Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A synthetic pH adjuster that helps stabilize product formulas but offers no direct skin benefit and may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

Acetic acid is a gentle exfoliant and pH adjuster, but can be irritating at high concentrations.

Adipic acid is a mild pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle on skin, but it doesn't provide active skincare benefits on its own.

A gentle synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products at the right acidity for your skin without causing irritation.

A synthetic pH adjuster with limited cosmetic history; potential for skin irritation at higher concentrations.

A safe, effective pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle on skin.

Aminomethyl Propanol is a common pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and effective, but it can be irritating for sensitive skin at high concentrations.

Aminopropanediol is a gentle pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and comfortable on the skin.

Ammonium bicarbonate is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep formulas stable, but it can be irritating at high concentrations and has a strong odor.

Ammonium carbamate is a synthetic pH adjuster with limited direct skin benefits and moderate irritation potential at higher concentrations.

Ammonium carbonate is a functional pH adjuster that can be irritating at high concentrations, but is generally safe in well-formulated products.

Ammonium chloride is a safe pH adjuster and thickener in small amounts, but can be irritating at high concentrations.

Ammonium hydroxide is a common pH adjuster that helps other ingredients work better, but it can be irritating at high concentrations.

Ammonium phosphate is a safe, low-irritation pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and effective.

A mild, amino-acid-based pH adjuster that helps keep formulas gentle while offering a touch of hydration.

A synthetic pH adjuster with limited research on skin benefits; generally considered safe at low levels but not a star ingredient.

Bis-hexamethylene triamine is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep formulas stable, but it can be irritating for sensitive skin at higher levels.

A gentle pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and comfortable on skin without causing irritation.

Calcium hydroxide is a strong alkaline ingredient used in hair relaxers and depilatories, but it can be highly irritating and is not recommended for sensitive or damaged skin.

Calcium oxide is a powerful alkaline ingredient used in some hair removal and straightening products, but it can be highly irritating and is not suitable for sensitive skin or frequent use.

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

Crotonic acid is a synthetic pH adjuster with limited direct skin benefit and moderate irritation potential at higher concentrations.

A mild synthetic acid that helps balance product pH and gently exfoliates, but research on its long-term skin benefits is limited.

Diammonium Citrate is a safe, low-irritation pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle on skin.

Diammonium phosphate is a safe, low-irritation pH adjuster that helps keep your products stable and effective, but it offers no direct skin benefit.

Dibutyl Ethanolamine is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps balance product acidity, but it may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

Diethyl ethanolamine is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep products stable but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

A synthetic pH adjuster that helps stabilize formulas but can be irritating at high concentrations.

A synthetic pH adjuster that helps maintain product stability, but with limited independent safety data.

Dimethyl Isopropanolamine is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep products stable and gentle, but it can be irritating for sensitive skin at higher concentrations.

A synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep formulas stable and gentle, but can be irritating in high concentrations.

Dimethylaminopropylamine is a synthetic pH adjuster and intermediate, but it can be a skin sensitizer and is rarely used as a standalone ingredient in leave-on skincare.

A gentle pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and comfortable, with a low risk of irritation.

A mild synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle on skin.

Diphenolic acid is a synthetic pH adjuster with limited cosmetic research; it may cause irritation at higher concentrations.

A safe, synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle on your skin.

An uncommon aluminum-based pH adjuster with limited safety data; best avoided in leave-on products until more research is available.

Disodium phosphate is a safe, widely used pH adjuster that helps maintain product stability and comfort on skin.

Disodium tartrate is a gentle pH adjuster and chelator that helps keep formulas stable and effective without irritating skin.

Ethanolamine is an effective pH adjuster but can be irritating for sensitive skin, especially in leave-on products.

Ethylenediamine is a synthetic pH adjuster with a high irritation and sensitization potential, making it unsuitable for most leave-on skincare products.

A gentle pH adjuster and preservative booster that helps keep your products stable and fresh without harshness.

Formic acid is a strong, potentially irritating acid rarely used in leave-on skincare; it's more common in industrial or professional peels.

Glutaric acid is a mild exfoliating and pH-adjusting ingredient, but it is less studied than AHAs like glycolic acid.

Guanidine carbonate is a synthetic pH adjuster mainly used in hair straightening products; it can be effective but may cause irritation in high concentrations.

Hexanediamine is a synthetic pH adjuster with limited direct skin benefit; it may cause irritation in sensitive individuals and is best left to professional or rinse-off products.

Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid used in tiny amounts to fine-tune product pH, but it can be irritating if not properly diluted.

A synthetic pH adjuster that helps stabilize product formulas but has limited direct skin benefit and may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A gentle pH buffer that keeps your skincare stable and comfortable, but it's not an active treatment ingredient.

Imidazole is a synthetic pH adjuster with limited direct skin benefit; it's safe at low levels but can be irritating in higher concentrations.

Isophthalic acid is a synthetic pH adjuster rarely used in leave-on skincare; it's more common in nail and hair color products where precise pH control is needed.

Isopropanolamine is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep formulas stable, but it can be a mild irritant for sensitive skin.

Isopropylamine is a synthetic pH adjuster used in tiny amounts to stabilize formulas, but it can be irritating and is rarely a featured ingredient in skincare.

Lithium hydroxide is a strong alkali used to adjust pH in some hair relaxers and soaps, but it can be irritating at high concentrations.

A gentle pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and skin-friendly, but offers no direct skin benefits.

Magnesium hydroxide is a gentle mineral pH adjuster and oil absorber, but can be drying for some skin types.

MEA-Borate is a mild pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle, but it is not a star active ingredient.

Metaphosphoric acid is a gentle pH adjuster that helps keep skincare formulas stable and skin-friendly, but it is not a primary active ingredient.

Methyl Diethanolamine is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps keep formulas stable, but it can be a mild irritant for sensitive skin.

Methylethanolamine is a synthetic pH adjuster that helps balance product acidity, but it can be a skin irritant at higher concentrations.