Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

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

A functional emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, but offers no direct skin benefit and may be unnecessary for simple routines.

An effective but dated cleansing ingredient that can be drying for some skin types; better options exist today.

A conditioning ingredient that can reduce static and soften hair, but may cause irritation or clog pores in some people.

A gentle, semi-synthetic ingredient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps soften skin and improve product texture, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

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

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

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

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

A gentle, oil-derived emollient that softens skin and hair without feeling heavy, with low irritation potential.

A paraben-based preservative that is effective but controversial due to paraben safety concerns.

PEG-50 Castor Oil is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers, but its production involves ethoxylation, which may raise purity concerns for some users.

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

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

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

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, commonly used in cleansers and makeup removers, with a low risk of irritation.

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

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

A gentle cleansing agent that helps mix oil and water, but it's a PEG compound with potential processing concerns.

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

A mild cleansing and emulsifying ingredient derived from palm oil, generally safe but with environmental concerns due to palm sourcing.

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

A gentle, water-soluble lanolin derivative that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and moisturizers, but may not suit those with wool allergies.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that brings shea butter's moisturizing feel to rinse-off products without greasiness.

PEG-50 Stearamide is a synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions, but its PEG component raises mild purity concerns for some users.

PEG-50 Stearamine is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin types.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures in skincare.

PEG-50 Tallow Amide is a foaming cleanser ingredient that can be effective but may cause irritation for sensitive skin and raises ethical concerns due to its animal-derived origin.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and makeup removers, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle, water-soluble emulsifier that helps blend oils with water for effective cleansing without stripping the skin.

A gentle, effective emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and makeup removers, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle, water-soluble lanolin derivative that helps blend oil and water in formulas while providing light moisturizing benefits.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in skincare, generally well-tolerated but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A mild, semi-synthetic emulsifier that helps blend water and oil in skincare products while providing light skin conditioning.

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

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps products spread smoothly without leaving a greasy feel.

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

A mild cleansing agent that helps create foam and lift dirt, but may be slightly drying for very sensitive skin.

A mild cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but may be slightly drying for very sensitive skin.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your products, generally considered safe and non-irritating at typical levels.

PEG-6 Dilaurate is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your products, but it may not be ideal for very sensitive or compromised skin.

A safe, effective emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your skincare, but it's synthetic and may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A safe, widely used emulsifier that helps keep your products smooth and stable, but it's synthetic and may not appeal to those seeking natural-only formulas.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps products spread smoothly without leaving a greasy feel.

A gentle emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures without heavy irritation or clogging.

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures in skincare without significant irritation or pore-clogging risk.

A gentle emulsifier that helps oils and water mix, making cleansers and toners feel smooth without heavy residue.

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

A gentle, palm-derived cleansing agent that helps products rinse cleanly without stripping the skin.

A synthetic surfactant that helps cleansers foam and rinse clean, but may be slightly drying for sensitive skin.

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

PEG-6 Isostearate is a safe, widely used emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be less suitable for those avoiding PEG compounds.

A gentle, lanolin-derived emollient that helps moisturize and stabilize products, but may be comedogenic for some.

PEG-6 Lauramide is a synthetic cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but may be slightly drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-6 Laurate is a common emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

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

A gentle silicone derivative that improves product feel and spreadability without heavy residue, suitable for most skin types.

A gentle synthetic humectant that helps keep skin hydrated and improves product feel without common irritation.