Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A safe, synthetic film-former that helps makeup last longer and feel smoother, but it's not a skincare active.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare last longer by forming a flexible, water-resistant film on skin or hair.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put and feel smooth, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup stay put and feel silky, but offers no skincare benefit.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A safe synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare products stay put without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A safe, synthetic film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no skincare benefit itself.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup last longer and feel smoother, but offers no skincare benefit and may feel heavy on some skin types.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen last longer, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A gentle, pearl-derived protein that forms a breathable film on skin to help lock in moisture and temporarily smooth fine lines.

A gentle film-forming protein that may help smooth skin and reduce water loss, but research is limited.

A sugar-based film-former that helps makeup and skincare last longer without feeling heavy or sticky.

Sucrose Benzoate is a gentle film-former that helps products stay put without feeling sticky or heavy.

A sugar-derived film former that helps products stay put and resist water, but may feel slightly tacky on some skin types.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put longer, especially in sunscreens and long-wear makeup.

A reliable film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer without feeling heavy.

A gentle, plant-based protein that helps hair and skin feel soft and hydrated without heavy residue.

A film-forming polymer that helps products stay put, but its animal-derived origin and potential to feel heavy may not suit everyone.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, especially in water-resistant formulas.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefit.

TEA-Rosinate helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, but it may not suit those with very sensitive skin or allergies to rosin derivatives.

A synthetic monomer used in nail products for adhesion and film formation; not a common skincare ingredient and may pose irritation risks in high concentrations.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but it's not a star ingredient for skin health.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefits.

Tribenzoin is a synthetic film-former that helps makeup and nail products glide on smoothly and last longer, with a low risk of irritation.

A film-forming ingredient that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer without feeling overly sticky.

A pine-derived film former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but may feel stiff or tacky on skin.

A high-performance silicone that helps products stay put and resist water without feeling heavy or greasy.

A silicone polymer that helps products stay put and resist water, but may feel heavy on some skin types.

A high-performance film former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put through sweat, water, and humidity without feeling heavy.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup last longer and resist water, but offers no skincare benefit.

A synthetic film-former that improves product feel and wear without common irritation concerns.

A synthetic ingredient that helps products form a flexible film and control thickness, but it's rarely the star of the formula.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare products last longer and feel smoother, but is not a functional active ingredient.

A synthetic polymer that creates a flexible, water-resistant film on skin or lashes, improving product wear and durability.

A gentle film-forming polymer that helps skincare and makeup stay put without feeling heavy or clogging pores.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare stay put longer without feeling heavy or sticky.

A gentle silicone polymer that helps makeup and skincare last longer without clogging pores or irritating skin.

A safe, non-irritating silicone film-former that boosts water resistance and wear time without clogging pores.

A silicone film-former that helps makeup last longer and boosts water resistance without feeling heavy.

A gentle, silicone-like film-former that gives hair flexible hold and skin a smooth feel without heavy buildup.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup last longer and resist water, but may feel stiff on skin.

A silicone-based film former that helps makeup and skincare last longer and feel smooth, with a low risk of irritation.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup last longer and resist water, but offers no skincare benefit and may feel stiff on some skin types.

A silicone film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic film-former that gives hair flexible hold and humidity resistance without excessive stiffness.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but its vinyl chloride component raises environmental and health questions.

Vinyl acetate is a synthetic monomer used in polymers for nail and hair products, but it is not a direct skin care ingredient and may pose irritation risks in its raw form.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put, resist water, and feel smooth, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but its vinyl chloride component raises minor safety questions in high-exposure scenarios.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, resist water, and feel smooth — generally safe and non-irritating for most skin types.

A synthetic film-forming polymer that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A silicone polymer that creates a flexible, water-resistant film on skin for longer-lasting makeup and sunscreen.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put, resist water, and feel smooth, with a strong safety record in cosmetics.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and skincare resist water, sweat, and smudging without being heavy or sticky.

A safe, synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put without clogging pores.

Zein is a gentle, corn-derived protein that forms a breathable film on skin and hair, helping lock in moisture and improve texture without clogging pores.