TXA 6 Niacinamide 10 Retinal Serum

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

A form of vitamin B3 used to support a more even-looking tone and a comfortable barrier. Well tolerated at cosmetic levels.

Tranexamic acid is used topically at low concentrations to help even the look of dark spots and redness-related discoloration. It has an extensive systemic safety record as an oral medicine, and topical skin absorption is minimal, though a dedicated cosmetic-specific safety review has not yet been published by the main cosmetic safety panels.

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

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.

A small glycol used as a solvent and to boost the absorption of actives, and to help preservatives work at lower levels. It is well tolerated and graded low concern in published assessments.

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 synthetic polymer used to thicken and stabilize water-based formulas like gels and serums. It provides texture and suspension of particles without interfering with skin feel. Well established in cosmetics.

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.

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.

A salt derived from citric acid that buffers pH and prevents metal oxidation in formulas. Widely used in food and cosmetics, it is well tolerated at cosmetic concentrations.

A preservative and antioxidant that helps prevent microbial growth and oxidative degradation in formulas. Published assessments support its use at cosmetic levels.

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

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 lysate (cell breakdown product) from a beneficial lactic acid bacterium used as a conditioning agent and potential probiotic-adjacent ingredient. Generally well tolerated, though people with milk or dairy sensitivity or specific probiotics sensitivities should patch test first.

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 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.

Naturally occurring short-chain carbohydrates that function as humectants to draw moisture into skin. They are graded with no known concerns in cosmetic use and may support skin microbiome balance.

Vitamin B12 used in cosmetics for its purported skin-conditioning and nutritional benefits. It is established as safe for topical use with no known hazards or sensitization concerns at concentrations typically used in skincare.

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 retinoid that your skin converts to retinoic acid, used to support cell turnover and collagen production. Published assessments grade it low-concern and well tolerated; retinoids can irritate sensitive or compromised skin, so start low and build tolerance gradually.

A lab-made version of a lipid naturally found in the outer skin barrier. It is added to creams and cleansers to help replace lipids that washing can strip away, and it is not linked to irritation or safety concerns.

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.

A naturally occurring tripeptide (amino acid compound) that functions as a cellular antioxidant. It is graded low concern in cosmetic assessments, though absorption across intact skin appears limited.

Bisabolol is a botanically derived (or synthetically nature-identical) compound used for its calming, anti-irritant reputation in sensitive-skin formulas. Safety reviews and long clinical use have found it well tolerated with a low rate of reported reactions.

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 soothing, skin-conditioning compound (also found in comfrey root) commonly added to calm and hydrate irritated or sensitive skin. It has a long history of safe use with very low irritation potential.

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 fragrance ingredient and preservative booster used in very small amounts to provide a subtle floral aroma or support formula preservation. It is one of many aromatic compounds and uncommon as a sole contact allergen, though fragrance-sensitive individuals should be aware it is present.

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