37 ingredients
Ingredients, without a universal score.
An active can rank first for one goal and low for another. Search first; decide in context.
37 ingredients found
Retinoids
Retinol
A cosmetic retinoid with useful evidence for photoaging and uneven tone, balanced by irritation and slow results.
Retinoids
Retinal
A retinoid positioned between retinol and retinoic acid in its conversion pathway; formula stability matters.
Retinoids
Adapalene
A retinoid used primarily for acne; regulatory status and availability differ by region.
Retinoids
Tretinoin
A prescription retinoid with strong relevance to acne and photoaging. It requires clinician-led access in many regions.
Retinoids
Retinyl palmitate
A milder retinoid ester that generally sits below better-studied retinoids for visible change.
Vitamin C and derivatives
L-ascorbic acid
The direct form of vitamin C, with formulation challenges around stability, pH, and irritation.
Vitamin C and derivatives
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate
A water-soluble vitamin C derivative with different evidence and formulation behavior from ascorbic acid.
Vitamin C and derivatives
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
An oil-soluble vitamin C derivative that should not inherit every claim made for pure ascorbic acid.
Vitamin C and derivatives
3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid
A modified vitamin C form used for stability, with a smaller goal-specific evidence base than pure ascorbic acid.
Other actives
Niacinamide
A versatile, generally well-tolerated active with practical roles in barrier support, tone, and oil-control routines.
Pigment-focused actives
Azelaic acid
A multi-purpose active relevant to blemishes, post-blemish marks, and some redness contexts.
Beta hydroxy acids (BHA)
Salicylic acid
An oil-soluble exfoliant most useful where blocked pores and oily skin are central concerns.
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA)
Glycolic acid
A small-molecule exfoliating acid used for texture and uneven tone, with meaningful irritation potential.
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA)
Lactic acid
An exfoliating acid that can also contribute humectancy, often positioned as a gentler AHA option.
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA)
Mandelic acid
A larger-molecule AHA often chosen when a slower, potentially gentler exfoliation profile is preferred.
Humectants
Hyaluronic acid
A humectant family that can improve temporary hydration and surface plumping within a balanced formula.
Humectants
Glycerin
A proven, practical humectant that is common precisely because it works well across many formula types.
Barrier lipids
Ceramides
Barrier lipids whose benefit depends on formula composition, delivery, and use alongside other moisturizing components.
Humectants
Urea
A concentration-dependent ingredient that can hydrate at lower levels and become more keratolytic at higher levels.
Humectants
Panthenol
A generally gentle supporting ingredient used to improve hydration and comfort rather than drive dramatic change alone.
Emollients and occlusives
Squalane
A stable emollient that improves softness and reduces dryness without acting as a high-impact treatment active.
Emollients and occlusives
Petrolatum
A highly effective occlusive for reducing water loss; texture and acne-prone preferences affect practicality.
Soothing and protective actives
Colloidal oatmeal
A soothing, barrier-supportive ingredient with practical value for dry or irritated-feeling skin.
Humectants
Ectoin
A protective and hydrating ingredient with promising but less extensive outcome evidence than basic moisturization staples.
Soothing and protective actives
Centella asiatica
A botanical family used for soothing; extract standardization and formula context make broad claims difficult.
Peptides
Peptides
A broad category with ingredient-specific evidence; marketing often treats unlike peptides as interchangeable.
Pigment-focused actives
Tranexamic acid
A topical tone-evening option with growing use for hyperpigmentation, but less established cosmetic evidence than some first-line foundations.
Pigment-focused actives
Alpha arbutin
A targeted pigmentation ingredient with moderate practical appeal and a narrower evidence base than marketing may imply.
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide
A well-established acne active that can work relatively quickly but commonly causes dryness and can bleach fabrics.
Other acne actives
Sulfur
A traditional acne and oil-control ingredient whose smell, dryness, and variable formula experience limit practicality.
Pigment-focused actives
Licorice root extract
A botanical extract with plausible soothing and tone-evening roles, complicated by extract variability.
Antioxidants
Green tea extract
An antioxidant botanical that may support oil-control or soothing formulas, with outcomes dependent on standardization.
Antioxidants
Vitamin E
A formula-supporting antioxidant and emollient, usually more useful as part of a system than as a headline active.
Antioxidants
Ferulic acid
An antioxidant often used to support formula stability and antioxidant combinations rather than as a stand-alone goal treatment.
Barrier lipids
Cholesterol
A skin-identical lipid that is most meaningful in a balanced barrier formula with ceramides and fatty acids.
Barrier lipids
Fatty acids
A broad group of lipids that can support emollience and barrier formulas; the complete ratio matters.
Other actives
Bakuchiol
A well-marketed botanical active with early signals for photoaging, but it should not be treated as evidence-equivalent to retinoids.