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

Bearberry Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Bearberry-Infused Oil is a rich botanical oil macerate, not a pure essential oil, created by infusing Bearberry leaves/roots into a carrier like Jojoba or Squalane. This oil provides deep nourishment, helps strengthen the skin barrier with essential fatty acids, and offers mild brightening and soothing anti-inflammatory benefits from polyphenols and tannins. It is perfect for dry, sensitive, and mature skin, offering barrier repair and antioxidant protection when used consistently, ideally as the final step in a nightly routine.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Bilberry Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Bilberry Oil (Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil) is a deeply nourishing, lightweight botanical oil rich in a balanced blend of Omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, along with phytosterols and Vitamin E. Sourced from cold-pressed seeds, it excels at strengthening the compromised moisture barrier, softening dryness, and enhancing the skin’s overall resilience. It is an ideal, fast-absorbing ingredient for sensitive, dehydrated, and aging skin, providing comforting hydration and antioxidant protection for consistent daily use.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Cranberry Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Cranberry Seed Extract is a highly concentrated botanical derived from the seed material, rich in potent antioxidants like proanthocyanidins (PACs) and tocotrienols. It provides exceptional environmental defense, actively combats oxidative stress, and is valued for its ability to strengthen skin resilience and improve texture/smoothness for advanced anti-aging protection. It works synergistically with other actives to maintain skin firmness and protect against environmental damage.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Blueberry Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Blueberry Oil is a lightweight, antioxidant-rich botanical oil sourced from Vaccinium seeds, featuring high concentrations of Omega-3, Omega-6, Vitamin E, and Anthocyanins. It is highly effective for strengthening the compromised moisture barrier, providing deep, non-greasy nourishment, and calming redness. Its versatile nature and low comedogenic rating make it an excellent daily choice for dry, sensitive, or aging skin seeking improved resilience, softness, and a healthy, natural glow.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Pomegranate Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Pomegranate Oil (Punica Granatum Seed Oil) is a lipid-soluble, deeply nourishing botanical oil rich in Punicic Acid (Omega-5), providing exceptional support for elasticity and firmness (up to 22% improvement) and radiance (up to 25% increase). This antioxidant-dense oil, containing Vitamin E and phytosterols, strengthens the moisture barrier (up to 30% improvement), softens the look of texture and lines, and replenishes dry, tight skin with concentrated fatty acids. It's a key ingredient for revitalizing dry, mature, dull, and stressed skin through deep nourishment and barrier repair.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Lotus Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Lotus Oil is a lightweight, soothing botanical known for its deep hydration-feel, calming properties, and glow-enhancing finish. Rich in natural emollients, phytosterols, and subtle antioxidants, it helps soften dryness, support the skin barrier, and bring visible comfort to stressed or dehydrated skin. This complete guide covers its benefits, side effects, how to use it, ideal pairings, skin-type tips, pros and cons, and FAQs—offering an encyclopedia-style breakdown to help you decide if Lotus Oil is the right addition to your routine.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Artichoke Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Artichoke Oil (Cynara Scolymus Oil) is a non-greasy, lipid-rich botanical oil known for its high content of essential fatty acids (EFAs), vitamins, and protective antioxidants, making it an exceptional emollient and barrier support ingredient. This oil is highly effective at improving overall softness and suppleness (observed trends up to 30%), replenishing dryness, and enhancing skin comfort. Used in the final steps of a routine, it helps lock in hydration and reinforces the skin barrier, making it an excellent, low-irritation choice for dry, mature, compromised, and sensitive skin seeking nourishment, lasting comfort, and improved texture.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Peppermint Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Peppermint Oil (Mentha Piperita Oil) is an oil-soluble, extremely potent essential oil characterized by its high concentration of Menthol, Menthone, and volatile Monoterpenes, giving it a powerful cooling sensation and strong antimicrobial properties. Unlike gentler derivatives, its high potency results in a moderate to high irritation risk, necessitating use in very low concentrations (0.1−0.5% in leave-on) and always fully diluted. It is best used for its sensory benefits, providing intense cooling (up to 92% reported) and invigorating aromatherapy in rinse-off formulas, scalp care, or foot products, but is not suitable for sensitive, barrier-damaged, or reactive skin.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Sage Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Sage Oil (Salvia Officinalis Oil), a skin-adaptive botanical lipid, is derived from the sage plant to provide barrier-softening emolliency, plant sterols, and fatty acids that improve hydration feel and skin suppleness. Unlike high-intensity essential oils, cosmetic-grade Sage Oil is refined for sensorial elegance and low-aroma comfort, delivering grounded nourishment that cushions the skin against dryness and tightness. Used typically at supportive levels (0.1−1%) as a final sealing step or mixed into moisturisers, it functions as a highly effective comfort-stabiliser for dry, dehydrated, and sensitised-feeling skin, promoting a smooth, non-greasy finish that enhances long-term moisture retention and routine tolerance.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Rosemary Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Rosemary Oil, derived from the aromatic Rosmarinus officinalis herb, is a powerhouse antioxidant that supports skin health and hydration. Rich in carnosic and rosmarinic acids, it helps neutralize free radicals, soothe irritation, and enhance barrier strength — making it ideal for dry, sensitive, or stressed skin. When properly diluted in facial formulas, it provides comfort, smoothness, and protection against environmental damage. Perfect for both men and women, this botanical oil can be layered over humectants like Hyaluronic Acid or paired with Ceramides for extra nourishment. Dermatologists recommend rosemary-infused products as finishing layers to lock in moisture and calm post-treatment redness. With consistent use, it transforms dullness into resilience and dryness into glow. Consistency glows louder than perfection 🌿

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Cucumber Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Cucumber Seed Oil (Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil) is a lipophilic, lightweight botanical oil, cold-pressed to maximize its content of Linoleic Acid (Omega-6), Tocopherols (Vitamin E), and Phytosterols, making it an outstanding choice for barrier repair, cooling hydration, and calming antioxidant defense. This oil significantly boosts hydration (observed trends up to +32%), improves barrier function (up to +28%), and provides substantial reduction in visible dryness (up to 45%). Used typically at 2−30% in oils and creams, its fast absorption and non-greasy nature make it ideal for dry, sensitive, combination, and mature skin seeking deep nourishment, elasticity support, and relief from heat-triggered irritation without feeling heavy.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Ginkgo Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Ginkgo Oil (Ginkgo Biloba Seed Oil) represents the lipid expression of the ginkgo plant, specifically engineered for barrier comfort, moisture sealing, and surface softening. Unlike water-based ginkgo formats that focus on cooling or antioxidant buffering, this lipid-rich oil functions as a physical shield, effectively reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and restoring flexibility to a tight, dry stratum corneum. Typically used as a finishing step in concentrations ranging from 1–10% in emulsions to 100% in pure blends, it provides the lipid support necessary for skin that has been over-treated with actives or stressed by cold, dry climates. While it is not a "hydrator" in the sense of adding water, it is an essential hydration sealer; by "closing the lid" on previous watery layers, it ensures that humectants like hyaluronic acid remain effective. Its true value lies in tactile transformation, turning rough, flaky textures into a supple, cushioned baseline that can better tolerate corrective treatments.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Aloe Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Aloe Oil (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract infused in Carrier Oil), a hydration-sealing botanical lipid, acts as a "soft shield" by combining the soothing properties of aloe with plant sterols and fatty acids to prevent transepidermal water loss. Unlike water-based aloe forms, this oil-soluble ingredient focus on friction reduction (tribology) and surface-film formation to soften rough, flaky textures and improve barrier flexibility. Typically used at 0.5–5% in nourishing moisturisers or recovery serums, it serves as a highly effective comfort-buffer for skin that feels tight, fragile, or depleted. When applied as the final step over a humectant or moisturiser, it extends the hydration lifespan of a routine.Consistent use over a 4-week timeline results in a more supple, stable barrier feel, making it particularly valuable for dry, sensitised, or climate-stressed skin.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Turmeric Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Turmeric Oil (Curcuma Longa Root Oil or similar lipid extract) is a botanical oil derived from the Turmeric rhizome, rich in sesquiterpenoids (like Turmerone), that helps boost the feel of hydration and comfort and supports a supple-looking barrier. It excels at softening the look of dryness and can be beneficial for dry, dehydrated, or sensitised-feeling skin. Due to its oil-based nature, it should be used AM/PM after watery serums and sealed with a moisturiser. While generally well-tolerated, individuals should patch test if very reactive. Consistent use over several weeks, alongside daily SPF, is recommended for best results.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Ginseng Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Ginseng Oil (Panax Ginseng Seed/Root Oil) is the essential lipid sealant of the ginseng family, specifically designed to provide barrier-feel comfort and a supple, healthy glow. Unlike the water-based extracts or juices, Ginseng Oil does not introduce hydration; instead, it functions as a lipid shield, utilizing botanical fatty acids and triglycerides to trap existing moisture and significantly reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Typically utilized as a final routine step, it acts as a texture-softening emollient that buffers the skin against the "sharp" dryness caused by cold climates, air conditioning, or potent actives like retinoids. Its true value lies in its cushioning effect—improving skin glide and suppleness while reducing the sensory perception of tightness. While it is not a corrective active for cellular repair, its ability to foster hydration retention over a 2-to-4-week period makes it an indispensable tool for dry, dehydrated, or sensitized-feeling skin types seeking long-term stability and comfort.

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

Rose Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Rose Oil is a luxurious essential oil distilled from the petals of Rosa damascena or Rosa centifolia, used in skincare at very low concentrations to comfort and cushion the skin. When layered over humectants and ceramide-rich moisturisers, it helps seal in hydration, softens the feel of dryness, and adds a dewy, light-reflective finish that makes skin look more radiant. Unlike treatment actives such as Vitamin C, Retinol, or exfoliating acids, Rose Oil’s primary role is sensorial: it supports barrier comfort while turning your routine into a calming, aromatic ritual. This guide explains what Rose Oil is, how it differs from Rosehip Oil, who should and shouldn’t use it, and exactly how to layer 1–3 drops safely in both morning and night routines. You’ll also find dermatologist-style do’s and don’ts, ingredient pairings, timelines for visible results, and nuance for men and women so you can decide if Rose Oil fits your skin goals

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

Licorice Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Licorice Oil serves as a Biological Sealant. Unlike the root extract (which targets pigment) or the leaf juice (which targets immediate hydration), the oil targets Texture Stability. It works by reinforcing the skin's natural "mortar"—the lipids that hold skin cells together. In an era of aggressive "skin cycling," Licorice Oil is the final step that prevents Surface Burnout. By creating a microscopic, breathable film, it allows the skin to repair itself underneath without interference from wind, pollution, or dry air.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Centella Oil – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Centella Oil (Centella Asiatica Oil) is the "lipid-shield stabilizer" of the Cica family, specifically designed for routines that prioritize moisture retention, barrier comfort, and structural softness. Unlike water-based Centella steps that focus on surface cooling, Centella oil functions as a comfort-seal, typically utilizing carrier oils like squalane or triglycerides to anchor Centella’s soothing properties into the skin's lipid layers. It is a non-negotiable for dry or sensitized-feeling skin, acting as a protective buffer that prevents trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and softens the rough, flaky texture often associated with retinoid use or harsh weather. Its primary value lies in its active-routine synergy; by creating a supple, protected surface environment, it reduces the "dry-tight" threshold, allowing users to remain consistent with high-potency treatments. Over 2-to-4 weeks, this results in a visibly smoother, more radiant complexion and a significantly more resilient barrier feel.