Glossary of Skincare Ingredients

Glossary of skincare Ingredients

Ingredient	Function / Benefit	Suitable Skin Types	Notes / Cautions
Acai Berry Extract	Rich in antioxidants, helps protect skin from free radicals	All skin types	Best in serums and creams
Acetyl Glucosamine	Brightens skin, supports hydration	Dry, Dull, Hyperpigmented	Works well with Niacinamide
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline)	Reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles	Mature, Normal	Temporary effect, topical use only
Allantoin	Soothes irritation, promotes healing	Sensitive, Dry, Acne-prone	Very gentle
Aloe Vera	Hydrates and calms inflammation	All skin types	Check purity; some gels are diluted
Alpha-Arbutin	Brightens skin, reduces dark spots	All, esp. Hyperpigmented	Use with sunscreen; avoid overuse
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)	Exfoliates dead skin cells	Normal, Dry, Dull	Can increase sun sensitivity
Amino Acids	Support skin barrier, improve hydration	All skin types	Often paired with peptides
Apricot Kernel Oil	Nourishes, softens skin	Dry, Mature	May clog pores in acne-prone skin
Argan Oil	Moisturizes, rich in vitamin E	Dry, Normal	Use sparingly on oily skin
Arnica	Reduces swelling, soothes irritation	Sensitive, Post-procedure	Can cause allergic reactions in some
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)	Brightens, boosts collagen, antioxidant	All except very sensitive	Store in dark, airtight packaging
Ascorbyl Glucoside	Stable form of Vitamin C	All skin types	Gentle alternative to Ascorbic Acid
Avocado Oil	Deeply moisturizes, nourishes	Dry, Mature	Heavy texture may clog pores
Azelaic Acid	Reduces redness, treats acne & pigmentation	Sensitive, Acne-prone, Rosacea	Gentle exfoliant, pregnancy-safe
Babassu Oil	Lightweight hydration, softens skin	All skin types	Non-comedogenic
Bakuchiol	Plant-based retinol alternative	Sensitive, Dry, Mature	Slower results than retinol
Bamboo Extract	Antioxidant, strengthens skin	All skin types	Often used in creams/serums
Barley Extract	Soothes irritation, anti-inflammatory	Sensitive, Dry	Check for gluten allergy
Beeswax	Locks in moisture, forms protective barrier	Dry, Normal	Not vegan
Beta-Carotene	Antioxidant, supports skin health	All skin types	Precursor to Vitamin A
Beta-Glucan	Hydrates, soothes sensitive skin	Dry, Sensitive	Strong calming properties
Betaine	Balances moisture, protects skin	All skin types	Naturally derived from sugar beets
BHA (Salicylic Acid)	Clears pores, exfoliates	Oily, Acne-prone	Avoid overuse to prevent dryness
Bilberry Extract	Antioxidant, improves skin tone	All skin types	Often used with Vitamin C
Biotin	Strengthens skin, hair, and nails	All skin types	Usually taken orally
Black Currant Seed Oil	Rich in omega-3 & 6, nourishes skin	Dry, Mature	Anti-inflammatory
Black Tea Ferment	Antioxidant, brightens skin	All skin types	Can be part of fermented skincare
Caffeine	Reduces puffiness, improves circulation	All skin types	Common in eye creams
Calendula Extract	Soothes and heals	Sensitive, Dry	Good for eczema-prone skin
Camellia Oil	Moisturizing, antioxidant-rich	Dry, Mature	Lightweight texture
Camphor	Cooling, reduces itching	Oily, Acne-prone	Avoid on sensitive skin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride	Lightweight moisturizer, softens skin	All skin types	Non-comedogenic
Carrot Seed Oil	Antioxidant, revitalizes skin	Dry, Mature	Can stain clothes
Carnosine	Antioxidant, prevents skin glycation	All skin types	Anti-aging support
Caviar Extract	Nourishes, improves elasticity	Dry, Mature	Luxury ingredient
Ceramides	Restore skin barrier, lock in moisture	Dry, Sensitive	Works well with hyaluronic acid
Chamomile Extract	Calms irritation, reduces redness	Sensitive, All	Anti-inflammatory
Charcoal (Activated)	Detoxifies, absorbs oil	Oily, Acne-prone	Avoid overuse—can be drying
Chia Seed Oil	Hydrates, soothes	Dry, Sensitive	Rich in omega fatty acids
Chitosan	Forms protective film, hydrates	Dry, Sensitive	Derived from shellfish
Citric Acid	Exfoliates, adjusts pH in formulas	Normal, Oily	Can be irritating if overused
Coenzyme Q10	Antioxidant, energizes skin cells	All, esp. Mature	Protects against free radicals
Colloidal Oatmeal	Soothes itching, hydrates	Sensitive, Dry	Great for eczema and irritation
Copper Peptides	Stimulates collagen, firms skin	All, esp. Mature	Avoid mixing with Vitamin C
Cornflower Extract	Calms tired eyes, reduces puffiness	Sensitive, All	Gentle for delicate skin
Cucumber Extract	Hydrates, soothes	All skin types	Cooling effect, often in gels
Dandelion Extract	Detoxifies, brightens	All skin types	Mild antioxidant
Dead Sea Salt	Mineral-rich, soothes	Dry, Mature	Use in scrubs/baths
Decyl Glucoside	Gentle plant-based cleanser	All, Sensitive	Non-irritating
Dexpanthenol (Provitamin B5)	Moisturizes, heals	Dry, Sensitive	Strengthens barrier
Dimethicone	Smooths, locks moisture	Dry, Sensitive	Non-comedogenic silicone
DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol)	Firms skin, anti-aging	Mature	May cause tingling
Dragon Fruit Extract	Antioxidant, brightening	All skin types	Rich in Vitamin C
Ectoin	Protects from environmental stress	Sensitive, Dry	Anti-pollution ingredient
Edelweiss Extract	Antioxidant, soothes	All skin types	Rare alpine plant
Eggshell Membrane	Collagen-boosting	Mature, Dry	Animal-derived
Elastin	Improves firmness	Mature	Often combined with collagen
Evening Primrose Oil	Nourishes, calms	Dry, Mature, Sensitive	Rich in GLA
Fennel Seed Extract	Detoxifies, firms	All skin types	Mild scent
Ferulic Acid	Boosts stability of Vitamin C & E	All skin types	Antioxidant
Fig Extract	Hydrates, softens	Dry, Sensitive	Contains natural sugars
Flaxseed Oil	Rich in omega fatty acids	Dry, Sensitive	Easily oxidizes
Fuller’s Earth	Deep cleanses pores	Oily, Acne-prone	Strong oil-absorber
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate	Brightens, hydrates	All, esp. Dull	Popular in Korean skincare
Gardenia Extract	Antioxidant, fragrance	All skin types	Mostly used for scent
Geranium Oil	Balances oil, tones skin	Oily, Combination	Can irritate sensitive skin
Ginkgo Biloba	Boosts circulation, antioxidant	All skin types	Improves dullness
Ginseng Extract	Energizes, brightens	All skin types	Anti-aging benefits
Gluconolactone	Gentle PHA exfoliant	Sensitive, Dry	Low irritation risk
Glutathione	Brightens, antioxidant	All skin types	Often used in creams & serums
Glycolic Acid	AHA exfoliant for smooth skin	Normal, Dry, Dull	Increases sun sensitivity
Goji Berry Extract	Antioxidant, revitalizes	All skin types	Protects against aging
Gold	Luxury ingredient, brightening	All skin types	Minimal proven benefit
Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica)	Heals, soothes	Sensitive, Acne-prone	Great for calming redness
Grape Seed Oil	Lightweight, antioxidant	Oily, Combination	Non-comedogenic
Green Clay	Detoxifies, absorbs oil	Oily, Acne-prone	Can be drying
Green Tea Extract	Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory	All skin types	Soothes acne-prone skin
Guava Extract	Brightens, rich in Vitamin C	All skin types	Tropical fruit-based
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel)	Tones, reduces oil	Oily, Combination	Can be drying if alcohol-based
Hazelnut Oil	Moisturizing, antioxidant	Normal, Dry	May clog pores
Helichrysum Extract	Heals, anti-aging	All skin types	Gentle essential oil
Hibiscus Extract	Natural AHA, firms	All skin types	“Botox plant” nickname
Honey	Moisturizes, antibacterial	All, esp. Acne-prone	Avoid if allergic to pollen
Horsetail Extract	Firming, antioxidant	All skin types	Silica-rich plant
Hyaluronic Acid	Hydrates, plumps	All skin types	Works best on damp skin
Hydroquinone	Fades dark spots	Hyperpigmented	Prescription-only in many countries
Hydroxyethyl Urea	Deep hydrator	All skin types	Non-sticky humectant
Indian Gooseberry (Amla)	Antioxidant, brightens	All skin types	Vitamin C-rich
Irish Moss Extract	Soothes, hydrates	Sensitive, Dry	Marine ingredient
Isoflavones	Balances skin during menopause	Mature	Derived from soy
Jojoba Oil	Balances oil, softens	All skin types	Closely matches skin’s natural oils
Kaolin Clay	Absorbs oil, purifies	Oily, Combination	Gentle clay option
Kakadu Plum	High Vitamin C content	All skin types	Potent antioxidant
Kelp Extract	Hydrates, detoxifies	All skin types	Marine skincare favorite
Keratin	Strengthens hair & nails	All skin types	Animal-derived
Kojic Acid	Brightens skin	All skin types	Use with sunscreen
Kukui Nut Oil	Softens, heals	Dry, Mature	Lightweight texture
Lactobacillus Ferment	Balances skin microbiome	All skin types	Probiotic skincare
Lactobionic Acid	PHA exfoliant, hydrates	Sensitive, Dry	Very gentle
Lanolin	Locks in moisture	Very Dry	Animal-derived, can clog pores
Lavender Oil	Calms, antibacterial	All skin types	Can irritate sensitive skin
Lecithin	Softens, hydrates	All skin types	Derived from soy or egg
Lemon Extract	Brightens, astringent	Oily, Dull	Can cause photosensitivity
Licorice Root Extract	Brightens, soothes redness	All, Sensitive	Gentle brightener
Lime Extract	Astringent, brightening	Oily, Combination	Photosensitive
Linoleic Acid	Strengthens skin barrier	All skin types	Essential fatty acid
Lotus Extract	Balances oil, hydrates	All skin types	Often used in luxury skincare
Macadamia Oil	Nourishes, anti-aging	Dry, Mature	Rich, heavy oil
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate	Stable Vitamin C form	All skin types	Brightens gently
Malic Acid	AHA exfoliant	Normal, Dry	Gentle fruit acid
Mandelic Acid	Gentle AHA, brightens	Sensitive, Acne-prone	Slow-penetrating acid
Mango Butter	Rich moisturizer	Dry, Mature	Plant-based alternative to shea
Manuka Honey	Antibacterial, healing	Acne-prone, Dry	Premium honey variety
Marula Oil	Lightweight, nourishing	All skin types	Fast-absorbing
Matricaria (Chamomile)	Calms, reduces redness	Sensitive	Great in creams & toners
Meadowfoam Seed Oil	Locks in moisture	All skin types	Non-greasy texture
Menthol	Cooling, reduces itching	Oily, Acne-prone	Avoid on sensitive skin
Mica	Adds shimmer, light-diffusing	All skin types	Cosmetic pigment
Milk Proteins	Nourishing, soothing	Dry, Mature	Animal-derived
Mineral Oil	Locks in moisture	Very Dry	Can clog pores
Moringa Oil	Rich in antioxidants	Dry, Mature	Lightweight yet nourishing
Mugwort Extract	Calms, antibacterial	Sensitive, Acne-prone	Popular in Korean skincare
Mulberry Extract	Brightens, antioxidant	All skin types	Gentle plant-based brightener
Myrrh	Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory	All skin types	Resin-based extract
Neem Oil	Antibacterial, antifungal	Acne-prone, Oily	Strong scent
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)	Brightens, balances oil	All skin types	Multi-tasking ingredient
Oat Kernel Oil	Soothes, moisturizes	Sensitive, Dry	Great for eczema
Octocrylene	Sunscreen filter	All skin types	May cause allergy in rare cases
Olive Oil	Moisturizing, antioxidant	Dry, Mature	Can clog pores
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	Soothing, barrier repair	Dry, Sensitive	Often from fish or flax
Omega-6 Fatty Acids	Restores moisture balance	All skin types	Plant oils are rich sources
Omega-9 Fatty Acids	Nourishing, softening	Dry, Mature	Rich in oleic acid
Orange Peel Extract	Brightens, exfoliates	Oily, Dull	Can be irritating
Palmitic Acid	Emollient, thickener	All skin types	Naturally in skin oils
Papaya Enzyme (Papain)	Gentle exfoliant	All, esp. Dull	Can cause sensitivity
Peptides	Boost collagen, firm skin	All skin types	Work well with niacinamide
Petrolatum	Locks in moisture	Very Dry	Occlusive barrier
Phenoxyethanol	Preservative	All skin types	Safe in low concentrations
Phytosterols	Anti-inflammatory	All skin types	Plant-based actives
Pine Bark Extract	Antioxidant, anti-aging	All skin types	Supports circulation
Pink Clay	Detoxifies, brightens	Sensitive, Dry	Gentle clay
Pomegranate Extract	Antioxidant, rejuvenates	All skin types	Rich in ellagic acid
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate	Brightens, hydrates	All skin types	Gentle derivative of azelaic acid
Propolis	Antibacterial, healing	Acne-prone, Dry	Bee-derived
Pumpkin Seed Oil	Nourishes, firms	Dry, Mature	Rich in zinc
Quercetin	Antioxidant, calming	All skin types	Plant flavonoid
Raspberry Seed Oil	Natural SPF booster	All skin types	Lightweight, absorbs well
Resveratrol	Potent antioxidant	All skin types	Found in grapes
Retinal (Retinaldehyde)	Anti-aging, brightening	All except very sensitive	Gentler than retinol
Retinol (Vitamin A)	Boosts collagen, smooths skin	All except very sensitive	Photosensitive, use at night
Rice Bran Oil	Softens, brightens	All skin types	Rich in Vitamin E
Rose Extract	Calms, hydrates	All skin types	Soothing scent
Rosehip Oil	Regenerates, brightens	Dry, Mature	Rich in Vitamin A
Rosemary Extract	Antioxidant, antibacterial	All skin types	Stimulating scent
Royal Jelly	Nourishes, heals	Dry, Mature	Bee-derived
Safflower Oil	Lightweight, moisturizing	All skin types	Non-comedogenic
Sage Extract	Antioxidant, clarifies	Oily, Combination	Stimulating
Salicylic Acid	Unclogs pores, exfoliates	Oily, Acne-prone	Avoid overuse
Saponaria Extract	Gentle cleanser	All skin types	Plant-based surfactant
Sea Buckthorn Oil	Heals, brightens	Dry, Mature	Rich orange pigment
Seaweed Extract	Hydrating, detoxifying	All skin types	Marine active
Sesame Oil	Moisturizing, softening	Dry, Mature	Rich in Vitamin E
Shea Butter	Deeply moisturizes	Dry, Mature	Heavy texture
Silk Protein	Softens, smooths	All skin types	Lightweight feel
Silver	Antibacterial	Acne-prone	Used in wound care
Squalane	Lightweight hydrator	All skin types	Non-comedogenic
Stearic Acid	Emulsifier, softens	All skin types	Fatty acid
Strawberry Extract	Brightens, antioxidant	All skin types	Gentle fruit acid
Sulfur	Reduces acne, oil	Oily, Acne-prone	Strong scent
Sunflower Seed Oil	Moisturizing, barrier repair	All skin types	Rich in Vitamin E
Tea Tree Oil	Antibacterial, anti-acne	Oily, Acne-prone	Can be irritating
Titanium Dioxide	Sunscreen filter	All skin types	Physical UV blocker
Tocopherol (Vitamin E)	Antioxidant, healing	All skin types	Protects skin from damage
Tomato Extract	Antioxidant, brightening	All skin types	Lycopene-rich
Trehalose	Hydrates, antioxidant	All skin types	Sugar-based
Turmeric Extract	Brightens, anti-inflammatory	All skin types	May stain
Ubiquinone (CoQ10)	Antioxidant, energizes skin	All, Mature	Protects from aging
Urea	Hydrates, exfoliates	Dry, Rough skin	Gentle keratolytic
Vanilla Extract	Antioxidant, fragrance	All skin types	Mild scent
Vitamin F (Linoleic Acid)	Moisturizes, barrier repair	All skin types	Essential fatty acid
Vitamin K	Reduces dark circles, strengthens capillaries	All skin types	Often in eye creams
White Tea Extract	Antioxidant, soothes	All skin types	Gentle anti-aging
Willow Bark Extract	Natural BHA	Oily, Acne-prone	Gentle alternative to salicylic acid
Witch Hazel (Alcohol-Free)	Tones, reduces oil	Oily, Combination	Gentle version for sensitive skin
Xanthan Gum	Thickener, stabilizer	All skin types	Inert, safe
Yarrow Extract	Soothes, tones	All skin types	Can be allergenic
Ylang Ylang	Balances oil	Oily,Combination	Fragrant,Essential oil
Zinc Oxide	Sunscreen, anti-inflammatory	All skin types	Physical UV filter
Zinc PCA	Regulates oil, antibacterial	Oily, Acne-prone	Gentle on skin