Vitamin A Serum
The In Practice Skincare Vitamin A Serum is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 67 ingredients (41 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The In Practice Skincare Vitamin A Serum is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 67 ingredients (41 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
14/10
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
8/13
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
B
|
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 80
(Denaturant, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
5
6
|
|
Retinal
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Glutathione
(Fragrance, Reducing) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Carnitine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Tetrapeptide-30
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
4
|
B
|
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
B
|
Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
salix alba bark extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydrolyzed Collagen
(Hair Conditioning, Nail Conditioning Agent, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Emollient, Film Forming, Humectant) |
|
|
|
|
SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED OIL
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
oenothera biennis oil
(Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
(Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
Pyrus Malus Peel Extract
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
|
|
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Beta-Glucan
(Bulking Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Bulking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Laminaria Digitata Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
(Astringent, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
|
|
|
|
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
(Masking, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
|
|
1
|
|
Ubiquinone
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract
(Antimicrobial, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
2
3
|
|
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pullulan
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Binding) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
|
|
Michelia Champaca Flower Oil
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hyaluronic Acid
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
2
|
A
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sodium Phytate
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sucrose Laurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
4
|
B
|
Benzalkonium Chloride
(Antimicrobial Agent, Antistatic Agent, Cosmetic Biocide, Deodorant, Surfactant Suspending Agent, Preservative) |
|
|
1
|
|
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
(Chelating Agent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinal, Retinyl Palmitate
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
ASCORBIC ACID, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Lactic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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