The Science Behind Transparency: Why Ingredient Labels Don’t Always Tell the Whole Story
Why Reading Your Label Matters
Every skincare product tells a story on its label. Some tell the truth, others tell what sounds good. Behind those long lists of actives and scientific terms, there is one essential question every consumer should ask: Are these ingredients doing anything, or are they just there for show?
Most people do not realize that under cosmetic regulations, a brand can legally list an ingredient even if it exists only in a trace or inactive amount. This practice, known as label dressing, makes a product sound more advanced than it really is. A serum may claim to contain peptides or vitamins, but without proper concentration or stabilization, those ingredients contribute little to performance.
At DERMA-CODE™, we believe the ingredient list should be more than a marketing tool. It should be a transparent reflection of a formula’s true composition and purpose. Understanding your label empowers you to make informed choices — and that is where real trust begins.
Ingredient Transparency Is the Foundation of Trust
In the beauty industry, labels often serve as marketing scripts, designed to impress rather than inform. DERMA-CODE™ was built on the opposite principle. For us, transparency is not a trend; it is a responsibility.
We believe that every ingredient listed should serve a purpose — and that the consumer deserves to understand not just what is in a formula, but why it is there.
The Problem With Ingredient “Label Dressing”
Label dressing has become common across the skincare industry. Brands may include high-profile ingredients in quantities far below their effective levels simply so they can legally list them on the packaging.
This creates confusion for consumers and professionals alike. Two products might both claim to include peptides, retinol, or antioxidants, yet deliver completely different results. The difference is not the ingredient name itself, but its concentration, stabilization, and compatibility within the formula.
At DERMA-CODE™, we do not include ingredients for decoration. Every compound serves a function, whether it supports skin performance, enhances stability, or improves bioavailability.
Our Philosophy on Ingredient Callouts
When DERMA-CODE™ highlights ingredients on packaging or online, those callouts are not chosen for trend value — they are chosen for informational accuracy.
Each callout exists to help consumers understand which ingredients are present in meaningful, functional amounts. For example, when our serum lists 2% PDRN, 1% NAD⁺, and 6 peptides, those concentrations are real and validated within the formulation.
Our goal is not to impress with terminology, but to educate with clarity. We want consumers to recognize that ingredient callouts can be a source of truth, not confusion.
Transparency Without Compromise
We disclose our actives clearly while protecting the proprietary framework that keeps them effective. Exact stabilizer ratios, peptide chain balances, and buffer systems remain confidential, but our declared active concentrations provide enough context for consumers to understand how our formulas perform.
This balance allows us to stay transparent without compromising intellectual property or the scientific integrity of our work. Our transparency is educational, not promotional.
How the Tri-Active System Fits Into This Philosophy
The Tri-Active System exemplifies DERMA-CODE™’s approach to ingredient truth. It unites PDRN, NAD⁺, and peptides in a controlled molecular network designed for optimized skin compatibility and performance.
We call these three ingredients out not because they are trending, but because they form the structural and functional core of our formulations. Each is stabilized at meaningful levels within the system, supported by a matrix that protects their activity.
Transparency, when paired with real science, earns trust at the molecular level.
Final Thought
A skincare label should never be a guessing game. True transparency means knowing not only what is listed, but what is working. Understanding what goes into your skincare is only the beginning. At DERMA-CODE™, we took that philosophy one step further by designing a system where every active works in harmony rather than competition.
Learn how we built the Tri-Active System our proprietary framework that unites PDRN, NAD⁺, and peptides for true molecular stability and performance. Read the next article →
We earn trust through results, not promises.
0 comments