How do I know if a product has enough active ingredients to work?

Immediate Answer: Check three things: (1) Does the product contain proven active ingredients? (2) Is the product formulated at the right pH for those ingredients to work? (3) Does the brand explain how the product works, not just what it contains? Many brands list impressive ingredients but formulate at the wrong pH—rendering those ingredients ineffective.

The Science: What many people don't realise is that active ingredients alone aren't enough—they need the right formulation environment to work. Two products can contain the same ingredients but deliver completely different results because of pH and how the ingredients work together.

pH is critical and rarely discussed: Retinol is unstable at higher pH and becomes ineffective. Vitamin C works best at pH 3.5–4.0. Niacinamide and peptides need a carefully balanced environment. Most brands don't talk about pH because their products aren't optimised for it. Nordic Formula formulates each product at a specific therapeutic pH: Power Glow Serum at pH 3.8 and Advanced Face Repair at pH 4.1—these values are chosen to maximise ingredient stability, penetration, and effectiveness.

How Nordic Formula approaches active ingredients: Each product is formulated with active ingredients at effective concentrations, combined with the right pH to maximise their performance:

• Power Glow Serum (pH 3.8): Niacinamide, peptides, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and sea buckthorn at therapeutic levels
• Advanced Face Repair (pH 4.1): 0.05% retinol with controlled-release technology, niacinamide, and peptides
• Dark Spot Treatment patches: 9 active ingredients including kojic acid, tranexamic acid, and vitamin C delivered via 225 micropoints for deeper penetration
• Daycream Defence Repair SPF 50: Broad-spectrum SPF 50 combined with bio-retinol (Revinage) for daytime skin renewal
• Gentle Cleansing Foam: pH-balanced cleansing that prepares skin for active ingredients without stripping the barrier

It's the combination of the right active ingredients at the right pH that delivers results—not just listing impressive ingredients on the label.

Pro Tip: When comparing products, ask for ingredient concentrations. Brands confident in their formulations will provide them. Brands that won't disclose percentages are often underdosing key actives to cut costs.