Beauty ingredient research

Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Browse the review database to understand what an ingredient is, what it does in a beauty formula, when it is useful, and when it deserves caution across skincare, haircare, bodycare, makeup, and more.

20769

Reviewed ingredients

524

Low-concern standouts

2884

Need usage caution

Showing 60 of 20,303
AllUV absorberUV filterabrasiveabsorbentacne treatmentactiveactive ingredientadhesivealkalizing agentamino acidanti-aginganti-androgenanti-cavityanti-cavity agentanti-inflammatoryanti-irritantanticariesanticavity agentantidandruffantifungalantimicrobialantioxidantantiperspirantantiplaqueastringentbarrier repairbarrier supportbarrier-repairbarrier-supportbinderbinding agentbiotechbiotechnologybond-builderbotanicalbotanical extractbotanical oilbotanical waterbrighteningbrightening agentbufferbuffering agentcell-communicating ingredientceramidechelating agentchemicalchemical intermediateclaycleansercleansingcleansing agentcolorantconditionerconditioningconditioning agentcooling agentcosmeticcosmetic additivecosmetic colorantcosmetic ingredientcosmetic pigmentcosmetic powdercosmetic-texturizercosmetic-waxcosmeticscrosslinking agentdelivery agentdelivery systemdenaturantdeodorantdeodorant agentdepigmenting agentdepilatorydepilatory agentdesensitizing agentdyedye intermediatedye precursordye-intermediateemollientemulsifierenzymeessential oilexfoliantexperimentaleyelashfermentfilm formerfilm-formerfilm-formingfilm-forming agentfirming agentfixativeflavoring agentformulationfragrancefragrance ingredientfunctional ingredientgashair carehair colorhair coloranthair conditionerhair dyehair removalhair-carehair-colorhaircarehumectantindustrialinsecticideintermediatelashlash carelash enhancerlash-and-browlip carelipidmakeupmarine extractmasking agentmicrobiomemicrobiome modulatormineralmoisturizernail carenail-careocclusiveoilopacifieropacifying agentoptical agentoral careotheroxidative dyeoxidative dye precursoroxidizing agentpH adjusterpain reliefpenetration enhancerpeptidepersonal careph adjusterpharmaceuticalpheromonepigmentplant oilplasticizerpolymerpolymer precursorprebioticprescription-drugpreservativepreservative boosterprobioticprocessing agentprocessing aidpropellantproteinpurifyingreducing agentretinoidscalp caresebum regulatorsebum-regulatorself-tannerself-tanningsensory additivesensory agentsensory modifiersiliconeskin barrierskin barrier supportskin conditionerskin conditioningskin conditioning agentskin lighteningskin protectantskin-conditioningskin-conditioning agentskin-identicalskin-identical ingredientskin-lighteningskin-lightening agentskincaresolventsoothingsoothing agentstabilizerstimulantsunscreensurfactantsyntheticsynthetic colorantsynthetic dyesynthetic resinsynthetic-coloranttexture enhancertexturizerthickenertoneruv-absorberuv-filtervasoactivevasodilatorviscosity controlviscosity controllingviscosity controlling agentvitaminwax

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Oligopeptide-74

SH-Oligopeptide-74

3.8

A lab-made peptide that may help signal skin to produce more collagen, but research is still early and results vary.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-75

SH-Oligopeptide-75, SH-Oligopeptide-1

4.0

A synthetic peptide blend that may help support collagen and reduce fine lines, but human data is still limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Oligopeptide-75 Amide

SH-Oligopeptide-75 Amide

4.0

A synthetic peptide that signals skin to produce more collagen and elastin, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-76

SH-Oligopeptide-76

3.8

A synthetic peptide that may help improve skin firmness and reduce fine lines, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-77

SH-Oligopeptide-77

4.0

A lab-made peptide that signals skin to produce more collagen, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness with consistent use.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-78

SH-Oligopeptide-78

3.8

A lab-made peptide that may help firm skin and soften lines, but research is still early and results vary.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-79

SH-Oligopeptide-79

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines and improve skin firmness, but more human studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-wrinkle agent

SH-Oligopeptide-8

SH-Oligopeptide-8

4.0

A popular peptide that helps soften expression lines by relaxing facial muscles, but results are subtle and temporary.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Oligopeptide-80

SH-Oligopeptide-80

4.0

A lab-made peptide that signals skin to look firmer and smoother, with low irritation risk.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-81 Amide

SH-Oligopeptide-81 Amide

4.0

A lab-made peptide amide that signals skin to firm and smooth, but long-term human data is still limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-82

SH-Oligopeptide-82

3.8

A synthetic peptide that may help support skin firmness and reduce fine lines, but more human studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-82 Amide

SH-Oligopeptide-82 Amide

3.8

A synthetic peptide amide that may help support skin firmness and reduce fine lines, though research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-83

SH-Oligopeptide-83

4.0

A lab-made peptide that may help firm skin and soften lines, but human studies are still limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-83 Amide

SH-Oligopeptide-83 Amide

3.8

A lab-made peptide amide that may help support collagen for firmer-looking skin, but human studies are limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-84

SH-Oligopeptide-84

4.0

A lab-made peptide that may help firm skin and soften lines, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-85

SH-Oligopeptide-85

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help support collagen and improve skin firmness, but more human studies are needed to confirm its effects.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-86

SH-Oligopeptide-86

3.8

A lab-made peptide that may help support firmer, smoother skin, though research is still early.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-87

SH-Oligopeptide-87

3.8

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines and improve skin firmness, but research on this specific peptide is still limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-88

SH-Oligopeptide-88

4.0

SH-Oligopeptide-88 is a lab-made peptide that may help support collagen and elastin for firmer, smoother skin, but research is still early.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Oligopeptide-9

SH-Oligopeptide-9

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help support collagen production and improve skin firmness, but more human studies are needed.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Pentapeptide-1

SH-Pentapeptide-1

4.0

A lab-made peptide that mimics natural signals to encourage firmer, smoother-looking skin with minimal irritation.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Pentapeptide-19

SH-Pentapeptide-19

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help improve skin firmness and reduce fine lines, but research is still early.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Pentapeptide-35

SH-Pentapeptide-35

4.0

SH-Pentapeptide-35 is a synthetic peptide that signals skin to produce more collagen, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness with low irritation risk.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Pentapeptide-38

SH-Pentapeptide-38

4.0

A lab-made peptide that signals skin to produce more collagen, helping soften fine lines over time with minimal irritation.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Pentapeptide-4

SH-Pentapeptide-4

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce the look of fine lines and support skin firmness with consistent use.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Pentapeptide-40

SH-Pentapeptide-40

4.0

SH-Pentapeptide-40 is a lab-made peptide that may help support collagen and improve skin firmness, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Pentapeptide-5

SH-Pentapeptide-5

4.0

SH-Pentapeptide-5 is a synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines by encouraging collagen production, but results are gradual and vary by person.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging

SH-Pentapeptide-5 Tripeptide-35

SH-Pentapeptide-5, Tripeptide-35

4.0

A synthetic peptide duo that may help firm skin and soften fine lines, but results vary and more human studies are needed.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Pentapeptide-7

SH-Pentapeptide-7

4.3

A well-studied synthetic peptide that helps reduce wrinkles by boosting collagen and calming inflammation, with a strong safety profile.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-wrinkle agent

SH-Pentapeptide-8

SH-Pentapeptide-8

4.0

A synthetic peptide that mimics the action of botulinum toxin to soften expression lines, offering a gentler alternative for wrinkle reduction.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide Complex

SH-Polypeptide-7, SH-Polypeptide-94, SH-Polypeptide-95

4.0

A synthetic peptide blend that may help support collagen production and improve skin firmness, but human studies are limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-1 Nonapeptide-29

SH-Polypeptide-1 Nonapeptide-29

3.8

A synthetic peptide that may help support collagen production and improve skin firmness, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-100

SH-Polypeptide-100

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help support collagen and reduce fine lines, but long-term human data is still limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-101

SH-Polypeptide-101

3.8

A lab-made peptide that may help smooth fine lines and support collagen, but human studies are still limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-102

SH-Polypeptide-102

3.8

SH-Polypeptide-102 is a synthetic peptide that may help support collagen production for firmer, smoother skin, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-103

SH-Polypeptide-103

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines and support firmer-looking skin, but more human studies are needed to confirm its effects.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-105

SH-Polypeptide-105

4.0

SH-Polypeptide-105 is a lab-made peptide that may help firm skin and reduce fine lines, but research is still early.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-106

SH-Polypeptide-106

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines by signaling skin to produce more collagen, but human data is still limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareactive
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-107

SH-Polypeptide-107

4.0

A lab-made peptide that signals skin cells to produce more collagen, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness with consistent use.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging

SH-Polypeptide-108

SH-Polypeptide-108

4.0

A synthetic peptide that signals skin to build more collagen, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness with low irritation risk.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-109

SH-Polypeptide-109

4.0

A synthetic peptide that signals skin cells to produce more collagen, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness with consistent use.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-11

SH-Polypeptide-11

4.0

SH-Polypeptide-11 is a lab-made peptide that may help support collagen production and improve skin firmness, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-110

SH-Polypeptide-110

3.8

SH-Polypeptide-110 is a lab-made peptide that may help support firmer, smoother skin, but research is still early and results vary.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-111

SH-Polypeptide-111

4.0

SH-Polypeptide-111 is a synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines and support firmer-looking skin, but human studies are limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-13

SH-Polypeptide-13

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines and improve skin firmness, but human studies are limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-14

SH-Polypeptide-14

4.0

SH-Polypeptide-14 is a lab-made peptide that may help reduce fine lines by signaling skin to produce more collagen.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-16

SH-Polypeptide-16

4.0

A synthetic peptide that signals skin to produce more collagen, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness with consistent use.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-17

SH-Polypeptide-17

4.0

A promising synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines and improve skin firmness, but more human studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-wrinkle agent

SH-Polypeptide-18

SH-Polypeptide-18

4.0

SH-Polypeptide-18 is a synthetic peptide that mimics the action of botulinum toxin to soften expression lines, offering a non-invasive alternative for wrinkle reduction.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-25

SH-Polypeptide-25

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines by signaling skin to produce more collagen, but results vary and long-term data is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-26

SH-Polypeptide-26

4.0

A lab-made peptide that signals skin to build more collagen, helping reduce fine lines over time.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-28

SH-Polypeptide-28

4.0

SH-Polypeptide-28 is a synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines and improve skin firmness by signaling collagen production, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-29

SH-Polypeptide-29

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines by signaling skin to produce more collagen, but results are subtle and require consistent use.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-30

SH-Polypeptide-30

4.0

A synthetic peptide that may help reduce fine lines and improve skin firmness, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-31

SH-Polypeptide-31

4.0

SH-Polypeptide-31 is a synthetic peptide that signals skin cells to boost collagen, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness with minimal irritation risk.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-32

SH-Polypeptide-32

3.8

SH-Polypeptide-32 is a lab-made peptide that may help support collagen and improve skin firmness, but research is still emerging.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepeptide
Read ingredient review

Anti-aging agent

SH-Polypeptide-33

SH-Polypeptide-33

4.0

A synthetic peptide that signals skin cells to produce more collagen, helping reduce fine lines and improve firmness with low irritation risk.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-34

SH-Polypeptide-34

4.0

SH-Polypeptide-34 is a lab-made peptide that signals skin to look firmer and more youthful, with a good safety profile for most skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review

Anti-Aging Agent

SH-Polypeptide-35

SH-Polypeptide-35

4.0

A lab-made peptide that may help support collagen and improve skin firmness, but more human studies are needed to confirm its effects.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareanti-aging
Read ingredient review