Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

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

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

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 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.

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

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.

PEG-8 Castor Oil is a gentle cleansing and emulsifying ingredient that helps blend oil and water, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

PEG-8 Cocamine is a mild cleansing and emulsifying ingredient, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin types.

A gentle, water-friendly version of hemp seed oil that helps cleanse without stripping the skin.

PEG-8 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine is an effective emulsifier and antistatic agent, but its derivation from animal fat and potential for irritation mean it's best suited for rinse-off products.

A synthetic cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but may be slightly drying for sensitive skin.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that helps products feel silky and spread easily, but it's not biodegradable and may not suit those avoiding silicones.

PEG-8 Phosphate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

A mild synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, generally safe for most skin types.

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

A safe, effective emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your skincare, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

PEG-8 Soyamine is a semi-synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers, but it may be moderately irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-8 Tallate is a reliable emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but its production involves ethoxylation, which may raise purity concerns for some users.

PEG-8 Tallow Amide is a foaming cleanser ingredient that works well but may be irritating for sensitive skin and is not vegan-friendly.

PEG-8 Trisiloxane is a lightweight silicone that helps products glide on smoothly without a greasy feel, but it may not suit everyone due to potential buildup or sensitivity to silicones.

A gentle, plant-derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, suitable for sensitive skin.

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

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier that helps cleansers foam and rinse cleanly, but may raise environmental concerns due to its PEG content.

A water-friendly version of lanolin that softens skin and helps blend oils and water, but may not suit those with wool allergies or sensitive skin.

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

PEG-9 Cocoate is a gentle cleansing and emulsifying ingredient, but those with sensitive skin may want to patch-test due to potential mild irritation.

PEG-9 Laurate is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin in high concentrations.

PEG-9 Oleamide is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-9 Oleate is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be slightly drying or irritating for very sensitive skin.

PEG-9 Ricinoleate is a mild emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers and creams, but its PEG component raises minor purity concerns for some users.

A gentle, plant-derived surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may be slightly drying for sensitive skin.

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

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in products, generally well-tolerated but not a standout active ingredient.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps blend oil and water in formulas, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in skincare, generally well-tolerated but not a star active ingredient.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in skincare products, with a low risk of irritation.

A synthetic thickener that helps create rich, stable textures in cleansers and lotions, generally well-tolerated but not biodegradable.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps blend oil and water, making cleansers and lotions feel smooth without heavy irritation.

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

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in skincare, generally well-tolerated but not a star active ingredient.

A gentle synthetic solubilizer that helps blend oils and water in cleansers and makeup removers, with a low irritation profile.

A synthetic ingredient that helps sunscreen spread evenly and stay on the skin longer, but belongs to a chemical family under environmental scrutiny.

A synthetic fluorinated surfactant that helps products spread and resist water, but its safety and environmental impact are not fully understood.

A specialized silicone surfactant that improves water resistance and spreadability, but its complex chemistry and environmental persistence raise caution.

A synthetic fluorosilicone that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A specialized silicone-fluorocarbon hybrid that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in skincare formulas without stripping the skin.

Poloxamer 105 is a gentle synthetic ingredient that helps mix oil and water, making products feel smooth and spread easily without irritation.

Poloxamer 105 Benzoate is a gentle synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, but it offers no direct skin benefits beyond cleansing.

Poloxamer 108 is a gentle synthetic ingredient that helps cleansers foam and rinse clean without stripping the skin.

Poloxamer 122 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

A mild synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, with a low irritation profile.

Poloxamer 124 is a gentle synthetic ingredient that helps mix oil and water, making cleansers effective without stripping the skin.