Beauty shoppers, especially in skincare, are some of the most ingredient-literate buyers on Shopify. They know retinol from retinal, niacinamide from azelaic acid, and the percentage difference between a 0.5% and a 1% formulation. A Shopify beauty ingredient comparison table lets them line those decisions up next to each other so the right product surfaces in the comparison context, not buried inside a long product description. The parent reference for this cluster is our Shopify comparison tables for beauty stores.
Recommended schema for beauty ingredient tables
Beauty comparisons are dominated by a few high-signal fields. Your customers care about active ingredient, percentage, skin-type fit, fragrance, and formulation. Start here and extend as needed.
| Display name | Metafield key | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero ingredient | custom.hero_ingredient |
Single line text | Niacinamide |
| Hero percentage | custom.hero_pct |
Decimal | 10.0 |
| Supporting actives | custom.supporting_actives |
Multi-line text | Zinc PCA, panthenol |
| Skin type fit | custom.skin_type |
Single line text | Oily, combination, breakout-prone |
| Formulation | custom.formulation |
Single line text | Lightweight serum |
| Fragrance | custom.fragrance |
Single line text | Fragrance-free |
| pH | custom.ph |
Decimal | 5.5 |
| Pairs well with | custom.pairs_with |
Multi-line text | Hyaluronic acid, ceramides |
| Avoid pairing with | custom.avoid_with |
Multi-line text | High-strength retinol |
Building the ingredient comparison in SimplyCompare
Open SimplyCompare, click New table, name it for the comparison context (e.g. “Vitamin C serums” or “Niacinamide formulations”). Add three to five products. In the row editor, lead with hero ingredient and percentage; then skin type, supporting actives, fragrance, formulation, pH. Set display labels: “Hero ingredient” instead of custom.hero_ingredient, “Hero %” instead of custom.hero_pct.
A sample beauty ingredient comparison preview
| Spec | Niacinamide 10% Serum | Niacinamide + Zinc | Niacinamide Cream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero ingredient | Niacinamide | Niacinamide | Niacinamide |
| Hero % | 10.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Supporting actives | — | Zinc PCA 1% | Ceramides, panthenol |
| Skin type fit | Oily, breakout-prone | Combination, breakout-prone | Dry, sensitive |
| Formulation | Lightweight serum | Lightweight serum | Rich cream |
| Fragrance | Fragrance-free | Fragrance-free | Fragrance-free |
| pH | 5.5 | 5.7 | 6.0 |
Pro tips for beauty ingredient tables
Disclose the percentage if you’re proud of it. Shoppers reading ingredient comparison tables already know percentages matter; surfacing 10% vs 4% is a value signal.
Keep the skin-type row honest. If a product really only suits oily skin, say so. Ingredient comparison tables get high-trust traffic — shoppers who feel the table over-claims will trust your store less.
Use “pairs well with” and “avoid pairing with” rows. Skincare layering is one of the most-asked support questions; surfacing it in the comparison is a service.
Frequently asked questions
How do I show ingredient percentages in my Shopify beauty comparison table?
Create a Decimal metafield (e.g. custom.hero_pct) and populate it per product. Use the display label “Hero %” or “Concentration %” in the row editor.
Can I include products with multiple actives in the comparison?
Yes. Use custom.supporting_actives as a multi-line text metafield and list secondary actives below the hero. SimplyCompare displays whatever you’ve stored.
How do I handle products that work for multiple skin types?
Comma-separate them in custom.skin_type (“Oily, combination, breakout-prone”). Some merchants prefer a list-of-strings metafield type if their store uses that pattern.
Will my beauty ingredient comparison stay accurate when I reformulate?
Yes. Update the metafield value on the Shopify product and every comparison table that includes that product reflects the new value automatically.
Can I add a “tested on” or sustainability flag?
Yes. Add metafields like custom.cruelty_free (single-line text or boolean) and custom.refillable as comparison rows. They’re increasingly relevant in beauty.
Ingredient transparency without the upkeep
SimplyCompare keeps your beauty comparison tables in sync with your Shopify catalog. Reformulate a serum, change a percentage, swap a fragrance disclosure — every comparison reflects it automatically.