EWG Skin Deep® | Ao Skincare Peak Strength AM Serum-Shot Rating

EWG's Skin Deep®

Learn how Skin Deep® works Meet our experts Discover EWG VERIFIED^®

GET UPDATES DONATE

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED®

Ao Skincare Peak Strength AM Serum-Shot

WHERE TO BUY

When you make a purchase through retailer links on our site, we may earn commission through affiliate programs. All affiliate fees EWG receives support our nonprofit mission. Learn more here

EWG Verified Product

This product bears the EWG Verified^® mark, meaning that the product meets EWG’s strictest standards for health and safety. It avoids any of the ingredients on EWG’s “Unacceptable List” and provides full transparency of ingredients, including fragrance.

Ingredient List

The specific formulation has been reviewed by EWG scientists. At the time of verification, the ingredients in this formulation were used at a concentration below EWG’s health and safety limit, and therefore did not pose significant human health concerns. Click on an ingredient for more information.

ACETYL OCTAPEPTIDE-3

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE

CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (low) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ARTEMISIA VULGARIS (MUGWORT) EXTRACT

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

BENZYL ALCOHOL

FUNCTION(S)	masking, preservative, solvent, external analgesic, fragrance ingredient, oral health care drug, solvent;viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Occupational hazards (high) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA) LEAF EXTRACT

FUNCTION(S)	antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, emollient, humectant, masking, oral care, skin conditioning, skin protecting, tonic, uv absorber, fragrance ingredient, oral care agent, skin-conditioning agent -miscellaneous, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate) • Use restrictions (low) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

CAPRYLYL GLYCOL

FUNCTION(S)	emollient, hair conditioning, humectant, skin conditioning, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

COPPER TRIPEPTIDE-1

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

CRITHMUM MARITIMUM (SEA FENNEL) EXTRACT

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, tonic, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

DEHYDROACETIC ACID

FUNCTION(S)	preservative
CONCERNS	• Ecotoxicology (low) • Occupational hazards (high) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ETHOXYDIGLYCOL

FUNCTION(S)	humectant, perfuming, solvent, fragrance ingredient, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, deodorant agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

FERULIC ACID

FUNCTION(S)	antimicrobial, antioxidant, preservative, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (moderate) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

GLYCERIN

FUNCTION(S)	denaturant, humectant, perfuming, solvent, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, oral care agent;oral health care drug, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (moderate) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

HONEY EXTRACT

FUNCTION(S)	moisturising, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Endocrine disruption (low) • Contamination concerns (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

LAMINARIA DIGITATA EXTRACT

FUNCTION(S)	skin protecting, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Contamination concerns (IODINE, ARSENIC, and LEAD) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

NARCISSUS TAZETTA (CREAM NARCISSUS) BULB EXTRACT

FUNCTION(S)	astringent, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, not reported
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

NIACINAMIDE

FUNCTION(S)	smoothing, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-37

CONCERNS

• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Neurotoxicity (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
• Contamination concerns (ACETATE and PALMITIC ACID)
• Biochemical or cellular level changes (low)

EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

PANTHENOL

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, hair conditioning agent
CONCERNS	• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

PHENOXYETHANOL

FUNCTION(S)	preservative, fragrance ingredient
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Use restrictions (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high) • Occupational hazards (high) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

PHENYL T-BUTYLNITRONE (SPIN TRAP)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

PREZATIDE COPPER ACETATE

CONCERNS	• Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE

FUNCTION(S)	antioxidant
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SODIUM HYALURONATE

FUNCTION(S)	humectant, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SODIUM PHYTATE

FUNCTION(S)	chelating, oral care, chelating agent, oral care agent
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED EXTRACT

FUNCTION(S)	anticaries agent, antidandruff agent, antifungal agent, antimicrobial agent, antioxidant;oral care agent, oral health care drug, sunscreen agent, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS	• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low) EWG has reviewed the use of this ingredient in the product formulation and found it did not pose significant health concerns. However, there may be concerns associated with the use of the ingredient in other products or formulations. Visit the ingredient page to learn more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

WATER

FUNCTION(S)	solvent
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

XANTHAN GUM

FUNCTION(S)	binding, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, gel forming, skin conditioning, surfactant, viscosity controlling, binder, emulsion stabilizer, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, surfactant -emulsifying agent, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort) Extract, Laminaria Digitata (Algae) Extract, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Ferulic Acid, Mel (Manuka Honey), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Copper tripeptide-1/Bis (tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, Phenyl t-Butylnitrone, Crithmum Maritimum (Sea Fennel) Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol

Directions from packaging:

Apply 1 pump of the serum to the face day and night before day and night treatments.

Warnings from packaging:

Avoid contact with eyes, if irritation occurs discontinue use and please let us know: [email protected]. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease(s).

EWG Verified

This product bears the EWG Verified^® mark - its formulation has been reviewed by EWG scientists, and the company behind the product has shown its ingredients meet all of EWG’s strict criteria. When it was verified, the ingredients in this formulation did not pose significant human health concerns.

LEARN MORE ON EWG.ORG

Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.

PETA Cruelty-free Companies

Companies that join the "Caring Consumer" program of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a leading international animal rights advocacy organization, attest that "neither they nor their ingredient suppliers conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations or finished products, and that they pledge not to do so in the future."

LEARN MORE ON PETA.ORG

Leaping Bunny

Products bearing the Leaping Bunny mark are certified cruelty-free under the Humane Household Products Standard, managed in the U.S. and Canada by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, a coalition of eight national animal protection groups. Participating companies must open their processes to independent audits throughout the supply chain.

LEARN MORE ON LEAPINGBUNNY.ORG

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified^® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

EWG Verification Process

EWG VERIFIED

An EWG Verified^® mark on a product indicates that the company’s ingredient disclosures show the product has met our full criteria to ensure it adheres to our standards for health.