Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A safe, effective emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your products, 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 cleansers and makeup removers, with a low risk of irritation for most skin types.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put, resist water, and feel smooth, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A gentle, plant-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare products while providing light skin conditioning.

PEG-25 Oleamine is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-25 PABA is an older UV filter that effectively absorbs UVB rays but has fallen out of favor due to potential skin sensitivity and environmental concerns.

A gentle, plant-based emollient that hydrates and softens skin with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

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

PEG-25 Tallow Amine is an effective emulsifier and surfactant, but its animal-derived origin and potential for irritation make it less popular in modern clean beauty.

A reliable thickener and emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams but offers no direct skin benefit.

PEG-26 Castor Oil is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and shampoos, but its PEG component raises mild environmental and purity concerns.

A gentle, water-soluble cleanser derived from jojoba oil that helps remove dirt and makeup without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier derived from jojoba that helps blend oil and water in your products, but it's processed with PEGs, which some prefer to avoid.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may be slightly drying for sensitive skin.

PEG-27 Lanolin is a modified lanolin that adds water solubility, making it a versatile emollient and mild cleanser, but it may be moderately comedogenic for acne-prone skin.

A workhorse emulsifier that helps oil and water mix, but its animal-derived origin and PEG processing raise concerns for some users.

PEG-29 Castor Oil is a gentle cleansing and emulsifying ingredient, but its PEG component raises mild concerns about potential impurities.

A synthetic hair dye ingredient that helps color develop and last, but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your products, but it's not a star ingredient for skin benefits.

A gentle, castor-oil-based emulsifier that helps mix water and oil without stripping the skin.

PEG-3 Cocamide is a cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but it may be slightly drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

An effective foaming agent, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin and has raised environmental concerns.

PEG-3 Cocamine is a coconut-derived surfactant that helps products foam and rinse clean, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

A synthetic cholesterol-like ingredient that helps reinforce the skin barrier and improve texture, but its PEG component may raise concerns for some sensitive users.

A synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily, with low irritation risk but limited research on long-term effects.

A synthetic conditioning agent that helps detangle and soften hair, but has limited published safety data.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your products, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle silicone that smooths skin and hair without heavy buildup, but may not suit those avoiding silicones entirely.

PEG-3 Dioleate is a reliable emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but its production may involve potentially concerning impurities if not properly purified.

A gentle synthetic conditioning agent that reduces static and softens hair without heavy buildup.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas, but offers no active benefits beyond basic moisturizing.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, generally considered safe and low-irritation for most skin types.

A synthetic conditioning agent that reduces static and improves hair feel, but may build up over time with frequent use.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that stabilizes creams and lotions, but offers no active skin benefits.

A gentle synthetic conditioner that helps reduce static and soften hair without heavy buildup.

A gentle, coconut-derived emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures without stripping the skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps water and oil mix, making creams and lotions smooth and stable without heavy irritation.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures in skincare without common irritation.

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

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures in skincare, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps blend water and oil in creams and cleansers, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle, water-friendly lanolin derivative that softens skin and helps blend oils and water, but may clog pores for some.

A synthetic cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A gentle cleansing agent that helps create rich foam without stripping the skin, but may cause mild irritation for very sensitive types.

A gentle synthetic solvent and humectant that helps other ingredients dissolve and spread, but offers no unique skin benefit on its own.

PEG-3 Oleamide is a synthetic ingredient that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, but it may be mildly irritating for very sensitive skin.

PEG-3 Oleate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may cause irritation in sensitive skin at higher concentrations.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and leaves a light, non-greasy feel on skin.

A synthetic helper that keeps oil and water mixed in your products, but it's not a star ingredient on its own.

A conditioning ingredient that can improve softness and manageability, but may be irritating or clog pores for some.

A gentle emulsifier that helps water and oil mix in your skincare products, but it's synthetic and may not suit everyone's preferences.

A gentle emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures without common irritation concerns.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps water and oil mix in your moisturizer, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

An effective hair conditioner derived from animal fat, but may cause irritation or clog pores in sensitive individuals.

A conditioning ingredient from animal-derived tallow that softens hair and reduces static, but may be too heavy for fine hair or oily skin.

A synthetic film-former that helps nail polish and mascara last longer, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin or eyes.

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

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions, generally well-tolerated but not a star active ingredient.

PEG-30 Castor Oil helps mix water and oil in products, but may be irritating for sensitive or acne-prone skin at higher concentrations.

A gentle, coconut-derived emulsifier that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.