Harvested from the aloe vera plant, aloe leaf extract is a vitamin-rich gel. Gentle and hydrating, aloe leaf extract soothes and smoothes sun-exposed skin by boosting its hyaluronic acid production and softening cells with amino acids for fewer wrinkles and more elasticity.

Frequently referred to as “the building blocks of protein,” amino acids keep skin smooth and hydrated, defend against aging, and repair damage. Your body creates some amino acids of its own, but you can also apply them topically to boost the health of your skin. Look for arginine, hydroxyproline, lysine, methionine, and glycine in your skincare products.

Artichoke leaf extract is derived from artichokes, a plant belonging to the sunflower family. Exceptionally rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, this unique extract helps reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines, improving the overall health of your skin, slowing down signs of aging, and detoxifying your skin for a clean glow.

Much like the dermatologist-beloved, anti-aging hero retinol, bakuchiol has been shown to diminish fine lines and wrinkles and even out skin tone and texture. But unlike retinol, bakuchiol is plant-based (it comes from the seeds and leaves of the Psoralea corylifolia plant), so it’s 100 percent natural, vegan, and doesn’t irritate sensitive skin.

Bisabolol is derived from the chamomile plant, and it’s just as soothing for your skin as the tea is for your spirit. The floral-smelling oil alleviates all kinds of irritation and inflammation (from sunburn to acne) and has some exceptional healing and protective properties. Even better: It penetrates deep into the skin, and helps other ingredients do the same.

Hold the smoothie. It should come as no surprise that this marine algae — commonly known as the stuff that turns your health drinks blue — is just as beneficial when applied topically to the skin. Chock-full of vitamins and amino acids, blue-green algae extract can also act as a natural alternative to retinol, aiding in skin regeneration and hydration to offer a smoother skin texture, help minimize the appearance of wrinkles and provide a healthy glow.

Ceramides are lipids (the good kind of fat) in the skin’s outer layers — think of your skin as a brick wall and the ceramides as the mortar that holds it together. On top of helping retain your skin’s natural moisture, they also work to protect it against visible damage from environmental stressors like the sun and pollution, leaving the skin hydrated, smoother, firmer and stronger. And because they’re naturally a part of your skin, they’re ideal for all skin types (yes, even oily!).

A tart arctic fruit that grows in small amber clusters similar to raspberries or blackberries, cloudberries are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. When used in beauty products, this superfruit brightens, strengthens, and protects your skin against free radicals, leaving you glowing.

The oil derived from the seeds of the cotton plant is rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and fatty acids, making it an excellent ingredient for both skin and hair products. It’s also super high in soothing linoleic acid, which can help restore skin and clear up troublesome acne.

Cucumber extract is a refreshing plant antioxidant that contains high levels of vitamin A & C to deliver anti-inflammatory benefits. With deeply moisturizing, emollient, and astringent properties, cucumber extract soothes and relieves puffy skin, and maintains your skin’s tightness and firmness to reduce signs of aging.

Glycolic acid is the most popular AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) for a reason: It’s an incredible plant-based exfoliator that penetrates easily and sloughs away dead cells, leaving skin brighter and smoother. While it’s beneficial for all skin types, glycolic acid is especially great for anyone struggling with acne, sun damage, or signs of aging.

Don’t let the “acid” in “hyaluronic acid” fool you. Hyaluronic acid doesn’t strip the skin; it hydrates. The natural humectant has the amazing ability to attract and hold onto water (over 1,000 times its weight!), leaving skin soft, plump, and smooth.

The delicate, sweet-smelling linden flower is actually a powerful antioxidant, astringent, moisturizer, and anti-inflammatory agent all in one. In skincare products, linden flower extract can help protect skin against damage, minimize pores, hydrate, and soothe.

Simply put, lipids are naturally occurring fats in the skin. They’re one of the most important components in our skin’s protective barrier, supporting hydration and aiding in the skin’s natural repair process. When used in beauty products, lipids are shown to improve skin’s elasticity, firmness, and moisture retention, resulting in a smooth, supple look and even tone.

Mallow extract, which comes from the purple mallow flower, is incredibly soothing and moisturizing. Not only does it help soften dry skin and hair, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Mandelic acid may not be as well known as some of its AHA cousins, but it’s packed with many of the same skin-boosting benefits. Derived from bitter almonds, it speeds up cell turnover and strengthens collagen for radiant, smooth skin. Best of all, its effects aren’t as harsh due to its higher molecular weight as other AHAs, so it’s suitable for sensitive skin types.

Made from the extract of seeds from a flowering plant native to the Pacific Northwest, this oil's unique molecular structure means it's easily absorbed into the skin, which enables it to moisturize without clogging pores. It also has a longer shelf life than other, similar botanical oils.

This is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3, which is essential to various cell functions in the body. Niacinamide has been shown to help calm inflammation, which is especially beneficial for skin concerns like acne and rosacea. It's also able to reduce the appearance of dark spots and fine lines.

Extracted from the whole oat kernel, this oil has anti-inflammatory benefits and contains linoleic acid, a fatty acid that repairs the skin's barrier—which helps keep moisture in and irritants out. It's an excellent moisturizer, and soothes itches.

This fruit, which comes from a South American vine, contains a number of antioxidants that help fight inflammation, as well as essential fatty acids to nourish the skin and prevent dryness—without causing breakouts.

Tiny as they may be, peptides are kind of a big deal. One of the most powerful ingredients in skincare, peptides are made up of amino acids and are combined to create proteins, the building blocks of our skin. While each peptide touts its own amazing benefits, they all work to help revitalize the skin, ultimately encouraging elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines for healthier-looking, firmer skin. Plus, they’re great at making friends; when teamed up with other skin-replenishing ingredients (like antioxidants), they’re even more effective at fighting signs of aging.

It may seem like bacteria are the last thing you want on your skin, but just as probiotics are good for our guts, we need good bacteria to help rebalance our skin. Probiotics can prevent infection and inflammation, which often appear in the form of breakouts. They help balance your skin's microbiome, which protects the skin's natural barrier, keeping moisture in and harmful substances out. They also help make dry skin less dry, and oily skin less oily.

This bitter mushroom contains compounds that may fight bacteria, viruses, and cancer. It also has beta-glucans, which are antioxidant sugars that penetrate deep into the skin where they can calm inflammation and promote wound-healing in cells, improving the texture of skin.

Squalane is a type of emollient, a vegan ingredient derived from sugarcane that mimics the skin’s natural oil to prevent moisture loss. Unlike many plant and mineral oils, it doesn’t feel greasy. So it’s less likely to irritate the skin and helps lessen the damage caused by UV light. Sustainably-sourced and surprisingly lightweight, it not only acts as a superb moisturizing agent, but also helps replenish the skin’s fatty acids and antioxidants.

Turmeric has been the ingredient of choice for doctors and herbalists for centuries. Composed of the bioactive component curcumin, turmeric extract is an antioxidant-packed herb that helps brighten the appearance of dull skin, boost tissue regrowth and natural collagen production, and manage acne flare-ups.

Also known as bearberry, this extract is a natural skin brightener that can reduce the appearance of dark age spots and scarring. It also has antibacterial and astringent properties that help fight infection on the skin.

An essential vitamin that, when applied to the skin, inhibits inflammation and redness, promotes wound healing, and acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin to soften and hydrate it.

This is superstar, latest derivative of Vitamin C is anhydrous, meaning it's used in waterless formulas and is highly stable and does not require preservatives. It's also lipid-friendly, allowing it to be absorbed deeper into the skin's outer layers for it to work its antioxidant properties: to help brighten, even & enhance the appearance of skin tone and texture.

A family of antioxidants that can be easily absorbed into fat, making it an effective antioxidant (especially in combination with vitamin C). This vitamin fights free radical damage caused by the sun, and it also replenishes the fats that seal the natural skin barrier, moisturizing the skin.

Delicately flavored white tea isn't just great to drink. This powerful antioxidant, derived from green tea picked young, at the peak of its potency, has been shown to have significant benefits for your skin, too. It can help protect against the sun in conjunction with sunscreen, and can also help repair sun damage, fighting fine lines caused by sun exposure.

Used as an anti-inflammatory for generations, willow bark extract's value as a skincare ingredient doesn't end there. It's been shown in studies to fight signs of aging like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and uneven texture, too.

Zinc oxide is a natural, mineral sunscreen that provides skin with physical, broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays. It’s a key ingredient in alternatives to chemical sunscreens that prevents sunburns and premature skin aging.