Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle, fish-derived emollient that helps moisturize and stabilize formulas, but may not suit strict vegans or those with fish allergies.

PEG-8 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine is an effective emulsifier and antistatic agent, but its derivation from animal fat and potential for irritation mean it's best suited for rinse-off products.

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

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

A gentle, water-friendly emollient derived from lanolin, but may be comedogenic for acne-prone skin.

PEG-8 Laurate is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may be contaminated with impurities in low-quality grades.

PEG-8 Linoleate is a gentle emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare products, but its PEG component raises mild environmental and purity concerns.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas, but offers no unique benefits over more common alternatives.

A lightweight silicone that smooths skin and hair without clogging pores, but may not suit those avoiding silicones entirely.

A gentle silicone that gives a silky, non-greasy feel to products without clogging pores.

A synthetic film-former that helps products resist water and humidity, but may cause buildup over time.

PEG-8 Myristate is a safe, synthetic emollient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily, but it may be less ideal for those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A mild, palm-derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, but its PEG content and palm sourcing raise environmental and purity considerations.

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive skin.

A synthetic conditioning agent that helps soften hair and reduce static, generally safe in rinse-off products but may cause buildup with heavy use.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that helps products feel silky and spread easily, but it's not biodegradable and may not suit those avoiding silicones.

PEG-8 Phosphate is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that improves product texture and spreadability without clogging pores.

A mild synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, generally safe for most skin types.

A gentle, semi-synthetic emollient derived from raspberry seed oil that helps soften and condition skin without clogging pores.

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

A safe, effective emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your skincare, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

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

PEG-8 Soyamine is a semi-synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers, but it may be moderately irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-8 Tallate is a reliable emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but its production involves ethoxylation, which may raise purity concerns for some users.

PEG-8 Tallow Amide is a foaming cleanser ingredient that works well but may be irritating for sensitive skin and is not vegan-friendly.

A high-performance silicone that helps products resist water and sweat, but may feel heavy on some skin types.

PEG-8 Trisiloxane is a lightweight silicone that helps products glide on smoothly without a greasy feel, but it may not suit everyone due to potential buildup or sensitivity to silicones.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that helps cleansers feel moisturizing without stripping the skin.

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

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put longer, but offers no active skincare benefit.

A gentle, plant-derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, suitable for sensitive skin.

PEG-80 Castor Oil is a gentle cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and makeup, but it may cause irritation for very sensitive skin.

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

A gentle cleansing agent that helps foam and rinse away dirt, but may be drying for very sensitive skin.

A gentle, plant-based emulsifier that helps rinse away oil and makeup without stripping the skin.

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

A gentle cleansing agent that helps rinse away dirt and oil without stripping the skin, but it's processed with PEGs, which some people prefer to avoid.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kinder to sensitive skin than many traditional sulfates.

A gentle, water-soluble surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, making it a popular choice for sensitive-skin formulas.

A gentle, PEG-based emulsifier that helps cleansers foam and rinse cleanly, but may raise environmental concerns due to its PEG content.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, generally safe for most skin types.

A synthetic film-former that helps products adhere to skin and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A workhorse emulsifier that helps oil and water mix, but its animal-derived origin and potential for ethoxylation impurities may give some users pause.

A water-friendly version of lanolin that softens skin and helps blend oils and water, but may not suit those with wool allergies or sensitive skin.

A gentle emulsifier derived from avocado oil that helps blend water and oil in formulas, with low irritation potential.

PEG-9 Borageate is a gentle emulsifier that helps blend water and oil in skincare, with mild skin-conditioning benefits from borage seed oil.

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

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread smoothly without heavy greasiness.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and form a flexible film on skin or hair.

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

PEG-9 Cocoate is a gentle cleansing and emulsifying ingredient, but those with sensitive skin may want to patch-test due to potential mild irritation.

A gentle, coconut-derived emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers and creams, with low irritation potential.

A synthetic conditioning agent that helps reduce static and soften hair, generally considered safe for most people.

PEG-9 Dimethacrylate is a synthetic polymer that helps nail and makeup products form a durable, glossy film, but it has limited skin benefits and may cause sensitivity in some users.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that improves product texture and spreadability without clogging pores.

PEG-9 Dinicotinate is a synthetic derivative of niacin (vitamin B3) that may support skin microcirculation and barrier function, but research is limited and it's less common than niacinamide.

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

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

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, generally well-tolerated and safe for most skin types.