Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

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

A gentle film-forming ingredient that helps lock in moisture and improve product texture, but research on its long-term effects is still limited.

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

A silicone polymer that helps products feel silky, spread evenly, and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefits.

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

A synthetic film-former that helps products spread smoothly and creates a temporary, peelable film — generally safe but not a must-have ingredient.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put and resist water, generally safe but not a skincare active.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put and feel smooth, 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 synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare products last longer and feel smoother, but it's not a hydrating or active ingredient.

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

A safe, synthetic film-former that improves wear time and water resistance without common irritation or clogging concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen last longer, but may feel heavy on some skin types.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight, but offers no active skincare benefits.

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

A silicone polymer that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but it's synthetic and not biodegradable.

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

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and form a light, flexible film on skin, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A specialized synthetic polymer that creates a smooth, flexible film on skin, but its complexity means it's rarely seen in everyday products.

An advanced synthetic polymer that helps active ingredients stick to skin longer, but its complexity means it's rarely used in mainstream products.

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

A synthetic polymer that helps ingredients stick to skin and form a light, flexible film, but its large size means it stays on the surface and offers no deep hydration.

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

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

A synthetic silicone polymer that improves water resistance and wear time in cosmetics, generally well-tolerated but not biodegradable.

A synthetic film-former that helps products adhere to skin and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefits.

PEG-9 Dimethacrylate is a synthetic polymer that helps nail and makeup products form a durable, glossy film, but it has limited skin benefits and may cause sensitivity in some users.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and form a light, flexible film on skin, but offers no direct active benefits.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but its fluorinated chemistry raises environmental persistence concerns.

A synthetic silicone polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight, but may not suit those avoiding silicones.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and form a light, flexible film on skin, but it offers no active skincare benefits.

A synthetic film former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but its long-chain polymer structure means it's not easily absorbed and may feel heavy on some skin types.

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

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

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight on skin.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel silky, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A versatile film-forming silicone that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put without feeling heavy.

A safe synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight on skin.

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

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

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

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put and feel smooth, but offers no skin benefit beyond texture.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight, but offers no active skin benefits.

A safe, synthetic ingredient that helps products feel smooth and spread evenly while lightly hydrating the skin.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare last longer by forming a flexible film on the skin.

A silicone copolymer that improves product texture and spreadability, generally well-tolerated but not biodegradable.

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

PEI-1000 is a synthetic polymer that helps create a smooth, even film on skin, but it's not a star ingredient and is best understood as a texture enhancer.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and leaves a flexible, non-sticky film on skin or hair.

PEI-1400 is a synthetic polymer that helps products stay put, but it's not a skincare active and may feel heavy on some skin types.

PEI-1750 helps products stay put and resist water, but it's a synthetic polymer with limited skin-friendly research.

PEI-250 is a synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin types.

PEI-275 is a synthetic polymer that helps products form a flexible film on skin or hair, improving wear and water resistance.

PEI-35 is a synthetic polymer that helps products spread evenly and stay put, but it's not a star ingredient for skin health.

PEI-45 is a synthetic film-former that helps products like mascara and hair gels stay put, but it's not a hydrating or active ingredient.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, generally considered safe at low concentrations.

PEI-700 is a synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but it has limited safety data and can be irritating for sensitive skin.

A sticky resin that helps makeup stay put, but may clog pores for some skin types.

A pine-derived resin that helps makeup and sunscreens stay put, but may feel tacky on some skin types.

A gentle, plant-derived resin that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer without feeling heavy or sticky.