Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle, widely used preservative that keeps your products fresh without common irritation.

Potassium sulfite is a synthetic preservative and antioxidant, but its potential for irritation and regulatory restrictions make it less common in modern skincare.

Potassium Thiocyanate is a synthetic preservative that helps stabilize formulas, but its use in cosmetics is limited due to potential irritation and toxicity concerns at higher levels.

Potassium Troclosene is a strong preservative that releases chlorine to kill microbes, but it can be irritating and is rarely used in leave-on skincare.

Propionic acid is an effective preservative but can be irritating at higher concentrations, so it's best for well-formulated products.

Propylparaben is an effective preservative but has raised safety concerns due to potential endocrine-disrupting effects, leading many brands to phase it out.

Quaternium-15 is an effective preservative but controversial due to its formaldehyde-releasing nature, which can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Quaternium-73 is a synthetic preservative booster that helps keep rinse-off products fresh, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin types.

A gentle, naturally derived preservative booster that helps keep your products fresh while offering mild skin-conditioning benefits.

Silver can help control bacteria on the skin, but its benefits are modest and it's not a must-have ingredient for most routines.

Silver benzoate is an effective preservative but may cause irritation in sensitive skin; it's best for rinse-off products.

Silver bicarbonate is a gentle preservative that helps keep products fresh, but its antimicrobial power is less studied than other silver forms.

A gentle antimicrobial ingredient that helps keep products fresh and may support skin clarity, but its effectiveness depends heavily on formulation.

Silver chloride is a gentle antimicrobial ingredient often used in deodorants and preservative blends to reduce bacteria without harsh chemicals.

Silver citrate is a gentle preservative that helps keep products fresh without the harshness of traditional parabens or formaldehyde-releasers.

Silver Ferment is a gentle antimicrobial ingredient that can help balance skin microflora and reduce unwanted bacteria without harsh preservatives.

Silver hydroxide is a gentle antimicrobial that helps keep products fresh and may support acne-prone skin, but its benefits are limited compared to more studied ingredients.

A synthetic mineral preservative booster that helps keep products fresh with a low irritation profile, but its long-term safety data is still emerging.

Silver nitrate is a potent antimicrobial but is rarely used in modern skincare due to its high irritation potential and staining risk.

Silver sulfate is an effective preservative but can be irritating for sensitive skin; it's best used in rinse-off products.

A gentle, plant-derived preservative booster that helps keep your skincare fresh without common irritants.

Sodium Benzoate is a safe, well-studied preservative that keeps your products fresh and free from harmful bacteria and fungi.

A synthetic antimicrobial that can help preserve products and target acne-causing bacteria, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

Sodium bisulfite is an effective preservative but can cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, especially those with sulfite sensitivity.

Sodium butylparaben is an effective preservative but has raised safety concerns, especially regarding potential endocrine disruption, leading many brands to phase it out.

Sodium chlorate is rarely used in skincare and is more common in industrial or oral care products; it may pose irritation risks and is not recommended for routine cosmetic use.

Sodium chlorite is a strong preservative that can be effective at low levels, but it requires careful formulation to avoid skin irritation.

Sodium Cinnamate is a gentle preservative booster that helps keep products fresh, but it's not a standalone preservative and may cause mild sensitivity in very rare cases.

A widely used, low-irritation preservative that helps keep your products fresh and safe from microbes.

An effective preservative with a long safety track record, but some consumers prefer to avoid parabens due to personal concerns.

Sodium formate is a mild preservative booster that helps keep products fresh, but it is not a standalone broad-spectrum preservative.

A gentle, plant-derived antimicrobial that helps control acne-causing bacteria and support clear skin without harsh side effects.

A synthetic stabilizer that helps preserve formulas and prevent color changes, but may release trace formaldehyde under certain conditions.

A synthetic preservative that helps keep products fresh but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

Sodium isobutylparaben is a synthetic preservative that helps keep products fresh, but its safety is debated due to potential endocrine-disrupting effects.

An effective preservative with a long safety track record, though some prefer paraben-free formulas due to personal preference.

A gentle, naturally-derived preservative booster that helps extend product shelf life without harsh chemicals.

A gentle preservative that uses silver ions to keep products fresh, but its long-term safety is still being studied.

Sodium metabisulfite is an effective preservative and antioxidant, but it can be irritating and may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Sodium methylparaben is an effective preservative that prevents microbial growth, but its safety has been debated due to concerns about endocrine disruption.

Sodium nitrate is a safe preservative in low concentrations but offers no skin benefits and is rarely used in leave-on skincare.

Sodium nitrite is a common preservative that helps keep products fresh, but it can form potentially harmful nitrosamines under certain conditions.

An effective preservative but can be irritating for sensitive skin, especially at higher concentrations.

Sodium Paraben is an effective preservative but has raised some safety concerns; it is generally considered safe at low levels.

A mild antimicrobial agent that helps control odor and reduce bacteria on skin, but is not a primary preservative.

Sodium Phenoxide is an effective preservative booster, but it can be irritating at higher concentrations and is best tolerated in rinse-off products.

Sodium Propionate is a mild, effective preservative that helps keep your skincare products fresh and safe from bacteria and mold.

An effective preservative with a long safety record, but some consumers prefer to avoid parabens due to endocrine-disruption concerns.

Sodium Silver Aluminum Silicate is a mineral-based preservative booster that helps keep products fresh, but its aluminum content raises questions for some users.

A gentle, well-tolerated preservative that helps keep your products fresh and safe from microbial growth.

Sodium sulfite is a preservative that keeps products fresh, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin or those with sulfite allergies.

Sodium thiocyanate is a synthetic preservative booster with limited safety data; it may cause irritation for sensitive skin and is best avoided in leave-on products.

Sorbic acid is a gentle, naturally derived preservative that helps keep your products fresh and safe from microbial growth.

A synthetic preservative that helps keep products fresh, but its safety is still being studied.

Tea Hydroiodide is a synthetic preservative booster with limited safety data; it's rarely used in modern skincare and may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

TEA-Sorbate is a gentle preservative that helps keep your products fresh, but it may cause mild irritation for very sensitive skin.

Thiabendazole is an effective preservative but is rarely used in modern skincare; it may cause sensitivity in some individuals.

Thimerosal is an effective preservative but controversial due to its mercury content; it is rarely used in modern skincare and is best avoided for sensitive or allergy-prone skin.

A synthetic preservative that can be effective but may cause skin irritation and has raised safety concerns in some regions.

Thymol is a natural antimicrobial from thyme oil that helps preserve products and fight acne-causing bacteria, but it can be irritating for sensitive skin at higher concentrations.