Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures, but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures, but may be too heavy for very oily or acne-prone skin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oils and water, but may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

PEG-30 Glyceryl Oleate is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be slightly irritating for very sensitive skin.

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

A reliable emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams and lotions with a low risk of irritation.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas, but may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

A reliable emulsifier that helps water and oil mix in creams and lotions, but it is synthetic and may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A reliable emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, but may feel heavy on very oily skin.

A reliable emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oils and water, but may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

A reliable emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your products, but it's a PEG compound, which raises mild purity concerns for some users.

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

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable formulas, but may be less suitable for those avoiding PEG compounds.

A gentle emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams, but may clog pores in acne-prone skin.

An effective emulsifier and surfactant, but may cause irritation in sensitive skin and raises environmental concerns due to ethoxylation.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable formulas, but may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

PEG-30 Lanolin is a water-friendly version of lanolin that softens skin and helps blend oil and water in formulas, but it may clog pores for some people.

PEG-30 Oleamine is an effective emulsifier but may cause irritation or clog pores for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

A gentle, plant-based emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas while offering mild skin conditioning.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps oil and water mix in creams and lotions, but it may not suit those seeking fully natural formulas.

A reliable, low-irritation emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas while offering mild skin conditioning.

A reliable emulsifier that keeps creams stable, but may be too heavy for very oily or acne-prone skin.

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

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

A synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water, generally safe but may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions, generally considered safe and non-irritating at typical use levels.

A synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A gentle silicone that helps products glide on smoothly without clogging pores, but may not suit those avoiding silicones entirely.

PEG-32 Oleate is a safe, widely used emulsifier that helps products feel smooth and rinse cleanly, but it may be less ideal for very sensitive or reactive skin.

A reliable emulsifier that keeps creams stable, but may be too heavy for very oily or acne-prone skin.

A gentle, water-soluble emulsifier that helps mix oils into water-based formulas without clogging pores.

A mild, almond-derived emulsifier that helps blend water and oil in creams and lotions without heavy irritation.

PEG-35 Castor Oil is a reliable emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, making it a staple in many cleansers and creams without causing irritation.

A well-tolerated emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your products, but may feel heavy on very oily skin.

A gentle, water-friendly lanolin derivative that moisturizes and helps blend oil and water in formulas, but may not suit those with wool allergies.

A reliable, low-irritation emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams and lotions without clogging pores.

PEG-36 Castor Oil is a reliable emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but its PEG component raises mild concerns about potential impurities in unrefined grades.

PEG-36 Oleate is a safe and effective emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be a concern for those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A reliable emulsifier that keeps creams and lotions stable, but may not be ideal for very sensitive or compromised skin.

PEG-4 is a gentle, water-loving ingredient that helps hydrate the skin and improve product texture, but it may be contaminated with impurities in poorly refined forms.

A gentle, semi-synthetic emollient that helps products spread smoothly and feel silky, but may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

A safe, effective emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your products, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

PEG-4 Cocamide is a common cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but may be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-4 Cocamine is a mild cleansing agent that helps products foam and rinse cleanly, but it may cause irritation for very sensitive skin.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps products spread smoothly and feel less greasy, but may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

A lightweight synthetic emollient that helps products glide on smoothly without a greasy feel, but it offers no active skincare benefits.

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

PEG-4 Dilaurate is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but it may be slightly pore-clogging for acne-prone skin.

A synthetic film-former that helps nail and makeup products last longer, but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

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

A safe, widely used synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

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

A gentle synthetic conditioner that smooths hair and fights frizz, but may not suit ultra-sensitive scalps.

An effective emulsifier from animal-derived tallow, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin and raises ethical concerns for vegans.

A lightweight synthetic emollient that softens skin without a greasy feel, generally well-tolerated but not a standout active ingredient.

A gentle, semi-synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures with low irritation potential.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures in skincare without significant irritation or clogging concerns.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps oil and water mix in your skincare, but it's not a star active ingredient.

PEG-4 Lanolate is a gentle, lanolin-derived emollient that softens skin and helps other ingredients absorb, but it may clog pores for acne-prone individuals.