Rose Serum

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

A hydrosol from damascena rose flowers, used as a skin toner and fragrance. Rose can trigger allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals, though the hydrosol form is generally well tolerated. People with a history of plant sensitivities should patch test.

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

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 urea derivative used as a humectant to help skin retain moisture and improve hydration. Published safety assessments find it well tolerated at the use levels in cosmetics.

A polysaccharide produced through fermentation that thickens formulations and provides hydration. It is used across rinse-off and leave-on cosmetics with a low irritation profile, though very rare sensitivities to fermented polysaccharides have been documented.

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.

The simplest amino acid, naturally present in skin and collagen, commonly used as a humectant to help retain moisture. It has a long history of safe use in cosmetics with no known hazards at typical concentrations.

A non-essential amino acid that occurs naturally in skin and is used in cosmetics as a humectant and skin-conditioning agent. It has an established safety record with no reported concerns at typical usage levels.

A naturally occurring amino acid that is a key component of skin barrier lipids and the natural moisturizing factor. It binds water to the skin and is well established as a safe hydrating ingredient with no known sensitization concerns.

A branched-chain amino acid used in conditioning formulas to support skin hydration. No safety concern has been identified at typical cosmetic concentrations.

An amino acid abundant in collagen that functions as a humectant to draw moisture into the skin. It is well tolerated in skincare products and assessed as safe for cosmetic use at standard formulation levels.

An essential amino acid that is a component of the skin barrier and natural moisturizing factor, used in cosmetics to improve hydration. It is well tolerated and assessed as safe for topical application.

An essential branched-chain amino acid naturally found in skin and used as a humectant to help retain moisture. It is a recognized component of the natural moisturizing factor with a history of safe use in cosmetics at typical concentrations.

An amino acid used in skincare formulas to hydrate and condition the skin. Amino acids are well-tolerated at cosmetic use levels and have a long history of safe use.

An amino acid used in skin-conditioning formulas to support hydration and skin health. No documented safety concern at cosmetic use levels.

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

Sodium PCA is a natural component of skin's own moisturizing factor and is used in cosmetics as a humectant to help skin hold onto water. It has an extensive history of safe use with no meaningful irritation or sensitization signal.

A natural osmolyte produced by halophilic bacteria. Used for hydration and protective stress response, ectoin is well tolerated with emerging evidence for skin barrier support and soothing. No safety concerns flagged in cosmetic applications.

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

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 naturally derived humectant made from fermented plant sugars that draws water into the skin. It is well tolerated in cosmetics and is used to support hydration and skin softness.

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 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.

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

A corn-derived solvent and humectant that has largely replaced propylene glycol in "clean" formulas; CIR reviewed the alkane diol group and found use concentrations up to about 40 percent in leave-on products like deodorant sticks with no meaningful irritation signal.

A water-soluble humectant that holds moisture and gives essences a soft feel. 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 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 five-carbon sugar alcohol (polyol) that functions as an effective humectant comparable to glycerin, drawing moisture into the skin. It is well tolerated in cosmetics and assessed as safe by regulatory bodies at typical formulation levels.

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

A sugar-derived humectant made from corn and other plant sources that draws water into the skin for hydration. Well-tolerated in skincare formulations.

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 sugar alcohol humectant that helps retain moisture in the skin. It is well-tolerated at typical cosmetic use levels.

A cellulose derivative used to thicken and stabilize formulas. It dissolves fully in water and does not separate or settle over time. It is well tolerated and widely used in gels, lotions, and serums.

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 biodegradable chelating agent that binds trace metals to stabilize formulas, often chosen as a gentler alternative to EDTA. It is readily degraded in the environment and poses minimal toxicity concerns at cosmetic concentrations.

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

The sodium salt of lactic acid and a key component of the skin barrier and natural moisturizing factor that attracts water to the skin. It is well established as a safe and effective humectant with no known hazards at cosmetic concentrations.