Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A mild, plant-derived conditioning ingredient that softens hair and reduces static without heavy buildup.

A reliable emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but may be slightly pore-clogging for acne-prone skin.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in products, generally considered safe at low concentrations.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions, but may be slightly pore-clogging for acne-prone skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, generally safe for most skin types but may be too heavy for very oily skin.

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

PEG-2 Isostearate is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in creams and lotions, but it may not suit those avoiding all PEG compounds.

PEG-2 Lauramide is a synthetic ingredient that helps cleansers foam and mix oil with water, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

An effective cleansing agent, but may be too stripping for dry or sensitive skin types.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in skincare products, generally well-tolerated but not a star active ingredient.

PEG-2 Laurate SE helps mix oil and water in creams and cleansers, but may be slightly irritating or pore-clogging for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A synthetic polymer that helps reduce static and improve hair smoothness, but offers limited benefits beyond basic conditioning.

A gentle, semi-synthetic ingredient that combines milk solids with PEG to improve skin feel and product texture, but may not suit those avoiding PEGs or animal-derived ingredients.

PEG-2 Oleamine helps mix oil and water in cleansers, but may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

A synthetic fluoride compound used in oral care to help prevent cavities, but it may cause irritation in sensitive mouths.

PEG-2 Oleammonium Chloride is a synthetic conditioning agent that reduces static and softens hair, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin or clog pores in acne-prone individuals.

PEG-2 Oleate is a mild synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and creams, but it may be less common in modern formulations due to concerns about ethoxylation byproducts.

A reliable emulsifier for oil-and-water blends, but may be too rich for acne-prone skin.

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

A gentle synthetic ingredient that helps products spread smoothly and feel less greasy, but offers no active skin benefits.

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

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle emulsifier that helps oil and water mix, making creams and lotions stable and smooth.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in creams and lotions, generally well-tolerated by most skin types.

PEG-2 Soyamine is an effective emulsifier and surfactant, but it may cause irritation or clog pores for some skin types, especially in leave-on products.

A gentle, PEG-modified surfactant that helps create a rich foam while being less stripping than traditional sulfates.

PEG-2 Stearamine is a synthetic ingredient that helps hair feel soft and reduces static, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-2 Stearate is a reliable emulsifier that keeps creams and lotions stable, but it may be moderately comedogenic for acne-prone skin.

A reliable emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures, but may be slightly pore-clogging for some skin types.

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

A gentle, sunflower-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare products while adding a light, non-greasy feel.

PEG-2 Tallow Amine is an effective emulsifier and conditioning agent, but its animal-derived origin and potential for irritation make it less common in modern skincare.

An effective foam booster and thickener, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin and raises ethical concerns due to animal-derived tallow.

A mild, almond-derived emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without heavy greasiness.

PEG-20 Castor Oil helps mix oil and water in cleansers and shampoos, but may be irritating for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A common cleansing agent that helps foam and lift dirt, but may be too stripping for dry or sensitive skin.

A common foaming agent that helps cleansers lather and remove oil, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-20 Cocamine is a workhorse emulsifier and surfactant, but it may be too harsh for sensitive or acne-prone skin and raises environmental concerns due to its PEG and amine components.

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

PEG-20 Dilaurate is a safe, widely used emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in skincare products, but its PEG component raises minor purity concerns for sensitive skin.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but may be too heavy for very oily or acne-prone skin in high concentrations.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, generally well-tolerated by most skin types.

PEG-20 Distearate is a reliable emulsifier that keeps your lotions and creams from separating, but it's synthetic and may not appeal to those seeking natural ingredients.

A gentle, semi-synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions while providing light skin conditioning.

A gentle emulsifier that stabilizes formulas and helps rinse away impurities without stripping the skin.

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without heavy irritation.

A gentle emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps cleansers remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, but may be drying for very sensitive skin in high concentrations.

A gentle, widely used emulsifier that helps water and oil mix in your creams and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable lotions and creams without common irritation concerns.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas, but may raise concerns for those avoiding PEG compounds.

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without heavy greasiness.

A safe, effective emulsifier that helps oil and water mix, but it's synthetic and may not appeal to those seeking natural ingredients.

A gentle, plant-based emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your skincare, but may feel slightly heavy on very oily skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, generally well-tolerated but may not suit ultra-sensitive skin.

A gentle, castor-oil-derived emulsifier that helps rinse away makeup and sunscreen without stripping the skin.

A gentle, multi-tasking emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in your products while adding a touch of skin conditioning.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation or clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams and lotions with low irritation potential.