Habit Hack: Your Retinol Ingredient Glossary
Uncover the benefits and roles of key ingredients in your skincare products, enhancing your understanding and elevating your daily routine to an informed ritual of beauty and wellness.
Aqua (Water)
Benefits: Hydration, Purifying, Soothing
Categories: Base Ingredient, Hydrating Agent
Vital for maintaining skin elasticity and enhancing absorption of other ingredients.
Polysorbate 20
Benefits: Cleansing, Softening
Categories: Emulsifier, Surfactant
Derived from Lauric Acid, used as a stabilizer and texture improver in skincare.
Propanediol
Benefits: Moisturizing, Absorption, Texture Enhancer
Categories: Humectant, Penetration Enhancer
Enhances the efficacy of preservatives and creates non-sticky, lightweight formulations.
Phenoxyethanol
Benefits: Stabilising, Non-irritating
Categories: Preservative
Effective in small concentrations for maintaining product integrity and preventing microbial contamination.
Lecithin
Benefits: Restorative, Moisturizing, Smoothing
Categories: Emollient, Skin-restoring
Rich in fatty acids, it enhances the skin's natural lipid composition and assists in ingredient delivery.
Pentylene Glycol
Benefits: Hydration, Texture Enhancer
Categories: Humectant, Solvent
Enhances absorption of active ingredients.
Sodium Hyaluronate
Benefits: Hydrating, Anti-Aging, Plumping
Categories: Humectant, Anti-Aging
A more effective skin-penetrating form of Hyaluronic Acid that can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.
Retinol
Benefits: Anti-Aging, Skin Renewal, Acne Treatment
Categories: Vitamin A Derivative, Anti-Aging
A potent form of Vitamin A, it promotes skin cell turnover and manages acne effectively.
Ethylhexylglycerin
Benefits: Conditioning, Skin-Friendly
Categories: Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Acts as a natural preservative and surfactant, enhancing the antibacterial properties of other preservatives.
Alcohol (Denatured)
Benefits: Astringent, Penetration Enhancer
Categories: Solvent, Antiseptic
Useful for tightening pores and reducing oiliness.
Potassium Phosphate
Benefits: pH Balancing, Moisture Retention
Categories: pH Adjuster, Buffering Agent
Used to adjust the pH of products, ensuring neither too acidic nor too alkaline formulations.
