Ingredients Glossary
Your guide to the science-backed ingredients in every IMAGE formulation. From proven ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C to advanced peptides and more.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that attracts and retains moisture to help hydrate, plump, and smooth the skin while softening the appearance of fine lines and supporting a healthy-looking skin barrier.
What does hyaluronic acid do for skin?
Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into the skin and helps maintain hydration for a smoother, more supple appearance. It helps visibly plump the skin, soften the look of fine lines, improve elasticity, and support a fresh, dewy complexion.
How should I use hyaluronic acid?
Apply a hyaluronic acid serum or moisturizer to clean, slightly damp skin to help lock in hydration. Follow with moisturizer to seal in moisture. It can be used morning and evening and pairs well with most skincare ingredients. During the day, finish with SPF.
Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid is a plant-derived antioxidant that helps defend skin against environmental stressors while improving the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone, and dullness for a brighter, more radiant-looking complexion.
What does ferulic acid do for skin?
Ferulic acid helps neutralize free radicals caused by environmental stressors that can contribute to visible signs of skin aging. It also helps enhance the stability and performance of other antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, while supporting smoother, brighter, more even-toned skin.
How should I use ferulic acid?
Apply a ferulic acid serum or treatment to clean, dry skin, typically after cleansing and before moisturizer. It can be used morning and evening, depending on the product. When used during the day, follow with a broad-spectrum SPF to help protect skin from environmental stressors and UV exposure.
L-Ascorbate
L-ascorbate is a potent form of vitamin C that provides antioxidant protection while helping brighten the skin, improve uneven tone and dark spots, and soften the appearance of fine lines for a smoother, more radiant-looking complexion.
What does L-ascorbate do for skin?
L-ascorbate helps neutralize free radicals caused by environmental stressors while supporting collagen production and a brighter, more even-looking complexion. It helps improve the appearance of fine lines, dark spots, dullness, and uneven skin tone while promoting firmer, more radiant-looking skin.
How to use L-ascorbate
Apply an L-ascorbate serum or treatment to clean, dry skin, typically after cleansing and before moisturizer. It can be used morning or evening, depending on the product. When used during the day, follow with a broad-spectrum SPF to help protect skin from UV exposure and environmental stressors.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that helps strengthen the skin barrier, improve uneven skin tone, minimize the appearance of pores, and balance excess oil for smoother, brighter, healthier-looking skin.
What does niacinamide do for skin?
Niacinamide helps support the skin’s natural barrier by promoting moisture retention and protecting against environmental stressors. It helps visibly minimize enlarged pores, improve uneven tone and texture, reduce the appearance of redness and discoloration, and balance excess oil for a clearer, more even-looking complexion.
How to use niacinamide
Apply a niacinamide serum or treatment to clean skin after cleansing and before moisturizer. It can be used morning and evening and pairs well with most skincare ingredients including hyaluronic acid, retinol, and vitamin C. During the day, follow with a broad-spectrum SPF.
Peptides
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that help support the skin’s natural proteins, including collagen and elastin, to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness for smoother, plumper, more youthful-looking skin.
What do peptides do for skin?
Peptides help support firmer, more resilient-looking skin by reinforcing the building blocks associated with collagen and elastin. They help visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles, improve the appearance of firmness and elasticity, and support a plumper, more refreshed-looking complexion.
How to use peptides
Apply a peptide serum, treatment, or moisturizer to clean skin as directed for the specific product. Peptides can be incorporated into both morning and evening skincare routines and pair well with many other skincare ingredients. During the day, finish with a broad-spectrum SPF.
Retinol
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that helps accelerate skin renewal to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture, and loss of firmness for smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
What does retinol do for skin?
Retinol helps encourage skin renewal and support collagen production to visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles, refine uneven texture, improve the appearance of firmness, and promote clearer, more radiant-looking skin. It can also help unclog pores and improve overall skin tone and texture
How to use retinol
Apply retinol in the evening to clean, dry skin. If you’re new to retinol, start two to three nights per week and gradually increase frequency as your skin builds tolerance. Follow with moisturizer, and always apply a broad-spectrum SPF during the day, as retinol can increase skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that exfoliates within the pores to help clear congestion, reduce excess oil, and improve the appearance of blemishes, enlarged pores, and uneven texture for clearer, smoother-looking skin.
What does salicylic acid do for skin?
Salicylic acid helps remove dead skin cells and excess oil that can contribute to clogged pores and breakouts. It helps visibly reduce blemishes and congestion, refine the appearance of pores, smooth uneven texture, and balance excess oil for a clearer, more even-looking complexion.
How to use salicylic acid
Apply a salicylic acid cleanser, serum, or treatment as directed for the specific product. If you’re new to exfoliating acids, begin a few times per week and gradually increase use based on your skin’s tolerance. Follow with moisturizer, and during the day, apply a broad-spectrum SPF.
Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates the skin to help smooth rough texture, brighten dullness, improve uneven skin tone, and soften the appearance of fine lines while supporting hydration.
What does lactic acid do for skin?
Lactic acid helps loosen and remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface to encourage smoother, more radiant-looking skin. It helps improve uneven texture and tone, minimize the appearance of fine lines and dark spots, and attract moisture to support softer, hydrated skin.
How should I use lactic acid?
Start with clean, dry skin. Apply your lactic acid product in the evening or as directed. If new to exfoliating acids, begin a few times per week and gradually increase use based on your skin’s tolerance. Follow with moisturizer, and always apply SPF during the day, as AHAs can increase sun sensitivity.
Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived alternative to retinol that helps smooth the appearance of fine lines, improve uneven skin tone and dark spots, and support firmer, more radiant-looking skin—with a gentler feel.
What does bakuchiol do for skin?
Bakuchiol stimulates cell turnover, boosts collagen production, and improves skin firmness. It helps smooth fine lines, fade dark spots, even out skin tone, reduce blemishes, and restore radiance—while being gentler on sensitive or reactive skin.
How should I use bakuchiol?
Start with clean, dry skin. Apply a bakuchiol serum or cream in the evening or as directed. If new to it, begin every other night or a few times per week. After about 4 weeks, increase to nightly or more frequent use if your skin tolerates it. Always use a moisturizer and daily SPF to protect renewed skin.
Squalane
Squalane is a lightweight, skin-replenishing emollient that helps lock in moisture, support the skin barrier, and soften dry, rough texture for smoother, more supple, healthy-looking skin.
What does squalane do for skin?
Squalane helps replenish moisture and prevent water loss to support a stronger, more resilient skin barrier. It helps relieve dryness, soften rough texture, and improve skin’s suppleness without a heavy or greasy feel, leaving the complexion smooth, hydrated, and comfortable.
How to use squalane
Apply a squalane serum, oil, or moisturizer to clean skin as directed for the specific product. It can be used morning and evening and pairs well with most skincare ingredients. During the day, finish with a broad-spectrum SPF.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is a stable, oil-soluble form of vitamin C that helps brighten dull skin, improve uneven skin tone and dark spots, and soften the appearance of fine lines for smoother, more radiant-looking skin.
What does tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate do for skin?
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate provides antioxidant benefits that help defend against environmental stressors while supporting brighter, firmer-looking skin. It helps improve the appearance of discoloration, uneven tone, fine lines, and dullness while promoting a more even, luminous complexion.
How to use tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
Apply a tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate serum, treatment, or moisturizer to clean skin as directed for the specific product. It can be used morning and evening and pairs well with many other skincare ingredients. During the day, finish with a broad-spectrum SPF.
Ceramides
Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids that help strengthen and replenish the skin’s moisture barrier, locking in hydration and helping protect against moisture loss for smoother, softer, healthier-looking skin.
What do ceramides do for skin?
Ceramides help restore and reinforce the skin’s natural barrier by replenishing essential lipids that keep moisture in and environmental stressors out. They help reduce dryness, improve hydration, smooth rough texture, and support a more resilient, balanced-looking complexion.
How should I use ceramides?
Apply a ceramide serum or moisturizer to clean skin after any targeted treatments. Ceramides can be used morning and evening and pair well with most skincare ingredients. During the day, follow with a broad-spectrum SPF.
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid is a naturally derived alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), often sourced from sugarcane, that exfoliates dead surface skin cells to help smooth rough texture, brighten dull skin, and improve the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and uneven skin tone.
What does glycolic acid do for skin?
Glycolic acid helps dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together, promoting effective exfoliation and healthy skin turnover. It helps refine uneven texture, unclog pores, improve skin clarity, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark spots for smoother, brighter-looking skin.
How should I use glycolic acid?
Use a glycolic acid cleanser, serum, cream or treatment as directed. If you’re new to glycolic acid, introduce it gradually and avoid layering it with other strong acids or retinoids unless directed by a skincare professional. Always wear broad-spectrum SPF during the day, as glycolic acid can increase sun sensitivity.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps brighten dull skin, improve uneven skin tone and dark spots, and soften the appearance of fine lines while supporting firmer, more radiant-looking skin.
What does vitamin C do for skin?
Vitamin C helps defend skin against environmental stressors while supporting collagen production and a brighter, more even-looking complexion. It helps improve the appearance of dark spots, discoloration, fine lines, and dullness while promoting smoother, firmer, more luminous-looking skin.
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How to use vitamin C
Apply a vitamin C serum, treatment, or moisturizer to clean skin as directed for the specific product. It can be used morning and evening, depending on the formula. When used during the day, follow with a broad-spectrum SPF to help protect skin from UV exposure and environmental stressors.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a nourishing antioxidant that helps protect skin from environmental stressors, support the skin’s moisture barrier, and replenish hydration for softer, smoother, healthier-looking skin.
What does vitamin E do for skin?
Vitamin E helps defend skin against free radicals while supporting moisture retention and a healthy skin barrier. It helps nourish dry skin, soften rough texture, and improve the appearance of smoothness and suppleness while complementing the antioxidant benefits of ingredients like vitamin C.
How to use vitamin E
Apply a vitamin E serum, treatment, or moisturizer to clean skin as directed for the specific product. It can be used morning and evening and pairs well with many other skincare ingredients, including vitamin C. During the day, finish with a broad-spectrum SPF.