Ingredient categories
Browse skincare by category.
Each category collects the ingredients you'll see on a label and explains how they interact with common medications.
Category
Retinoids
Retinol, retinaldehyde, tretinoin — what to avoid mixing them with, and which medications make them riskier.
Category
Chemical Exfoliants
Glycolic, lactic, salicylic, mandelic — when to layer them, when to alternate, and when to stop completely.
Category
Vitamin C
L-ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, vitamin E — antioxidant pairings that boost photoprotection and the ones that cancel each other out.
Category
Niacinamide & Barrier
Niacinamide, panthenol, ceramides, peptides — calming ingredients that pair with almost everything, and the rare cases where they don't.
Category
Sunscreens & SPF
Daily SPF matters more when you're on certain prescriptions. Which filters work best with sensitive skin and meds.
Category
Acne Treatments
Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, azelaic acid — how to stack them safely on top of an oral acne prescription.
Category
Hydrators & Humectants
Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea — the safest layer in any routine, even on the strongest prescriptions.
Category
Botanicals & Extracts
Centella asiatica, green tea, bakuchiol — natural-feeling alternatives and the prescription gotchas that still apply.