Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

PEG-2 Laurate SE helps mix oil and water in creams and cleansers, but may be slightly irritating or pore-clogging for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

PEG-2 Oleate is a mild synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and creams, but it may be less common in modern formulations due to concerns about ethoxylation byproducts.

A reliable emulsifier for oil-and-water blends, but may be too rich for acne-prone skin.

A gentle, olive-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare formulas without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle emulsifier that helps oil and water mix, making creams and lotions stable and smooth.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in creams and lotions, generally well-tolerated by most skin types.

PEG-2 Stearate is a reliable emulsifier that keeps creams and lotions stable, but it may be moderately comedogenic for acne-prone skin.

A reliable emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures, but may be slightly pore-clogging for some skin types.

A gentle, sunflower-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare products while adding a light, non-greasy feel.

A mild, almond-derived emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without heavy greasiness.

PEG-20 Castor Oil helps mix oil and water in cleansers and shampoos, but may be irritating for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A gentle, plant-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare formulas without stripping the skin.

PEG-20 Dilaurate is a safe, widely used emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in skincare products, but its PEG component raises minor purity concerns for sensitive skin.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but may be too heavy for very oily or acne-prone skin in high concentrations.

PEG-20 Distearate is a reliable emulsifier that keeps your lotions and creams from separating, but it's synthetic and may not appeal to those seeking natural ingredients.

A gentle, semi-synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions while providing light skin conditioning.

A gentle emulsifier that stabilizes formulas and helps rinse away impurities without stripping the skin.

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without heavy irritation.

A gentle emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps cleansers remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, but may be drying for very sensitive skin in high concentrations.

A gentle, widely used emulsifier that helps water and oil mix in your creams and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable lotions and creams without common irritation concerns.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas, but may raise concerns for those avoiding PEG compounds.

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without heavy greasiness.

A safe, effective emulsifier that helps oil and water mix, but it's synthetic and may not appeal to those seeking natural ingredients.

A gentle, plant-based emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your skincare, but may feel slightly heavy on very oily skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, generally well-tolerated but may not suit ultra-sensitive skin.

A gentle, multi-tasking emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in your products while adding a touch of skin conditioning.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation or clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams and lotions with low irritation potential.

A gentle emulsifier that helps blend water and oil, but may clog pores for some skin types.

A gentle, palm-derived emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but its environmental footprint and processing raise concerns for some users.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that stabilizes formulas but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A gentle, water-friendly lanolin derivative that helps blend oil and water in formulas, but may not suit those with wool allergies.

PEG-20 Lanolin is a water-friendly version of lanolin that softens skin and helps blend oils and water, but it may clog pores for some and raises concerns about processing impurities.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your products without stripping the skin.

A mild, plant-derived emulsifier that creates stable, creamy textures without common irritation.

A gentle, glucose-derived emulsifier that creates stable, non-greasy formulas with low irritation potential.

A gentle, glucose-derived emulsifier that helps create stable, non-greasy creams and cleansers with low irritation potential.

A gentle, glucose-derived emulsifier that stabilizes creamy formulas without common irritation.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps products feel smooth and stable, but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A safe, effective emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in creams and cleansers, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps keep your lotions and creams smooth and stable, but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A gentle, plant-based emollient that improves skin hydration and helps blend water and oil in formulas.

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

A reliable emulsifier that helps water and oil mix, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle, widely used emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in skincare products without stripping the skin.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed in creams and lotions, generally well-tolerated but not biodegradable.

A mild, plant-derived emulsifier that helps create stable, non-greasy lotions and creams while offering light skin conditioning.

A reliable emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams and lotions, but may be too heavy for very oily or acne-prone skin.

PEG-20 Tallowate is a functional emulsifier that helps products feel creamy, but its animal-derived origin and potential for trace impurities may not suit all preferences.

A mild, plant-based emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in formulas while providing light skin conditioning.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that keeps water and oil mixed in your creams and lotions, generally well-tolerated by most skin types.

A reliable emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions, but its PEG component raises mild purity concerns for some users.

A workhorse emulsifier that helps your cleanser and lotion stay smooth and stable, but it's synthetic and may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas, but may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers and creams, but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.