Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum

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

A lightweight, volatile silicone that gives serums and primers their silky slip and quick-evaporating finish. Human safety data are reassuring; the EU restriction on this ingredient in rinse-off products is about environmental persistence in waterways, not skin safety.

A lightweight, silicone-like emollient derived from coconut/palm fatty alcohols, used to give lotions a smoother, less greasy feel. Listed in the EU CosIng database as a skin-conditioning agent with no restrictions.

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

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.

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

A soothing humectant that helps skin and hair look conditioned. Very well tolerated.

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 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.

A soothing plant extract traditionally used in skincare, valued for its potential anti-inflammatory properties. Published assessments note it is generally well tolerated in cosmetic formulations, though people with sensitivities to botanicals may want to patch test.

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 common emulsifier and texture-softener made from glycerin and stearic acid. CIR review of this class found no evidence of reproductive, carcinogenic, sensitizing, or phototoxic effects in the studies examined.

A plant-derived compound (from babchi seed) marketed as a gentler alternative to retinol, with some small clinical studies showing similar skin-texture benefits and less irritation. Evidence is still limited compared to retinoids, and formal safety review data are less extensive than for long-established ingredients.

A saturated fatty acid found in palm oil and naturally in the skin, used as an emollient to soften and condition skin. It is one of the most studied fatty acids and is well tolerated.

A synthetic gelling and stabilizing polymer that gives lotions and gels their smooth, cushiony texture. The large molecule stays on the skin surface rather than penetrating, and it is graded low concern in published assessments.

A naturally occurring fatty acid (also made in the body and found in many foods) used to thicken lotions and help stabilize cleansing bars. It is one of the most well-studied emollient ingredients and is not a meaningful irritant at cosmetic use levels.

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

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 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 buffering agent used in tiny amounts to set a product's pH, most often alongside gel-forming polymers. It is graded low concern in published assessments at the levels used.

A polysaccharide extracted from yeast cell walls or oat bran. Used for hydration and skin conditioning, beta-glucan is well tolerated with emerging evidence for supporting skin barrier function. No safety concerns flagged in cosmetic use.

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

A small-dose synthetic antioxidant that prevents oils and fragrance in a formula from oxidizing. Not shown to pose a toxicological risk at the levels used in cosmetics.

A saturated fatty acid used as an emollient and texture ingredient in creams and formulations. It is well tolerated and commonly used at safe concentrations.

A beta hydroxy acid used to smooth texture and clear pores. Safe at cosmetic levels; can be mildly irritating if overused.

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

A probiotic-derived ferment lysate containing amino acids and polysaccharides. Limited published research suggests it may benefit skin hydration, though the cosmetic evidence base is smaller than for established ingredients.

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 yeast ferment containing amino acids, vitamins, and polysaccharides used for hydration and skin conditioning. Published research indicates it is well tolerated and supports skin texture.

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 triterpenoid from Centella asiatica associated in published studies with skin resilience and wound-healing support. It is generally well tolerated in cosmetic concentrations.

A purified triterpene from Centella asiatica (the "cica" plant) used in soothing and barrier-support products, especially Korean formulas. It is well tolerated with a low reported irritation rate; the strong repair and anti-aging claims around it are more marketing than settled evidence.

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 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 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 triterpenoid from Centella asiatica with published research linking it to skin barrier function and calming effects. It appears well tolerated at cosmetic levels.

A key active compound from Centella asiatica linked in published research to skin barrier support and soothing properties. It is well tolerated in skincare formulations.

A signal peptide attached to palmitic acid that activates collagen synthesis in skin cells. Well tolerated across skin types with no significant safety concerns in cosmetic use.

A PEG-based emulsifier that blends oils and water in formulas. It is a workhorse ingredient in stable emulsions and is approved for cosmetic use. Well tolerated.

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.

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 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.