Our homepage says every product lists exactly what's inside and why it's there. This is that page.

Below is every active we use across the range, what it actually does, and which products contain it. No ingredient is in a BARESKIN formula to pad a label.

The actives

Hyaluronic acid

Holds many times its own weight in water and pulls it into the upper layers of skin. It's the difference between skin looking plump and skin looking thin. Works best applied to damp skin — on dry skin in dry air it can pull moisture the wrong way.

In: Hydrating Toner, Peptide Anti-Aging Serum, Anti-Age Day Cream, Acne Care Moisturiser, Sensitive Skin Overnight Cream, Smoothing Eye Cream, Microbiome Prebiotics Face Mist, BiPhasic Make-up Remover

Peptides

Short chains of amino acids that act as signals rather than ingredients your skin absorbs and keeps. They tell skin cells to produce more collagen — and collagen is what firmness physically is. Unlike retinol or acids, peptides don't need a tolerance-building period.

In: Peptide Anti-Aging Serum

Salicylic acid

Oil-soluble, which is the entire point of it. Water-based acids work on the surface; salicylic acid can get down inside a pore and clear the sebum and dead skin blocking it. Start three or four times a week rather than daily.

In: Purifying Toner

Caffeine

Constricts the small blood vessels near the surface of the skin, which is what visibly takes puffiness down and lightens under-eye shadow. Percentage matters — ours is on the label.

In: Caffeine Gel Booster (1%), Smoothing Eye Cream

Marine ferment active

Fermentation breaks large molecules into smaller ones that skin can take up more readily. It's why a ferment tends to do more than the raw extract it came from.

In: Anti-Age Day Cream, Collagen Anti-Age Night Cream

Algae extract

Supports the skin barrier overnight, when cell turnover is highest and there's no makeup or SPF sitting on top of it.

In: Sensitive Skin Overnight Cream, Collagen Anti-Age Night Cream

Prebiotics

Food for the bacteria that already live on your skin — not live cultures added on top. The aim is to support the microbiome that's there rather than introduce a new one.

In: Microbiome Prebiotics Face Mist

Vitamin C

An antioxidant. In our range it's there mainly for the marks blemishes leave behind after they've healed.

In: Acne Care Moisturiser

Mineral UV filters

They sit on the surface and reflect UV rather than being absorbed into skin, which generally makes them the better-tolerated option for sensitive and reactive skin. SPF 50 describes how much UVB is blocked, not how long you can stay outside — reapplication is what keeps you protected.

In: Sun Protection SPF50 Stick

The supporting cast

These aren't headline actives, but they're the reason our formulas feel the way they do.

• Aloe juice — calms skin during and after cleansing. In Radiant Glow Facial Wash, Sensitive Skin Overnight Cream, Collagen Anti-Age Night Cream, Clay Mask and BiPhasic Make-up Remover.
• Mate leaf — rich in natural caffeine and polyphenols; helps blemish-prone skin look less inflamed. In our two acne products.
• Iceland moss — a lichen extract with a long history of use on irritated skin. The reason our acne cleanser doesn't sting.
• Juniper callus — a plant cell extract used for congestion-prone skin. In Acne Purifying Face Wash.
• Betaine and sodium PCA — humectants that stop a cleanser pulling moisture out along with the dirt. Sodium PCA is something your skin already makes. In Radiant Glow Facial Wash.
• Rose water — a mild, soothing base. In Hydrating Toner.
• Shea butter and cocoa butter — occlusives. They slow water evaporating back out, which is what makes hydration last past lunchtime.
• Argan oil — light, and low on the scale for clogging pores. In Acne Care Moisturiser.
• White and green clay — green does the absorbing, white keeps it from going too far. In Clay Mask for Pores and Blackheads.

What we leave out, and where

We'd rather be specific than say something vague like "clean."

• Fragrance. Five of our formulas are fragrance-free and say so on the label: BiPhasic Make-up Remover, Sensitive Skin Overnight Cream, Hydrating Toner, Purifying Toner and Caffeine Gel Booster. Fragrance is the most common cause of reaction in a leave-on product, so it's left out of everything we make for sensitive or reactive skin.
• Alcohol in our toners. Most salicylic toners use it as a carrier. It gives you a fast clean feeling and a slower rebound of oil. Purifying Toner is formulated without it.
• The word "chemical-free." Water is a chemical. Every ingredient on this page is a chemical. We're not going to pretend otherwise to sell you something.

A note on how long this takes

Real skin change takes two to four weeks minimum — roughly one full skin cycle. That's not what the ads promise, but it's the truth. If a product claims to do something in three days, look closely at what it's actually claiming.

Not sure which of these your skin needs? Take the 30-second quiz →

Questions about a specific formula? Email support@mybareskincare.com — a real human will reply.