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Our Ingredient Glossary

Chemistry's tough, but skincare doesn't have to be.

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The Best of East and West

Skincare is deeply rooted in Asian cultures and traditions that span centuries. Naturally, we turned to the Far East in search of time-honoured Asian botanicals, highly regarded for their effectiveness as skin remedies and still widely embraced today.

Combining this wisdom with modern science, we create harmonious skincare formulations that prioritise your skin’s health and well-being. 

Gentle, Functional, and Effective Skincare

Everyone deserves healthy skin, even without a chemistry background. Our skin solutions are rooted in tradition and backed by modern research, harnessing the best of nature and science.

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Skin-Respecting Formulations

Either benefits skin or support formulation's integrity

Fragrance-Free Vector Icon

Fragrance, Essential Oil, & Dye-Free

No irritants or allergens for a soothing experience

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Optimal Concentrations

Harmonising product efficacy and the skin's delicate balance

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pH Balanced

Ensures optimal pH balance to support overall skin health

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Never Animal Tested

Testing exclusively on human volunteers, never on animals

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Vegan-Friendly

No animal, animal-derived ingredients, or by-products

Learn about the ingredients we use in our products, listed by their INCI names:

(INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, which is a standardised system that's internationally recognised for naming specific ingredients used in cosmetic products)

Adenosine

What it does: 

Cell-communicating ingredient

Details: 

Naturally present in the body, it’s an anti-inflammatory agent that helps with wound healing and skin barrier repair. It also improves skin firmness and elasticity and can help soothe the skin.

Allantoin

What it does:

Skin-soothing

Details:

An effective skin-soothing agent that can be naturally found in comfrey or chamomile plant, or produced synthetically. It’s skin-softening and protecting and can promote wound healing.

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp Copolymer

What it does:

Texture enhancer

Details:

A synthetic polymer and film-forming agent that helps to give a good skin feel and thicken cosmetic formulas.

Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, skin-soothing

Details:

An anti-inflammatory plant extract with antioxidant and skin-soothing properties. It has some anti-fungal and seborrhea regulation that’s useful for flaky skin. Suitable for all skin types.

Arginine

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

An amino acid that’s one of the primary building blocks of skin collagen. It's a natural moisturising factor (NMF), a skin hydrator and might help with wound healing.

Astragalus Membranaceus (Milk Vetch) Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

Also known as Huangqi, it’s a Chinese herb with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps to increase skin hydration, and smoothness.

Beta-Glucan

What it does:

Antioxidant, prebiotic, skin-soothing

Details:

A polysaccharide sugar with some antioxidant properties and wound healing abilities. It moisturises the skin and is great for soothing and calming down redness in sensitive skin. It also has promising anti-aging benefits.

Bifida Ferment Lysate

What it does:

Probiotic

Details:

A probiotic ingredient that can help reduce skin sensitivity and improve skin barrier function.

Bletilla Striata (Orchid) Root Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A plant extract with anti-inflammatory properties.

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter

What it does:

Antioxidant, emollient

Details:

An emollient that comes from the seeds of African shea, it’s rich in antioxidants to protect the skin from external aggressors and helps to regenerate and soothe dry skin.

Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, skin-soothing

Details:

A well-researched, gentle antioxidant with skin-soothing and anti-aging properties. It can protect the skin against free radicals and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin. Good for sensitive, rosacea or acne prone skin.

Caprylic/capric Triglyceride

What it does:

Emollient

Details:

An light-textured, gentle emollient that is compatible for most skin types, including sensitive skin. It’s odourless, non-greasy and helps resist moisture loss, keeping the skin nice and smooth.

Cardiospermum Halicacabum (Balloon Vine) Seed Extract

What it does:

Antimicrobial, skin-conditioning

Details:

A climbing plant extract found in the tropics with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Ceramide AP

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Ceramide AS

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Ceramide EOP

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Ceramide NP

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Ceramide NS

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Cholesterol

What it does:

Emollient, skin-identical ingredient

Details:

An important lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy. It’s also an emollient and stabiliser.

Cetearyl Alcohol

What it does:

Emollient, texture enhancer

Details:

A fatty alcohol that gives that soothes and moisturises the skin with a nice soft feel. It also prevents oils and liquids from separating. It’s non-drying and non-irritating on the skin.

Cetearyl Glucoside

What it does:

Texture enhancer

Details:

A sugar-based emulsifier with great cosmetic properties.

Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract

What it does:

Skin-soothing

Details:

A plant extract with skin-soothing benefits for the skin.

Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, prebiotic

Details:

A plant extract with antioxidant properties, it helps to calm, balance and soothe the skin. It also has prebiotic activity that supporting lactobacilli.

Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A fruit extract with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Dipropylene Glycol

What it does:

Solvent, texture enhancer

Details:

A colourless and odourless liquid that works as an effective solvent and viscosity decreasing agent. It also has moisturising abilities and low skin irritation potential.

Glycerin

What it does:

Humectant, skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A skin restoring ingredient that’s found in the outermost layer of the skin, it helps the skin cling onto water, protects the skin against irritation and helps to restore barrier function. Great for severely dry skin.

Glyceryl Glucoside

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A multi-functional anti-aging and cell boosting and skin moisturising agent. It helps to increase skin elasticity and reduce the signs of itching, burning, tightness and dryness.

Glyceryl Stearate SE

What it does:

Emollient, emulsifier

Details:

A self-emulsifying ingredient that also acts as an emollient.

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

What it does:

Emollient

Details:

A great emollient that keeps the skin smooth and hydrated. It also repairs, restores and soothes damaged or irritated skin barrier. It’s suitable for all skin-types, especially dry, compromised skin.

Hydrogenated Lecithin

What it does:

Emollient

Details:

An ingredient that functions as an emollient to soften and soothe the skin, making it great for dry, or compromised skin. It also functions as a great emulsifier to ensure an even distribution of skincare benefits.

Lactobacillus Ferment

What it does:

Probiotic

Details:

A probiotic ingredient that provides a soothing effect to the skin and protects the skin against environmental aggressors. It also has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s suitable for acne, rosacea and sensitive skin by keeping the skin’s microbiome balanced and healthy.

Madecassoside

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

One of the main bioactive compounds in Centella Asiatica, it has wound healing, skin soothing and antioxidant properties.

Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

Rich in saccharides, it ensures an effective barrier function and protects the skin from dryness by boosting skin’s moisture-retaining abilities and hydration levels.

Paeonia Lactiflora (Peony) Root Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A plant extract that helps to moisturise and balance out skin tone.

Paeonia Suffruticosa (Moutan) Root Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A plant extract with skin protecting benefits. Paeoniflorin from peony has calming and anti-inflammatory properties.

P-Anisic Acid

What it does:

Preservative

Details:

Found naturally in anise, it has antiseptic properties and is a skin-friendly acid that works against fungi.

Phytosphingosine

What it does:

Cell-communicating ingredient, skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A type of lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer. It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cell-communicating properties, making it great for compromised skin.

Polyglutamic Acid

What it does:

Humectant

Details:

Found naturally in natto, it’s an amino acid polymer that has superior skin hydrating properties. It’s a film-forming polymer that binds and retains water in the skin.

Polygonum Cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed) Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

An excellent source of trans-resveratrol, which is the active form of resveratrol. It is anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce signs of irritation.

Portulaca Oleracea (Purslane) Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, skin-soothing properties

Details:

A plant extract with antioxidant and skin-soothing properties to calm irritated skin. It contains high amounts of vitamins A, C and E and glutathione with anti-inflammatory and wound healing abilities.

Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil

What it does:

Emollient

Details:

An extremely stable wax ester extracted from the seeds of jojoba plant that’s almost identical to the sebum produced naturally in the skin. It forms a non-greasy, protective and semi-occlusive moisturising barrier to keep the skin soft and supple. Suitable for all skin types, especially dry skin.

Sophora Flavescens Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

A plant extract with anti-inflammatory properties that is good for dermatitis skin.

Sorbitan Olivate

What it does:

Emulsifier

Details:

A gentle and non-irritating ester from sorbitol (sugar) and fatty acids of olive oil that acts as an emulsifier.

Squalane

What it does:

Emollient, skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A saturated portion of squalene, which is naturally found in the sebum in the skin. It’s a stable and moisturising oily liquid helps to keep the skin smooth and supple, without being greasy. We use sustainable plant-derived squalane from botanical sugars. Suitable for all skin types and skin conditions, including fungal-related skin issues.

Stearic Acid

What it does:

Emollient, emulsifier

Details:

A synthetic multi-tasker fatty acid that keeps the skin nice and smooth by protecting the skin against water loss. It also helps to stabilise emulsions.

Tocopherol

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

A naturally occurring fat-soluble antioxidant (vitamin e) that’s found in the skin, it protects the skin cells from free radicals and has emollient properties.

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp (Snow Fungus) Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, humectant

Details:

A plant extract that’s rich in polysaccharides (sugar molecule). It has great water-holding abilities to help hydrate the skin’s surface. It also have some antioxidant effect and is non-sticky, leaving the skin moist and smooth.

Water

What it does:

Solvent

Details:

A highly purified solvent for ingredients that do not dissolve in oils.

Xylitol

What it does:

Humectant, prebiotic

Details:

A type of sugar that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables. It hydrates and strengthens skin’s barrier by retaining skin’s natural moisture and boosting hyaluronic acid levels. It also has prebiotic activity and helps to increase ceramide synthesis.

1,2-Hexanediol

What it does:

Preservative, solvent

Details:

A synthetic non-sensitising preservative with humectant properties. It’s also a solvent for some ingredients.

Adenosine

What it does: 

Cell-communicating ingredient

Details: 

Naturally present in the body, it’s an anti-inflammatory agent that helps with wound healing and skin barrier repair. It also improves skin firmness and elasticity and can help soothe the skin.

Allantoin

What it does:

Skin-soothing

Details:

An effective skin-soothing agent that can be naturally found in comfrey or chamomile plant, or produced synthetically. It’s skin-softening and protecting and can promote wound healing.

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp Copolymer

What it does:

Texture enhancer

Details:

A synthetic polymer and film-forming agent that helps to give a good skin feel and thicken cosmetic formulas.

Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, skin-soothing

Details:

An anti-inflammatory plant extract with antioxidant and skin-soothing properties. It has some anti-fungal and seborrhea regulation that’s useful for flaky skin. Suitable for all skin types.

Arginine

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

An amino acid that’s one of the primary building blocks of skin collagen. It's a natural moisturising factor (NMF), a skin hydrator and might help with wound healing.

Astragalus Membranaceus (Milk Vetch) Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

Also known as Huangqi, it’s a Chinese herb with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps to increase skin hydration, and smoothness.

Beta-Glucan

What it does:

Antioxidant, prebiotic, skin-soothing

Details:

A polysaccharide sugar with some antioxidant properties and wound healing abilities. It moisturises the skin and is great for soothing and calming down redness in sensitive skin. It also has promising anti-aging benefits.

Bifida Ferment Lysate

What it does:

Probiotic

Details:

A probiotic ingredient that can help reduce skin sensitivity and improve skin barrier function.

Bletilla Striata (Orchid) Root Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A plant extract with anti-inflammatory properties.

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter

What it does:

Antioxidant, emollient

Details:

An emollient that comes from the seeds of African shea, it’s rich in antioxidants to protect the skin from external aggressors and helps to regenerate and soothe dry skin.

Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, skin-soothing

Details:

A well-researched, gentle antioxidant with skin-soothing and anti-aging properties. It can protect the skin against free radicals and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin. Good for sensitive, rosacea or acne prone skin.

Caprylic/capric Triglyceride

What it does:

Emollient

Details:

An light-textured, gentle emollient that is compatible for most skin types, including sensitive skin. It’s odourless, non-greasy and helps resist moisture loss, keeping the skin nice and smooth.

Cardiospermum Halicacabum (Balloon Vine) Seed Extract

What it does:

Antimicrobial, skin-conditioning

Details:

A climbing plant extract found in the tropics with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Ceramide AP

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Ceramide AS

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Ceramide EOP

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Ceramide NP

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Ceramide NS

What it does:

Skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A waxy lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy.

Cholesterol

What it does:

Emollient, skin-identical ingredient

Details:

An important lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer, it plays an important role in retaining water in the skin and keeping the skin barrier healthy. It’s also an emollient and stabiliser.

Cetearyl Alcohol

What it does:

Emollient, texture enhancer

Details:

A fatty alcohol that gives that soothes and moisturises the skin with a nice soft feel. It also prevents oils and liquids from separating. It’s non-drying and non-irritating on the skin.

Cetearyl Glucoside

What it does:

Texture enhancer

Details:

A sugar-based emulsifier with great cosmetic properties.

Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract

What it does:

Skin-soothing

Details:

A plant extract with skin-soothing benefits for the skin.

Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, prebiotic

Details:

A plant extract with antioxidant properties, it helps to calm, balance and soothe the skin. It also has prebiotic activity that supporting lactobacilli.

Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A fruit extract with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Dipropylene Glycol

What it does:

Solvent, texture enhancer

Details:

A colourless and odourless liquid that works as an effective solvent and viscosity decreasing agent. It also has moisturising abilities and low skin irritation potential.

Glycerin

What it does:

Humectant, skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A skin restoring ingredient that’s found in the outermost layer of the skin, it helps the skin cling onto water, protects the skin against irritation and helps to restore barrier function. Great for severely dry skin.

Glyceryl Glucoside

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A multi-functional anti-aging and cell boosting and skin moisturising agent. It helps to increase skin elasticity and reduce the signs of itching, burning, tightness and dryness.

Glyceryl Stearate SE

What it does:

Emollient, emulsifier

Details:

A self-emulsifying ingredient that also acts as an emollient.

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

What it does:

Emollient

Details:

A great emollient that keeps the skin smooth and hydrated. It also repairs, restores and soothes damaged or irritated skin barrier. It’s suitable for all skin-types, especially dry, compromised skin.

Hydrogenated Lecithin

What it does:

Emollient

Details:

An ingredient that functions as an emollient to soften and soothe the skin, making it great for dry, or compromised skin. It also functions as a great emulsifier to ensure an even distribution of skincare benefits.

Lactobacillus Ferment

What it does:

Probiotic

Details:

A probiotic ingredient that provides a soothing effect to the skin and protects the skin against environmental aggressors. It also has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s suitable for acne, rosacea and sensitive skin by keeping the skin’s microbiome balanced and healthy.

Madecassoside

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

One of the main bioactive compounds in Centella Asiatica, it has wound healing, skin soothing and antioxidant properties.

Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

Rich in saccharides, it ensures an effective barrier function and protects the skin from dryness by boosting skin’s moisture-retaining abilities and hydration levels.

Paeonia Lactiflora (Peony) Root Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A plant extract that helps to moisturise and balance out skin tone.

Paeonia Suffruticosa (Moutan) Root Extract

What it does:

Skin-conditioning

Details:

A plant extract with skin protecting benefits. Paeoniflorin from peony has calming and anti-inflammatory properties.

P-Anisic Acid

What it does:

Preservative

Details:

Found naturally in anise, it has antiseptic properties and is a skin-friendly acid that works against fungi.

Phytosphingosine

What it does:

Cell-communicating ingredient, skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A type of lipid found naturally in the skin’s outer layer. It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cell-communicating properties, making it great for compromised skin.

Polyglutamic Acid

What it does:

Humectant

Details:

Found naturally in natto, it’s an amino acid polymer that has superior skin hydrating properties. It’s a film-forming polymer that binds and retains water in the skin.

Polygonum Cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed) Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

An excellent source of trans-resveratrol, which is the active form of resveratrol. It is anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce signs of irritation.

Portulaca Oleracea (Purslane) Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, skin-soothing properties

Details:

A plant extract with antioxidant and skin-soothing properties to calm irritated skin. It contains high amounts of vitamins A, C and E and glutathione with anti-inflammatory and wound healing abilities.

Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil

What it does:

Emollient

Details:

An extremely stable wax ester extracted from the seeds of jojoba plant that’s almost identical to the sebum produced naturally in the skin. It forms a non-greasy, protective and semi-occlusive moisturising barrier to keep the skin soft and supple. Suitable for all skin types, especially dry skin.

Sophora Flavescens Root Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

A plant extract with anti-inflammatory properties that is good for dermatitis skin.

Sorbitan Olivate

What it does:

Emulsifier

Details:

A gentle and non-irritating ester from sorbitol (sugar) and fatty acids of olive oil that acts as an emulsifier.

Squalane

What it does:

Emollient, skin-identical ingredient

Details:

A saturated portion of squalene, which is naturally found in the sebum in the skin. It’s a stable and moisturising oily liquid helps to keep the skin smooth and supple, without being greasy. We use sustainable plant-derived squalane from botanical sugars. Suitable for all skin types and skin conditions, including fungal-related skin issues.

Stearic Acid

What it does:

Emollient, emulsifier

Details:

A synthetic multi-tasker fatty acid that keeps the skin nice and smooth by protecting the skin against water loss. It also helps to stabilise emulsions.

Tocopherol

What it does:

Antioxidant

Details:

A naturally occurring fat-soluble antioxidant (vitamin e) that’s found in the skin, it protects the skin cells from free radicals and has emollient properties.

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp (Snow Fungus) Extract

What it does:

Antioxidant, humectant

Details:

A plant extract that’s rich in polysaccharides (sugar molecule). It has great water-holding abilities to help hydrate the skin’s surface. It also have some antioxidant effect and is non-sticky, leaving the skin moist and smooth.

Water

What it does:

Solvent

Details:

A highly purified solvent for ingredients that do not dissolve in oils.

Xylitol

What it does:

Humectant, prebiotic

Details:

A type of sugar that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables. It hydrates and strengthens skin’s barrier by retaining skin’s natural moisture and boosting hyaluronic acid levels. It also has prebiotic activity and helps to increase ceramide synthesis.

1,2-Hexanediol

What it does:

Preservative, solvent

Details:

A synthetic non-sensitising preservative with humectant properties. It’s also a solvent for some ingredients.