Ingredient Glossary

Think of Adenosine as a wake-up call for your skin. This gentle yet effective anti-ageing ingredient helps smooth fine lines, softens wrinkles, and gives your complexion a firmer, more youthful appearance.

AHAs like Glycolic, Lactic and Mandelic Acid work on the skin's surface to sweep away dull, dead cells. This reveals the brighter, fresher skin underneath. The result? Fresher, smoother, glowier looking skin.

A superstar soother and softener. It calms irritation, softens rough patches, and supports your skin's natural healing process. It's perfect for when your skin feels uncomfortable or stressed.

Your skin's emergency relief. Aloe Vera instantly soothes redness, hydrates deeply, and brings relief when your skin feels hot, tight, or sensitive. Great for sunburns or any kind of sensitivity.

A safe and effective dark spot fighter. It works by telling the cells that produce pigment to calm down, which helps to visibly fade discoloration and even out your skin tone for a brighter complexion.

A traditional ingredient in Korean herbal skincare ("Hanbang"). It’s loaded with antioxidants that act like bodyguards for your skin, protecting its firmness and elasticity from environmental stress.

A naturally derived alternative to Alpha-Arbutin. It helps brighten and even out skin tone by targeting unwanted dark spots. It's a gentler choice than Alpha-Arbutin and works more slowly to brighten your complexion giving you that gorgeous, even glow over time.

A gentle multi-tasker that's perfect for sensitive skin. This grain-derived acid provides mild exfoliation while fighting acne-causing bacteria and reducing inflammation. It's especially great for those who can't tolerate stronger acids but still want clearer, smoother skin with reduced redness.

Often called a natural alternative to retinol. It encourages collagen production and improves firmness, helping to reduce wrinkles and fine lines while being gentle enough for sensitive skin.

A lightweight hydrator packed with silica. It supports skin’s suppleness and helps it look soft, refreshed, and plump.

A hydration hero derived from oats and mushrooms. It deeply moisturises, soothes redness, and is fantastic for repairing your skin barrier. Some say it's even more hydrating than hyaluronic acid!

A gentle humectant often sourced from sugar beet. Betaine is an osmolyte, meaning it helps skin cells maintain a healthy water balance. It supports hydration, softness and comfort, making it a useful addition to formulas for dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin.

Oil-soluble acids (like salicylic acid) that dive deep into pores. They clear out excess sebum and dead cells, helping to reduce blackheads, prevent breakouts, and smooth skin texture. It's a must-have for oily or acne-prone skin.

A probiotic extract that strengthens your skin’s natural defenses. It helps calm sensitivity, repair the barrier, and makes skin more resilient.

A favorite in K-beauty, this tree sap is used instead of water in some formulas. It provides light, refreshing hydration while delivering amino acids and minerals to nourish the skin.

A powerful antioxidant shield for your skin. It helps protect against damage from pollution and the sun, which in turn helps keep your skin bright and firm.

A quick pick-me-up for tired-looking eyes. Caffeine provides antioxidant support and helps support microcirculation, which may reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness and some dark circles. Results depend on what is causing the dark circles and are usually temporary.

The holy grail for calming angry skin. Also known as "Cica," this soothing botanica is amazing at reducing redness, soothing irritation, and helping damaged skin heal faster. If your skin is sensitive or breaking out, Cica is your best friend.

The "cement" that holds your skin cells together. Ceramides are natural fats that rebuild and strengthen your skin barrier. This keeps moisture locked in and irritants locked out, leading to plump, healthy skin that's less prone to sensitivity and dryness.

Just like chamomile tea calms you, this ingredient calms your skin. It's a powerful anti-inflammatory that works wonders on red, irritated, or sensitive areas.

Cholesterol and essential fatty acids are key parts of the skin’s protective lipid layer. Working alongside Ceramides, they help limit moisture loss and support barrier recovery. They are especially useful in moisturisers for very dry, sensitised or compromised skin.

A traditional herbal flower that soothes sensitivity while adding a subtle brightening effect. It leaves skin feeling calm, balanced, and with a radiant glow.

An antioxidant that your body naturally produces but makes less of as you age. Applied topically, it recharges skin cells, defends against free radicals, and helps reduce fine lines over time.

When applied to the skin, collagen delivers excellent hydration and helps the skin feel firmer and smoother. They plump the surface, giving a bouncier, more supple look.

These are like a foreman on a construction site for your skin. They signal the skin to repair and rebuild. They stimulate collagen and elastin, improving firmness and resilience while also supporting healing.

A clever stress-protection molecule produced by microorganisms that survive extreme environments. Ectoin helps bind water and protect skin structures from dehydration and environmental stress. It supports hydration and barrier resilience, making it especially useful for dry, sensitive or stressed skin.

A surprising but effective ingredient for calming breakout-prone skin. It's rich in antioxidants and has properties that help soothe blemishes and inflammation.

A high-tech ingredient that acts like a messenger, telling your skin cells to repair and rejuvenate. It helps to improve skin texture and firmness for a smoother appearance.

Exosomes are a type of Extracellular Vesicle that act like tiny delivery parcels between cells. They carry proteins, lipids and other signals and are being explored in skincare for supporting hydration, elasticity and skin recovery. Early results are promising, but their performance depends on the source, processing and finished formula.

Fermentation breaks ingredients into smaller, more potent compounds that skin can absorb easily. This process enhances brightening, smoothing, and hydrating effects.

A nutrient-dense byproduct of fermented yeast (famously used in high-end essences). It's amazing for improving skin texture, minimizing the look of pores, and giving you a lit-from-within glow.

The ultimate revitaliser from Korean herbal medicine. Think of it as a shot of espresso for your skin— it helps brighten up a tired, dull complexion and improve circulation and elasticity.

Known as the body's "master antioxidant," it helps to brighten the skin and even out its tone by protecting it from damage that causes dark spots. It’s a key ingredient for achieving a luminous complexion.

A skincare staple for a reason. Glycerin is a humectant that draws water into the skin’s outer layers, helping it feel smoother, plumper and more comfortable. It helps maintain hydration and is especially helpful for dry, dehydrated or barrier-compromised skin.

A classic antioxidant powerhouse. It soothes redness, helps control oil, and protects the skin from environmental damage. It’s a versatile ingredient that’s great for almost every skin type.

An incredibly popular K-beauty ingredient for a reason. It is exceptionally good at calming down red, irritated, and inflamed skin, making it perfect for sensitive or acne-prone types.

A natural wonder that hydrates the skin while fighting bacteria. It’s a gentle moisturiser that can also help soothe blemishes and irritation.

A moisture magnet. This humectant It draws moisture into the skin to provide intense hydration, plumpness, and bounce.

A gentle yet effective brightening agent derived from fermented rice (perfect for K-Beauty!). It works by inhibiting melanin production to help fade dark spots, post-acne marks, and even out skin tone. It's milder than hydroquinone but still delivers impressive results for a more radiant complexion.

An oil-soluble derivative of Salicylic Acid that provides precise exfoliation at the skin’s surface. It helps lift dead skin cells, refine rough texture and keep pores clear, making it useful for blackheads and congestion. It is still an exfoliating acid, so introduce it slowly.

A dual-action hero. It brightens the skin by fading dark spots and also has fantastic soothing properties to calm redness and irritation.

A beautiful flower that provides hydration and a protective dose of antioxidants.

The key soothing compounds found in Centella Asiatica include Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid and Asiatic Acid. These compounds help calm irritation and support the skin’s recovery processes, making them especially helpful for sensitive, stressed or blemish-prone skin.

A beloved herb in K-beauty, rich in anti-inflammatory properties. It eases redness, soothes irritation, and supports clearer, calmer skin — especially helpful for acne-prone or sensitive types.

A coenzyme naturally present in skin cells, where it supports energy production and DNA repair. Because NAD+ levels decline with age, topical NAD+ is being explored for ageing support. Research is still developing, and its effectiveness depends on delivery, stability and the finished formula.

The ultimate multi-tasker. It brightens skin, minimizes pores, controls oil, strengthens the skin barrier, and calms redness. It’s a true crowd-pleaser that benefits nearly every skin type.

A gentle hydrator and soother. It draws moisture into the skin and locks it in place, helping to relieve dryness and repair a damaged skin barrier.

An ingredient for instant radiance. It's rich in minerals that help brighten the complexion and give the skin a soft, luminous glow.

These are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks for proteins like collagen and elastin. Think of them as messengers that signal your skin to make more collagen, leading to firmer, plumper skin.

A cutting-edge extract from salmon DNA, popular in Korean aesthetics. It works to encourage repair, regeneration, and improve elasticity.

The gentlest of all chemical exfoliants. PHAs slough off dead skin cells just like AHAs, but their larger molecule size means they don't penetrate as deeply, making them perfect for sensitive skin. They also hydrate!

A fermentation-derived humectant made from chains of Glutamic Acid. It forms a lightweight, moisture-binding film on the skin, helping it retain hydration and feel smoother and plumper. Despite its name, Polyglutamic Acid is not an exfoliating acid.

A potent antioxidant that helps defend your skin against environmental stressors. It helps maintain firmness and keeps skin looking youthful and refreshed.

A desert plant that's amazing at holding onto water. It delivers intense hydration and soothes the skin with its rich supply of vitamins and antioxidants.

These ingredients help balance the friendly bacteria on your skin's surface (your microbiome). A balanced microbiome means a stronger, healthier skin barrier that is less prone to irritation and redness.

A resin created by bees to protect their hive. On your skin, it fights bacteria, calms inflammation, and supports recovery. It's fantastic for acne-prone and sensitive skin.

A powerful antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes. It acts as a shield, protecting your skin from environmental damage and signs of ageing.

The gold standard in anti-ageing. These Vitamin A derivatives speed up your skin's cell turnover to reduce wrinkles, smooth texture, fade dark spots, and clear pores. Start slow with these, as they can be potent!

A traditional Asian beauty secret for centuries. Rice is full of vitamins and minerals that gently brighten, soften, and hydrate the skin, leaving it feeling silky smooth.

A nutrient-rich food for queen bees. For your skin, it's deeply nourishing and hydrating, helping to support overall skin health and repair.

This small berry is a vitamin bomb, containing over 100 nutrients and a huge amount of Vitamin C and omega fatty acids. It’s an amazing antioxidant that brightens dull skin, strengthens the skin barrier, and deeply nourishes for a healthy glow.

A unique K-beauty favorite for a reason! It’s packed with nutrients that deeply hydrate, repair a damaged skin barrier, smooth fine lines, and help fade acne scars.

A moisture magnet naturally found in the skin’s Natural Moisturising Factor, or NMF. Sodium PCA attracts and holds water in the skin’s outer layers, helping to relieve dehydration and leave skin feeling softer, smoother and more comfortable.

Rich in isoflavones and amino acids, it helps improve elasticity, brighten tone, and strengthen the barrier for healthier, firmer-looking skin.

Spicules are microscopic, needle-like structures often obtained from processed marine sponges. They physically stimulate the skin’s surface and create temporary pathways that support ingredient delivery. CICA REEDLE™ is VT’s branded mineral-derived micro-particle technology. Prickling may occur, so avoid using it on damaged or irritated skin.

A lightweight, skin-friendly oil. It mimics your skin's natural sebum, so it moisturises and locks in hydration without feeling greasy or clogging pores. It’s excellent for supporting a healthy skin barrier.

A newer, gentler ingredient for breakout-prone skin. It helps control sebum, reduce bacteria, and calm inflammation associated with blemishes.

A classic spot treatment ingredient. It helps to dry out active pimples and unclog pores thanks to its antibacterial and skin-clearing properties.

A natural powerhouse known for its potent antimicrobial properties that fight acne-causing bacteria. It's very effective but should be used carefully, as it can lead to irritation.

An amazing ingredient for tackling stubborn dark spots, post-acne marks, and melasma. It helps to even out skin tone by blocking the pathway that creates excess pigment.

A natural hydrator often compared to hyaluronic acid. Its tiny molecules hold water and create a plumping, dewy effect.

An all-star antioxidant. It brightens the entire complexion, fades dark spots, helps build collagen for firmer skin, and protects from environmental damage. A must-have for a healthy glow.

An oil-soluble antioxidant that moisturises and protects the skin. It works especially well with Vitamin C, as they boost each other's effects to keep your skin safe from environmental stressors.

A natural purifier, often found in clay masks. It acts like a magnet to absorb excess oil and draw impurities out of your pores, leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed.

A type of citrus fruit that's bursting with Vitamin C. It's used to energize and brighten dull, tired-looking skin, giving it a fresh, radiant boost.

A clever pairing of Zinc and PCA. The Zinc helps regulate excess sebum and supports blemish-prone skin, while PCA provides moisture-balancing support. It is particularly useful in products designed for oily, combination or breakout-prone skin.