Algae
Believe it or not, this stuff not only thrives in water but on your skin, too! Algae is a powerful antioxidant, which means it's a common ingredient in anti-aging products, since it contains essential amino acids, proteins and tons of vitamins.
Baobab
Say what?! We're talking about the superfood packed with vitamin C, fiber and calcium. In beauty products, it helps with collagen production, while baobab oil, which contains omega-3 and fatty acids, is often used as a non-pore-clogging moisturizer.
Coffee
While drinking too much caffeine may not be good for you, applying it on your face can work wonders. Caffeine is an antioxidant, which helps ward off free-radical damage. It's often used in eye creams, as it naturally depuffs, calms irritated skin and improves blood flow, which eventually brightens skin.
Dragon's Blood
No, Game of Thrones is not real. It sounds mythical, but dragon's blood, or croton lechleri, is a red resin produced by a specific set of plants. It was used in ancient times for medicinal purposes, but nowadays, it's used to calm skin inflammation, redness and irritation.
Egg Enzymes
Sushi lovers, this one may be for you. Apparently, the salmon egg enzyme works well as a gentle exfoliator. It can loosen dead skin cells without damaging the cells underneath. Not to mention, it's full of amino acids, fatty acids, omega-3 and vitamins A and D, which make it a pretty pricey ingredient.
Perricone MD Blue Plasma Cleansing Treatment, $45
Ferulic Acid
It actually sounds quite feral, but this is just another antioxidant to add to your arsenal. It's found in the seeds of fruits and basically acts as a power boost to vitamins already working in your favor. Free-radical damage is practically toast against this ingredient.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution, $88
Gold
It may be a little extra (and expensive), but gold is also an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties (read: it'll tone down redness). The gold in this product is designed to lock in moisture, but for that luxurious radiance, you may have to pay a premium.
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Mask, $80
Hyaluronic Acid
Pretty much every moisturizing product has this ingredient nowadays. It sounds scary but it's so effective that it's now marketed as a buzzword. Hyaluronic molecules hold up 1000 times more water, which makes hydrated skin all the more achievable.
Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb The Antioxidant Super Moisturizer, $16.99
Indian Gentian Extract
It may sound exotic, but this plant has universal healing properties. Back in the day, it was used for everything from treating flu to infections. Today, it's used in skin care for its blood circulation properties. Perhaps that's why beauty brands are using it to help fight wrinkles and aging.
Jelly
Not the PB&J variety—we're talking about royal jelly, or worker bee secretion. It's often paired with Manuka honey to create one badass anti-aging product promising taut skin.
J.One Jelly Cream, $42
Kojic Acid
Got skin discolorations or redness? This ingredient is primarily used as a brightening agent. It helps exfoliate and remove dirt from the surface layer of skin.
Lanolin
If you're a vegan, you're probably not going to like the idea of this one. Lanolin or lanolin oil, a.k.a. wool grease, is typically collected from sheep. It's used in a lot of moisturizing beauty products, because it penetrates deeper into the skin.
Micellar Molecules
Hard water drying out your skin? Micellar to the rescue! Micellar products contain little molecules called micelles that remove dirt and impurities without any water. This is especially great for those who hate washing their face. Read more about it here.
La Roche Posay Physiological Micellar Water Cleansing Solution, $14.99
Niacinamide
Another hard ingredient to say but what is essentially vitamin B3 is important for skin care products that claim it can help reduce redness, minimize fine lines and wrinkles and protect skin integrity.
Oliveactiv
While this brand calls it Oliveactiv, it's known to scientists as Maslinic Acid, which is (yet again) an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory derived from olive pulp. Besides performing the usual free-radical fighting, it also repairs skin, penetrating deep down into its layers.
Placenta
Before you go thinking this is human placenta (which does contain amino acids that can breathe life into skin cells), we're talking about plant placenta this time, which pretty much can have the same effect if not better. It can go deep into skin layers and deliver anti-aging proteins and peptides. In clinical tests, plant placenta provided 70 percent more skin oxygenation than human placenta.
Tonymoly Pureness 100 Placenta Mask Sheet Strengthening Skin Barrier, $4.94
Quinoa
That stuff you eat for lunch every day? Yep, it's good for your skin, too. While you may not absorb the superfood's vitamins, minerals and protein the same way, it should help your skin out, too, right?
Rice Powder
Not only does the milled grain act as an non-abrasive exfoliant, but it also contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that stimulate cell turnover.
Snail Mucus
It sounds disgusting but just look at the stats: It's packed with hyaluronic acid (see letter H) and antimicrobial and copper peptides, all good-for-your-skin ingredients. It's about 90 percent water, so it's super hydrating. And snail slime helps promote collagen and elastin, which heals damaged skin. Fun fact: Snail mucus used for cosmetic purposes are usually grown in the lab, not garden, so don't just plop just any ol' slug on your face!
Tamanu Oil
Derived from a tree nut, this natural ingredient is featured in many products for eczema, acne, stretch marks and even ingrown hairs. It also promotes cell turnover and contains antioxidant properties.
Urea
Not to be confused with the stuff in your urinary tract, this kind of urea can act as a gentle exfoliant and humectant, which means it helps retain moisture and enhances the performance of your lotions and creams.
Vitamin C
OK, it's no secret that vitamin C is essential in good skin care; however, in recent years it's become an ingredient du jour for beauty brands claiming brighter skin, collagen production, better elasticity and skin protection.
Water Lily Extract
It's obvious, but the best moisturizing product hydrate your skin. The top-tier products also condition your skin. You wouldn't just shampoo right? Water lily extract is a natural conditioner.
H2O+ Beauty Hydrating Treatment, $32.30
Xanthan Gum
Sometimes, you need something to hold all the good-for-you ingredients together. This natural thickening agent just does that...without any necessary chemicals or artificial compounds.