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Ingredients
Plain-English ingredient guides. Each one covers what the ingredient does, how good the evidence is, how to use it and what not to mix it with.
Start here: Evidence-Based Skincare: The Ingredients That Actually Have Proof
Evidence-Based Skincare: The Ingredients That Actually Have Proof
Evidence based skin care without the marketing fog: proven ingredients, products worth buying, and popular treatments with weak or limited evidence today.
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Retinol: What It Does, How to Start, and How to Avoid Irritation
What retinol actually does for wrinkles, texture and breakouts, which strength to start with, how to get through the irritation phase, and what not to use it with.
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Bakuchiol: What It Is and What It Actually Does for Skin
What bakuchiol is, how the retinol-like claims hold up, who it's actually for, and where the evidence is still modest.
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Bakuchiol vs Retinol: Which Should You Use?
Honest comparison of bakuchiol vs retinol for wrinkles, acne and sensitive skin. Retinol is still stronger; bakuchiol is the tolerance option.
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Best Bakuchiol Serums in the UK
Best bakuchiol products in the UK: The Inkey List, Medik8, Bybi, Paula's Choice, Superdrug options, and why The Ordinary does not make bakuchiol.
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Niacinamide: What It Does for Oil, Pores, Redness and Dark Spots
What niacinamide (vitamin B3) actually does for oily skin, pores, redness and pigmentation, which strength to use, how to add it to your routine, and why 10% isn't always better.
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AHA vs BHA: Which Exfoliant to Use, and Can You Combine Them?
AHA vs BHA explained: glycolic and lactic vs salicylic acid, which suits your skin, whether you can use both, and how to start without wrecking your barrier.
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What Is An AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)? Types, Benefits and How to Use Them
What AHAs are and how they work: glycolic, lactic, mandelic and more compared, their benefits for your skin, and how to use them without irritation.
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Why You Need Vitamin C in Your Skincare Routine
What vitamin C actually does for your skin: brighter tone, faded dark spots and antioxidant protection, plus how to choose and use a serum properly.
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Peptides in Skincare: What They Actually Do (and What They Don't)
What peptides in skincare actually do for wrinkles and firmness, which types matter, how to use them, and why they won't replace a retinoid.
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Snail Mucin for Skin: What It Does and How to Use It
Does snail mucin live up to the hype? What snail secretion filtrate does for hydration and healing, how it's collected, and how to use COSRX in your routine.
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Hyaluronic Acid: What It Does for Skin, and How to Use It Properly
What hyaluronic acid actually does for skin, what the '1,000 times its weight' claim means, why applying it to damp skin matters, and what it can't do for wrinkles.
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Niacinamide and Azelaic Acid: Can You Use Them Together?
Using niacinamide and azelaic acid together can target oil, redness, acne and dark marks. Here is how to layer them without irritation or pilling daily.
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Skincare Ingredients You Shouldn't Mix, and the Rules You Can Ignore
Which skincare ingredients genuinely clash (benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin, for one), which 'never mix' rules are myths, and a simple weekly schedule that avoids irritation.
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