Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives water-based products a silky feel without clogging pores.

A gentle, naturally derived wax that helps thicken and stabilize balms and creams while adding a light floral scent.

A synthetic fluorinated ingredient that creates a smooth, breathable film on skin, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A synthetic ingredient that gives products a silky feel and helps them spread smoothly, but it's not well-studied for long-term skin effects.

A safe, synthetic thickener that helps create lightweight, non-greasy gel textures in skincare.

Polyacrylate is a safe, widely used synthetic thickener that gives products a smooth, gel-like texture without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives products a silky, non-greasy feel without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives water-based products a silky, lightweight feel without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives products a silky, non-greasy feel with minimal irritation risk.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives skincare products a silky, non-greasy feel without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives a smooth, non-greasy feel, but offers no active skin benefits.

A synthetic thickener and stabilizer that gives gels and creams a smooth, silky feel without clogging pores.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives skincare products a silky, lightweight feel without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives products a silky, non-sticky feel without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives products a silky, non-greasy feel with minimal irritation risk.

A reliable synthetic thickener that improves product feel and stability with a very low risk of irritation.

A safe, synthetic thickener and stabilizer that gives products a smooth, lightweight feel without clogging pores.

A safe, synthetic thickener and film-former that gives skincare products a smooth, non-sticky feel.

Polyacrylate-33 is a synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight, but it offers no active skincare benefits.

A safe, effective thickener that improves product feel and stability, but offers no direct skin benefit.

A synthetic polymer that helps create smooth, lightweight gel textures and a subtle film on skin, generally considered safe and non-irritating.

A safe, effective thickener that gives gels and creams a smooth, non-greasy feel, but can pill if not formulated well.

A synthetic thickener that helps create smooth, stable gel textures, but offers no active skincare benefit.

Polyamide-12 is a safe, non-irritating synthetic powder that improves product feel and controls shine without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone powder that gives a silky, matte finish and helps products glide on smoothly.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives products a smooth, non-sticky feel without clogging pores.

A safe synthetic powder that gives a silky feel and blurs imperfections without clogging pores.

A silicone-silica hybrid powder that gives a silky, blurring finish without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives gels and creams a smooth, non-sticky texture without clogging pores.

A safe, synthetic polymer that gives products a silky feel and helps them spread evenly without clogging pores.

A synthetic thickener that gives water-based products a smooth, gel-like feel; generally safe but not a functional active ingredient.

A safe, synthetic thickener that helps create lightweight, non-greasy gel textures in skincare.

A synthetic polymer that improves product feel and spreadability without common irritation.

A lightweight synthetic emollient that improves product feel and spreadability without clogging pores.

PTFE adds a silky, smooth feel to makeup but raises environmental and health concerns due to its persistence and potential contamination with PFAS.

A modified clay that helps control oil and improve product texture, generally safe for most skin types.

A gentle clay-derived thickener that improves product feel without common irritation concerns.

A gentle, plant-derived starch that improves product feel and controls shine without clogging pores.

A gentle, natural thickener that gives products a silky feel and helps stabilize formulas without clogging pores.

A synthetic skin-conditioning ingredient that improves product feel and spreadability, with limited but promising safety data.

A gentle clay mineral that helps absorb excess oil and improve product texture without stripping the skin.

Silica is a safe, non-irritating mineral that improves product texture and absorbs excess oil, but can be drying if overused.

A safe, non-irritating powder ingredient that helps control shine and gives a silky feel to makeup and skincare.

A silica derivative that gives products a silky feel and helps control shine without clogging pores.

A silicone-treated silica that gives a silky, blurring finish and helps control oil, but may not suit those avoiding silicones.

A safe, non-irritating powder that helps control shine and gives a silky feel to makeup and skincare.

A gentle silicone polymer that improves product feel and wear without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A silicone blend that gives products a silky, smooth feel and helps blur imperfections without clogging pores.

A silicone powder that gives a silky, matte finish and helps control oil without clogging pores.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives skincare products a silky, lightweight feel without clogging pores.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives gels and creams a smooth, non-sticky feel without clogging pores.

A safe, widely used synthetic thickener that gives products a silky, non-greasy feel without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives skincare products a silky, non-sticky feel without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A safe, synthetic thickener that improves product texture without clogging pores or irritating skin.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives water-based products a smooth, non-sticky feel without clogging pores.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives products a silky, non-greasy feel without clogging pores.

A safe, non-irritating mineral powder that improves texture and slip in makeup, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A gentle, starch-based ingredient that absorbs excess oil and gives a silky, matte finish without clogging pores.

A gentle, starch-based polymer that improves product texture and leaves a soft, non-sticky finish on skin.

A gentle, starch-based powder that absorbs excess oil and gives a silky, matte finish without clogging pores.