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What Is an Active in Skincare? The Word Everyone Uses Loosely
In skincare talk, an ingredient included to do a specific job for the look of skin, as opposed to the water, thickeners and preservatives that make the product possible.
On the label
Retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide, acids and PDRN are called actives. The word has a strict legal meaning for medicines that cosmetics do not use.
What it does not mean
It does not mean the product is a medicine or that more actives is better. Most skin does best with one or two.