Skincare labels can feel like chemistry class, but a few basics make them less scary.
Ingredients are usually listed in descending order—highest concentration first (except for those below 1%, which can be in any order at the end). Water (aqua) is often first in many products.
Look for the key actives you’re interested in—like niacinamide, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C (often as ascorbic acid or derivatives), retinol, etc. If they’re at the very bottom, they might be in very low amounts.
Fragrance may appear as “parfum” or “fragrance” and can irritate sensitive skin. Essential oils are also fragrances, even if they sound natural.
“Alcohol” on labels can be confusing—some fatty alcohols (like cetearyl alcohol) are actually moisturising and help texture; simple drying alcohols (like alcohol denat.) can be irritating for some skin types if used heavily.
Claims like “natural”, “dermatologically tested”, “non-comedogenic” are not strictly regulated everywhere, so they’re helpful hints, not guarantees.
If you have specific allergies or sensitivities, keep a note of ingredients that have irritated you before and cross-check new products.
Don’t stress over decoding every single chemical name. Focus on a few key actives and how your skin actually reacts—that matters more than the marketing line on the front of the bottle.