Why Reading Your Label Matters
Every skincare label tells a story. Some are honest. Some are written to impress. And somewhere between those two extremes is where most consumers get lost.
A product can list peptides, vitamins, antioxidants, or “clinical actives,” yet very few people realize that under cosmetic regulations an ingredient can appear on a label even if it is used in extremely small, non-functional amounts. This practice, known as label dressing, is what makes many formulas look more advanced on paper than they are.
You can have two serums that both say, “contains peptides,” but only one of them actually reaches the skin in a meaningful way. The difference comes down to concentration, stability, and whether the ingredient is protected enough to stay active once it touches the skin.
At DERMA-CODE™, we do not believe the label should be a guessing game. We believe it should give you enough truth to understand why a formula performs the way it does.
Transparency as a Responsibility
In our industry, labels are often used as marketing scripts. They highlight buzzwords without offering any real context about what those ingredients are doing or whether they are present in amounts that matter.
DERMA-CODE™ was built on the opposite philosophy. Transparency is not a trend for us. It is the foundation of trust. If we list something, it is there for a reason. And we want people to understand not only what is inside our formulas, but how each ingredient contributes to the overall structure and performance.
The Problem With Label Dressing
Label dressing has become a quiet norm in skincare. A brand can add a tiny trace of a high-profile ingredient, list it legally, and use it in marketing.
The result is confusion. Two products may look similar on an ingredient list yet behave completely differently on the skin. Without proper concentration, pH alignment, stabilization, and compatibility, even good ingredients become inactive passengers.
We avoid this entirely. Every ingredient in a DERMA-CODE™ formula plays a functional role, whether it is contributing to skin performance, supporting molecular stability, or protecting active compounds from environmental breakdown.
Nothing is added for decoration.
Our Approach to Ingredient Callouts
When we highlight ingredients on our packaging or website, it is not for trend value. It is for clarity.
If we call out PDRN at 2 percent or NAD+ at 1 percent, those numbers are real. They were validated during development, stability testing, and safety review.
Our callouts exist to tell you what is doing the work, not to create a long list of buzzwords.
Transparency Without Giving Away Intellectual Property
Being transparent does not mean revealing every part of a formula. Things like stabilizer ratios, buffer systems, peptide balances, and protective carriers remain confidential because they are part of our proprietary framework.
But we believe that consumers deserve to understand what is active in meaningful amounts and why those ingredients were chosen. The goal is clarity, not exposure.
Where the Tri-Active System Fits In
The Tri-Active System is the clearest example of our ingredient philosophy. PDRN, NAD+, and peptides form the backbone of our formulations. They are stabilized in a controlled environment that keeps them active and protected, rather than competing or degrading.
We call them out because they matter. They are not trends. They are the molecular drivers of how our formulas behave.
When transparency is paired with real science, it becomes more than marketing. It becomes a promise you can see in the results.
Final Thought
Your skincare label should help you understand what you are putting on your skin, not make you guess. And once you understand what is in your product, the next step is understanding how those ingredients work together.
That is where the Tri-Active System begins. It brings structure, stability, and purpose to every formula we create.
We earn trust through results, not promises.
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