Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

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 synthetic ceramide mimic that helps strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture, ideal for dry or sensitive skin.

A synthetic ceramide mimic that strengthens the skin barrier and locks in moisture, ideal for dry or sensitive skin.

A synthetic ceramide mimic that strengthens the skin barrier and locks in moisture, ideal for dry or sensitive skin.

A gentle, foam-boosting surfactant that helps make cleansers feel milder and less stripping.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps detangle hair and soften skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A conditioning ingredient that adds slip and softness to hair and skin, but may be too heavy for oily or acne-prone skin.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and skin without heavy buildup, making it a good choice for fine hair or sensitive skin.

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

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps reduce static and improve manageability in hair, while providing light moisturization to skin.

A gentle antistatic ingredient that helps hair feel smooth and less frizzy, but offers no deep repair.

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that helps create a rich lather without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and softens hair and skin without heavy buildup.

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 conditioning ingredient that reduces static and improves manageability, but its synthetic nature may not suit all preferences.

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

A plant-derived compound that helps calm inflammation and protect skin from environmental damage, but more human studies are needed to confirm its benefits.

Oleic acid is a natural fatty acid that softens skin and helps other ingredients absorb, but it can be moderately clogging for acne-prone skin.

A gentle, plant-derived thickener that helps create a smooth, non-greasy feel in creams and lotions.

Oleostearine is a natural emollient that softens skin and thickens formulas, but it may clog pores for acne-prone individuals.

A gentle, fatty-acid-enriched cocoa extract that moisturizes and provides antioxidant protection, suitable for most skin types.

A synthetic peptide that may help soften expression lines and improve skin firmness with low irritation risk.

Oleoyl Epoxy Resin is a synthetic film former that helps nail polish and long-wear makeup last longer, but it has limited public research on skin safety.

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

A gentle, oil-soluble antioxidant that helps protect skin from environmental stress while providing light conditioning.

A gentle, oil-friendly green tea derivative that brings antioxidant benefits to water-resistant or lipid-rich formulas.

A gentle, modified collagen that helps soften and smooth skin without clogging pores.

A mild, plant-derived surfactant that cleans effectively without over-drying, ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle, science-backed ingredient that mimics natural skin lipids to support a healthy moisture barrier.

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

A gentle antioxidant extract that may help firm skin and fight free radical damage, but more human studies are needed.

Oleoyl sarcosine is a mild, amino-acid-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being gentle on the skin barrier.

A peptide that mimics natural signals to help skin look firmer and smoother over time.

A synthetic peptide that may help soften expression lines and improve skin firmness with minimal irritation risk.

A promising antioxidant that combines plant catechins with a fatty acid for better skin penetration and stability.

Oleoyl Tyrosine is a gentle, amino-acid-based ingredient that helps reinforce the skin barrier and improve hydration without irritation.

A gentle synthetic ingredient that helps balance oil production and refine pores without harsh side effects.

Oleth-10 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, making creams and lotions smooth and stable.

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-106 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in products, but it may not be ideal for very sensitive skin due to potential ethoxylate-related impurities.

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-110 is a gentle emulsifier that helps blend water and oil in creams and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

Oleth-12 helps mix water and oil in your products, but it may be mildly irritating or pore-clogging for sensitive or acne-prone 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 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in creams and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps products glide on smoothly without heavy greasiness.

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-23 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your products, but it may be less common in modern 'clean' beauty formulas.

Oleth-24 helps mix oil and water in creams and lotions, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin types.

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

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