Beauty ingredient research

Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Browse the review database to understand what an ingredient is, what it does in a beauty formula, when it is useful, and when it deserves caution across skincare, haircare, bodycare, makeup, and more.

20769

Reviewed ingredients

524

Low-concern standouts

2884

Need usage caution

Showing 10 of 10
AllUV absorberUV filterabrasiveabsorbentacne treatmentactiveactive ingredientadhesivealkalizing agentamino acidanti-aginganti-androgenanti-cavityanti-cavity agentanti-inflammatoryanti-irritantanticariesanticavity agentantidandruffantifungalantimicrobialantioxidantantiperspirantantiplaqueastringentbarrier repairbarrier supportbarrier-repairbarrier-supportbinderbinding agentbiotechbiotechnologybond-builderbotanicalbotanical extractbotanical oilbotanical waterbrighteningbrightening agentbufferbuffering agentcell-communicating ingredientceramidechelating agentchemicalchemical intermediateclaycleansercleansingcleansing agentcolorantconditionerconditioningconditioning agentcooling agentcosmeticcosmetic additivecosmetic colorantcosmetic ingredientcosmetic pigmentcosmetic powdercosmetic-texturizercosmetic-waxcosmeticscrosslinking agentdelivery agentdelivery systemdenaturantdeodorantdeodorant agentdepigmenting agentdepilatorydepilatory agentdesensitizing agentdyedye intermediatedye precursordye-intermediateemollientemulsifierenzymeessential oilexfoliantexperimentaleyelashfermentfilm formerfilm-formerfilm-formingfilm-forming agentfirming agentfixativeflavoring agentformulationfragrancefragrance ingredientfunctional ingredientgashair carehair colorhair coloranthair conditionerhair dyehair removalhair-carehair-colorhaircarehumectantindustrialinsecticideintermediatelashlash carelash enhancerlash-and-browlip carelipidmakeupmarine extractmasking agentmicrobiomemicrobiome modulatormineralmoisturizernail carenail-careocclusiveoilopacifieropacifying agentoptical agentoral careotheroxidative dyeoxidative dye precursoroxidizing agentpH adjusterpain reliefpenetration enhancerpeptidepersonal careph adjusterpharmaceuticalpheromonepigmentplant oilplasticizerpolymerpolymer precursorprebioticprescription-drugpreservativepreservative boosterprobioticprocessing agentprocessing aidpropellantproteinpurifyingreducing agentretinoidscalp caresebum regulatorsebum-regulatorself-tannerself-tanningsensory additivesensory agentsensory modifiersiliconeskin barrierskin barrier supportskin conditionerskin conditioningskin conditioning agentskin lighteningskin protectantskin-conditioningskin-conditioning agentskin-identicalskin-identical ingredientskin-lighteningskin-lightening agentskincaresolventsoothingsoothing agentstabilizerstimulantsunscreensurfactantsyntheticsynthetic colorantsynthetic dyesynthetic resinsynthetic-coloranttexture enhancertexturizerthickenertoneruv-absorberuv-filtervasoactivevasodilatorviscosity controlviscosity controllingviscosity controlling agentvitaminwax

Buffering Agent

Ammonium Acetate

Ammonium Acetate

3.5

Ammonium acetate is a safe, low-irritation pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle on skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review

Buffering Agent

Calcium Acetate

CALCIUM ACETATE

3.5

Calcium acetate is a safe, low-irritation pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle on your skin, but it doesn't provide direct skin benefits like hydration or anti-aging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review

Buffering Agent

Calcium Citrate

Calcium Citrate

4.0

Calcium citrate is a gentle pH adjuster and mild exfoliant that helps keep your skincare products stable and your skin smooth.

Irritation

low

Source

natural

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review

Buffering Agent

Disodium Succinate

Disodium Succinate

4.2

Disodium succinate is a gentle pH adjuster and mild humectant that helps maintain product stability without irritating skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review

Buffering Agent

Guanidine Phosphate

Guanidine Phosphate

3.5

Guanidine phosphate is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep your products stable, but it has no direct skin benefit and is rarely highlighted in ingredient lists.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review

pH Adjuster

Isophthalic Acid

Isophthalic Acid

2.5

Isophthalic acid is a synthetic pH adjuster rarely used in leave-on skincare; it's more common in nail and hair color products where precise pH control is needed.

Irritation

moderate

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepH adjusterbuffering agent
Read ingredient review

Buffering Agent

Potassium Glycerophosphate

Potassium Glycerophosphate

4.0

A gentle pH-balancing salt that helps keep your skin's acid mantle happy without stinging or irritation.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review

Buffering Agent

Sodium Acetate

Sodium Acetate

4.0

Sodium acetate is a gentle pH adjuster and mild humectant that helps keep your skincare stable and comfortable, but it offers no dramatic skin benefits on its own.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review

Buffering Agent

Sodium Bicarbonate

SODIUM BICARBONATE

3.5

Sodium bicarbonate can gently exfoliate and adjust pH, but its alkalinity may disrupt the skin barrier if used too frequently or at high concentrations.

Irritation

moderate

Source

natural

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review

Buffering Agent

Sodium Fumarate

Sodium Fumarate

3.8

Sodium Fumarate is a gentle pH adjuster and potential antioxidant, but its skincare benefits are not yet well-established in human studies.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarebuffering agent
Read ingredient review