Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle, semi-synthetic emollient that helps moisturize and stabilize formulas without feeling greasy.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky without heavy greasiness, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A gentle, modified lanolin that softens skin and helps blend water and oil, but may clog pores in acne-prone individuals.

A synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily, generally well-tolerated but not a standout active ingredient.

PEG-5 Lanolate is a gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas, but may be moderately clogging for acne-prone skin.

PEG-5 Lanolin is a water-friendly version of lanolin that softens skin and helps blend oil and water, but it may clog pores for some people.

A high-tech synthetic ingredient that helps other active ingredients penetrate better while providing a silky, non-greasy feel.

A gentle, semi-synthetic ingredient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps soften skin and improve product texture, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread smoothly, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A gentle, oil-derived emollient that softens skin and hair without feeling heavy, with low irritation potential.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that brings shea butter's moisturizing feel to rinse-off products without greasiness.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps products spread smoothly without leaving a greasy feel.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps products spread smoothly without leaving a greasy feel.

A gentle, lanolin-derived emollient that helps moisturize and stabilize products, but may be comedogenic for some.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps products spread smoothly without leaving a greasy feel.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that softens skin and improves rinse-off product feel without heavy residue.

A gentle, water-soluble emollient that adds softness without greasiness, ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

A gentle, water-soluble shea butter derivative that moisturizes without clogging pores, ideal for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps hydrate and soften skin without clogging pores, commonly used in rinse-off and leave-on products.

A gentle, plant-derived emollient that helps skin feel soft and smooth without clogging pores.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, PEG-modified butter that cleanses without stripping and leaves skin soft—great for sensitive types.

A gentle, water-soluble silicone that makes products feel silky without heavy buildup.

A gentle, water-soluble lanolin derivative that softens skin and helps cleanse without stripping, but may clog pores for some.

A gentle synthetic emollient that improves product feel without heavy residue, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A gentle, water-friendly lanolin derivative that hydrates and softens skin without the heavy feel of traditional lanolin.

A gentle, water-soluble emollient from mango oil that adds softness without greasiness, ideal for rinse-off products.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that adds softness without greasiness, ideal for lightweight formulas.

A versatile, water-friendly emollient derived from lanolin, but may be comedogenic for acne-prone skin.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient derived from lanolin that helps soften skin and blend oil and water in formulas.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas, but may clog pores for some.

A gentle, water-soluble emollient that adds softness without greasiness, ideal for rinse-off products.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that softens skin without a greasy feel, commonly used in rinse-off and leave-on products.

A gentle, avocado-derived emollient that helps soften skin and improve the feel of cleansers and moisturizers.

PEG-8 Caprate is a mild synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily, but it may raise concerns for those avoiding PEGs or ethoxylated ingredients.

PEG-8 Caprylate is a gentle, synthetic ingredient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily without clogging pores.

A gentle, synthetic ingredient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily without clogging pores.

PEG-8 Dicocoate is a gentle, coconut-derived emollient and emulsifier that helps products spread smoothly and feel less greasy, but its PEG component raises mild environmental and purity concerns.

A gentle silicone hybrid that gives a smooth, silky feel to products without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A gentle, fish-derived emollient that helps moisturize and stabilize formulas, but may not suit strict vegans or those with fish allergies.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient derived from lanolin, but may be comedogenic for acne-prone skin.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas, but offers no unique benefits over more common alternatives.

A gentle silicone that gives a silky, non-greasy feel to products without clogging pores.

PEG-8 Myristate is a safe, synthetic emollient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily, but it may be less ideal for those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle, semi-synthetic emollient derived from raspberry seed oil that helps soften and condition skin without clogging pores.

PEG-8 Trisiloxane is a lightweight silicone that helps products glide on smoothly without a greasy feel, but it may not suit everyone due to potential buildup or sensitivity to silicones.

A water-friendly version of lanolin that softens skin and helps blend oils and water, but may not suit those with wool allergies or sensitive skin.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread smoothly without heavy greasiness.

A gentle, semi-synthetic emollient that helps products spread smoothly and feel less greasy than pure oils.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily, with low irritation potential.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps products feel silky and spread smoothly, while also providing light hydration.

A safe, synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily, but offers no active skin benefits.

A gentle silicone that gives skin and hair a silky, smooth feel without clogging pores, but may not be ideal for those avoiding silicones.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps products feel smooth and spread easily without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone that improves product feel and spreadability, generally well-tolerated by most skin types.

A gentle, water-friendly silicone that gives products a silky feel without heavy buildup.

A gentle plant-based wax that adds richness and a subtle floral scent to skincare formulas without common irritation.

A gentle, naturally derived wax that helps thicken and stabilize balms and creams while adding a light floral scent.

A skin-identical lipid blend that helps restore the moisture barrier and reduce water loss.