Understanding Skincare Ingredients

Skincare ingredients play an important role in how a product works and how it feels on the skin. From hydrating ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid to exfoliating acids such as AHA and BHA, each ingredient has a specific role in skincare.

Our BIONNEX Ingredient Guide helps you understand some of the most commonly used skincare ingredients and their role in your daily skincare routine.

PDRN (Salmon DNA)

What is PDRN?

PDRN, short for Polydeoxyribonucleotide, is a DNA-derived skincare ingredient. In BIONNEX formulations, PDRN is sourced from Salmon DNA and used as a skin-conditioning ingredient.

What does it do?

PDRN is used in skincare formulations to support the appearance of healthy, well-conditioned and smoother-looking skin. It is particularly popular in skincare routines focused on skin renewal and maintaining a refreshed appearance.

Best for:
Skin that looks tired, dull or lacks a smooth, well-maintained appearance.

Hyaluronic Acid

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the skin and is well known for its ability to attract and retain water.

What does it do?

Hyaluronic Acid helps maintain skin hydration and supports a softer, smoother and more supple-looking complexion. It is commonly used in moisturising skincare products and can be suitable for all skin types.

Best for:
Dehydrated, dry or tight-feeling skin.

Niacinamide

What is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, is a versatile skincare ingredient widely used in daily skincare formulations.

What does it do?

Niacinamide helps support the skin barrier and contributes to a more balanced-looking complexion. It can also help improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, visible pores and excess shine.

Best for:
Uneven-looking skin tone, visible pores and combination or oily skin.

Vitamin C

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is an antioxidant ingredient widely used in skincare formulations designed to support a brighter and more radiant-looking complexion.

What does it do?

Vitamin C helps protect the skin from oxidative stress caused by environmental factors and supports a more even and luminous-looking skin appearance.

Best for:
Dull-looking skin and uneven-looking complexion.

Retinol

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and is one of the most researched ingredients in modern skincare.

What does it do?

Retinol is commonly used in skincare routines targeting the appearance of fine lines, uneven texture and signs of skin ageing. It supports a smoother and more refined-looking complexion.

Best for:
Uneven texture, fine lines and visible signs of ageing.

Peptides

What are Peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that are naturally involved in many biological processes. In skincare, they are commonly included in formulations designed to support the appearance of firm, smooth and resilient-looking skin.

What do they do?

Peptides help support the appearance of skin firmness and smoothness and are often used in anti-ageing and skin-conditioning formulations.

Best for:
Skin that looks less firm, tired or uneven in texture.

Salicylic Acid

What is Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic Acid is a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) commonly used in skincare for oily and blemish-prone skin.

What does it do?

Salicylic Acid helps exfoliate the skin and remove excess oil and buildup from the skin's surface and pores. It can help improve the appearance of pores and blemishes.

Best for:
Oily, combination and blemish-prone skin.

Glycolic Acid

What is Glycolic Acid?

Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) derived from the group of exfoliating acids used in skincare.

What does it do?

Glycolic Acid helps remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, supporting a smoother, more refined and brighter-looking complexion.

Best for:
Dull-looking skin and uneven skin texture.

AHA

What are AHAs?

Alpha Hydroxy Acids, commonly known as AHAs, are a group of exfoliating ingredients used in skincare.

What do they do?

AHAs work primarily on the surface of the skin to help remove dead skin cells. Regular use can contribute to a smoother and more even-looking complexion.

Best for:
Dull-looking skin and uneven skin texture.

BHA

What is BHA?

Beta Hydroxy Acid, or BHA, is a type of exfoliating ingredient commonly used in products formulated for oily and blemish-prone skin.

What does it do?

BHA helps exfoliate the skin and remove excess oil and buildup from pores, supporting a clearer and more balanced-looking complexion.

Best for:
Oily, combination and blemish-prone skin.

Caffeine

What is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a naturally occurring compound widely used in skincare, particularly in products formulated for the eye area.

What does it do?

Caffeine is commonly used to help the skin around the eyes look more refreshed and awake. It can also contribute to a smoother and more revitalised-looking appearance.

Best for:
Tired-looking eye areas and dull-looking skin.

Panthenol (Vitamin B5)

What is Panthenol?

Panthenol, also known as Pro-Vitamin B5, is a moisturising and skin-conditioning ingredient widely used in skincare.

What does it do?

Panthenol helps maintain skin hydration and leaves the skin feeling soft, smooth and comfortable.

Best for:
Dry, dehydrated and sensitive-feeling skin.

Ceramides

What are Ceramides?

Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids found in the skin's outermost layer. They are an important component of the skin barrier.

What do they do?

Ceramides help support the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss, helping the skin maintain a comfortable and hydrated feel.

Best for:
Dry, dehydrated and barrier-focused skincare routines.

Ferulic Acid

What is Ferulic Acid?

Ferulic Acid is a plant-derived antioxidant commonly used in skincare formulations, particularly alongside antioxidant ingredients such as Vitamin C.

What does it do?

Ferulic Acid helps support antioxidant skincare formulations and contributes to the protection of the formula and skin from oxidative stress.

Best for:
Antioxidant-focused skincare routines and dull-looking skin.

Aloe Vera

What is Aloe Vera?

Aloe Vera is a botanical ingredient widely used in skincare for its moisturising and soothing properties.

What does it do?

Aloe Vera helps maintain skin hydration and leaves the skin feeling refreshed and comfortable.

Best for:
Dry, dehydrated or sensitive-feeling skin.

Arctic Algae

What is Arctic Algae?

Arctic Algae refers to algae species adapted to cold environments and used in skincare formulations as a source of naturally occurring compounds.

What does it do?

In skincare, Arctic Algae is commonly used in hydrating and skin-conditioning formulations to support a moisturised and healthy-looking complexion.

Best for:
Dehydrated and dry-feeling skin.

Urea

What is Urea?

Urea is a naturally occurring component of the skin's Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF). It is widely used in skincare products for dry and rough skin.

What does it do?

Urea helps attract and retain moisture and can improve the feeling of softness and smoothness of dry, rough skin.

Best for:
Very dry, rough and cracked-feeling skin.

How to Choose the Right Ingredients for Your Skin

Understanding your skin's needs can help you choose skincare ingredients more effectively.

For hydration:
Look for ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Ceramides and Squalane.

For uneven skin tone and dullness:
Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Glycolic Acid and other AHAs can be useful ingredients to explore.

For oily and blemish-prone skin:
Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid are commonly used in formulations designed for excess oil and blemish-prone skin.

For visible signs of ageing:
Retinol, Peptides, Vitamin C and PDRN are commonly found in skincare routines focused on smoother, firmer and more youthful-looking skin.

For dry and rough skin:
Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, Panthenol, Squalane and Urea can help support hydration and skin comfort.

Find the Right Ingredients for Your Skin

Every skin type has different needs. Understanding the role of individual skincare ingredients can help you build a routine that works for your skin.

Explore BIONNEX skincare formulas and discover ingredients selected to support hydration, skin balance, skin texture, radiance and overall skin appearance.