Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle, water-loving emollient that softens skin and helps cleansers feel less stripping, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A mild, coconut-derived emollient that helps soften skin without clogging pores, making it a good choice for sensitive and oily skin types.

A gentle, synthetic emollient that helps products spread smoothly and feel silky without clogging pores or causing irritation.

Glycereth-6 Trioleate is a gentle emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures in skincare products without common irritation concerns.

A gentle, water-loving ingredient that helps your skin hold onto moisture without feeling greasy.

Glycereth-7 Benzoate is a gentle, semi-synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that softens skin without a greasy feel, ideal for lightweight formulas.

A gentle, coconut-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in your skincare, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle, synthetic emollient that softens skin without clogging pores, ideal for lightweight formulas.

A gentle humectant with mild exfoliating properties, suitable for most skin types including sensitive skin.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no direct skin benefit.

A mild, effective humectant that hydrates without clogging pores, suitable for most skin types.

A gentle, modified glycerin that helps soften and smooth skin without the sticky feel of plain glycerin.

A gentle, non-sticky humectant that hydrates skin without the tackiness of plain glycerin.

A gentle film-forming polymer that helps products stay put and resist water without feeling heavy or sticky.

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

Glycerin is a superstar humectant that hydrates the skin without clogging pores, making it suitable for nearly all skin types.

A gentle film-former that helps products stay put and feel smooth, without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A gentle, synthetic humectant that hydrates skin without the sticky feel of glycerin, making it a good option for lightweight formulas.

A gentle, water-attracting humectant that helps keep skin hydrated without the sticky feel of plain glycerin.

A gentle film-forming ingredient that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no direct skincare benefit.

A film-forming polymer that helps products stay put and resist water, but it's not a moisturizer or active ingredient.

A synthetic polymer that helps products feel smooth and stay put on skin, but offers no direct skincare benefit.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but its phthalate-related name may raise unnecessary concern.

A film-forming polymer that helps products stay put and resist water, but its phthalic acid component raises mild safety questions despite being bound in a polymer.

A gentle, plant-derived emulsifier and film former that helps blend water and oil in formulas while leaving a light, non-greasy feel.

A gentle, skin-identical ingredient that helps attract and hold moisture while supporting the skin’s natural barrier.

A gentle phospholipid that helps hydrate and support the skin barrier, though research is still emerging.

A gentle, bio-identical humectant that helps skin hold onto moisture and may support barrier repair.

A natural resin derivative that helps fragrances last longer and creates a flexible film on skin or hair.

A pine-derived film former that helps makeup and skincare stay put longer, especially in water-resistant formulas.

A gentle, water-attracting ingredient that helps hydrate the skin and improve the feel of cosmetic formulas without common irritation.

A gentle, synthetic film-former that helps lock in moisture and improve product texture without clogging pores.

A gentle emollient that hydrates and smooths skin without clogging pores, suitable for most skin types.

A synthetic humectant that helps hydrate skin and improve product feel, generally well-tolerated but less studied than glycerin.

A gentle, plant-based emollient that softens skin and improves product feel without clogging pores.

A gentle, barrier-supporting ester that helps skin feel soft and hydrated without clogging pores.

A gentle, stable vitamin C derivative that brightens skin and fights free radicals without the irritation of pure ascorbic acid.

A gentle, plant-based emollient that improves product texture and skin feel without clogging pores.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient that helps soften and smooth the skin with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A gentle film-forming ingredient that adds a smooth, hydrated feel to products without clogging pores.

A mild, plant-derived emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas without clogging pores.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas without clogging pores.

A mild, skin-friendly ingredient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily without clogging pores.

A gentle, plant-derived emollient and emulsifier that softens skin and helps stabilize formulas without clogging pores.

A synthetic antioxidant that may help shield skin from pollution and UV damage, but human studies are still limited.

A gentle film-forming ingredient that helps products feel smooth and stay put without clogging pores.

A gentle, multi-acid ester that softens skin and supports the moisture barrier without heavy greasiness.

Glyceryl cocoate is a mild, coconut-derived ingredient that moisturizes and helps blend oil and water in your skincare products.

A gentle, plant-derived emollient that softens skin and helps other ingredients work better, with very low irritation potential.

A mild, coconut-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in products while leaving skin feeling soft and conditioned.

A gentle, water-soluble collagen derivative that helps hydrate and temporarily smooth the skin's surface, but it does not replace lost collagen deep in the skin.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient that helps creams feel smooth and luxurious without clogging pores.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient that helps products feel silky and spread smoothly without clogging pores.

A gentle, plant-derived emollient that improves product texture and stability without clogging pores.

A gentle emollient that helps soften and smooth skin without clogging pores, ideal for dry or sensitive skin.

A gentle silicone that helps products glide on smoothly without clogging pores, but offers minimal active skincare benefits.

A gentle, fat-soluble antioxidant that helps shield skin from pollution and UV damage while supporting a brighter, more even complexion.

A mild, plant-based emollient that improves product texture and skin feel without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient that helps moisturize and improve product texture without clogging pores.