A gentle, lightly fragrant hydrosol that can refresh and mildly tone skin, but its benefits are mostly anecdotal and it may cause sensitivity in very reactive skin.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Beauty ingredient research
Browse the review database to understand what an ingredient is, what it does in a beauty formula, when it is useful, and when it deserves caution across skincare, haircare, bodycare, makeup, and more.
20769
Reviewed ingredients
524
Low-concern standouts
2884
Need usage caution
A gentle, lightly fragrant hydrosol that can refresh and mildly tone skin, but its benefits are mostly anecdotal and it may cause sensitivity in very reactive skin.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Lemongrass leaf offers a fresh scent and mild astringent feel, but can be irritating for sensitive skin.
Irritation
moderate
Source
natural
A gentle natural exfoliant with a fresh citrus scent, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin due to its essential oil content.
Irritation
moderate
Source
natural
A gentle, naturally fragrant water that offers mild astringent and refreshing benefits, but its primary role in most products is scent and sensory appeal.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Lemongrass extract adds a fresh scent and mild astringent action, but can be irritating for sensitive skin.
Irritation
moderate
Source
natural
Lemongrass oil adds a fresh citrus scent and mild astringent action, but can be irritating for sensitive skin if used at high concentrations.
Irritation
moderate
Source
natural
A gentle, naturally fragrant botanical water that can refresh and lightly tone skin, but its benefits are mild and mostly sensory.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, plant-based extract that may help calm skin and provide antioxidant protection, though research is still emerging.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, plant-based humectant that helps hydrate and soothe the skin, with antioxidant benefits.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, biotech-derived lentil extract that may help calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier, though human studies are still limited.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech
A gentle botanical powder with antioxidant potential, but research on its topical benefits is limited.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, plant-based antioxidant extract that may help calm skin and fight free radical damage, though human studies are limited.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle plant extract with antioxidant potential, but research is limited and benefits are not yet well-established.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, antioxidant-rich fern extract that helps calm and protect skin from environmental stress.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle mushroom ferment that may help calm skin and fight free radicals, but research is still early.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A mushroom ferment filtrate that may help protect skin from environmental stress and support a healthy-looking complexion, though human studies are limited.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle plant extract with antioxidant and soothing potential, but research is still limited.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, antioxidant-rich botanical extract with traditional use but limited modern skincare research.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle botanical powder with traditional use in Ayurveda, offering soothing and antioxidant benefits, but with limited modern cosmetic research.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle marine extract that may help calm skin and fight free radical damage, though research is still early.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Leptospermone is a natural compound from tea tree relatives that helps fight acne-causing bacteria while being gentle on skin.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle plant extract that may help calm skin and fight free radical damage, but research is still early.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, plant-derived antioxidant extract that may help calm skin and fight free radicals, though research is still early.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle botanical extract that may help calm skin and fight free radicals, though research is still emerging.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A botanical extract with potential soothing and antioxidant benefits, but limited human research and a known risk of skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Irritation
moderate
Source
natural
A gentle plant extract with antioxidant potential, but research in topical skincare is still limited.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle seaweed powder that helps hydrate and calm the skin, suitable for most skin types.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle lichen-derived antioxidant that may help calm skin and fight free radical damage, though research is still emerging.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, antioxidant-rich botanical extract that may help calm skin, but scientific research on its cosmetic benefits is still limited.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Leucine is a gentle amino acid that supports skin hydration and barrier health, making it a safe addition to most routines.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, probiotic-based ingredient that helps hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech
A gentle fermented ingredient that exfoliates and provides antioxidant benefits without the harshness of traditional acids.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech
Preservative booster
LEUCONOSTOC/RADISH ROOT FERMENT LYSATE FILTRATE
A gentle, naturally derived ingredient that helps preserve formulas while offering mild skin-conditioning benefits.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle plant extract with antioxidant potential, but research is still early and benefits are not yet proven in human skin.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Levan is a gentle, biotech-derived humectant that helps hydrate and soothe skin while forming a lightweight protective film.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech
A gentle sugar-based blend that hydrates and helps form a protective layer on skin, suitable for most skin types.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A plant-derived compound with early research suggesting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, but not yet widely studied in cosmetic formulations.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A mild, plant-derived exfoliant that gently smooths skin without the sting of stronger acids.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A fragrant botanical extract with mild skin-conditioning potential, but limited research on its cosmetic benefits.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A fragrant leaf oil that adds a sweet, vanilla-like scent to products, but has limited research on skin benefits and may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.
Irritation
moderate
Source
natural
A lab-grown licorice extract that helps calm irritation and defend against environmental stress without the variability of field-grown plants.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech
A gentle, lab-grown licorice extract that may help calm skin and fight free radical damage, though human studies are limited.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech
A gentle, lab-grown licorice extract that may help calm redness and protect skin from environmental stress.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech
A gentle, plant-based extract that helps calm redness and provides antioxidant protection, ideal for sensitive or reactive skin.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, fermented licorice root extract that helps calm redness and even skin tone without harsh chemicals.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Licorice root juice is a gentle, natural ingredient that helps calm redness and even out skin tone without harsh side effects.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Licorice root oil is a gentle, antioxidant-rich oil that helps calm irritation and even out skin tone without clogging pores.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, plant-derived antioxidant that helps calm redness and even out skin tone without irritation.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, plant-based water that helps calm redness and provides antioxidant protection without stripping the skin.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, antioxidant-rich extract from licorice sprouts that helps calm redness and protect skin from environmental stress.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Ligninase is a gentle enzyme exfoliant that helps brighten skin by breaking down dead surface cells, but research on its cosmetic benefits is still limited.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech
A gentle wax ester that softens skin and reinforces the moisture barrier without clogging pores.
Irritation
low
Source
semi-synthetic
A mushroom extract with promising antioxidant and soothing potential, but research in skincare is still early.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
Lignum powder is a natural wood-based exfoliant that gently sloughs dead skin, but its particle size and source can affect how abrasive it feels.
Irritation
moderate
Source
natural
A gentle botanical extract with antioxidant potential, but research is limited and benefits are not yet well-established in cosmetic science.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle botanical extract with antioxidant and soothing potential, though research is limited compared to more studied plant extracts.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle plant extract with antioxidant and soothing potential, though research is still emerging and benefits may vary by formulation.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle botanical extract that may offer antioxidant benefits and a pleasant floral scent, but research on its skincare effects is still limited.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, lightly fragrant floral water that adds a pleasant scent and mild soothing feel to skincare, but has limited proven benefits beyond hydration.
Irritation
low
Source
natural
A gentle, lab-grown plant extract that may help shield skin from environmental stress and support a more even tone.
Irritation
low
Source
biotech