Ingredient Encyclopedia

Welcome to the Ingredient Encyclopedia

Discover what’s inside your skincare — from retinol to aloe vera — with clear guides on benefits, uses, and safety.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Lavender Leaf Juice – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Lavender Leaf Juice (Lavandula Angustifolia Leaf Juice), a water-soluble botanical fluid, is derived from the leaves and is rich in Leaf Polyphenols, Hydrating Solubles, and Soothing Sesquiterpenes, providing a gentle infusion of comfort, mild antioxidant support, and hydration harmony without the intensity of essential oils. This extract significantly improves comfort (observed trends up to 28%), aids in redness reduction (up to 18%), and provides a hydration boost(up to 22%). Used typically at 1−5% in toners and serums, its gentle, water-light profile makes it an excellent choice for sensitive, redness-prone, oily, and dry skin seeking daily balancing, soothing, and resilience-building support.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Lavender Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Lavender Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia Oil or similar Essential Oil), a highly concentrated lipid-soluble extract rich in aromatic compounds (like linalool and linalyl acetate), is primarily used for its distinct soothing aroma and potential surface calming feel. Professional formulation requires strict caution: it should be heavily buffered with lipid carriers (e.g., squalane, jojoba), protected with antioxidants (like tocopherol) to prevent oxidation, and kept at very low concentrations (≤0.2% for facial use) to maintain tolerability and minimize sensitization risk. Due to its intensity, it must be avoided entirely on post-procedure, compromised (eczema, rosacea), or broken skin, and layered separatelyfrom strong actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids. It is also recommended to use extra caution or avoid entirely during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and for use on children/teens.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Lavender Ferment – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Lavender Ferment (Lavandula Angustifolia Ferment or similar INCI) is a water-soluble, postbiotic botanical fermentcreated to significantly enhance the bioavailability of lavender's soothing compounds while entirely eliminating the sensitisation risk associated with its volatile essential oils. This ferment delivers powerful, yet gentle, soothing comfort, redness reduction (observed trends up to 30%), and improved barrier tolerance (up to 32%), making it a true microbiome-supportive ingredient. Used typically at 0.5−3% in serums and essences, it is an excellent pre-active buffering layer for sensitive, reactive, acne-prone, and post-procedure skin, and is considered low-risk for special populations, including during pregnancy (consulting a doctor is always advised).

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Lavender Flower Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Lavender Flower Extract (Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract), a water-soluble botanical extract, is derived using non-volatile methods to preserve its calming Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids without concentrating sensitizing essential oil compounds, effectively creating a non-aromatic soothing agent. This extract is highly valued for significantly improving comfort perception (observed trends up to 30%), aiding in redness reduction (up to 25%), and boosting barrier calm (up to 28%). Used typically at 0.5−5% in serums and moisturisers, its excellent tolerability and non-fragrant nature make it an ideal daily-use comfort botanical for sensitive, reactive, and dry skin, serving as a supportive layer that enhances the tolerability of other active ingredients.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Lavender Root Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Lavender Root Extract (Lavandula Angustifolia Root Extract or similar INCI) is a highly stable, water-soluble botanical active derived from the rhizome, providing a grounding skin feel and subtle cushioning effect without fragrance or sensory stimulation, which is ideal for overstimulated or inflamed skin. Valued for its predictability and stability by formulators, it exhibits excellent barrier synergy with ingredients like Ceramides, Niacinamide, and Panthenol, acting as a superior calming buffer layer, especially when used before strong actives. Consistent use over 3–4 weeks leads to improved tolerance and fewer flare-ups, ultimately resulting in a more resilient, balanced skin barrier (observed trends: reduced tightness, neutral comfort).

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Lavender Water – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Lavender Water (Lavandula Angustifolia Water), a gentle water-based botanical hydrosol, is produced during steam distillation, containing only trace aromatic compounds and water-soluble phytochemicals, making it exceptionally low in sensitisation risk. This hydrosol is prized for its ability to provide instant cooling, refresh, and light antioxidant support, significantly improving comfort perception (observed trends up to 28%) and enhancing the feeling of hydration (up to 30%). Used commonly at 20−100% in mists and toners, its lightweight, non-occlusive nature makes it an excellent daily-use layer for sensitive, oily, and hot-climate skin, functioning primarily as a calming preparatory step to improve tolerance to subsequent serums and actives.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Rose Leaf Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
In the 2026 skincare landscape, Rose Leaf Extract has emerged as the sophisticated alternative to traditional rose waters and oils. While the petals are famous for fragrance, the leaves contain a dense concentration of structural polyphenols—specifically rutin and quercetin derivatives—that act as a biological "buffer" for the skin. In an era of high-potency actives, Rose Leaf Extract serves as a stability anchor, helping to down-regulate the inflammatory "noise" that leads to chronic redness and flushing. Recent 2025 studies have also highlighted its role in protecting the skin's collagen matrix from urban particulate matter, making it a "clean-science" essential for city dwellers and those with reactive, "hot face" tendencies.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Rose Water – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
In the 2026 skincare landscape, Rose Water has evolved from a simple "traditional remedy" to a cornerstone of "Sensory Recovery" routines. While botanical science continues to advance, the pure steam-distilled hydrosol remains one of the most effective ways to lower the skin's "micro-heat" signature after cleansing or environmental exposure. Unlike tap water, which can be alkaline and drying, Rose Water typically maintains a slightly acidic pH that respects the skin's natural acid mantle. For the modern minimalist, it serves as a multi-functional pH-balancer and humectant primer, ensuring that subsequent actives like Hyaluronic Acid or Vitamin C are absorbed more efficiently without the friction of dry application.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Seed Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Seed Extract (Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract) is a barrier-supportive antioxidant botanical derived from the plant’s nutrient-dense seeds to provide lipid-friendly comfort and skin-softening resilience. Unlike leaf-based extracts that prioritize high-dose catechins, the seed extract concentrates Seed Polyphenols and Fatty-Acid-Associated Fractions to buffer the skin against environmental stress and oxidative fatigue. Typically formulated between 0.1–3%, it acts as a routine stabilizer, improving the tolerability of potent actives like retinoids and acids by reinforcing the stratum corneum's lipid matrix. Its water-soluble, non-greasy profile makes it ideal for daily AM/PM use across all climates, particularly for sensitive, dry, or mature skin seeking long-term resilience rather than aggressive correction. While immediate softness is common, consistent use over several weeks results in a more predictable, steady skin baseline and enhanced defense against urban pollution and UV-induced stress.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Bark Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Bark Extract (Camellia Sinensis Bark Extract) represents the most structural and defensive expression of the green tea plant, prioritizing long-term resilience and environmental endurance over instant correction. While leaf extracts provide fast antioxidant bursts, the bark concentrates Woody Polyphenols and Tannins to create a "protective shell" that buffers skin against urban pollution, UV stress, and oxidative fatigue. Typically used at 0.1–2%, it functions as a defensive stabilizer, strengthening the barrier and improving routine tolerance for those using potent actives like retinoids. Its unique composition offers a more stable antioxidant profile than leaf-derived EGCG, making it ideal for mature, stressed, or pollution-exposed skin seeking cumulative resilience. While a subtly firming sensation may be felt early, the true benefit of stronger barrier behavior builds over a 4-week timeline, establishing a "quiet defender" baseline that helps the skin remain calm and steady across various environmental shifts.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Leaf Juice – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Leaf Juice (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Juice) represents the most fresh and water-forward expression of green tea, functioning as a breathable, comfort-first hydration medium. Unlike concentrated extracts that prioritize high-dose catechins, the juice focuses on delivering trace polyphenols and water-soluble flavonoids in a format that offers immediate cooling relief and hydration support. Often used as a primary water-phase base at concentrations up to 100%, it acts as a routine-stability layer, improving the wearability of potent actives like retinoids and acids by reducing perceived tightness and irritation. Its fully water-soluble nature makes it an ideal "clarifying base" for sensitive, oily-dehydrated, or heat-reactive skin, especially in hot and humid climates. While its antioxidant buffering is gentle, consistent daily use over a 4-to-6-week timeline fosters a stable skin baseline and reduces the frequency of "reset days" caused by environmental stress or over-treatment.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Oil (Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil) is the lipid-replenishing expression of the tea plant, functioning as a barrier-supportive emollient that prioritizes nourishment, suppleness, and moisture retention. Unlike aqueous green tea formats, this oil concentrates Oleic and Linoleic fatty acids alongside trace tocopherols to restore the skin's natural lipid matrix and significantly reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Typically used at 1–10% in emulsions or up to 100% in pure facial blends, it acts as a comfort-forward sealing step, making it an essential "barrier-feel fixer" for dry, depleted, or over-treated skin. Its lightweight, non-greasy profile allows it to function as an effective buffer for potent actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids, reducing the perception of tightness and flaking without disrupting active pathways. While immediate softness is felt upon application, consistent use over a 3-to-6-week period results in a visibly stronger barrier and a more resilient, comfortable skin baseline that resists seasonal dryness and environmental stress.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Ferment – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Ferment (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Ferment) is the bio-transformed and skin-adaptive expression of green tea, engineered through fermentation to maximize bio-compatibility and routine harmony. By utilizing microbial enzymes to break down complex polyphenols into smaller, more easily absorbed molecules, this ferment provides gentle, steady antioxidant support without the "catechin-spike" irritation sometimes associated with raw extracts. Typically formulated at 0.5–5%, it functions as a routine stabilizer, bridging the gap between high-potency actives (like retinoids or acids) and barrier recovery steps. Its watery to slightly viscous profile delivers a soft, cushiony feel that is inherently microbiome-friendly, making it a premier choice for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin that requires antioxidant protection without the risk of stinging. While immediate calming is often felt, the true value of Green Tea Ferment is cumulative skin stability; consistent use over a 4-to-8-week timeline fosters a more resilient, less reactive skin response to environmental stressors and aggressive skincare regimens.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Flower Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Flower Extract (Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract) is the most delicate and luminous expression of the green tea plant, specifically harvested from blossoms to provide a softer antioxidant profile than leaf-derived formats. By concentrating floral flavonoids and phenolic acids rather than aggressive catechins, this extract offers a "quiet refinement" that supports skin brightness and oxidative stress buffering without the irritation risk often associated with high-potency EGCG. Typically used at 0.5–3%, it acts as a glow-focused stabilizer, making it an ideal choice for sensitive or dull skin that requires environmental defense but cannot tolerate high-intensity actives. Its water-soluble nature and neutral sensory profile allow it to integrate seamlessly into daily antioxidant serums and essences, where it functions as a "rest day" hero between stronger treatments. While a smoother skin feel is noticeable early on, the true value of the flower extract is cumulative radiance balance; consistent use over a 4-to-6-week timeline helps establish a stable, luminous skin baseline that feels both reassured and resilient.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Root Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Root Extract (Camellia Sinensis Root Extract) is the foundation-building and grounding expression of the tea plant, sourced from the underground root system to prioritize structural resilience and long-term barrier stability. Unlike leaf extracts that focus on immediate radical scavenging, the root concentrate utilizes saponins and root-specific polyphenols to provide a "low-stimulation" antioxidant defense that buffers skin against sensory stress and over-activation. Typically used at 0.5–3%, it functions as a routine stabilizer, making it an essential recovery hero for reactive, over-stimulated, or barrier-compromised skin. Its earthy, aqueous profile delivers a cushiony, non-stinging feel that is highly compatible with aggressive actives, serving as a peaceful baseline for high-strength regimens. While a calmer skin feel is noted shortly after application, the true value of Green Tea Root Extract is cumulative skin confidence; consistent use over a 4-to-8-week timeline results in a visibly more settled and resilient skin response that is less prone to random flare-ups.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Leaf Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Leaf Extract (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract) is the gold-standard and most researched expression of green tea science, acting as a versatile antioxidant backbone for daily environmental defense. Rich in polyphenolic catechins, most notably EGCG, it provides proven radical-scavenging activity while balancing oil production and soothing visible redness. Typically used at 0.5–5%, it functions as a protective anchor in modern routines, shielding the skin from urban pollution and oxidative stress without the heaviness of oils or the potential sting of high-potency isolates. Its fresh, water-soluble profile makes it exceptionally compatible with oily and acne-prone skin, offering calm comfort while maintaining a breathable finish. While immediate soothing is often felt, the true value of the leaf extract is long-term resilience; consistent use over a 4-to-8-week timeline results in a more balanced, defended, and stable skin baseline that better tolerates environmental shifts and active-heavy regimens.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Green Tea Water – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Green Tea Water (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water) is the lightest and most sensory-focused expression of the green tea plant, designed primarily for cooling hydration and routine balance. Unlike potent extracts or EGCG isolates, this botanical water provides a "feather-light" antioxidant buffer that prioritizes instant skin comfort and heat relief over aggressive correction. Typically making up 10–100% of a product's water phase, it functions as a comfort primer, reducing the perception of tightness and heat—especially in hot, humid climates or after sun exposure. Its weightless, non-greasy profile makes it an exceptional choice for oily, acne-prone, or reactive skin that needs a breathable hydration layer without the risk of stinging. While immediate cooling is its primary payoff, the long-term value of Green Tea Water lies in routine stability; by making a daily regimen feel more refreshing and less "heavy," it encourages the consistency required for visible results. For maximum efficacy, it should be applied to damp skin and sealed within 60 seconds with a humectant or moisturizer to prevent trans-epidermal water loss.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Licorice Seed Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
By 2026, Licorice Seed Extract has redefined how we approach "Reactive Pigmentation." Unlike traditional brighteners that can be inflammatory, Licorice Seed Extract utilizes Licochalcone-A, a potent phyto-compound that inhibits the skin’s "alarm signals" triggered by UV and pollution. This creates a "Silent Barrier" effect, allowing the skin to recover from micro-stress before it translates into visible redness or dark spots. For the high-performance minimalist, it serves as the ultimate routine stabilizer, ensuring that strong actives like Retinol can deliver results without the associated "retinoid flush" or barrier fatigue.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Licorice Bark Extract – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
In the 2026 skincare landscape, Licorice Bark Extract has emerged as a specialized "Resilience Anchor" for reactive routines. While the root is famous for aggressive brightening, the bark extract mirrors its biological role as the plant’s outer protective layer. By concentrating surface-level tannins and protective polyphenols, it acts as a biological "shock absorber" for the skin. In an era of high-intensity actives, Licorice Bark Extract provides the Defensive Architecture necessary to prevent micro-inflammation from becoming a full-scale barrier flare. It is the ideal ingredient for users who need their skin to remain "steady" and calm while using corrective treatments like Retinol or Vitamin C.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Licorice Leaf Juice – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
In 2026, Licorice Leaf Juice has become a cornerstone for "Skin Longevity" routines. While the root provides the heavy-lifting for pigment correction, the leaf juice specializes in Biological Resilience. Because the leaf must survive constant UV exposure and transpiration stress, its juice is naturally optimized with specialized flavonoids that act as "surface stabilizers." In a skincare routine, this translates to a Hydration Anchor—a step that doesn't just add water, but helps the skin maintain its "cool" under the pressure of active ingredients. For those transitioning into higher-strength retinoids or vitamin C, Licorice Leaf Juice serves as the ultimate comfort insurance.