Beauty Ingredients
Beauty Ingredients 101
Your guide to popular ingredients in skin care, hair products and makeup
With so many beauty products to choose from, it can be hard to know which options to use
Learn more about beauty ingredients and what they can help do.

Retinol
Retinol is a form of vitamin A and is used in many antiaging and acne products. It helps accelerate cell turnover and increases collagen, which can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for clearer, smoother skin.
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C works as an antioxidant and is found in serums, moisturizers and cosmetics. It helps to hydrate, protect and brighten skin, which can even out skin tone and promote collagen production.
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Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid hydrates, moisturizes and helps skin look plumper. It’s used in creams, serums and cosmetics. Hyaluronic acid can help strengthen skin’s natural moisture barrier and improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
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Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid works as an exfoliant and can be found in cleansers, toners and peels. It helps remove dead skin cells, clear clogged pores, remove excess oil and helps fight acne, blackheads and blemishes.
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Squalene
Squalene is an oil that’s used in cleansers, moisturizers and cosmetics. Squalene absorbs easily and helps to fight skin damage and free radicals.
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Vitamin E
Vitamin E works as both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent in creams, serums, sunscreens and makeup. Vitamin E oil can help moisturize dry, patchy skin.
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Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and an antioxidant used in serums, moisturizers and cleansers. It can help fight acne and brighten skin by improving discoloration and texture.
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Caffeine
Caffeine works as a topical antioxidant to help reduce inflammation and puffiness. It can be used to help tighten and brighten skin, including under-eye circles, and can reduce the appearance of cellulite.
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Collagen
Collagen is the most common protein in our bodies but decreases with age. Oral and topical collagen products like supplements and creams can help with signs of aging like wrinkles and loss of skin hydration.
Shop collagenCheck out these helpful resources for topics like sensitivity, allergies and other skin care concerns

SkinSAFE
SkinSAFE is a database of beauty and skin care products that are listed based on ingredients to help you avoid potential skin allergens or irritants.
Learn more about SkinSAFE
Sensitive Friendly
We’ve made it easy to find products made without common allergy or irritant ingredients. Look for “Sensitive Friendly” badges on over 250 products.
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MinuteClinic®
Have a skin question? At MinuteClinic, we can help treat and diagnose several minor skin conditions, like acne, rashes and rosacea.
Schedule a medical exam