Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle film-forming polymer that improves product feel and wear without common irritation concerns.

A silicone polymer that creates a flexible, water-resistant film on skin for longer-lasting wear and a smooth feel.

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

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, especially in water or sweat.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, but may feel tight or heavy on very dry skin.

A high-performance silicone that creates a smooth, silky feel on skin without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A synthetic silicone polymer that helps makeup last longer and resist water, but may feel heavy on some skin types.

A synthetic silicone polymer that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put without feeling heavy or greasy.

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

A silicone polymer that gives products a silky, smooth feel and helps them stay put without clogging pores.

A silicone polymer that creates a smooth, flexible film on skin or hair, improving product feel and wear without clogging pores.

A silicone polymer that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but may not suit those avoiding silicones.

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

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

Butoxy Chitosan is a gentle film-forming ingredient that helps lock in moisture and gives a smooth, plumping feel, but research on its long-term benefits is still limited.

Butyl Acrylate is a safe film-forming ingredient in finished cosmetics, but it is not used as a standalone ingredient on skin.

A synthetic polymer that forms a flexible, breathable film on skin, improving water resistance and texture without clogging pores.

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

A safe, effective film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but may feel heavy on very oily skin.

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

A silicone-based film former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer without feeling heavy or greasy.

A gentle film-former that helps products stay put without feeling heavy or sticky.

Butyl Methacrylate is a synthetic film-former that helps nail products last longer, but it can be a skin sensitizer for some people.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and skincare last longer without clogging pores or causing irritation for most people.

A silicone polymer that helps products spread smoothly and stay put, but offers no active skincare benefit.

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

A silicone-based film former that improves wear time and water resistance without feeling heavy or sticky.

A safe, synthetic film-former that helps products spread smoothly and stay put without clogging pores.

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

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

A safe, synthetic film-former that helps makeup and skincare last longer and feel smoother on skin.

A silicone film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but may feel heavy on oily or acne-prone skin.

A gentle silicone film-former that improves product feel and wear without clogging pores.

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

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

A gentle silicone film-former that improves product feel and wear without clogging pores or causing irritation.

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

A synthetic film-former that helps products glide on smoothly and stay put, but offers no active skincare benefit.

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

Creates a flexible, water-resistant film on skin or lashes, but its perfluoroalkyl chain raises environmental persistence concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps products resist water and wear, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A gentle, plant-derived film-former that helps hydrate and soothe skin while creating a protective barrier.

A gentle, milk-derived protein that helps form a protective film on skin, but may not suit those with dairy allergies.

A synthetic polymer that helps cosmetics stay put, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A gentle film-forming polymer that improves the feel and wear of skincare without common irritation or clogging concerns.

A gentle, synthetic film-former that helps control shine and improve the feel of skincare products.

A natural tree resin that helps products form a flexible film on skin, hair, or nails, but may feel tacky for some users.

A synthetic polymer building block that helps create flexible, breathable films on skin for improved texture and wear.

A gentle, biodegradable film-former that helps lock in moisture and improve water resistance without feeling heavy or sticky.

A gentle film-forming polymer that improves product feel and helps ingredients stay put without clogging pores.

Carboxyethyl acrylate is a synthetic polymer that helps create a smooth, even film on skin, improving product texture and water resistance.

A gentle, film-forming chitosan derivative that helps lock in moisture and may support skin barrier function.

A gentle, water-soluble chitosan derivative that hydrates and forms a protective film on skin, with some soothing and antioxidant potential.

A gentle, water-loving derivative of chitosan that helps hydrate and form a protective film on the skin, with early research suggesting soothing benefits.

A gentle, biotech-derived film former that helps lock in moisture and may soothe the skin without clogging pores.

Casein is a gentle milk protein that helps form a protective film on skin, but it may not suit those with dairy allergies.

A semi-synthetic film-former that helps makeup and skincare stay put longer, but may feel heavy on some skin types.

A safe, plant-based film former that gives nail polishes and hair products a glossy, flexible finish without common plastic concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but offers no direct skin benefit and may feel stiff on application.

A plant-derived film former that helps makeup and skincare products last longer without clogging pores.