• Why the ingredient list order matters more than marketing claims

    Cosmetic ingredients are listed in order of concentration (above 1%). The active ingredient you're paying for should appear in the top 5 for it to have meaningful effect. When a serum advertises 'vitamin C brightening' and vitamin C appears 11th on the list, you're paying for the marketing, not the ingredient.

  • Cosmetic ingredients are listed in order of concentration (above 1%). The active ingredient you're paying for should appear in the top 5 for it to have meaningful effect. When a serum advertises 'vitamin C brightening' and vitamin C appears 11th on the list, you're paying for the marketing, not the ingredient.