If we go with our royal family analogy, Retinal is Prince William, directly next in line to the throne. At the same time, it also boosts the effectiveness of other preservatives, such as the nowadays super commonly used phenoxyethanol. It’s definitely a smart thing to avoid with sensitive skin (and fragrance of any type - natural is just as allergic as synthetic, if not worse! A clear, colorless and odorless, highly volatile (meaning it does not absorb into the skin but evaporates from it) liquid that's used as an emollient.

A thick, high molecular weight silicone that is usually diluted in another, lighter silicone fluid (like dimethicone or cyclopentasiloxane).

INCI is a list of the standardized and internationally accepted names used in the declaration of ingredients on cosmetic and personal care products. According to manufacturer info, it's also a moisturizer and helps to make the product feel great on the skin. It has been used for a long time in the food industry as an "anti-browning agent" for fresh-cut fruits or shrimps. It works over a very wide pH range (3-12) and can be used to thicken up low-ph formulas, such as exfoliants.

Sunscreens containing Titanium Dioxide are often hard to spread on the skin and they leave a disturbing whitish tint. They found that " the natural retinoids ROL and RAL do have a good tolerance profile, in contrast with the irritating potential of RA", meaning retinal is an awesome alternative if you have irritation and flaking issues with prescription products, such as Retin-A. The itsy-bitsy Nano-sized particles improve both spreadability and reduce the whitish tint a lot, but unfortunately, it also introduces new health concerns.

A handy multi-tasker, white to light yellowish oil-loving wax that works very well in oil-in-water emulsions. The good tolerability of retinal was also confirmed by another study that compared retinol (ROL), retinal (RAL) and retinoic acid (RA).

An ingredient that is created from the attachment of the water-loving sugar molecule, glucose, and an oil-loving 20 carbon long fatty chain.

As for skincare, it makes the skin silky smooth, creates a subtle gloss and forms a protective barrier (aka occlusive). Regular sized Titanium Dioxide also has a great safety profile, it's non-irritating and is pretty much free from any health concerns (like estrogenic effect worries with some chemical filters).