asiatica Extract

Calms redness and inflammation while supporting collagen synthesis and wound healing.

Gotu Kola

Centella Asiatica Extract

Calms redness and irritation while supporting collagen synthesis and wound healing.

Beeswax

Cera Alba

A natural wax from honeybees used to thicken formulas and form a breathable protective film that helps seal in moisture. It gives structure to balms and salves.

Ceramide AP

A ceramide built from an alpha-hydroxy fatty acid on a phytosphingosine base, used in barrier-repair blends to help rebuild the stratum corneum's lipid bilayers.

Ceramide AS

A ceramide pairing an alpha-hydroxy fatty acid with a sphingosine base rather than the phytosphingosine used in NP or AP, contributing to the barrier's lamellar lipid bilayers.

Ceramide EOP

The ester-linked ceramide species: an esterified omega-hydroxy fatty acid on a phytosphingosine base, used in barrier blends to help rebuild stratum corneum lipids.

Ceramide NP

The most widely used cosmetic ceramide: a non-hydroxy fatty acid joined to a phytosphingosine base, used to replenish the lipid bilayers of the skin barrier.

Ceramides

Ceramide NP

Replenishes the lipids that hold the skin barrier together, locking in moisture and blocking irritants.

Cetearyl Alcohol

A blend of fatty alcohols that thickens and stabilizes creams while acting as an emollient that softens and smooths skin. It is a workhorse of lotion and cream formulation.

Cetearyl Glucoside

A non-ionic emulsifier that pairs a fatty alcohol with glucose, used to hold oil and water together in creams and lotions. It usually arrives as part of a blend with cetearyl alcohol, which is why the two so often appear in sequence on a label.

Cetyl Alcohol

A fatty alcohol used as an emollient and thickener that softens skin and gives creams a smooth, stable body. Despite the name it is non-drying, unlike simple alcohols.

Chamomile

Chamomilla Recutita Extract

A classic calming botanical extract that reduces redness and supports comfort in irritated skin.

Chlorphenesin

A preservative used to control bacteria and fungi in cosmetics, frequently combined with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol to broaden protection. It helps maintain product safety.

Cholesterol

A key lipid that, alongside ceramides and fatty acids, rebuilds and reinforces the skin barrier.

Citric Acid

A citrus-derived AHA that exfoliates the surface and adjusts formula pH.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

A coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant used in cleansers, shampoos and micellar waters. It rarely does the cleaning alone; its usual job is to sit alongside a stronger surfactant, thicken the mixture and soften how harsh that partner feels on skin.

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

A light plant-derived ester made from coconut alcohol and short-chain fatty acids. It spreads thinly, leaves a dry, non-greasy finish and is the usual choice when a brand wants a silicone-like slip without silicones or mineral oil.

Coco-Glucoside

A mild nonionic cleansing agent built from coconut-derived fatty alcohols and glucose. It lifts oil and dirt with far less protein disruption than the classic sulfates, and foams gently rather than abundantly.

Coconut Oil

Cocos Nucifera Oil

A plant oil rich in saturated fatty acids that softens skin and forms an occlusive film limiting water loss. It is solid at cool temperatures and melts on contact with skin.

Copper Peptides (GHK-Cu)

Copper Tripeptide-1

A copper-binding tripeptide studied for stimulating collagen production and supporting wound healing and skin firmness.

Cucumber Extract

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

A watery botanical extract traditionally used to cool, hydrate and calm the look of tired or irritated skin. It provides mild humectant and soothing benefits.

Curcumin (Turmeric)

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

The main antioxidant compound of turmeric, used to help defend skin against oxidative stress and calm the look of irritation. It has a long history in traditional care.

Turmeric Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

A root extract whose curcuminoids are strongly anti-inflammatory, sold either as the yellow whole extract or as its colourless derivative.

Cyclopentasiloxane

A volatile silicone that gives a weightless, silky glide and then evaporates, leaving a smooth non-greasy finish. It is used to improve spreadability and skin feel.

Cysteamine

Cysteamine Hydrochloride

A small sulphur-containing molecule the body already makes, applied topically to reduce excess facial pigment. It interferes with melanin production at more than one point rather than through a single mechanism.

Decyl Glucoside

A non-ionic surfactant made by joining a plant-derived fatty alcohol to glucose. It foams modestly, tolerates a wide pH range and is often chosen for cleansers positioned at sensitive or infant skin.

Dehydroacetic Acid

A preservative effective mainly against yeast and mold, often used together with benzyl alcohol in gentler, 'natural-positioned' preservative systems. It helps keep water-based products stable.

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

A very light, dry-feeling emollient ester that thins out heavy oils and makes creams spread easily. It is also a good solvent for oil-soluble UV filters, so it turns up constantly in sunscreens where texture is the hardest problem to solve.

Uvinul A Plus

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

A photostable organic UVA filter that absorbs long-wave ultraviolet-A radiation, helping protect against the deeper, aging effects of sun exposure. It is often paired with UVB filters for broad-spectrum cover.

Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone

A large, oil-soluble UVB filter sold under names including Iscotrizinol and Uvasorb HEB. Its molecular size keeps it on the skin surface, and it is photostable enough to be used as a partner that helps hold less stable filters together.

Dimethicone

A silicone that forms a breathable, water-resistant film giving skin a smooth, silky feel while reducing water loss and softening rough texture. It also improves product slip and blurs the look of pores.

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

A synthetic peptide marketed to soften the look of expression lines by dampening muscle-contraction signaling at the skin surface, sometimes called a topical 'snake-venom-inspired' peptide. Its effect is far milder than injectable treatments.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

A water-soluble salt derived from licorice root, used because it disperses easily into watery formulas where the oil-soluble licorice fractions will not go. It is a long-standing choice in products aimed at visible redness and general reactivity.

Disodium EDTA

A chelator rather than a preservative in its own right: it binds trace metal ions left over from water and raw materials, which would otherwise speed up rancidity and blunt the preservative system. It also helps cleansers foam in hard water.

Mexoryl XL

Drometrizole Trisiloxane

A photostable organic filter that absorbs across both UVA and UVB, valued for helping deliver broad-spectrum protection in stable formulas. It is oil-soluble and complements water-soluble filters.

Ectoin

Protects skin cells from environmental stress and locks in moisture at a cellular level.

Ellagic Acid

A polyphenol antioxidant found in berries and pomegranate that helps protect skin from oxidative stress and supports a more even tone. It is used for both antioxidant and brightening purposes.

Epigallocatechin Gallate

The main catechin in green tea, isolated rather than left in a whole leaf extract. It is one of the most studied plant antioxidants in the laboratory, where it also shows calming activity, and appears in serums framed around pollution and redness.

Willow Herb Extract

Epilobium Angustifolium Extract

A botanical extract used to calm the appearance of redness and irritation and to support blemish-prone skin. It is a popular anti-irritant in sensitive-skin formulas.

Ergothioneine

A sulphur-containing amino acid derivative concentrated in certain mushrooms, which the body takes up through a dedicated transporter. In formulas it acts as a stable antioxidant, often paired with vitamin C or E to spread the workload.

Erythritol

A sugar alcohol used as a humectant that attracts and holds moisture while giving a light, non-sticky finish. It also helps improve product texture.

Octinoxate

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate

One of the most common organic (chemical) UVB filters, which absorbs ultraviolet-B radiation to help prevent sunburn. It is oil-soluble and widely used in sunscreens worldwide.

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

A light synthetic ester used as an emollient and as a carrier for oil-soluble ingredients. It spreads quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish rather than the weight of a plant oil, which is why it appears in sunscreens and primers as well as creams.

Octisalate

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

A gentle organic UVB filter that absorbs ultraviolet-B and also helps solubilize and stabilize other filters. It is valued for its mildness and water resistance.

Uvinul T 150

Ethylhexyl Triazone

A highly efficient, photostable organic UVB filter that provides strong ultraviolet-B absorption at low concentrations. It is prized for its stability and elegant feel.

Ethylhexylglycerin

A preservative booster: it disrupts microbial cell membranes so a formula's main preservative works harder, letting formulators use less of it overall.

Ferulic Acid

Neutralizes free radicals and dramatically boosts the stability and potency of vitamin C.

Fullerene

Fullerenes

A carbon-cage nanomaterial studied as a potent free-radical scavenger for anti-aging formulations.

Galactomyces Ferment

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate

A yeast fermentation filtrate rich in vitamins, minerals, and organic acids, used to improve tone, texture, and radiance.

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate

A yeast ferment filtrate rich in amino acids, vitamins and organic acids, sold as a brightening and texture-refining essence.

Ginkgo Biloba Extract

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract

A leaf extract rich in flavonoid antioxidants used to protect skin from oxidative stress and support a calmer, more comfortable surface. It is a common botanical in protective formulas.

PHA (Gluconolactone)

Gluconolactone

Exfoliates gently while hydrating, making it the mildest chemical exfoliant available.

Glutathione

A tripeptide antioxidant studied for lightening overall skin tone and buffering oxidative stress.

Glycerin

Draws water into the outer skin layer and reinforces the barrier that keeps it there.

Glyceryl Caprylate

A monoester of glycerin and caprylic acid that does two jobs at once: it softens skin as a light emollient and it makes life harder for microbes, so formulators use it to support a preservative system while it also improves feel.

Glyceryl Glucoside

A sugar-and-glycerin derived osmolyte that acts as a humectant to support the skin's water balance and moisture-retention. It is often used in deep-hydration and moisture-barrier products.

Glyceryl Stearate

A widely used emulsifier and emollient that binds oil and water into stable creams while softening and conditioning skin. It contributes a smooth, cushiony texture.

Glycolic Acid (AHA)

Glycolic Acid

Dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells for smoother texture and brighter tone.

Glycyrrhetinic Acid

A purified compound derived from licorice root used to calm the look of redness and irritation and comfort sensitive skin. It is a concentrated soothing counterpart to whole licorice extract.

Licorice Root

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Inhibits tyrosinase to fade discoloration while calming inflammation-driven redness.

Witch Hazel

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Tightens the look of pores, reduces oil, and calms mild inflammation.

Sunflower Seed Oil

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

A light plant oil high in linoleic acid that reinforces the skin barrier and softens without a heavy finish. Its fatty-acid profile makes it a popular gentle facial oil.

Helichrysum Extract

Helichrysum Italicum Extract

A botanical extract, also known as immortelle, used to soothe and support the look of stressed skin, with antioxidant properties. It is popular in calming and recovery formulas.

Hexylresorcinol

A resorcinol-derived active that helps fade the look of dark spots and even tone, with additional antioxidant activity. It is often positioned as a gentler alternative to hydroquinone.

Sea Buckthorn Oil

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

A carotenoid-rich plant oil that comes in two very different forms — fruit and seed — with different fatty acids and very different colour.

Sea Buckthorn

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

A carotenoid- and fatty-acid-rich oil that supports antioxidant defense and skin barrier repair.

Homosalate

A common organic UVB filter that absorbs ultraviolet-B radiation and helps dissolve other sunscreen actives in a formula. It gives lightweight, cosmetically elegant textures.

Heartleaf (Houttuynia)

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

A Korean-skincare botanical extract used to calm redness and support blemish-prone, reactive skin.

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

A synthetic hydrocarbon liquid often used where mineral oil once was. It sits on the surface, slows water loss and gives a cushioned, glossy slip, and it does not oxidise or go rancid the way many plant oils eventually do.

Collagen

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Hydrolyzed collagen peptides that hydrate the surface and support the skin's own structural proteins.

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid broken into shorter chains so it penetrates further into the epidermis rather than sitting as a film on the surface.

Hydroxyacetophenone

A multifunctional ingredient used as an antioxidant and soothing agent that also helps stabilize formulas and support preservation. It is valued for calming and protective roles.

Hydroxyethyl Urea

A urea-derived humectant that holds water in the skin's surface layers, offering hydration similar to urea but with a milder, non-exfoliating profile. It helps keep skin supple.

Hydroxyethylcellulose

A thickener made by chemically modifying plant cellulose so it dissolves in water. It builds a clear, slightly stringy gel and is the backbone of many gel cleansers, masks and water-light serums.

Granactive Retinoid

Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate

Binds directly to retinoid receptors without requiring conversion, offering retinoid effects with less irritation.

Pro-Xylane

Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol

A small molecule made from the plant sugar xylose, formulated to support glycosaminoglycan synthesis in the layer that joins epidermis to dermis.

Hypochlorous Acid

A mild antimicrobial the immune system makes itself, used as a spray to reduce bacteria and calm inflammation without stripping the barrier.

Idebenone

A synthetic antioxidant related to coenzyme Q10 that helps neutralize free radicals and protect skin from oxidative and environmental stress. It is used in anti-aging and protective formulas.

Inositol

A sugar-like compound that functions as a humectant and skin-conditioning agent, helping to hydrate and smooth the surface. It is sometimes grouped with the B-vitamin family.

Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

A preservative with strong activity against moulds and yeasts, used at very low levels and usually alongside a broader partner that covers bacteria. Regulators in several regions restrict both its concentration and the product types it may appear in.

Iron Oxides

The red, yellow and black mineral pigments that give tinted sunscreens, foundations and BB creams their colour. Because they are opaque across the visible range they also block visible light, which UV filters on their own do not.

Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol

A patented resorcinol derivative designed to bind human tyrosinase, the enzyme that starts pigment production, more tightly than older brighteners screened on mushroom enzyme. It is used in serums and spot treatments for stubborn dark patches.

Isododecane

A volatile branched hydrocarbon that spreads a product thinly and then evaporates, leaving whatever it carried behind. That behaviour is why it is the backbone of long-wear makeup and of sunscreens that need to lay down an even film without feeling wet.

Isopropyl Myristate

A synthetic ester used as a lightweight emollient that reduces greasiness and improves the spread and absorption of formulas. It gives a dry, silky after-feel.

Kaolin

A soft white aluminium silicate clay that absorbs oil and lends body to masks, powders and cleansers. Among the clays used on skin it is the mildest, drawing less aggressively than bentonite or rhassoul.

Kojic Acid

Fades dark spots by blocking the enzyme that produces melanin.

Lactic Acid

Exfoliates dead skin cells while pulling moisture into the skin at the same time.

Lactobacillus Ferment

A probiotic-derived ferment filtrate that supports barrier function and skin microbiome balance.

Lactobionic Acid

A polyhydroxy acid formed by oxidising lactose — a large molecule that exfoliates slowly and gently, with documented antioxidant and metal-chelating activity alongside.

Lactoferrin

An iron-binding milk protein that starves bacteria of the iron they need, with the better evidence coming from oral use.

Laminaria (Kelp) Extract

Laminaria Digitata Extract

A brown-seaweed extract used as a mineral-rich humectant and skin-conditioning agent that helps hydrate and soften the surface. It also supplies antioxidant polysaccharides.

Lanolin

A waxy substance from sheep's wool that is a powerful emollient and occlusive, closely mimicking the skin's own surface lipids to soften and seal in moisture. It is a mainstay of very dry-skin and lip care.

Lauric Acid

A saturated twelve-carbon fatty acid, most abundant in coconut and palm kernel oil, used as an emollient and as the feedstock for a great many surfactants and soaps. It has drawn research interest for activity against Cutibacterium acnes in laboratory conditions.

Lecithin

A phospholipid, often from soy or sunflower, that acts as an emollient and natural emulsifier and supplies barrier-supporting lipids. It also helps deliver other ingredients.

Edelweiss Extract

Leontopodium Alpinum Extract

An alpine-plant extract rich in antioxidant compounds that helps protect skin from environmental stress and supports a calmer surface. It is popular in protective and anti-aging formulas.

Meadowfoam Seed Oil

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

A remarkably stable plant oil with long-chain fatty acids that form a light protective film and lock in moisture. Its stability makes it resistant to going rancid.

Linoleic Acid

An essential omega-6 fatty acid that reinforces the skin barrier and helps normalize sebum composition.

Lycopene

A carotenoid antioxidant, responsible for the red color of tomatoes, used to help defend skin against free-radical and light-induced stress. It is a potent lipid-soluble antioxidant.

Macadamia Oil

Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil

A rich plant oil high in oleic and palmitoleic acids that cushions and softens skin, mimicking some of the skin's own surface lipids. It has a nourishing, velvety feel.

Madecassic Acid

One of the active triterpenes isolated from Centella asiatica (cica), used to calm the look of redness and support the skin barrier. It is a purified counterpart to whole centella extract.

Madecassoside

A purified Centella asiatica compound that calms inflammation and accelerates visible healing of compromised skin.

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Provides a stable, water-soluble vitamin C derivative that supports brightening and antioxidant defense.

Malic Acid

Exfoliates the skin surface as an alpha-hydroxy acid, often blended with other AHAs for a mild, balanced effect.

Mandelic Acid

A large-molecule AHA from bitter almonds that exfoliates gently while calming acne-prone skin.

Mango Butter

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

A soft plant butter pressed from mango seeds that conditions and softens skin while helping limit water loss. It has a lighter feel than many other butters.

Honey

Mel

A natural humectant with mild antimicrobial and soothing properties, historically used for wound care and dry skin.

Tea Tree Oil

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Reduces acne-causing bacteria and calms inflamed breakouts.

Melatonin

A hormone that is also a potent antioxidant, used topically at night to reduce oxidative stress rather than to affect sleep.

Neem Oil

Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil

A plant oil from the neem tree, long used in traditional care, valued as an emollient with soothing properties for blemish-prone and irritated skin. It has a distinctive strong odor.

Tinosorb M

Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol

A modern broad-spectrum UV filter that both absorbs and scatters UVA and UVB rays, acting partly like a mineral and partly like an organic filter. It is highly photostable but not approved in all markets.

Methylisothiazolinone

A potent broad-spectrum preservative effective at very low concentrations. Its wide use in leave-on products during the 2000s was followed by a well-documented rise in contact allergy, and EU rules now restrict it to rinse-off formats.

Methylpropanediol

A light glycol used mostly as a solvent and texture-thinner, and partly as a humectant. It dissolves actives such as salicylic acid and is described by suppliers as helping them spread and absorb, which is why serums often feel fast-sinking.

Mica

A naturally occurring mineral ground into fine platelets that reflect light. In skincare it is what makes a product look luminous on skin, and in makeup it is the base of most shimmer and many pearlescent finishes.

Noni

Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract

Delivers antioxidant polyphenols that help fade dullness and support a more even tone.

Noni Fruit Ferment

Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Ferment

A fermented form of noni fruit extract that brightens tone and delivers antioxidant support.

Moringa Oil

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

An unusually stable seed oil, high in oleic acid, valued for shelf life and slip rather than for any single active.

Mulberry Extract

Morus Alba Root Extract

A botanical extract used to help even skin tone and reduce the look of dark spots by moderating pigment-enzyme activity, alongside antioxidant benefits. It is a common natural brightening ingredient.

Niacinamide

Calms redness, tightens the look of pores, and rebuilds the skin barrier.

Black Cumin Seed Oil

Nigella Sativa Seed Oil

A traditional plant oil rich in fatty acids and thymoquinone that conditions skin and is used to calm the look of blemished, reactive skin. It has antioxidant properties.

Octadecenedioic Acid

A plant-derived diacid used to help fade the appearance of dark spots and even tone through a mechanism distinct from acid exfoliation. It is positioned as a gentle brightening active.

Octocrylene

An organic UV filter that absorbs UVB and short UVA rays and is often added to stabilize other filters such as avobenzone. It also improves the water resistance of sunscreens.

Octyldodecanol

A branched fatty alcohol that is liquid at room temperature, unlike the waxy cetyl and stearyl alcohols. It behaves as a light oil: softening skin, thinning heavy waxes and dissolving oil-soluble ingredients.

Evening Primrose Oil

Oenothera Biennis Oil

A plant oil notable for its gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) content, an omega-6 fatty acid that supports the skin barrier and soothes dryness. It is often used in products for reactive, dry skin.

Olive Oil

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

A classic emollient plant oil high in oleic acid that softens skin and limits water loss. It has a long history of use in soaps and body care.

Oleic Acid

The dominant monounsaturated fatty acid in olive, avocado, marula and many other plant oils, and the reason those oils feel rich and sink in slowly. It softens and conditions, and it loosens the packing of the skin's own lipids enough to help other ingredients pass through.

Oligopeptides

Oligopeptide-1

Short chains of amino acids that signal skin cells to behave younger — more collagen, better repair.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil

A lightweight, linoleic-acid-rich plant oil high in vitamin E that conditions skin and provides antioxidant support with a fast-absorbing feel. It is prized in luxury facial oils.

Rice Ferment Filtrate

Oryza Sativa (Rice) Ferment Filtrate

A fermented rice liquid carrying amino acids, sugars and ferulic acid, used as a lightweight hydrating and mildly brightening base.

Rice Extract

Oryza Sativa Extract

A traditional brightening and soothing botanical rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and starches.

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12

A conditioning signal peptide used in anti-aging formulas to support the look of smoother, firmer skin. It is often combined with other peptides in blends.

Peptides (Matrixyl)

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Signals skin to produce more collagen, gradually softening fine lines.

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

A signal peptide, sold as Matrixyl, that mimics a collagen fragment and prompts fibroblasts to build more matrix.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

A synthetic signal peptide anchored to palmitic acid, intended to inhibit interleukin-6, an inflammatory cytokine implicated in inflammaging and collagen breakdown.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

A fatty-acid-conjugated peptide fragment of collagen, studied for stimulating collagen synthesis in aging skin.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

A short peptide with a fatty acid tail attached so it mixes into the skin's lipids more readily. Suppliers describe it as a signal peptide meant to nudge the pathways involved in collagen production, and it is usually blended with other peptides.

Ginseng Extract

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

A root extract whose ginsenosides give antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and a long history in Korean formulation.

Ginseng

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Supplies ginsenosides that fight oxidative stress and support firmer, more radiant-looking skin.

Panthenol

Hydrates, soothes irritation, and supports barrier repair by converting to vitamin B5 in the skin.

Mineral Oil

Paraffinum Liquidum

A refined, inert occlusive and emollient oil that softens skin and slows water loss without penetrating deeply. Cosmetic grades are highly purified and non-comedogenic in testing.

PEG-100 Stearate

A nonionic emulsifier — stearic acid with a polyethylene glycol chain attached — that holds oil and water together. It is almost always seen paired with glyceryl stearate, the two of them forming the workhorse system behind most lotions and creams.

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

A solubiliser made by attaching polyethylene glycol chains to hydrogenated castor oil. It performs the same job as a polysorbate — carrying oils and fragrance into water — and is common in clear cleansers, toners and micellar formulas.

Pentylene Glycol

A multifunctional glycol that acts as a humectant and solvent while also boosting the efficacy of a formula's preservative system. It helps dissolve other ingredients and adds light hydration.

Avocado Oil

Persea Gratissima Oil

A rich, oleic-acid-heavy plant oil that deeply softens skin and helps seal in moisture. It is high in fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins.

Petrolatum

A refined semi-solid occlusive that forms a protective barrier reducing transepidermal water loss by a large margin. It is one of the most effective and inert moisturizing barrier agents.

Phenoxyethanol

A broad-spectrum synthetic preservative that disrupts microbial membranes and enzyme activity, protecting a product from bacteria, yeast and mould during use.

Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid

A water-soluble UVB filter, unusual in a category dominated by oil-soluble molecules. Being water-soluble lets it sit in the water phase, which is how some sunscreens achieve a very light, non-greasy feel.

Phenylethyl Resorcinol

A potent resorcinol-based cosmetic brightener used to reduce the appearance of dark spots and even tone, with antioxidant activity. It is effective at low concentrations.

Phloretin

A polyphenol from apple that scavenges free radicals and gets through the stratum corneum unusually well for its class. It is almost always sold inside a fixed combination with vitamin C and ferulic acid.

Phytic Acid

Gently exfoliates and chelates metal ions that trigger dullness and discoloration.

Phytosphingosine

A skin-identical lipid that rebuilds the barrier and calms acne-related inflammation.

Phytosterols

Plant-derived sterols from the same structural family as cholesterol, the sterol the skin's own barrier lipids are built on. In cosmetics they are added to soften, to help emulsions hold together, and for a calming effect on skin that looks irritated.

Pine Bark Extract

Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract

A maritime-pine bark extract rich in proanthocyanidin antioxidants used to protect skin against free-radical and environmental stress. It is a popular potent botanical antioxidant.

Piroctone Olamine

An antifungal agent aimed at Malassezia, the yeast behind dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis and pityrosporum folliculitis — the condition usually called fungal acne. It doubles as a preservative booster in some formulas.

Polyglutamic Acid

A fermentation-derived humectant that holds up to four times more water than hyaluronic acid and forms a smoothing surface film.

Polysilicone-15

An organic UV filter attached to a silicone backbone, which makes the molecule large and keeps it sitting on the skin surface rather than being absorbed. It absorbs in the UVB range and is approved for sunscreen use in the EU and several other regions, though not in the United States.

Polysorbate 20

A non-ionic solubiliser that lets small amounts of oil, fragrance or an oil-soluble active dissolve into a water base without separating. It is what keeps a clear toner or micellar water clear instead of showing droplets.

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (PAD)

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

A water-soluble, gentler derivative of azelaic acid used to even skin tone and calm redness.

Potassium Sorbate

A gentle, widely used preservative, the salt of sorbic acid, that inhibits yeast and mold growth in water-containing products. It is common in preservative systems for sensitive-skin formulas.

Propanediol

A lightweight humectant and solvent, often plant-fermentation-derived, used to hydrate skin and improve texture and absorption of other ingredients.

Propolis

Propolis Extract

Calms irritation and supports the skin barrier with natural antibacterial resin from bees.

Propylene Glycol

A widely used humectant and solvent that attracts moisture and improves the penetration and texture of formulas. It has a long history of safe cosmetic use.

Sweet Almond Oil

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

A nourishing plant oil rich in oleic acid and vitamin E that softens and soothes skin while reducing surface dryness. It has a moderately rich, cushiony feel.

Apricot Kernel Oil

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil

A soft, moderately light plant oil rich in oleic and linoleic acids that softens and conditions skin with a pleasant, non-greasy finish. It is popular in facial and massage oils.

Pomegranate Extract

Punica Granatum Extract

A fruit extract high in polyphenol antioxidants, including ellagic acid, that helps protect skin against environmental stress. It is valued for antioxidant and conditioning support.

Pomegranate Seed Oil

Punica Granatum Seed Oil

A plant oil distinctive for its punicic-acid content, an omega-5 fatty acid, that conditions skin and provides antioxidant support. It helps replenish the barrier.

Pyruvic Acid

An alpha-keto acid that exfoliates the skin surface and, at professional strengths, is used in chemical peels to smooth texture and unclog pores. In cosmetics it appears at lower levels.

Quercetin

A plant flavonoid antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals and calm the look of stressed skin. It is found widely in fruits and vegetables.

Resveratrol

A potent plant polyphenol that neutralizes free radicals and supports collagen-protective antioxidant defense.

Retinal (Retinaldehyde)

Retinal

A fast-acting retinoid, one conversion step from retinoic acid, that speeds cell turnover and rebuilds collagen.

Retinol

Speeds up cell turnover and stimulates collagen, smoothing texture and softening fine lines over months.

Retinyl Palmitate

Provides the mildest, slowest-converting retinoid ester, offering gentle anti-aging support.

Retinyl Propionate

An ester form of vitamin A that converts in the skin to support renewal and the look of smoother, firmer skin, offering a gentler retinoid option. It is milder than retinol for sensitive users.

Retinyl Retinoate

A hybrid vitamin A derivative combining retinol and retinoic-acid fragments, designed to support skin renewal and the look of firmness while aiming for better stability than plain retinol. It is a next-generation cosmetic retinoid.

Castor Oil

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

A thick, sticky plant oil high in ricinoleic acid used as an emollient and film-former that gives slip and shine in balms and cleansers. It is strongly occlusive.

Rosehip Oil

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Nourishes dry skin and supplies antioxidants and essential fatty acids that support the barrier.

Rosemary Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

A botanical extract rich in antioxidant polyphenols that helps defend skin against oxidative stress and is also used to stabilize oils in formulas. It has mild soothing character.

Royal Jelly

Royal Jelly Extract

A bee secretion containing 10-HDA, proteins and vitamins, with a documented record of serious allergic reactions.

Saccharide Isomerate

A plant-derived carbohydrate complex that binds to the skin surface to provide long-lasting, water-retaining hydration. It is often described as a moisture-anchoring humectant.

Salicylic Acid (BHA)

Salicylic Acid

Penetrates oil-filled pores to clear congestion and calm acne-related inflammation.

Willow Bark Extract

Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract

A botanical extract containing salicin, marketed as a natural BHA — though it does not behave like salicylic acid on skin.

Willow Bark

Salix Alba Bark Extract

A botanical extract containing salicin, a natural precursor to salicylic acid, used for mild exfoliation and blemish control.

Marula Oil

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil

Provides fast-absorbing emollient hydration with a high antioxidant fatty acid content.

Sesame Oil

Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil

A traditional emollient plant oil, prominent in Ayurvedic body care, that softens skin and offers antioxidant support from natural lignans. It has a medium-weight, conditioning feel.

EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor)

sh-Oligopeptide-1

A signaling protein that tells skin cells to proliferate and repair, supporting firmer, more resilient skin over time.

Silica

Finely milled silicon dioxide, used in cosmetics as a powder rather than as an active. Depending on how the particles are made it can absorb oil, blur the look of texture by scattering light, or simply stop a powder from caking.

Jojoba Oil

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Mimics the skin's natural sebum to moisturize without a heavy feel.

Snail Mucin

Snail Secretion Filtrate

Hydrates, soothes, and supports barrier repair with a mix of glycoproteins and hyaluronic acid.

Snail Secretion Filtrate

A filtered snail mucin rich in glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans and allantoin that hydrates and supports repair.

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Delivers a stable vitamin C derivative with additional evidence supporting anti-acne and antioxidant activity.

Sodium Benzoate

A common preservative, the salt of benzoic acid, that protects formulas against bacteria and fungi and is often paired with potassium sorbate. It works best in acidic formulas.

Sodium Chloride

Ordinary salt, used in cosmetics for reasons that have nothing to do with flavour. In surfactant cleansers a small amount thickens the liquid; elsewhere it appears as a scrub particle or as part of a mineral-water extract.

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate

An amino-acid surfactant built from coconut fatty acids and glutamic acid. It is mildly acidic in use, which lets a cleanser be formulated close to skin's own pH without a large correction, and it gives a soft, low-squeak rinse.

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

A coconut-derived surfactant that produces a dense, creamy lather and is solid at room temperature, which is why it turns up in syndet cleansing bars as well as in powder-to-foam washes and creamy liquid cleansers.

PDRN (Salmon DNA)

Sodium DNA

A polydeoxyribonucleotide derived from salmon DNA, used in serums for tissue regeneration and skin repair support.

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate

Draws water into the skin's surface for an immediate, visible plumping effect.

Sodium Hyaluronate

The sodium salt of hyaluronic acid and the form most cosmetics actually use — more water-soluble and more stable than the free acid, and a highly efficient humectant.

Sodium Hydroxide

A strong alkali used in tiny amounts to raise a formula's pH to where it needs to sit. It is the counterweight to acidic ingredients: an exfoliating acid or a vitamin C serum is neutralised with it until the finished product lands in its intended range.

Sodium Lactate

A natural moisturizing factor (NMF) component and humectant that attracts water to the skin and adjusts formula pH.

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

A mild amino-acid-derived cleansing surfactant that foams well and is routinely mistaken for a sulfate because of its name.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

A strong anionic surfactant that lifts oil and debris off skin and hair and foams heavily while doing it. Dermatology research uses it as the standard way to provoke barrier disruption in a test patch, which is a fair indication of how efficiently it strips lipids.

Sodium Levulinate

The salt of levulinic acid, obtained from plant sugars and used as part of a preservative system rather than as a preservative on its own. It is almost always paired with sodium anisate, the two together covering a usefully broad range.

Sodium Metabisulfite

An antioxidant and reducing agent used to protect a formula rather than skin. It scavenges oxygen inside the bottle and is one of the usual companions to easily oxidised ingredients such as pure ascorbic acid or a self-tanning agent.

Sodium PCA

A natural moisturizing factor component that attracts and holds water in the outer skin layers.

Sodium Phytate

A chelator: it grabs the trace metal ions that get into a formula from water, raw materials and packaging, and holds them where they can no longer catalyse oxidation. That protects colour, scent, oils and antioxidants, and helps the preservative system work.

Sodium Polyacrylate

A synthetic polymer that absorbs many times its own weight in water and thickens it into a smooth, non-stringy gel. Small amounts turn a watery mixture into a gel-cream that spreads evenly and does not run.

Sorbic Acid

The free-acid form of the preservative usually seen as potassium sorbate. It curbs yeast and mold in water-containing formulas, and since only the undissociated acid is active it needs a low pH, roughly below 5.5, to work at all.

Sorbitan Stearate

An emulsifier made from sorbitol and stearic acid, oil-loving in character. It is normally used with a water-loving partner such as a polysorbate, the pair together forming a more stable emulsion than either would alone.

Sorbitol

A sugar alcohol used as a humectant and mild texture agent that helps skin retain water and gives products a smooth slip. It is also valued for stabilizing formulas and improving spreadability.

Spirulina Extract

Spirulina Platensis Extract

A cyanobacteria extract carrying phycocyanin, amino acids and minerals, used as a supporting antioxidant.

Squalane

A stable, lightweight emollient that mimics skin's natural sebum to soften and protect the barrier without greasiness.

Squalene

The unstable natural precursor of squalane: a lipid your own sebaceous glands make, also found in olives and, historically, shark liver oil.

Stearic Acid

A fatty acid used as an emollient, thickener and emulsifier that gives creams body and a soft after-feel. It occurs naturally in many plant and animal fats.

Stearyl Alcohol

A fatty alcohol that works as an emollient and thickener, giving formulas a rich, stable texture and helping soften the skin surface. It is non-drying.

Succinic Acid

A mild acid that offers gentle exfoliation and is popular in spot treatments for its ability to help clear the look of blemishes and excess oil. It has some soothing character compared with stronger acids.

Sulfur

A mineral active with keratolytic, antibacterial, and oil-absorbing properties used to treat acne and oily skin.

Superoxide Dismutase

An antioxidant enzyme that helps neutralize superoxide free radicals, supporting the skin's defenses against oxidative stress. It is used for protective and soothing purposes.

Tartaric Acid

An alpha hydroxy acid derived from grapes that exfoliates the skin surface and adjusts formula pH.

Mexoryl SX

Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid

A photostable organic UVA filter developed for strong short-UVA protection, often combined with other filters for broad-spectrum defense. It is a signature filter of certain European sunscreen lines.

THD Ascorbate

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Offers a highly stable, oil-soluble vitamin C form that penetrates the skin barrier efficiently.

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

A chelator that binds trace metal ions in a formula. Those ions arrive with water and raw materials and quietly catalyse oxidation, so tying them up helps a product keep its colour, scent and active content over its shelf life. It is derived from fermentation-sourced glutamic acid and is readily biodegradable.

Cocoa Butter

Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter

A rich plant butter from the cocoa bean that melts at skin temperature to form a softening, occlusive layer that reduces moisture loss. It is high in fatty acids and firms up at room temperature.

Cupuacu Butter

Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter

A plant butter from the Amazonian cupuacu fruit noted for its high fatty-acid content and its ability to hold water, giving both softening and hydrating effects. It leaves a cushiony, conditioned feel.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Thioctic Acid

A potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and regenerates other antioxidants like vitamin C and E.

Titanium Dioxide

Physically reflects and scatters UVB and short UVA rays as a mineral sunscreen filter.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

Tocopherol

A fat-soluble antioxidant that protects skin lipids from oxidative damage and works best paired with vitamin C.

Tocopheryl Acetate

A stable ester form of vitamin E that conditions skin and provides antioxidant support once converted in the skin. Its stability makes it a very common addition to moisturizers and sunscreens.

Tocotrienols

The second branch of the vitamin E family, sitting alongside the far more familiar tocopherols and usually extracted from annatto, palm or rice bran. Their shorter, unsaturated tail moves more freely through lipid layers than tocopherol does.

Tranexamic Acid

Targets stubborn melasma and post-inflammatory marks by calming the pigment-triggering pathway.

Trehalose

A naturally occurring sugar that acts as a humectant and helps protect cell structures against dehydration stress. It supports moisture retention and formula stability.

Tremella Fuciformis Extract

Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract

An extract from the snow mushroom prized as a botanical humectant that holds a large amount of water for its weight. It is often positioned as a plant-based alternative to hyaluronic acid.

Triethanolamine

An alkaline ingredient used to raise pH and to neutralise carbomer, the step that turns a cloudy suspension into a clear gel. It also forms soap-like emulsifiers in situ when combined with a fatty acid such as stearic acid.

Wheat Germ Oil

Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil

A rich plant oil that is one of the highest natural sources of vitamin E, used to nourish dry skin and add antioxidant protection to formulas. It also helps stabilize other oils.

CoQ10

Ubiquinone

A mitochondrial antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and supports collagen-producing cells.

Coenzyme Q10

Ubiquinone

A fat-soluble antioxidant the body makes itself, which declines with age and is used topically to reduce oxidative damage.

Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine

A synthetic ingredient used to help even skin tone and reduce the look of dark spots by interfering with the signaling that stimulates pigment production. It targets discoloration without acids.

Urea

Draws water into the stratum corneum and, at higher concentrations, softens and lifts excess keratin.

Bilberry Fruit Extract

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract

An extract of the European blueberry, rich in the deep-purple anthocyanins that behave as antioxidants in laboratory testing. It is also a mild source of plant acids, which is where the marketing habit of calling it a 'natural AHA' comes from.

Grapeseed Oil

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Provides lightweight moisture and antioxidant polyphenols that help protect the skin barrier.

Xanthan Gum

A polysaccharide produced by bacterial fermentation of sugars, used to thicken water-based formulas and hold them together. It is what gives serums and gels their body and what keeps suspended particles from settling out in the bottle.

Xylitol

A plant-derived sugar alcohol that works as a humectant to support the skin's surface hydration and moisture balance. It is often paired with other sugars in hydrating complexes.

Zinc Oxide (SPF)

Zinc Oxide

Physically reflects and scatters UVA and UVB rays, protecting skin from sun damage and photoaging.

Zinc PCA

A water-soluble zinc salt that regulates oil and keeps acne-causing bacteria in check.

Ginger Extract

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

A root extract with antioxidant compounds used to help protect and comfort skin and support a healthy-looking, refreshed appearance. It has warming, invigorating character.