Skincare ingredients can sound complicated, but understanding a few key ingredients can make choosing your products much easier.

Our Ingredient Library explores some of the ingredients you'll find throughout ah-mee:skin, from familiar skincare favourites to some of the lesser-known ingredients that make our formulas special.

Discover what each ingredient is, how it can support your skin, which skin types or concerns it may suit, and where you can find it within our collections.

You don't need to follow every skincare trend. Instead, use our Ingredient Library to discover the ingredients that make sense for your skin and your routine.

Learn your ingredients. Understand your products. Make informed choices for your skin.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring substance found within the skin and is well known for its ability to attract and hold onto moisture.

In skincare, it acts as a humectant, (like a sponge), helping to draw water into the skin and support hydration. Well-hydrated skin can appear softer, smoother and more plump, which is why Hyaluronic Acid is such a popular ingredient in everyday skincare.

What can it help with?

💧 Dehydration and moisture loss

💧 Skin that feels tight or dry

💧 Improving the appearance of plumpness

💧 Supporting softer, smoother-looking skin

💧 Adding hydration without a heavy or greasy feel

Who is it suitable for?

One of the great things about Hyaluronic Acid is its versatility. It can be useful across dry, oily, combination and mature skin types, particularly when dehydration is a concern.

Skin School Tip: Hyaluronic Acid works particularly well as part of a routine that also includes a moisturiser, helping support hydration rather than relying on one ingredient alone.

What are Peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the building blocks of proteins found naturally within the skin, including collagen and elastin.

In skincare, peptides are commonly used in formulas designed to support the appearance of firmer, smoother and more youthful-looking skin. They're particularly popular in age-supporting skincare because they can complement a routine focused on maintaining healthy-looking skin as it changes over time.

What can they help with?

✨ Supporting firmer-looking skin

✨ Improving the appearance of fine lines and skin texture

✨ Supporting smoother, plumper-looking skin

✨ Maintaining a healthy-looking skin barrier

✨ Adding targeted age support to your routine

Who are they suitable for?

Peptides can be incorporated into many skincare routines, but they're particularly useful for skin showing signs of ageing, loss of firmness, dehydration or changes in texture.

They can also work beautifully alongside hydrating ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, making them a great choice when you want both hydration and age support.

Skin School Tip: You don't need to wait until you see visible signs of ageing to introduce peptides. They can form part of a consistent skincare routine focused on supporting your skin as it changes over time.

What is Alteromonas Ferment Extract?

Alteromonas Ferment Extract is a marine-derived skincare ingredient produced through the fermentation of microorganisms found in marine environments.

It's used in skincare for its conditioning, hydrating and skin-supporting properties, making it particularly interesting in formulas designed to help skin look smoother, softer and more youthful.

What can it help with?

🌊 Supporting skin hydration

🌊 Helping skin feel softer and smoother

🌊 Supporting the skin's natural barrier

🌊 Improving the appearance of dry or dehydrated skin

🌊 Supporting a plumper, healthier-looking complexion

Who is it suitable for?

Alteromonas Ferment Extract can be particularly beneficial in skincare routines focused on dehydration, dryness and visible signs of ageing.

Its skin-conditioning properties also make it a lovely ingredient for anyone looking to support smoother, more comfortable and healthy-looking skin.

Skin School Tip: Don't overlook an ingredient simply because you haven't heard of it before. Some of the most interesting skincare ingredients aren't necessarily the ones currently trending on social media.

What is Marine Plankton Extract?

Marine Plankton Extract is a marine-derived skincare ingredient obtained from tiny organisms found naturally within aquatic environments.

Rich in naturally occurring compounds, marine extracts are used in skincare for their conditioning, hydrating and antioxidant-supporting properties, helping to support skin that looks fresh, smooth and healthy.

What can it help with?

🌊 Supporting skin hydration

🌊 Helping skin feel softer and smoother

🌊 Supporting the skin against environmental stressors

🌊 Improving the appearance of dull or tired-looking skin

🌊 Supporting a fresh, healthy-looking complexion

Who is it suitable for?

Marine Plankton Extract can be a useful ingredient for skin experiencing dehydration, dullness or visible signs of ageing, and for routines focused on maintaining healthy-looking skin.

Its conditioning properties also make it an interesting ingredient for anyone looking for skincare that combines hydration with additional antioxidant support.

Skin School Tip: Marine-derived ingredients can offer much more than hydration. Look at the complete formula rather than choosing a product based on one ingredient alone — ingredients often work together to support different needs within the skin.

The best ingredient isn't necessarily the most talked-about one — it's the one that suits your skin.

When choosing skincare, think about what you would actually like to improve rather than simply following ingredient trends.

For example:

Dehydrated or dry-feeling skin

Look for ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Aloe Vera and Ceramides to help support hydration and the skin barrier.

Oily or blemish-prone skin

Ingredients such as Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid can be useful when choosing products designed to support oil balance and clearer-looking skin.

Dull or uneven-looking skin

Look for ingredients designed to support radiance and smoother-looking skin, including Vitamin C and gentle exfoliating acids.

Mature or ageing skin concerns

Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, Alteromonas Ferment Extract and Marine Plankton Extract can all feature in formulas designed to support hydrated, smoother and more youthful-looking skin.

Skin School Tip: You don't need every trending ingredient in your routine. Choose products according to your skin type, your individual concerns and what your skin responds well to.

Understanding ingredients can help you make more confident choices, but you don't need to become a skincare expert to build a routine that works for you.

Start by understanding your skin, identify the concerns you'd like to support, and choose products containing ingredients suited to those needs.

Most importantly, give your skin time. Introduce new products gradually, stay consistent with your routine and pay attention to how your skin responds.

Good skincare isn't about using the most products — it's about choosing the right products for your skin.