| Niacinamide Niacinamide, Nicotinamide | Proven | Regulates oil, reduces pores, fades dark spots and strengthens the barrier. | All skin types, oily and spot-prone |
| Retinoids (retinal/retinol) Retinal, Retinaldehyde | Proven | Speed up cell turnover: wrinkles, texture, tone and acne. | Mature, acne-prone skin (PM) |
| Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid, L-Ascorbic Acid | Proven | Antioxidant; brightens, evens tone and supports collagen synthesis. | Dull, spot-prone skin (AM) |
| Hyaluronic acid Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid | Proven | Humectant: attracts and holds water in the skin. Immediate hydration. | All skin types, dehydrated |
| Salicylic acid (BHA) Salicylic Acid, BHA | Proven | Pore-penetrating exfoliant: acne, blackheads and oil. | Oily, acne-prone skin |
| AHA (glycolic/lactic) Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid | Proven | Surface exfoliation: texture, tone and radiance. | Dry, dull skin |
| Azelaic acid Azelaic Acid | Proven | Multitasker: acne, rosacea and pigmentation, with little irritation. | Acne, rosacea, pigmentation |
| Panthenol (B5) Panthenol, Provitamin B5 | Proven | Soothes, hydrates and helps repair the skin barrier. | Sensitive, dry, irritated skin |
| Ceramides Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP | Proven | Lipids that repair and reinforce the barrier, preventing water loss. | Dry, damaged, eczema-prone skin |
| Adenosine Adenosine | Proven | Anti-wrinkle active with regulatory recognition in Korea. | Mature skin |
| Centella asiatica (Cica) Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside | Promising | Calms redness and supports repair; very popular for sensitive skin. | Sensitive, red-prone skin |
| Snail mucin Snail Secretion Filtrate | Promising | Hydrates and leaves skin feeling soft and repaired. | Dehydrated skin |
| Bakuchiol Bakuchiol | Promising | Botanical retinol-alternative for wrinkles, gentler. | Sensitive skin that can't tolerate retinol |
| Kojic acid Kojic Acid, Kojic Dipalmitate | Promising | Brightener: inhibits tyrosinase, fades dark spots. | Dark spots, hyperpigmentation |
| Allantoin Allantoin | Promising | Soothes, hydrates and supports skin repair. | Sensitive, irritated skin |
| Green tea Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Green Tea | Promising | Antioxidant: reduces oxidative stress and calms skin. | Oily, reactive skin |
| Beta-glucan Beta-Glucan, Beta Glucan | Promising | Soothes, hydrates and reinforces the barrier; very well tolerated. | Sensitive, dehydrated skin |
| Topical collagen Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen | Hype | Marketed as "firming", but on skin it acts as a humectant. | A marketing claim, not an active |
| PDRN (salmon DNA) PDRN, Polydeoxyribonucleotide | Hype | Trendy as a "regenerator"; the support is mostly injectable, not topical. | Hype: be skeptical of the topical claim |