Ingredient science

Skincare Ingredients

Niacinamide, retinol, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane — what each one actually does, which to combine, and which to keep apart.

14guides

6comparisons

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A product is its ingredient list. Once you can read one, the marketing stops mattering — you can tell a £9 serum from a £90 one that does the same job, and spot the two actives that will make your skin peel if you use them on the same night. These guides take one ingredient at a time: what the evidence supports, what concentration is worth paying for, and who should skip it.

Ingredient Guides

Niacinamide vs Vitamin C: Which You Need and How to Mix

Niacinamide manages oil and the look of pores; vitamin C brightens uneven tone. The old never-mix rule is outdated. Here is how to use both together.

6 min read

Comparisons

Vitamin C vs Retinol: Can You Use Both? (Yes — Here's How)

Yes, you can use vitamin C and retinol together. Here's the simple AM/PM split, an at-a-glance comparison, and how to layer both without irritation.

5 min read

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One ingredient, explained properly, each week

What the formula actually does — and whether the expensive version is different.