ZO Skin Health

ZO's philosophy holds that healthy skin is created rather than maintained, and that meaningful change requires active ingredients at meaningful concentrations. The range reflects that: retinol at three strengths, leave-on acid pads, high-percentage sulfur, and encapsulated vitamin C.

Several proprietary complexes recur across the range. ZOX12 combines encapsulated vitamins A, C and E, working as a network where each regenerates the others after oxidation. ZPOLY is a group of polysaccharides holding water at the surface. RRS2 pairs two plant cell cultures, edelweiss and white horehound, for antioxidant content.

The formulations are also notably layered. A single ZO product frequently contains several actives working through different mechanisms alongside barrier support and soothing agents intended to make them tolerable.

These are potent formulations. Several products in the range carry a mandatory sun warning requiring protection during use and for a week after stopping. Others combine two or three exfoliating acids. Most need a gradual introduction, and the range assumes you have somewhere to ask questions.

Fragrance is common across the range. Many products carry four to six declared fragrance allergens, and several contain essential oils. We note this on every product page. Where a fragrance-free alternative exists in the range, we say so.

Formulations differ between markets. ZO's Australian and North American products are not always identical, and we have found several differences ourselves. We check every product against the stock we hold before publishing an ingredient list.

The range we stock is a subset. ZO produce more than we carry. What we stock reflects what our clinic uses and what we can supply confidently.

Retinoids appear where you might not expect. Retinyl palmitate is present in several products not marketed as retinoids, including antioxidant serums, eye creams and a barrier moisturiser. Relevant if you are avoiding vitamin A, and we flag it on each one.