Ingredient Guide
What each ingredient
actually does
No hype, no invented benefits — how to introduce each active without irritation, what it shouldn't share a routine with, and how long before it's fair to judge whether it worked. Every routine number here is the same schedule Skinzy's own scan-based routine builder uses.
Browse by concern
All ingredients
N
Niacinamide
Regulates oil, calms breakouts, and fades post-acne marks — a form of vitamin B3.
S
Salicylic Acid (BHA)
A BHA that dissolves oil and debris inside the pore itself — the go-to for blackheads and oily-skin acne.
R
Retinol
Speeds up skin renewal — effective for acne, texture and pigmentation, but needs a real ramp-up period.
P
Pure Vitamin C
The gold-standard vitamin C for fading dark spots and adding antioxidant protection — but it oxidizes fast, so store it away from light.
A
Azelaic Acid
A gentle multi-tasker for acne, pigmentation and redness — one of the few actives most sensitive skin tolerates well.
H
Hyaluronic Acid
Pulls water into the skin's surface for an instant plumping effect — apply to damp skin, then seal with moisturizer.
B
Benzoyl Peroxide
Kills acne-causing bacteria directly — fast-acting on inflamed breakouts, but bleaches fabric and can't share a night with retinol.
A
Adapalene
A prescription-strength retinoid for acne — requires a dermatologist's prescription, not an over-the-counter buy.
C
Ceramide 3
A skin-identical lipid that rebuilds the barrier — the standard partner for any routine that includes an acid or retinoid.
G
Glycolic Acid (AHA)
The fastest-penetrating AHA — strong results on texture and dark spots, with a real risk of over-exfoliating if rushed.
K
Kojic Acid
Fades dark spots by blocking melanin production — never combine with vitamin C in the same routine.
A
Alpha-Arbutin
A gentle, stable pigmentation-fader — a sensible first active for dark spots if you haven't used one before.
T
Tranexamic Acid
Interrupts the inflammatory trigger behind dark spots — especially useful for hormonal or post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Z
Zinc PCA
Turns down sebum production at the source, with mild antibacterial and hydrating benefits — a gentler oil-control option than an acid.
C
Cica Extract
A calming, barrier-supporting extract — usually paired with a stronger active to offset irritation, not used to treat a concern alone.
P
Panthenol (Vitamin B5)
A hydrating, soothing vitamin B5 derivative with no known conflicts — safe to layer with anything.
S
Squalane
A skin-mimicking oil that seals in hydration — always the last step, after every water-based serum.
G
Glycerin
The most-studied humectant in skincare — cheap, stable, and the quiet workhorse behind most moisturizers.
F
Ferulic Acid
An antioxidant that stabilizes and boosts vitamin C — almost always used alongside it, in the morning, under sunscreen.
Z
Zinc Oxide
A mineral UV filter that reflects rather than absorbs sunlight — the one ingredient every other active on this page depends on.
L
Lactic Acid (AHA)
A gentler AHA than glycolic acid — a reasonable first exfoliating acid for sensitive or beginner skin.
T
Tea Tree Oil
A plant oil that fights acne-causing bacteria directly — a gentler spot-treatment alternative to benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
M
Mandelic Acid (AHA)
The gentlest common AHA — slower-penetrating than glycolic acid, useful for acne and pigmentation together on reactive skin.
R
Retinal
A faster, stronger over-the-counter retinoid than retinol — quicker results, but the same careful introduction rules apply.
G
Granactive Retinoid
A well-tolerated retinoid alternative — works directly without conversion, so less irritation, at a somewhat gentler effect.
T
Tretinoin
The strongest, most direct prescription retinoid — real results, real irritation risk if rushed, prescription-only in most countries.
T
Tazarotene
A potent prescription retinoid specifically targeted at stubborn, deep-seated acne — not an over-the-counter option.
T
Trifarotene
A newer, more selective prescription retinoid for acne, designed to be gentler than tretinoin at a comparable effect.
H
Hydroquinone
The most effective pigmentation-fading ingredient available, but with a real long-term risk that makes short, monitored use the standard, not daily use forever.
B
Bakuchiol
A plant-based retinol alternative with similar results and none of the irritation or ramp-up rules — usable in pregnancy, unlike an actual retinoid.
S
Snail Mucin
A hydrating, calming filtrate containing several of the skin's own moisture-binding compounds — genuinely gentle, though some marketing claims outrun the evidence.
C
Caffeine
A mild, temporary oil-control and depuffing ingredient — real effect, but more modest than most marketing claims.
C
Coenzyme Q10
A cellular-level antioxidant that protects collagen from UV damage and helps calm redness — a supporting ingredient, not a primary treatment.
R
Resveratrol
An antioxidant that protects against UV-triggered inflammation and helps prevent the pigmentation that inflammation causes — a support ingredient, not a primary fader.
C
Colloidal Oatmeal
A clinically recognized calming ingredient that reduces itch and locks in moisture — about as gentle as skincare actives get.
U
Urea
A skin-identical hydrator that also softens rough, thickened patches at higher strengths — the same ingredient behind both facial moisturizers and heel creams, just at different concentrations.
S
Sulfur
An old-school acne mineral that softens clogged pores through a different mechanism than salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide — genuinely effective, but with a distinctive smell.
K
Kaolin Clay
A mattifying clay that physically absorbs surface oil — a short-term shine-control tool, not a treatment that changes oil production.
A
Allantoin
A gentle, calming ingredient that smooths texture without an acid's exfoliation intensity — safe to combine with almost anything.
P
Polyglutamic Acid
A humectant that holds water at the surface even more effectively than hyaluronic acid, by some comparisons — works best sealed in with an oil or moisturizer after.
B
Beta-Glucan
A soothing, barrier-supporting polysaccharide that hydrates while actively helping the skin repair itself — gentle enough for reactive skin.
G
Gluconolactone
The gentlest common exfoliating acid — real results on tone and texture, with meaningfully less irritation risk than an AHA.
G
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
A fermented, multi-benefit hydrator with modest evidence for tone-evening and pore appearance — genuinely useful, if less dramatic than its marketing suggests.
N
N-Acetyl Glucosamine
A pigmentation-fading ingredient that also makes niacinamide work better when combined with it — a real, evidence-backed pairing.
S
Sodium Hyaluronate
A smaller-molecule form of hyaluronic acid that penetrates a bit deeper — same water-binding mechanism, similar end result.
T
Titanium Dioxide
A gentle, stable mineral sunscreen filter — well tolerated, but narrower UV coverage than a chemical filter alone provides.
A
Avobenzone
A broad-spectrum UVA filter that lowers pigmentation risk by blocking the rays that cause it — needs a stabilizing co-filter to actually hold up in sunlight.
S
Shea Butter
A rich, barrier-repairing butter — heavier than squalane, best suited to very dry skin or low-humidity conditions.
G
GHK-Cu
A copper peptide with genuine wound-healing and antioxidant activity — specialized barrier support rather than a first-line daily ingredient.
T
Thiamidol
A newer, more potent pigmentation-fading ingredient than kojic acid or alpha-arbutin, with real clinical backing and low irritation.
A
Astaxanthin
A marine antioxidant with unusually strong UV-damage protection — a morning support ingredient, not a sunscreen replacement.
P
Papain
An enzyme exfoliant from papaya that lifts dead skin without an acid's pH-driven penetration — a gentler mechanical alternative.
S
Sodium PCA
A skin-identical hydrator and core component of the skin's own natural moisturizing factor — foundational, not flashy.