Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Lauramide DIPA helps create rich lather in cleansers but may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

Lauramide MEA helps create rich lather and thick texture in cleansers, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

Lauramide MIPA helps create rich lather in cleansers but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

An effective foam booster and thickener, but its potential to form nitrosamines makes it a controversial choice in modern formulations.

A synthetic hair conditioning agent that helps soften and detangle hair, but is not widely studied for long-term effects.

A synthetic hair conditioning agent that helps detangle and soften hair without heavy buildup, but has limited research on long-term effects.

A gentle, effective antistatic and conditioning ingredient that smooths hair without heavy buildup.

A gentle, coconut-based surfactant that helps cleansers lather without stripping the skin.

A mild conditioning agent that helps detangle hair and soften skin, but may cause irritation for sensitive types at high concentrations.

A gentle surfactant that helps cleansers foam without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

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

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps detangle hair and reduce static without heavy buildup.

A gentle surfactant that helps create rich lather and thicken formulas without stripping the skin.

A gentle surfactant that helps create rich foam and stabilize formulas, but may cause mild irritation in sensitive skin at high concentrations.

A mild cleansing agent that helps foam and rinse away dirt, but may cause irritation for very sensitive skin.

A gentle, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

Lauraminopropylamine is a synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse and condition hair and skin, but it may cause irritation in sensitive individuals at higher concentrations.

A synthetic conditioning ingredient that helps detangle and soften hair, but may build up over time with frequent use.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps detangle hair and soften skin without heavy buildup, suitable for sensitive types.

A gentle, conditioning cleanser that helps hair and skin feel soft without stripping natural oils.

A gentle, plant-derived conditioning agent that adds softness and manageability to hair without heavy buildup.

A gentle, protein-based conditioning ingredient that helps smooth hair and lightly moisturize skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps smooth hair and reduce static, but offers minimal skin benefits beyond temporary softness.

A gentle, modified keratin that helps smooth and strengthen hair without the harshness of unmodified proteins.

A gentle, modified silk protein that adds softness and shine to hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle, protein-derived conditioning ingredient that helps reduce static and improve hair manageability without heavy buildup.

A gentle, protein-based conditioning ingredient that smooths hair and reduces static without heavy buildup.

A gentle, plant-derived conditioning ingredient that helps reduce frizz and static without heavy buildup.

A mild, sugar-based conditioning ingredient that detangles hair and softens skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle, starch-based conditioning agent that adds volume and softness without heavy buildup.

A gentle, wheat-derived conditioning ingredient that tames frizz and adds softness without heavy buildup.

A gentle, sugar-derived conditioning ingredient that helps hair feel soft and smooth without heavy buildup.

Laureth ingredients help blend oil and water in formulas, but some types can be mildly drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A mild, phosphate-based surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, but may not suit ultra-sensitive types.

A gentle cleansing and emulsifying ingredient that helps products rinse clean without stripping the skin, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated compounds.

A gentle, low-irritation cleansing ingredient that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

Laureth-100 is a gentle, high-foam surfactant and emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and serums, with a very low irritation profile.

Laureth-11 is a gentle surfactant and emulsifier that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive skin formulations.

A gentle, non-stripping surfactant that effectively cleanses while being kinder to the skin barrier than traditional sulfates.

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

A gentle synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse without over-drying, but offers no active skincare benefits beyond cleaning.

Laureth-13 is a synthetic cleansing agent that helps products foam and rinse clean, but it can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that helps cleansers foam and remove dirt without stripping the skin.

A gentle thickener that improves product texture without significant skin concerns.

An effective cleansing agent that can strip the skin's natural oils if used too frequently or in high concentrations.

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

Laureth-15 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps products spread and foam, but it may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

Laureth-16 is a gentle surfactant and emulsifier that helps products foam and rinse cleanly, but it may be slightly drying for very sensitive skin.

A gentle, semi-synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

A gentle surfactant that helps blend oil and water, making it a common but mild cleansing ingredient.

Laureth-2 Acetate is a gentle synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse without over-drying, making it a good option for sensitive skin.

A synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

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

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

Laureth-20 is a common cleansing and emulsifying ingredient that can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin, especially in high concentrations.

Laureth-23 is a reliable emulsifier but can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin at higher concentrations.

A gentle cleansing agent that helps products foam and rinse clean without stripping the skin.

A gentle, effective cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A gentle surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, but may not suit those with very sensitive or compromised barriers.

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