Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Ozonized Polysorbate 80 is a modified emulsifier with potential antimicrobial benefits, but its ozone content may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

An effective foam booster and thickener, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin and raises sustainability concerns due to palm oil sourcing.

Palm Kernelamide MEA is a mild foam booster and thickener that helps create a rich lather in cleansers, but it may be a concern for those avoiding palm-derived ingredients.

A palm-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare, but its sustainability and purity depend on sourcing.

Palmamide DEA boosts foam and thickens cleansers, but it can be mildly irritating and has raised some safety concerns due to potential DEA contamination.

Palmamide MEA is a mild foam booster and thickener for cleansers, but its palm oil origin raises sustainability concerns for some users.

Palmamide MIPA is a mild surfactant that helps create rich lather, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin and raises sustainability concerns due to palm oil sourcing.

A gentle, plant-derived surfactant that helps create a rich lather while being kind to sensitive skin.

Palmamine is a palm-derived surfactant that helps cleanse and emulsify, but may cause irritation in sensitive skin and raises sustainability concerns.

Palmeth-2 is a gentle surfactant and emulsifier that helps cleansers foam and lotions stay mixed, but it's derived from palm oil, which raises sustainability concerns.

A gentle cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin, but its palm-derived origin raises sustainability questions.

Palmitamide DEA helps create rich lather and thicken cleansers, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin and has moderate comedogenic potential.

A gentle, foam-enhancing surfactant that helps cleansers feel creamy and mild, but offers no direct skin benefit beyond cleansing.

A gentle surfactant that helps create a rich lather without stripping the skin, but it's semi-synthetic and may not suit all sensitive skin types.

Peanutamide MEA is a foam booster and cleanser, but it may be mildly irritating and is not suitable for those with peanut allergies.

PEG Oleate is a common synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be slightly irritating for very sensitive skin.

PEG-10 is a common synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers, but may raise concerns about potential contamination with impurities depending on manufacturing quality.

PEG-10 Cocamine is an effective cleansing and emulsifying agent, but may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin due to its surfactant nature.

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

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

PEG-10 Oleamine is an effective emulsifier but may cause irritation or clog pores for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

PEG-10 Soyamine is an effective emulsifier but may be moderately irritating and comedogenic, so it's best suited for rinse-off products.

A synthetic helper ingredient that keeps oil and water mixed, but offers no direct skin benefit.

PEG-10 Stearamine is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in products, but it may be moderately irritating or comedogenic for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A synthetic conditioning agent that helps reduce static and soften hair, but may cause irritation or clog pores in sensitive individuals.

A semi-synthetic surfactant and conditioner that can improve texture but may cause irritation or clog pores in sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A gentle synthetic conditioning agent that helps detangle hair and improve product feel without heavy buildup.

PEG-11 Castor Oil is a gentle emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and shampoos, but its PEG component raises mild environmental and purity concerns.

An effective cleansing agent that can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin, best suited for rinse-off formulas.

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

PEG-11 Oleate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in products, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin and has moderate comedogenic potential.

PEG-11 Tallow Amine is an effective emulsifier but may cause irritation for sensitive skin and raises ethical concerns due to its animal-derived origin.

An effective cleansing and emulsifying ingredient, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin due to its surfactant nature.

PEG-12 Dilaurate is a safe, widely used emulsifier that helps products spread smoothly, but it may not suit those avoiding synthetic ingredients.

PEG-12 Ditallate is a synthetic cleanser ingredient that effectively removes dirt and oil, but may be slightly drying for sensitive skin.

PEG-12 Laurate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-12 Palmitamine is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may cause irritation or clog pores for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

PEG-12 Tallate is a functional emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin types.

A mild, non-drying surfactant that helps create a rich lather without stripping the skin or scalp.

A mild, non-stripping surfactant that cleanses without disrupting the skin barrier.

A mild, non-stripping cleanser that helps create a rich lather without drying out the skin.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps cleansers foam and rinse clean, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, generally safe but may be too heavy for very oily skin in high concentrations.

PEG-14 Oleate is a safe, widely used emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, but may be best avoided by those with very sensitive or compromised skin.

A functional emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but may be slightly irritating for sensitive skin and has moderate comedogenic potential.

PEG-15 Castor Oil is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers, but its PEG component raises mild environmental and purity concerns.

PEG-15 Cocamine helps mix oil and water and reduces static in hair, but may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

An effective cleansing agent but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin, especially in high concentrations.

An effective antistatic and conditioning agent for hair, but may cause irritation for sensitive scalps at higher concentrations.

A gentle surfactant that cleanses without stripping, often used to soften the feel of stronger cleansers.

PEG-15 Cocopolyamine is a synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse and reduce static in hair, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

An effective emulsifier but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin types.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may cause irritation or clog pores in sensitive or acne-prone individuals.

A reliable emulsifier that helps oil and water mix in your skincare, but it's synthetic and may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A gentle, semi-synthetic surfactant derived from jojoba oil that helps cleanse without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier derived from jojoba oil that helps blend water and oil in formulas, generally well-tolerated but may not suit ultra-sensitive skin.

PEG-15 Oleamine is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be irritating for sensitive skin and has moderate comedogenic potential.

A synthetic conditioning agent that reduces static and improves feel in hair products, but may cause irritation or clog pores in sensitive individuals.

PEG-15 Oleate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin and has moderate comedogenic potential.