Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleans without stripping the skin, making it a great choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that helps create a rich lather while being kinder to sensitive skin than traditional sulfates.

A gentle synthetic surfactant that cleans without stripping the skin, ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

A gentle synthetic surfactant that effectively cleanses without the harshness of traditional soaps, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

Oleamide DIPA helps create rich lather in cleansers but may cause irritation for sensitive skin types.

A gentle, foam-boosting surfactant that helps make cleansers feel milder and less stripping.

A gentle, olive-derived surfactant that helps create rich lather and thicker formulas, but may not suit those avoiding all amide-based ingredients.

A mild emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers, with added ozonized fatty acids for potential skin-soothing benefits.

A mild cleansing ingredient that helps create rich lather, but may not suit those avoiding palm-derived ingredients.

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that helps create a rich lather without stripping the skin, making it a popular choice for sensitive skin cleansers.

Palmitoyl Glycine is a mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it a great choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

PEG-10 Tallate is a cleansing and emulsifying ingredient derived from tall oil, but its PEG component and potential impurities raise mild safety considerations for sensitive skin.

A gentle, non-stripping surfactant that helps cleanse without over-drying, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle, PEG-modified surfactant that helps create a rich foam while being less stripping than traditional sulfates.

A common cleansing agent that helps foam and lift dirt, but may be too stripping for dry or sensitive skin.

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier derived from coconut oil that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and creams without stripping the skin.

A gentle cleansing agent derived from tallow that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A gentle, plant-derived surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, coconut-derived emulsifier that helps cleansers foam and rinse cleanly without stripping the skin.

PEG-5 Oleate helps mix oil and water in cleansers, but may be slightly drying for sensitive skin.

A mild cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but may be slightly drying for very sensitive skin.

A gentle cleansing and odor-fighting ingredient that helps keep products stable and skin fresh, but may not suit ultra-sensitive skin in high concentrations.

A gentle, coconut-derived cleansing ingredient that helps rinse away dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps cleansers feel moisturizing without stripping the skin.

PEG-80 Castor Oil is a gentle cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and makeup, but it may cause irritation for very sensitive skin.

A gentle cleansing agent that helps rinse away dirt and oil without stripping the skin, but it's processed with PEGs, which some people prefer to avoid.

A gentle, water-soluble surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, making it a popular choice for sensitive-skin formulas.

A gentle, PEG-based surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, coconut-derived cleansing and softening ingredient that helps products rinse cleanly without stripping the skin.

Pentasodium Triphosphate is a safe, synthetic helper ingredient that binds hard-water minerals to boost lather and keep cleansers stable.

A gentle cleansing and softening duo that helps remove dirt without stripping the skin, but the seedate portion is not well-studied on its own.

A gentle, PEG-free emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, with low irritation potential.

A mild, plant-derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, synthetic surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, coconut-derived soap ingredient that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin.

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that helps create rich foam and improve the mildness of cleansing formulas.

A strong synthetic cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A mild synthetic surfactant that helps create a rich lather without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, soap-like cleanser made from coconut oil that effectively removes dirt without harshness.

A palm-derived cleansing agent that effectively removes dirt but may be drying for sensitive skin.

An effective but potentially drying cleanser derived from animal fat, best for normal to oily skin types.

An effective cleanser and emulsifier, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin in high concentrations.

A gentle, effective surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin barrier, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin barrier.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

Potassium Lauryl Sulfate is a strong cleanser that can effectively remove dirt and oil but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

Potassium Myristate is an effective cleanser that creates rich lather, but it can be drying or irritating for sensitive or dry skin types.

A mild, collagen-derived surfactant that cleanses gently and helps maintain skin softness, ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

A mild, collagen-derived surfactant that cleanses gently and leaves skin feeling soft, ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

A natural soap ingredient from peanut oil that cleanses effectively but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin, and poses a risk for those with peanut allergies.

A gentle, plant-based soap that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

A mild, protein-derived cleansing agent that cleans without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Potassium Toluenesulfonate is a mild synthetic helper that keeps formulas clear and stable, but it offers no direct skin benefit.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping, making it a great choice for sensitive or dry skin.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.