Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel

The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.

A plant extract used for mild astringent and soothing effects. Evidence for its benefits comes mostly from traditional use and small studies rather than large trials, and the tannins it contains can be mildly irritating for some people, particularly in older distilled formulas that retain trace alcohol.

A widely used emulsifier and solubilizer that has been in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals for decades. The CIR has assessed it as safe with no known concerns at typical cosmetic concentrations. As with any surfactant, some people with very sensitive skin may experience mild irritation.

A larger, gentler alpha hydroxy acid than glycolic acid, used to exfoliate and to draw in moisture. It can still cause stinging or increased sun sensitivity at higher concentrations, so daytime SPF use is sensible, but it is generally better tolerated than glycolic acid.

Mandelic acid is a larger-molecule alpha hydroxy acid that tends to penetrate skin more slowly than glycolic acid, which is generally associated with less stinging and redness. It carries the same general AHA cautions around sun sensitivity but is often better tolerated by reactive skin.

A natural source of salicylates, traditionally used for gentle chemical exfoliation and inflammation support. It delivers BHA-like activity through natural compounds and is generally well tolerated. People with salicylate sensitivity should exercise caution, and it may cause mild irritation in very sensitive skin.

Green tea extract is a well-studied topical antioxidant with a long history of use in serums and moisturizers, generally well tolerated at cosmetic concentrations. Panel safety reviews of Camellia sinensis-derived ingredients have not identified meaningful topical hazard.

Roman chamomile flower extract, traditionally valued for soothing skin. Allergic contact dermatitis is rare but documented; those with known sensitivities to Asteraceae plants like ragweed or chrysanthemum should patch test first.

Chamomile extract is used for its soothing and mild antioxidant reputation and is generally well tolerated. It belongs to the Asteraceae (Compositae) plant family, so people with a known ragweed or daisy-family allergy occasionally react to it and may want to patch test first.

A hydrating plant extract from sugarcane rich in amino acids and minerals. It conditions and softens skin and is generally well tolerated across skin types.

A cold-pressed oil from sweet orange peel with a bright, citrus scent, containing furanocoumarins that can cause phototoxic reactions (pigmentation and irritation) when exposed to sunlight. This oil is best reserved for rinse-off products or formulations where sun exposure is unlikely or protected, as it can trigger adverse reactions in reactive individuals on sun-exposed skin.

A citrus essential oil with a fresh scent, extracted from lemon peel. It contains recognized fragrance allergen constituents (limonene, citral) and can trigger contact reactions in fragrance-sensitive individuals. Additionally, citrus peel oils carry documented phototoxicity risk, meaning skin treated with the product should avoid direct sunlight.

A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.

Zinc PCA is a zinc salt of a naturally occurring skin humectant, used mainly to help regulate oil and support a balanced skin microbiome in oily or acne-prone formulas. It has a long history of use with no significant reported irritation, though dedicated cosmetic-specific review data is thinner than for more common ingredients.

Used like sodium hydroxide to adjust pH in cosmetics at very low levels. At finished-product pH, it is neutralized and well tolerated.

A chelating agent that binds trace metal ions to keep formulas stable and preservatives working properly. It is not a functional skincare "active" and only a very small amount is used, with minimal skin penetration expected.

Used in tiny amounts to set a product to skin-friendly pH. No concern at those levels.

A lightweight, odorless emollient made by combining coconut or palm-derived fatty acids with glycerin. It spreads easily, feels non-greasy, and has a long history of use in skin and hair products with no meaningful irritation or sensitization signal.

An extract from cucumber fruit valued in skincare for its hydrating and soothing properties. It is well tolerated across skin types and commonly included in formulas designed to refresh and calm the skin.

An extract from damascene rose flowers graded for antioxidant and skin-soothing properties. It is generally well tolerated in cosmetics, though people with rose pollen allergies or broader botanical sensitivities may prefer to patch test.

A citrate ester used as a solvent and plasticizer in cosmetics to dissolve active ingredients and adjust texture. It is well tolerated and widely used in formulations without documented safety concerns.

A hydrating botanical extract from apple fruit, rich in polysaccharides and flavonoids. It conditions and softens skin and is generally well tolerated in cosmetic formulations.

An aromatic plant extract rich in natural antioxidants, valued in skincare formulations for its protective properties. Published cosmetic assessments indicate it is generally well tolerated, though the botanical origin means some sensitive individuals may react.

An extract from vanilla fruit with warm, sweet fragrance notes, used for scent and potential antioxidant benefit. Most users tolerate it well, but individuals with fragrance sensitivities may experience reactions, particularly in products left on skin for extended periods.

Lavender essential oil naturally contains linalool, geraniol, and coumarin, several of the recognized fragrance allergen constituents, so it can trigger contact reactions in fragrance-sensitive users even though it is a "natural" ingredient. It is not a general hazard for most people, but those with a known fragrance allergy should treat it like any other essential oil.

A naturally occurring acid used to preserve and adjust pH in cosmetic formulas. It is generally recognized as safe at cosmetic use levels, with mild irritation possible on broken or very sensitive skin at higher concentrations.

A widely used preservative, safe at the legal limit of 1% or less. Often the "paraben-free" replacement.

The sodium salt of benzoic acid, used as a preservative in both foods and cosmetics. Decades of safety review support its use at typical cosmetic concentrations, with mild irritation the main reported issue in sensitive skin.

Commonly used to buffer and adjust pH in cosmetics and topical formulations. At the low concentrations used in rinse-off and leave-on products, it is well tolerated. Some individuals may experience mild irritation from high-pH formulations or direct skin contact with concentrated powder.

A humectant that holds water at the skin surface for a more hydrated look. No safety concern.

Finely milled oat that the FDA recognizes as an over-the-counter skin protectant for temporary relief of minor itching and dryness. Well tolerated, including on eczema-prone skin, with rare contact allergy in people with pre-existing oat or cereal sensitivity.

A plant extract long used in traditional wound care and now common in "cica" soothing products, valued for calming redness and supporting the skin barrier. It is generally well tolerated, with rare contact allergy reported.

Natural fat molecules present in healthy skin that help reinforce the skin barrier. They are graded with no known concerns in cosmetic assessments and are well tolerated as skin conditioning agents.

A naturally occurring nucleoside used in anti-aging formulas, often marketed for smoothing the look of fine lines. It has a low irritation profile and no established hazard at cosmetic use levels.

A polyphenol antioxidant from grapes and berries, used in skincare to defend against environmental stress. Published assessments indicate it is well tolerated; it may also support the skin barrier when used consistently.

A naturally occurring lipid cofactor produced in all cells, commonly used in skin care for its antioxidant and energizing properties. Topical formulations show low irritation in published data, and the ingredient is well tolerated across all skin types at cosmetic concentrations.

A fermented extract of radish root that acts as a natural preservative and skin-conditioning agent. It has shown antimicrobial properties in formulation work and is well tolerated in rinse-off and leave-on products, though individual sensitivities can vary.

Sodium PCA is a natural component of skin's own moisturizing factor and is used in cosmetics as a humectant to help skin hold onto water. It has an extensive history of safe use with no meaningful irritation or sensitization signal.

A lightweight humectant and solvent similar in role to propylene glycol, used to carry actives and give lotions a lighter feel. CIR has reviewed it and considers it safe as used in cosmetics.

Tetrasodium EDTA is a chelating agent that binds trace metal ions to keep formulas stable and help preservatives work better. It has circulated online as a supposed "toxic" additive, but decades of safety review support its use at cosmetic concentrations.

A widely used, gentle preservative also common in food. It is generally well tolerated, though it can occasionally cause mild, transient irritation in people with already-compromised or very reactive skin.