Pro-Heal Serum Advance+

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

The most well-studied form of topical vitamin C, used as an antioxidant and to support collagen signaling and brighten uneven tone. It is acidic and can sting or irritate sensitive skin, and it oxidizes readily once a bottle is opened, which can reduce its effectiveness rather than create a safety issue.

A polyethylene glycol ether of lauryl alcohol, used as a mild surfactant and emulsifier in cleansers and other rinse-off products. CIR assessments support the safety of laureth surfactants in cosmetics, and they are often chosen for their mildness.

A fast-evaporating solvent used to carry actives and give toners a light, "clean" feel; at the concentrations used in classic astringents it can be genuinely drying or irritating with repeated use, especially on dry or compromised skin, though it is not inherently toxic and is a normal, well-studied cosmetic ingredient.

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 small humectant and solvent molecule that helps other ingredients dissolve and helps skin hold water. It is one of the most studied cosmetic ingredients and is considered safe at the concentrations used in personal care products.

A buffering agent used in small amounts to maintain or adjust the pH of formulas to keep them skin-friendly. It is not added as an active ingredient but to keep the product at a safe and stable pH level.

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

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

A vitamin A derivative used for the look of lines and texture. Effective but can irritate and increases sun sensitivity; usually advised against in pregnancy.

Cold-pressed oil from olive fruit, valued as a carrier and emollient in skincare formulas. Well tolerated across skin types and delivers fatty acids that support skin barrier integrity.

Arbutin is a plant-derived brightening ingredient that is chemically related to hydroquinone and can release small amounts of it in formulation. EU regulators have set new maximum use levels for arbutin and alpha-arbutin in leave-on products because of this hydroquinone-release concern, so products sold there must stay within those caps.

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