Formulating a skincare product today is as much an art as it is a science. Brands often focus on creating elegant textures, pleasant fragrances, and a luxurious sensory experience that appeals to consumer preferences. However, the science behind it must never be overlooked, as safety, efficacy, and ingredient synergy are essential for truly effective and skin-friendly products.
The ingredient order is crucial because it tells you the concentration of each ingredient in the product. The first few ingredients make up the bulk of the formula, while those listed toward the end are present in much smaller amounts. For instance, if a product claims to contain “organic coconut oil” but lists it last, it’s likely not in significant amounts, which makes it misleading. Ingredients like water or glycerin (which often make up a large portion of the formula) are typically listed first.
Additives in skincare are ingredients that aren’t the ‘main actives’ but play a crucial role in stability, texture, scent, preservation, or skin feel.
These ingredients aren’t necessarily harmful to everyone, but they can trigger sensitivity in some people, especially if you have eczema, rosacea, acne-prone, or sensitive skin.
The first 3–5 ingredients usually make up the bulk of the product. If a “hero ingredient” (like hyaluronic acid or vitamin C) is listed near the end, it’s likely present in a very small amount — possibly too little to have any real effect. Look for actives ideally within the top half of the list.
Some ingredients are effective even in small amounts. Preservatives, stabilizers, or potent actives (like retinol or peptides) can be effective at very low concentrations — even if they appear near the end of the list. So, context matters — ingredient function and potency are key. Ingredients under 1% can be listed in any order. This means ingredients like fragrance, botanical extracts, or colorants might be scattered lower down, regardless of actual amount.
Read the full story that first appeared in The Free Press Journal dated July 13, 2025 here:
Leave a Reply