Vitamin C Concentrate Serum

A plant-derived water or extract used mainly as a soothing humectant filler. Evidence for dramatic skin benefits beyond mild hydration and soothing is limited, but it is well tolerated by most people.

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

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

Pentylene glycol is a humectant and solvent that also offers mild antimicrobial support in formulas. It is generally well tolerated, with only rare reports of irritation, mostly in already sensitive or compromised skin.

A light coconut-derived emollient ester used as a natural-feeling alternative to silicones, giving a dry, velvety finish. It is well tolerated and graded low concern in published assessments.

Technically a liquid wax ester rather than a true oil, jojoba closely resembles skin's own sebum and absorbs without feeling greasy. It is well tolerated across skin types, including acne-prone skin, with no significant irritation or comedogenicity signal in the available data.

A gentle sugar-and-fatty-acid emulsifier that binds water and oil, favored in formulas for sensitive skin. It is well tolerated and graded low concern in published assessments.

A broken-down form of hyaluronic acid with smaller molecules intended to penetrate more deeply into the skin. It functions as a humectant and is well tolerated, with the same safety profile as standard hyaluronic acid.

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

A nutrient-rich oil pressed from sweet almond kernels, used to soften and condition skin. It is generally well tolerated, though people with tree nut allergies should patch test first, as it can rarely trigger allergic reactions.

A potent carotenoid antioxidant sourced primarily from microalgae, studied extensively for antioxidant strength and skin-barrier support. Published data suggests good tolerability and efficacy in topical formulations at typical concentrations.

A light, non-comedogenic oil from safflower seeds, high in linoleic acid. It is well tolerated across skin types and valued for its ability to condition the skin without a heavy feel.

A gentle, stable vitamin C derivative that the skin converts to active vitamin C, popular for brightening with less irritation than pure ascorbic acid. It is well tolerated and graded low concern in published assessments.

A linoleic-acid-rich plant oil used as an emollient and, in some small pediatric studies, associated with support of the skin barrier when applied to infant skin. It is well tolerated with a low reported rate of contact reactions.

A phospholipid emulsifier from soy or sunflower that binds water and oil and helps other ingredients absorb. It is a natural component of skin membranes, well tolerated, and reviewed as safe as used; a soy-derived grade is not a meaningful concern for a soy food allergy because the protein is largely absent.

A fruit extract from the Australian Kakadu plum, notable for high vitamin C and polyphenol content, used in cosmetics for antioxidant claims. Topical safety data is limited, but the fruit has a long traditional use history and no documented safety signals have emerged in published literature at cosmetic concentrations.

A polyol (sugar alcohol) that attracts water to the skin. Like sorbitol and glycerin, it is well tolerated in skincare formulas. It is commonly used to boost hydration without the stickiness of other humectants.

A nutrient-rich carrier oil from soybean seeds containing linoleic and linolenic acids essential for barrier function. Phytoestrogen content is present but not absorbed systemically from topical application, graded low concern by regulatory assessments.

A fatty alcohol used to soften skin and stabilize creams. Despite the name, it does not dry the skin.

A stable, saturated version of squalene, a lipid the skin already produces, now usually sourced from olives or sugarcane instead of shark liver. It is very well tolerated across skin types and helps reinforce the skin barrier.

A gentle humectant derived from glucose. It draws water to the skin and is mild enough for sensitive skin types. Widely used in cosmetics without reported safety concerns.

A preservative booster and antioxidant derived from natural sugars. Often used alongside other preservatives to enhance efficacy and extend shelf life.

Xanthan gum is a microbial-fermentation-derived polysaccharide used to thicken and stabilize textures, similarly common in food. Cosmetic panel review of this and related microbial gums found them safe as used, with no meaningful irritation signal at typical concentrations.

A basic amino acid naturally found in skin that draws moisture into the stratum corneum. It is well tolerated in cosmetics at typical concentrations and has been used safely in skincare formulations for decades.

An antioxidant that helps protect a formula and condition skin. Well tolerated.

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.

An undisclosed scent blend that can contain dozens of components. The single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, and the blend is not itemized, so you cannot see what is in it.

A mild plant-derived emulsifier combining polyglycerol and lauric acid. Used in gentle formulas to blend oil and water phases; well tolerated across skin types at cosmetic concentrations.

Gluconolactone is a polyhydroxy acid that exfoliates gently while also acting as a humectant and mild antioxidant, and it is generally recommended for sensitive or barrier-compromised skin over smaller AHAs. A full cosmetic panel review found it safe as used, though some users still report mild stinging or redness at higher concentrations.

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

Plant-derived sterols that function as emollients and barrier-supporting ingredients found naturally in many botanical sources. They are well tolerated in cosmetic formulations with no known safety concerns at typical use levels.

Ordinary salt, used in surfactant-based products like shampoos and body washes to adjust viscosity by interacting with the surfactant micelles. It has no meaningful toxicity concern at cosmetic use levels; the main practical downside is that too much can make a formula feel less mild.

A mineral salt used in cosmetics as a pH buffer and conditioning agent. Safety data indicate no hazards or sensitization concerns for topical cosmetic use at typical concentrations.

A citrus-scented fragrance component. Fine for most, but it oxidizes over time into a known contact allergen, so it must be labelled in the EU.

A floral fragrance component and one of the EU-labelled fragrance allergens. Usually fine, worth watching if you react to scented products.