Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A mild, skin-friendly cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

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

A mild, amino-acid-based cleanser that effectively removes impurities while being gentle on the skin barrier.

A gentle, phosphate-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

A gentle synthetic surfactant that helps cleansers foam and rinse cleanly without stripping the skin.

A gentle, low-irritation cleansing agent that helps create a rich lather without stripping the skin.

A gentle surfactant that helps create rich foam and improve texture in cleansers, with low irritation potential.

A synthetic foaming agent that can be effective but may cause irritation for sensitive skin; less common in modern formulations.

Noneth-8 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

A synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse and emulsify, but may be irritating for sensitive skin at higher concentrations.

Nonoxynol-9 is a harsh synthetic surfactant and spermicide that can irritate skin and disrupt the skin barrier; it is not recommended for routine skincare.

A synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse and stabilize formulas, but may be irritating for sensitive skin and is best suited for rinse-off products.

A synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse and emulsify, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A synthetic emulsifier that helps products rinse cleanly, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may be irritating for sensitive skin at high concentrations.

Nonyl Nonoxynol-5 is a synthetic surfactant that can help cleanse and emulsify, but it has raised environmental and skin irritation concerns.

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

A synthetic emulsifier that helps cleansers work effectively, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse and emulsify, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A gentle, plant-based surfactant that cleans without stripping, ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

Octoxynol-1 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

A gentle synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse the skin without causing excessive dryness or irritation.

Octoxynol-33 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and shampoos, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

Octoxynol-70 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps cleanse but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

Octoxynol-9 is an effective emulsifier and cleanser, but its environmental persistence and potential for mild irritation make it a less preferred choice for sensitive skin or eco-conscious routines.

Octyldecyl Phosphate is a mild synthetic emulsifier that helps stabilize formulas and improve texture, with a low risk of irritation for most skin types.

A gentle, ethoxylated surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive skin formulas.

A gentle, non-stripping surfactant that helps mix oil and water, making it a good choice for sensitive skin cleansers and lightweight emulsions.

A mild, water-soluble emulsifier that helps blend oils and water without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for gentle cleansers and lotions.

A synthetic foam booster that can improve texture but may contain impurities linked to health concerns; many brands now avoid it.

A mild foam booster that helps cleansers feel richer, but offers no direct skin benefit beyond texture.

Oleamide MIPA is a synthetic thickener and foam booster found in many cleansers, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

A mild, low-irritation surfactant that helps create rich foam and improve product texture, but may not suit those with very sensitive or reactive skin.

Oleamine helps blend oil and water in cleansers and conditioners, but may be irritating or clog pores for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A gentle surfactant that helps create a rich lather without stripping the skin.

A gentle, non-drying surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A mild, phosphate-based emulsifier that helps cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Oleth-100 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in products, but it may be less common in modern formulations due to concerns about ethoxylated ingredients.

Oleth-11 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in products, but it may be mildly irritating for very sensitive skin.

Oleth-15 helps mix oil and water in skincare, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

Oleth-16 is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may cause mild irritation for very sensitive skin.

Oleth-2 Phosphate is a mild cleansing and emulsifying agent that helps blend oil and water in products, generally considered safe for most skin types.

Oleth-20 is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be moderately irritating or pore-clogging for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Oleth-20 Phosphate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in products, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

Oleth-25 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in skincare, but it may be less common in clean beauty formulations.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin types.

A gentle surfactant and emulsifier that helps cleanse and stabilize formulas without stripping the skin.

Oleth-5 Phosphate is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in products, with low irritation potential and a good safety profile for most skin types.

Oleth-50 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in formulas, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin at higher concentrations.

Oleth-6 is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be mildly irritating or pore-clogging for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Oleth-82 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers, but it may be slightly drying or irritating for very sensitive skin.

A gentle, olive-derived surfactant that boosts foam and cleanses without stripping the skin.

Ozonized Oleth-10 is a semi-synthetic surfactant with added ozone for potential antimicrobial benefits, but its skin effects are not well-studied and it may be drying for sensitive skin.

Ozonized PEG-10 Oleate is a semi-synthetic cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but its ozonized form is less studied and may cause irritation for sensitive skin.