Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Calcium lactate is a gentle, hydrating exfoliant that helps smooth skin without the sting of stronger acids.

A milder alternative to salicylic acid, offering gentle exfoliation and soothing benefits, ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

Calcium Tartrate is a gentle, natural exfoliant that helps smooth skin without harsh microbeads, but it offers no active skincare benefits beyond physical exfoliation.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder with antioxidant benefits, best for those seeking a mild physical scrub or a silky finish in powders.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder from camellia seeds that also provides antioxidant support, but research on its skincare benefits is still limited.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder from camellia seeds that may also provide antioxidant support, but research is still limited.

A gentle, natural exfoliant with a pleasant floral scent, but its benefits beyond texture and aroma are not well-studied.

Carbonado Extract is a natural diamond powder used for physical exfoliation, but its abrasiveness requires careful formulation to avoid skin damage.

Cardamom seed powder offers gentle physical exfoliation and antioxidant benefits, but research on its cosmetic efficacy is limited.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder rich in beta-carotene that can help brighten and smooth skin without harsh microbeads.

Cashew apple fiber is a gentle, natural exfoliant that helps slough off dead skin cells without harsh microbeads, but research on its benefits is still emerging.

A gentle, plant-based powder that lightly exfoliates and soothes skin, best suited for rinse-off masks and scrubs.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder that helps remove dead skin cells and absorb excess oil, but research on its specific benefits is limited.

Cellulase is a gentle enzyme exfoliant that dissolves dead skin cells without harsh scrubbing, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

A natural exfoliating powder with antioxidant benefits, but can be irritating for sensitive skin due to its essential oil content.

A gentle, natural physical exfoliant that helps smooth skin without harsh microplastics, but may feel too gritty for sensitive skin.

A natural, biodegradable exfoliant that gently polishes skin, but the irregular particle shape can cause micro-tears if used too aggressively.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder from chestnut shells that helps polish skin without harsh microbeads.

Chia seed powder offers gentle physical exfoliation and a boost of hydration, making it a mild choice for most skin types.

A gentle, natural exfoliant that can help remove dead skin cells and absorb excess oil without harshness.

A gentle exfoliant that pairs salicylic acid with a soothing, film-forming biopolymer, making it a good option for acne-prone or sensitive skin.

Chloroacetic acid is a strong synthetic acid rarely used in consumer skincare due to high irritation risk; it appears mostly in professional chemical peels or as a pH adjuster in very low concentrations.

A gentle cousin of salicylic acid that may help with mild acne and surface exfoliation, but research is still limited.

Chymotrypsin is an enzyme exfoliant that can help remove dead skin cells and reduce inflammation, but its use in skincare is less common than other enzymes like papain or bromelain.

Citric acid is a gentle AHA that exfoliates, brightens, and helps balance your product's pH, but it can cause irritation at high concentrations.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder from a citrus fruit peel, best for those who prefer plant-based physical exfoliants with antioxidant benefits.

A gentle, natural exfoliant from a rare citrus fruit that also provides antioxidant benefits, but research is still limited.

A gentle, fermented mandarin extract that offers mild exfoliation and antioxidant protection, suitable for most skin types.

A gentle, natural exfoliant from mandarin peel that also provides antioxidant protection, but research on its cosmetic benefits is still limited.

A potent enzyme that dissolves collagen, used sparingly in skincare for deep exfoliation, but requires caution due to its strength.

Clove bud powder offers gentle physical exfoliation and a warm, spicy scent, but can be irritating for sensitive skin due to its eugenol content.

A gentle, natural exfoliant and antioxidant that can brighten skin without harshness, but may be messy in formulations.

A gentle, natural exfoliant with antioxidant potential, best suited for rinse-off scrubs.

Coconut fruit powder is a gentle, natural exfoliant that helps buff away dead skin cells without harsh microbeads.

A powerful enzyme exfoliant that dissolves dead skin but can be irritating; best reserved for professional or short-contact use.

A gentle, natural exfoliant from red seaweed that polishes skin without harsh microbeads, but its benefits beyond texture are not well-studied.

A gentle, natural physical exfoliant that helps slough off dead skin cells without harsh chemicals.

A natural, gentle physical exfoliant that sloughs off dead skin cells without harsh microbeads, but may feel too gritty for sensitive skin.

Cranberry fruit powder offers gentle exfoliation and antioxidant protection, but its benefits are best supported by whole-fruit research rather than isolated powder studies.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder that also provides antioxidant benefits from cranberry seeds.

A gentle, natural exfoliant from cranberry seeds that also delivers antioxidants, but research on its skincare benefits is still limited.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder from cranberry seeds that also provides antioxidant benefits, but research on its skincare efficacy is still limited.

Cumin Seed Powder offers gentle physical exfoliation and antioxidant benefits, but its evidence in skincare is still emerging and it may cause irritation for very sensitive skin.

Cupuaçu seed powder offers gentle physical exfoliation plus antioxidant benefits, making it a soothing alternative to harsher scrubs.

A natural exfoliant from lemongrass leaves that offers gentle scrubbing and a fresh scent, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

A natural powdered leaf that provides gentle physical exfoliation and a fresh scent, but may irritate sensitive skin.

Cysteic acid is a gentle exfoliating amino acid derivative that may help brighten skin and support antioxidant defenses, but research is still emerging.

A gentle, natural exfoliant that also provides antioxidant benefits, but may feel gritty in some formulas.

A gentle exfoliating ingredient that helps smooth skin texture and improve radiance with minimal irritation.

A gentle, natural exfoliating powder from Australian desert lime that offers mild antioxidant benefits and a touch of fruit-derived texture.

A natural, gritty powder that gently scrubs away dead skin and soaks up excess oil, but can be too harsh for sensitive or broken skin.

A gentler, salt-based form of azelaic acid that helps brighten skin and smooth texture with less irritation.

A milder salicylate derivative that offers gentle exfoliation with less irritation than salicylic acid.

A natural, biodegradable exfoliant that provides gentle physical scrubbing, but may be too rough for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A gentle alternative to azelaic acid that helps even skin tone and smooth texture with low irritation risk.

A milder, phosphate-modified form of salicylic acid that aims to exfoliate and brighten skin with less irritation.

A gentle, oil-soluble acid that helps control shine and smooth skin texture without the irritation of stronger exfoliants.

Dolomite is a safe, natural mineral powder that helps absorb oil and provide gentle physical exfoliation, but it offers no active skincare benefits.

Eggshell powder is a natural, gritty ingredient used for gentle physical exfoliation, but its particle size and sharpness can vary, so it may be irritating for sensitive skin.

A gentle synthetic exfoliant that helps smooth skin texture without the harshness of stronger acids.