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 17 of 1,097
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

Surfactant

Undeceth-40

UNDECETH-40

3.5

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may cause irritation in sensitive skin at high concentrations.

Irritation

moderate

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undeceth-5

UNDECETH-5

3.5

Undeceth-5 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin types.

Irritation

moderate

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undeceth-7

UNDECETH-7

3.5

Undeceth-7 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undeceth-8

UNDECETH-8

3.5

Undeceth-8 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undeceth-9

UNDECETH-9

3.8

Undeceth-9 is a workhorse emulsifier that helps products feel smooth and spread evenly, but it can be slightly drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

Irritation

moderate

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undecylenamide DEA

Undecylenamide DEA

3.5

Undecylenamide DEA is a synthetic foaming agent that helps cleansers lather and thicken, but it can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

Irritation

moderate

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undecylenamide MEA

UNDECYLENAMIDE MEA

3.8

Undecylenamide MEA is a synthetic surfactant and antimicrobial that helps cleanse and control microbes, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

Irritation

moderate

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undecylenamidopropylamine Oxide

UNDECYLENAMIDOPROPYLAMINE OXIDE

4.0

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that helps create a rich lather and improve product texture without stripping the skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undecyleneth-6

UNDECYLENETH-6

3.5

Undecyleneth-6 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

Irritation

moderate

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undecylenoyl Collagen Amino Acids

UNDECYLENOYL COLLAGEN AMINO ACIDS

4.0

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it a great choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undecylenoyl Glycine

UNDECYLENOYL GLYCINE

4.3

A gentle, amino-acid-based ingredient that helps control oil and support a balanced skin microbiome without stripping the skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Undecylenoyl Wheat Amino Acids

UNDECYLENOYL WHEAT AMINO ACIDS

4.3

A mild, amino-acid-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil while leaving skin feeling soft and balanced.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Wheat Germamide DEA

Wheat Germamide DEA

3.5

Wheat Germamide DEA helps create rich lather and thicker textures in cleansers, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

Irritation

moderate

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Wheat Germamidopropyl Betaine

Wheat Germamidopropyl Betaine

4.0

A gentle, wheat-derived surfactant that cleans without stripping the skin, ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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