Free tool
What is really in your skincare?
Paste the ingredient list of any cream, serum or cleanser. We explain what each ingredient is there for, and flag the ones worth a second look.
How to read an ingredient list
The first five ingredients make up most of a product, so start there. Water, glycerin and light oils at the top are normal; an active such as retinol or vitamin C is usually much further down, and that is fine, because actives work in small amounts.
A flagged ingredient is not a reason to throw a product away. Fragrance, alcohol or a rich oil can be perfectly fine on one skin and a problem on another. What matters is how your own skin reacts.
Questions
On the back of the box or the bottle, usually after the word Ingredients or INCI. Online shops list it in the product details. Copy the whole list, commas included.
Yes. Ingredients are listed from the highest amount to the lowest, so what sits near the top makes up most of the product. Anything after the first few percent is usually there in small amounts.
Not for everyone. Many people use fragranced products happily, but fragrance and essential oils are among the most common triggers for sensitive or reactive skin.
No, and no ingredient list can. Whether something works depends on your skin type, your concerns and what else you use. That is what VIPAD’s Skin Analysis is for.