Ingredient lists are ordered by concentration, down to about one percent. After that, brands can list in any order. That alone tells you most of what you need.

The first five

These make up most of the product. Water, glycerin and a few oils or silicones are normal. If the active you are paying for appears near the end, there is very little of it.

Actives and fragrance

Find the ingredients doing the work: retinol, niacinamide, an acid, vitamin C. Then look for fragrance or essential oils. If your skin is reactive, those are the first thing to rule out.

Bring the bottles to your consultation. Reading them together is often the most useful ten minutes of a first visit.