Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A silicone-based conditioning ingredient that smooths hair and reduces static, but may build up on fine or low-porosity hair over time.

A gentle silicone derivative that conditions hair and skin without the heavy feel of traditional silicones.

A gentle silicone derivative that coats hair to reduce frizz and improve manageability without heavy buildup.

A gentle silicone polymer that helps makeup and hair products last longer without feeling heavy or greasy.

A silicone film former that helps products resist water and last longer, but may feel heavy on fine hair or oily skin.

A silicone polymer that helps makeup and skincare last longer by forming a flexible, breathable film that resists water and sweat.

Dimethiconol is a gentle silicone that smooths skin and hair without clogging pores, making it a safe choice for most skin types.

A gentle silicone-arginine hybrid that smooths hair and skin without heavy buildup, but may not suit those avoiding silicones entirely.

A gentle silicone-oil hybrid that smooths skin and hair without heavy greasiness, with added fatty acid benefits from borage oil.

A silicone-cysteine hybrid that helps smooth hair and reduce frizz with a lighter feel than traditional silicones.

A high-performance silicone that creates a durable, water-repelling shield without feeling heavy or greasy.

A gentle silicone ester that smooths skin and hair without heavy greasiness, but offers limited active benefits beyond surface feel.

A gentle, silicone-based emollient that softens skin and hair without greasiness, ideal for dry or sensitive types.

A gentle silicone-amino acid hybrid that smooths hair and softens skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle silicone-panthenol hybrid that smooths hair and skin while adding a touch of moisture, but may feel heavy for fine hair or oily skin.

A silicone polymer that forms a flexible, breathable film for long-lasting wear and water resistance.

A silicone powder that soaks up excess oil and gives a silky, non-greasy feel—great for shine control and blurring pores.

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

A gentle silicone derivative that helps detangle hair and reduce frizz without heavy buildup.

A gentle silicone that smooths hair and skin without heavy buildup, but may not suit those avoiding silicones.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps detangle hair and soften skin without heavy buildup.

A synthetic ingredient that makes hair and skin feel smooth, but may be too heavy for oily or acne-prone skin.

A gentle synthetic conditioning agent that helps soften hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A synthetic UV filter and conditioner with moderate safety concerns; less common in modern formulations due to potential irritation and environmental persistence.

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

A synthetic polymer that helps hair feel smooth and products spread evenly, but it's not a standout ingredient and may cause buildup with frequent use.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle, rice-derived conditioning ingredient that helps detangle hair and soften skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle silicone that adds slip and shine to hair and a smooth feel to skin without heavy buildup.

A synthetic conditioning ingredient that helps reduce static and improve hair manageability, but offers no long-term repair.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and softens hair without heavy buildup.

A synthetic conditioning agent that reduces static and softens hair, but may cause irritation for sensitive scalps at higher concentrations.

A gentle, effective conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and reduce static without heavy buildup.

A synthetic conditioning agent that helps reduce static and improve softness in hair and skin, but may feel heavy for very fine hair.

A gentle synthetic conditioning agent that helps soften hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle, palm-derived conditioning ingredient that softens hair and reduces static without weighing it down.

A gentle silicone that smooths hair and skin with a lightweight, non-greasy feel.

A gentle silicone that improves product feel and spreadability without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A lightweight silicone that gives skin a silky, smooth feel without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone that makes products feel silky and spread easily, with a very low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A high-performance silicone that gives a silky, non-greasy feel and helps products glide on smoothly.

A gentle, plant-derived conditioning agent that reduces static and softens hair without heavy buildup.

Disiloxane is a fast-evaporating silicone that helps products glide on smoothly without leaving a heavy residue.

A gentle silicone derivative that smooths hair and adds shine without the heavy feel of traditional silicones.

A gentle, water-soluble silicone that helps skin and hair feel smooth and hydrated without heavy buildup.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin barrier.

A mild, soy-derived conditioning ingredient that helps hair feel soft and smooth without weighing it down.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and softens hair without heavy buildup.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and softens hair without heavy buildup.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and improves softness without heavy buildup.

A silicone-based conditioning ingredient that smooths hair and reduces static, but may build up over time with frequent use.

A mild, effective conditioning ingredient that helps detangle and soften hair without heavy buildup.

A synthetic conditioning ingredient that reduces static and softens hair, but may cause irritation or clog pores in sensitive individuals.

A synthetic film-former that helps products spread smoothly and hold their shape, but it has limited research and is not widely used.

A gentle synthetic conditioner that softens hair and skin without heavy buildup, but its synthetic origin may not appeal to all.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and reduce static without heavy buildup.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps detangle hair and reduce static without heavy buildup.

A synthetic polymer that helps detangle and soften hair, but may not suit very fine or oily hair types.

A fatty amine conditioner from animal sources that softens hair but may be heavy for fine hair or oily skin.