Ingredient Philosophy
Every ingredient earns
its place. The rest is
left out on purpose.
We formulate by leaving out. Every ingredient is weighed for the load it asks of sensitive skin, and chosen by a clinical formulator who works to the tolerance of the most reactive skin there is.
Every ingredient is weighed for one thing: what it does for the skin, and what it costs the system to process it. For reactive skin, every ingredient is either support or load. So we formulate by leaving out. Only what earns its place goes in, and everything else is left out on purpose.
Lipids the skin knows and welcomes
Ceramides
NP · AP · EOPA familiar lipid found in the skin's outer layer. We include ceramides to help skin feel supported, soft, and comfortable, a recognizable ingredient that's gentle on sensitive, reactive skin.
Squalane
Olive · SugarcaneA lightweight, skin-familiar oil. Plant-derived squalane blends in easily and hydrates without feeling heavy, leaving sensitive or reactive skin soft and comfortable.
Linoleic Acid
Essential Fatty AcidA nourishing fatty acid found in many plant oils. We include it for its softening, conditioning feel, a quiet, recognizable ingredient that sits gently on the skin.
Botanicals chosen for gentle care
Bakuchiol
Babchi PlantA plant-derived botanical, often reached for by people whose skin does not tolerate retinoids. We include it for a smoothing feel on skin that wants a softer, low-irritation option.
Sea Buckthorn
CO2 Extract and OilA vivid, nutrient-dense botanical and one of the few plant sources of omega-7. We use it in both CO2 and oil form for a rich, conditioning feel on the skin.
Rosehip
Rosa rubiginosaA botanical oil rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, with a soft, easily-absorbed feel. Gentle on reactive skin and a long-loved favorite for everyday nourishment.
Oat
Avena sativa · Certified Gluten-FreeOne of the most beloved soothing botanicals in skincare, with a softening, comforting feel for sensitive, easily-overwhelmed skin. Our oat is certified gluten-free, verified at the source. That is one less thing you have to check.
Nutrients that nourish and comfort
Niacinamide
Vitamin B3A well-loved, well-tolerated vitamin in skincare. We include niacinamide for its smoothing, comforting feel and its reputation for being gentle on sensitive skin.
Panthenol
Provitamin B5A deeply humectant, soothing ingredient and one of the most well-tolerated for sensitive and reactive skin. It leaves skin feeling soft, hydrated, and calm.
Coenzyme Q10
UbiquinoneA naturally skin-familiar antioxidant. We include CoQ10 for its antioxidant character and the soft, conditioned feel it lends to a finished formula.
Magnesium
Essential MineralA mineral-rich ingredient that gives our butters their grounding, smooth, non-stinging feel. Chosen for a calm, comfortable sensory experience on the skin.
Antioxidants for a healthy-looking glow
Vitamin C
Stabilised Derivative FormsOne of the most loved antioxidants in skincare, known for helping skin look brighter and more even. We use stabilised derivative forms, named per formula: tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate in Clear Elixir and Glow Elixir, ascorbyl phosphate in Radiance Mask, ascorbyl palmitate in the Mineral Brightening Elixir. Paired with Vitamin E for a fresh, radiant finish.
Vitamin E
TocopherolA nourishing, oil-soluble antioxidant that lives naturally in the skin's lipid layers. It adds a soft, conditioned feel and pairs beautifully with Vitamin C for dry or reactive skin.
Botanicals for softness and bounce
Tremella Mushroom
Snow Mushroom · Eleven FormulasA beautifully hydrating botanical, often described as a whole-plant cousin to hyaluronic acid for its water-loving feel. Tremella leaves skin feeling supple and plump, and it appears in eleven of our formulas.
Centella Asiatica
Cica · Gotu KolaA long-treasured botanical, often called cica, loved for its soft, soothing, comforting feel on the skin. A gentle, recognizable ingredient especially welcome on sensitive, reactive skin.
Plant oils for richness and comfort
These botanical oils are chosen for their rich, conditioning feel and nourishing fatty-acid character, especially welcome for skin that wants extra softness and comfort.
Botanical Seed Oils
Pomegranate · Red Clover · Evening PrimroseA blend of plant oils prized for their rich, nourishing fatty-acid profiles. They lend a soft, conditioned, comforting feel, a quiet, plant-powered way to care for skin that wants extra richness.
Borage Oil
Borago officinalis · GLA RichOne of the richest plant sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a nourishing omega-6 fatty acid. Borage oil has a soft, conditioning feel that's especially welcome on dry, reactive skin.
Adaptogenic Botanicals
Functional Mushrooms and Plant AdaptogensPlant botanicals long valued in traditional practice and chosen here for their gentle, nourishing character. They add a quiet, grounding quality to a formula made for sensitive skin.
Time-honored botanicals. Thoughtfully chosen.
Functional mushrooms are among the most treasured botanicals in traditional plant practice. We use three distinct species, each chosen for the gentle, nourishing quality it brings to a formula.
Tremella
Tremella fuciformis · Snow MushroomThe hydration anchor of our line. Tremella is wonderfully water-loving, giving formulas a soft, plumped feel. A deeply comforting botanical we love for sensitive and reactive skin. It sits on our mold-sensitivity disclosure list, which we would rather you heard from us.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps sinensisA treasured adaptogenic botanical with a long history in traditional practice. We include it in Harmony Essence for the quiet, grounding character it lends, especially welcome in a calm, sensory-safe ritual.
Lion's Mane
Hericium erinaceusA distinctive botanical long valued in traditional plant practice. In Harmony Essence, it's chosen for its gentle character, part of a calm, sensory-quiet experience for skin that prefers less stimulation.
Calm and comforting
Aloe Vera
Aloe barbadensis · OrganicUsed as both a base and a star ingredient, aloe brings immediate calming, hydrating comfort to a formula. For reactive or sensitized skin, it's the quiet first touch of soothing. We use certified organic aloe for purity and gentleness.
Allantoin
Four FormulasA gentle ingredient long loved for its softening, soothing feel. Allantoin helps skin feel smooth and comfortable, making it a favorite for sensitive, reactive skin. It appears in Harmony Essence, Hydrate Cleansing Bar, Shield Serum, and the Ceramide Barrier Cream.
Renewal without harshness
Enzyme Exfoliants
Fruit-Derived · Papain · BromelainEnzymatic exfoliation has a gentle, non-abrasive feel, helping lift away dull surface buildup without the sting of stronger acids. A soft, low-irritation way to keep sensitive skin feeling fresh and smooth.
Gentle Facial Polish
Physical Micro-ExfoliationOur gentle polish uses ultra-fine, skin-safe particles to soften surface buildup and leave skin feeling smooth and refreshed. Formulated for skin that wants a fresh feel without abrasion.
Peptides that come from living plants
Avocado Peptides
Persea gratissimaPlant-derived peptides from avocado, chosen for their nourishing, conditioning feel. They come paired with avocado's natural phytosterols and oleic acid, a whole-plant matrix your skin receives as gentle nourishment. A favorite for skin that wants softness and care.
Lupine Peptides
Lupinus albusPlant-derived peptides from white lupine, rich in arginine and exceptionally well-tolerated by sensitive, reactive skin. We love them for their gentle, conditioning feel at every stage. Lupine is a legume, which is why four of our products carry a lupin cross-reactivity note.
"Our peptides come from avocado and white lupine. They arrive inside the whole plant, with the sterols and fatty acids that grew alongside them, and your skin meets all of it together."
For skin that cannot
afford a mistake.
Whether your skin changed with time or has been reactive as long as you can remember, every ingredient here was chosen against that standard.
Every ingredient is evaluated and named. What earns its place goes in. Everything else is left out on purpose.
That is Indiefog.
Indiefog Naturals · Nervous System Skincare™This is a language for noticing. It is not a diagnosis, and it belongs alongside your doctors, never instead of them.
Indiefog products are cosmetics, made to cleanse, soften, and comfort skin. They do not treat, cure, or prevent any condition. We suggest a patch test on the inner forearm, left 24 hours, before facial use.