Decode Your
Skincare.
Peer-reviewed, plain-spoken guides to what's actually in your skincare — what each ingredient does, the concentration that works, and who it's for.
Start with the essentials
- anti-aging
Argireline
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
A synthetic hexapeptide marketed as a topical alternative to neurotoxin injections for expression lines.
Read the guide → - anti-aging
Adenosine
Smooths fine lines and calms skin by supporting cellular energy and repair processes.
Read the guide → - soothing
Allantoin
Soothes irritation, softens rough or flaky skin, and supports healing of the outer barrier.
Read the guide → - soothing
Aloe Vera
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Calms irritation, hydrates the skin surface, and supports minor wound healing.
Read the guide → - brightening
Alpha-Arbutin
Inhibits tyrosinase to gradually fade dark spots and even out tone without the irritation risk of hydroquinone.
Read the guide → - barrier
Argan Oil
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Softens skin and supplies antioxidants that support elasticity and barrier function.
Read the guide →
Find it by what it does
Every entry, cross-referenced against the research.
We read the studies so you don't have to. Each ingredient is graded on real evidence — effective concentrations, safety, comedogenicity — and checked against the primary literature before it publishes. When the evidence is thin, we say so.
How we research →Evidence over marketing
Every claim traces to credible research, or it does not go on the page.
Honest about uncertainty
When the science is thin or conflicting, we say so plainly.
Conservative on safety
Pregnancy and safety guidance defaults to caution when evidence is unsettled.
Patch-test protocol
Every claim starts with a controlled skin trial.
4-week real-world trial
Ingredients are used the way you actually use them.
PubMed cross-reference
Only high-confidence, cited evidence makes the page.