Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle, camellia-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water while leaving skin feeling soft and conditioned.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in products, generally well-tolerated but with limited research on long-term skin effects.

A gentle emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and creams, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

PEG-65M is a safe, synthetic thickener that improves product texture and feel without common irritation concerns.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps keep your creams and lotions smooth and stable, with a low risk of irritation.

A synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse but may cause irritation for sensitive skin; not a common or well-studied ingredient in modern skincare.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps hydrate and soften skin without clogging pores, commonly used in rinse-off and leave-on products.

A gentle, plant-derived emollient that helps skin feel soft and smooth without clogging pores.

A gentle, coconut-derived cleansing agent that helps products foam and rinse cleanly, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, PEG-modified butter that cleanses without stripping and leaves skin soft—great for sensitive types.

A gentle, water-soluble silicone that makes products feel silky without heavy buildup.

A gentle silicone derivative that conditions hair and skin while adding a touch of moisture from panthenol (provitamin B5).

A gentle, coconut-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle, non-stripping surfactant derived from soybean oil that effectively cleanses while respecting the skin barrier.

A reliable, low-irritation emulsifier that helps rinse away oil-based impurities without stripping the skin.

A gentle, water-soluble lanolin derivative that softens skin and helps cleanse without stripping, but may clog pores for some.

A gentle, water-loving synthetic ingredient that softens skin and helps other ingredients spread evenly.

A gentle, water-soluble silicone that helps products glide on smoothly without a heavy or greasy feel.

PEG-7 Oleamide is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and lotions, but its PEG component raises mild environmental concerns.

PEG-7 Oleate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

A gentle, olive-derived emulsifier that helps rinse away oil and makeup without stripping the skin.

A mild, olive-derived emulsifier that helps cleanse and condition skin without stripping natural oils.

A gentle synthetic emollient that improves product feel without heavy residue, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A gentle cleansing ingredient that helps mix oil and water, but is rarely the star of the show.

A gentle, castor-oil-derived cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A gentle, water-soluble antioxidant that helps protect skin from environmental damage and may support a brighter, more even tone.

A mild, sunflower-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and creams, with low irritation potential.

PEG-7 Tallow Amine is an effective emulsifier but may be moderately irritating and comedogenic, and its animal-derived origin raises concerns for some users.

A gentle, coconut-derived cleansing ingredient that helps rinse away dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

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

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

A gentle, water-friendly lanolin derivative that hydrates and softens skin without the heavy feel of traditional lanolin.

PEG-70 Lanolin is a modified lanolin that adds water-loving properties, making it a gentle emulsifier and skin softener, but it may raise concerns about ethoxylation byproducts.

A gentle, water-soluble emollient from mango oil that adds softness without greasiness, ideal for rinse-off products.

A gentle, water-soluble emulsifier derived from plant sterols that helps blend oil and water phases in skincare, with mild skin-conditioning benefits.

A gentle, water-soluble emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and makeup removers, but may be drying for very sensitive skin.

A gentle, PEG-modified cocoa butter derivative that helps cleanse without stripping the skin.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that adds softness without greasiness, ideal for lightweight formulas.

PEG-75 Dilaurate is a safe, widely used emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, but its PEG origin raises mild environmental and purity concerns.

A reliable emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A safe, widely used synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions, but may be less ideal for very sensitive or acne-prone skin in high concentrations.

A versatile, water-friendly emollient derived from lanolin, but may be comedogenic for acne-prone skin.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient derived from lanolin that helps soften skin and blend oil and water in formulas.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas, but may clog pores for some.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle, water-soluble emollient that adds softness without greasiness, ideal for rinse-off products.

A gentle, water-friendly version of shea butter that helps blend oil and water in formulas without leaving a greasy feel.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that softens skin without a greasy feel, commonly used in rinse-off and leave-on products.

A gentle, water-soluble emulsifier derived from lanolin that helps blend oil and water in creams and cleansers, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle, water-friendly emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and creams, with low irritation potential.

A gentle, coconut-derived cleansing ingredient that helps lift dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

PEG-8 is a widely used synthetic humectant that helps products feel smooth and absorb well, but it may be contaminated with impurities in poorly refined forms.

A gentle, avocado-derived emollient that helps soften skin and improve the feel of cleansers and moisturizers.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps water and oil mix smoothly, but it offers no direct skin benefit beyond texture and stability.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas but offers no direct skin benefit.

PEG-8 Caprate is a mild synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily, but it may raise concerns for those avoiding PEGs or ethoxylated ingredients.

PEG-8 Caprylate is a gentle, synthetic ingredient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily without clogging pores.