The smallest AHA, which makes it the most penetrating and the most likely to sting.

In 1 product we track

A gentler AHA that exfoliates and hydrates at the same time.

Kills acne bacteria directly, and unlike antibiotics they cannot become resistant to it.

A morning antioxidant that brightens, fades pigment, and boosts what your sunscreen is doing.

In 2 products we track

The mortar between your skin cells. Replacing them is how a damaged barrier gets rebuilt.

In 9 products we track

An oil-soluble exfoliant that gets inside the pore and clears out the plug.

In 3 products we track

Also sold as cica or madecassoside. Reliable for calming redness and supporting repair.

Natural, but among the more irritating things you can put on reactive skin.

Unusually versatile and unusually gentle — and one of the few actives considered safe in pregnancy.

In 1 product we track

A lightweight oil that mimics skin's own sebum and almost never clogs pores.

In 2 products we track

A water magnet that plumps the surface — but only if you seal it in.

In 8 products we track

Hydrates at low percentages and dissolves thickened skin at high ones.

In 1 product we track

Provitamin B5. Calms irritation and helps the barrier hold water.

In 2 products we track

A mineral filter that covers the full UVA and UVB range and rarely irritates.

In 1 product we track

A third-generation retinoid, available without prescription, that is unusually stable and acne-focused.

In 1 product we track

The best-evidenced over-the-counter ingredient for lines, texture, and acne — if you can stick with it.

In 1 product we track

Retinoic acid itself — no conversion needed, so it is the strongest and fastest-acting retinoid.

Adds no skincare benefit and is among the most common causes of contact allergy.

Short amino acid chains that signal the skin to produce more collagen. Gentle, but slow.

In 1 product we track

Temporarily tightens blood vessels, which reduces under-eye puffiness for a few hours.

In 1 product we track

A form of vitamin B3 that calms redness, steadies oil production, and helps fade dark marks.

In 9 products we track