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 60 of 626
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

Surfactant

Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate

Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate

4.2

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate

DISODIUM COCOYL GLUTAMATE

4.5

A mild, coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being gentle enough for sensitive skin.

Irritation

low

Source

natural

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Surfactant

Disodium Deceth-5 Sulfosuccinate

Disodium Deceth-5 Sulfosuccinate

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that effectively cleanses without over-drying, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Deceth-6 Sulfosuccinate

Disodium Deceth-6 Sulfosuccinate

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that effectively cleanses without over-drying, making it a great choice for sensitive or dry skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Hydroxysulfoacetate

DISODIUM HYDROXYSULFOACETATE

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that effectively cleanses without over-drying, making it a good choice for sensitive skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Isodecyl Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM ISODECYL SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that effectively cleanses without over-drying, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Isostearoamphodiacetate

DISODIUM ISOSTEAROAMPHODIACETATE

4.0

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that helps create a creamy lather without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Laureth-5 Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM LAURAMIDO PEG-5 SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Laureth-6 Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM LAURETH-6 SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

A gentle surfactant that cleanses effectively without the harshness of traditional sulfates, making it a good choice for sensitive skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Laureth-7 Citrate

DISODIUM LAURETH-7 CITRATE

4.0

A gentle, citrate-based surfactant that cleans without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Laureth-9 Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM LAURETH-9 SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that effectively cleanses while being kinder to sensitive skin than many harsher alternatives.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Lauroamphodipropionate

DISODIUM LAUROAMPHODIPROPIONATE

4.0

A gentle, synthetic surfactant that helps create a rich lather while keeping cleansers non-stripping — a great choice for sensitive or dry skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Lauroyl Glutamate

DISODIUM LAUROYL GLUTAMATE

4.5

A mild, effective cleanser that respects the skin barrier and is well-tolerated by sensitive skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium N-Lauroyl Aspartate

Disodium N-Lauroyl Aspartate

4.3

A mild, amino-acid-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil while respecting the skin barrier.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Oleamido MIPA-Sulfosuccinate

Disodium Oleamido MIPA-Sulfosuccinate

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Oleoamphodipropionate

Disodium Oleoamphodipropionate

4.0

A gentle, amphoteric surfactant that cleanses effectively without stripping the skin, making it a great choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Oleth-3 Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM OLETH-3 SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant ideal for sensitive skin and baby care, but may not be suitable for very dry or compromised skin due to its cleansing nature.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Oleyl Sulfosuccinate

Disodium Oleyl Sulfosuccinate

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive and dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Soyamphodiacetate

DISODIUM SOYAMPHODIACETATE

4.0

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Stearyl Sulfosuccinate

Disodium Stearyl Sulfosuccinate

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin barrier, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Tallamido MEA-Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM TALLAMIDO MEA-SULFOSUCCINATE

3.8

A gentle surfactant that cleanses effectively but is less common in modern formulations due to availability and preference for plant-based alternatives.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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Surfactant

Disodium Tallowamido MEA-Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM TALLOWAMIDO MEA-SULFOSUCCINATE

3.5

A gentle, animal-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively with low irritation potential, but may not suit those avoiding animal ingredients.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

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