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Active VS Inactive Ingredients

by Jennifer Richard on October 18, 2019
Have you ever wondered what does that label ‘active ingredients’ mean on your skincare products?


Those who aren’t into skincare or have just started skincare might be confused with the term ‘Active Ingredients’ on their products but don’t worry! It’s simple and easy to understand!

Active ingredients are substances that directly affect the skin and the skin issue, meaning if the active ingredient is targeted to help oily skin, it directly affects the skin to reduce oil, sebum and prevent excess production.

With the extensive research and technology, there’re countless of active ingredients targeted for skin right now in the market! So name any skin issue and you will probably find the best active ingredient for that!


With more skincare enthusiasts, comes with more demand and need for new and effective ingredients, hence skincare brands are always searching for new methods to ensure that their products are at the top of these demands. From extracting from natural sources to even bacteria, the range is extensive!

A few examples are Aloe, Centella and Green Tea that are extracted from plants and probiotics that are fermented from good bacteria that are good for body and skin!

But wait! When there’s a good, sadly, there’s a bad too.

Active ingredients are amazing and wonderful but sometimes, it can be too strong for some individuals’ skin and can create potential adverse reactions. If you spot your skin reacting negatively to a new product or even to a regular use product, stop using, see the dermatologist if you need to and find other products to replace!

Hot tip!
Ingredients that are listed at the top of the product’s ingredients list usually makes up most of the product!


And now, the other side of the coin: Inactive Ingredients.

As the name suggests, it’s ingredients that aren’t active, meaning they don’t have any kind of benefit for your skin. In fact, some inactive ingredients are known to cause potential negative effects on our health.

Here are some commonly used inactive ingredients!
- Artificial Fragrances
- Parabens
- Silicones
- Ethanolamines
- PEG Emulsifier
- Artificial Colorings

You can look at our full ingredients list here! [link to ingredients page]

Inactive ingredients usually used for aesthetics purposes, extending the shelf life of the products using parabens, falsifying a sense of luxury or smooth applications or used as a ‘vehicle’ to help deliver the active ingredients into your skin.

Although not all bad, some inactive ingredients have been proven have long term effects on individuals who were exposed such as serious skin issues, respiratory and even cancer. 

So, always do your research on trustworthy sites like EWG Skin Deep and constantly be on the lookout for new and helpful ingredients! 😉

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