Ingredient Intelligence
Every formula tells a story.
Behind every serum, moisturiser, and SPF is a deliberate list of ingredients — each chosen for what it does, how it behaves, and how it interacts with everything around it. Understanding those choices changes the way you shop.
Where to start
Ingredient Library
An A–Z guide to every ingredient we track — actives, emollients, humectants, preservatives, and everything in between. Each entry includes benefits, usage notes, and products.
Browse the library→By functionIngredient Categories
Explore ingredients grouped by what they do — exfoliants, retinoids, antioxidants, humectants, and more. The fastest way to understand what a formula is actually trying to achieve.
Explore categories→Formulation 101
How to read an ingredient list
The INCI list on the back of a product isn’t just compliance — it’s a map. Three things to know before you start comparing formulas.
Order reflects concentration
Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest concentration by weight. The first five or so entries usually make up the bulk of the formula — if water appears first, most of what you're applying is water. An active ingredient near the bottom is present in trace amounts.
Actives drive the results
Active ingredients are the ones with clinical evidence behind them — retinol, niacinamide, AHAs, vitamin C. These are what you're really paying for. When comparing products, look at where these sit in the list and at what concentration they're formulated.
Formula support makes it work
Emollients, humectants, preservatives, and texture agents aren't fillers — they protect the actives, keep the formula stable, and determine how the product feels and absorbs. A well-formulated base is as important as a high-quality active.
The two types of ingredients
Clinically studied ingredients with demonstrated efficacy at specific concentrations. These are what deliver the results promised on the box — exfoliation, brightening, barrier repair, anti-ageing.
Emollients, humectants, stabilisers, and preservatives. They keep actives potent, products shelf-stable, and skin barriers intact. Often overlooked, always essential.
Start exploring the formulas.
Whether you want to look up a specific ingredient or understand how a product category is typically formulated, it’s all here.