Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A lightweight silicone that gives a silky, non-greasy feel to products, but offers no active skin benefits.

A behind-the-scenes helper that protects your skincare formulas from metal contamination, keeping them effective and stable.

A behind-the-scenes helper that boosts cleansing power and prevents mineral buildup, but is generally safe in rinse-off formulas.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich microalgae extract that helps soothe and protect the skin from environmental stress.

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that cleanses effectively with low irritation potential, ideal for sensitive skin.

A gentle, biodegradable chelating agent that protects your skincare formulas from metal contamination without the harshness of older alternatives.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin barrier.

Tetrasodium EDTA is a safe, widely used chelating agent that helps your skincare products stay stable and effective by neutralizing hard water minerals.

A gentle chelating agent that helps preserve product freshness and boosts the effectiveness of other ingredients by binding to unwanted metals.

A gentle, biodegradable alternative to EDTA that protects your skincare formulas from metal-induced degradation.

A gentle, biodegradable chelating agent that boosts formula stability and skin feel without the concerns associated with traditional EDTA.

A behind-the-scenes helper that keeps your products stable and effective by binding unwanted minerals.

A gentle, water-soluble antioxidant derived from citrus that helps calm skin and fight free radical damage.

A gentle botanical extract with antioxidant potential, but research on its skincare benefits is still limited.

Teupolioside is a gentle plant antioxidant that may help calm skin and defend against environmental stress, though research is still early.

Texas cedarwood oil adds a warm, woody scent to skincare but can be irritating for sensitive skin if used at high concentrations.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich plant extract that may help soothe and protect skin, but research is still emerging.

A gentle, algae-derived extract that may help protect skin from environmental stress and support hydration, though research is still early.

A gentle marine extract that helps hydrate and calm the skin, with promising antioxidant potential.

A gentle marine algae extract that helps hydrate skin and protect against environmental stress, though research is still emerging.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich marine ferment that helps hydrate and protect the skin, but research is still emerging.

A gentle lichen extract with antioxidant potential, but research is still early and benefits are not yet proven in humans.

A natural sweetener and mild antioxidant from a West African fruit, used mainly for flavor in lip products rather than for skin benefits.

Theanine is a gentle, calming amino acid that helps soothe stressed skin and fight environmental damage.

A gentle fern extract that may help protect skin from environmental stress, but research is still early.

A synthetic antioxidant that may help protect skin from environmental stress, but research is still limited compared to more established ingredients.

A gentle antioxidant from cacao that may help soothe skin and support a firmer appearance.

Theophylline may temporarily tighten skin and improve circulation, but results are modest and it can cause irritation for sensitive skin.

A gentle, biotech ingredient from heat-loving bacteria that may help calm irritation and support the skin barrier.

A biotech peptide blend that may help support skin firmness and resilience, though human studies are limited.

A biotech peptide from an extremophile microbe that may help skin cope with environmental stress, but human research is still limited.

A gentle enzyme exfoliant from a heat-loving microbe that helps soften and smooth skin without harsh scrubbing.

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

A gentle, fat-soluble form of vitamin B1 that may help calm skin and support antioxidant defenses, though research in cosmetics is still limited.

A bioactive form of vitamin B1 that may help protect skin from oxidative stress and support a healthy-looking complexion, though research in topical skincare is still emerging.

Thiamine HCl is a gentle antioxidant that may help protect skin from environmental stress, but its benefits are less studied than other B vitamins like niacinamide.

A gentle, biotech-derived blend of vitamin B1 and yeast peptides that may help soothe and condition the skin, though research is still emerging.

Thianthol is a synthetic fragrance ingredient with limited safety data; it may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Thiazolylalanine is a novel synthetic antioxidant that may help protect skin from environmental stress, but research is still early and it's not a must-have ingredient.

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 gentle, hydrating biotech ingredient from a deep-sea microbe that may help calm irritation and support the skin barrier.

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

A synthetic antioxidant that may help protect skin from pollution and UV damage, but research is still limited compared to more established antioxidants like vitamin C.

A powerful antioxidant that can help brighten skin and reduce signs of aging, but may cause irritation at high concentrations.

A lab-made peptide that may help improve skin firmness and reduce the look of fine lines, but research is still early.

A gentler, more stable version of alpha-lipoic acid that fights oxidative stress and supports skin radiance without the typical irritation of its parent molecule.

A hybrid peptide-antioxidant ingredient that may help firm skin and fight oxidative stress, but human data is still limited.

A synthetic peptide-lipoic acid hybrid that may help firm skin and soften lines, but human data is still limited.

A synthetic peptide that pairs lipoic acid with a tripeptide to help firm skin and fight oxidative stress, generally well-tolerated.

A synthetic peptide that combines a lipoic acid-like antioxidant with a signaling peptide to help protect and firm skin, though human studies are limited.

A next-gen hyaluronic acid that pairs deep hydration with antioxidant protection, but research is still early.

Thiodiglycol is a synthetic solvent and humectant that helps products spread smoothly, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

Thiodiglycolamide is a synthetic brightener that may help fade dark spots, but research is limited and it can cause irritation for some.

A synthetic antioxidant that helps preserve product freshness and may offer mild skin protection, but it's not a star active ingredient.

Thioglycerin is a sulfur-based humectant that can soften and break down keratin, but it may cause irritation in sensitive skin.

Thioglycolic acid is a potent chemical that breaks hair structure for removal or perming, but it can irritate skin and requires careful formulation.

Thiohistidine is a gentle antioxidant that may help protect skin from oxidative stress and environmental damage, but research is still early.

Thiolactic acid is a gentle exfoliant that may help smooth skin and reduce signs of aging, but research is still limited compared to better-studied AHAs.

Thiomorpholinone is a synthetic fragrance ingredient with limited safety data; use with caution if you have sensitive skin.

Thiosalicylic acid is a stronger, sulfur-based cousin of salicylic acid that may help with acne and exfoliation, but it can be more irritating and is less studied in cosmetics.