Fresh Herb Origin 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.

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

A lightweight emollient oil from meadowfoam seeds, prized in cosmetics for its stability and skin feel. Very well tolerated with no documented safety concerns in published assessments.

An ester that combines cetyl alcohol with ethylhexanoic acid, serving as an emollient. It softens skin and is well tolerated in cosmetics.

A light synthetic emollient that gives creams a smooth, non-greasy slip, a common alternative to mineral oil in Korean formulas. It sits on the skin surface and is graded low concern in published assessments.

A humectant naturally derived from sugar beets that helps skin draw in and hold water; it has a long history of safe use with no meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns.

A glycol used very widely in Korean and Western skincare as a lightweight humectant, solvent, and gentle preservative-booster, often in place of traditional preservatives. It has a low reported irritation rate at use levels and is graded low concern in published assessments.

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.

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

A light, low-odor glycol used as a solvent and humectant, extremely common in Korean toners and essences. It has a low reported irritation rate and is graded low concern in published assessments.

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.

An extract from turmeric root valued for its antioxidant and skin-conditioning properties. It is well tolerated at cosmetic levels, though some sources note rare phototoxicity potential; formulation practices mitigate this.

A more stable, esterified form of vitamin E used as an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient. It is a different substance from the vitamin E acetate implicated in vaping-related lung injury, which involved inhaling the oil, not applying it topically to skin.

A synthetic iridescent pigment that creates a pearl-like shimmer. Generally well tolerated, though it can occasionally trigger irritation or heaviness in very sensitive or reactive skin. Patch test first if you have highly reactive skin.

A starch breakdown product used as a thickener and texture modifier in cosmetic formulations. It is well established in cosmetics and food applications with documented low irritation and contact sensitization risk across diverse skin types.

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.

A glycerin derivative used as a skin conditioner and preservative booster, often paired with phenoxyethanol to allow lower total preservative levels. It has a low irritation and sensitization profile in safety reviews.