Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle, semi-synthetic emollient that helps products spread smoothly and feel less greasy than pure oils.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, smooth creams and lotions, but may be too heavy for very oily or acne-prone skin.

PEG-9 Laurate is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may cause irritation for sensitive skin in high concentrations.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel silky, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A gentle silicone that makes products feel silky and spread easily, with low irritation and clogging risk.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps products feel smooth and spread easily, with low irritation potential.

PEG-9 Oleamide is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers, but it may be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

PEG-9 Oleate is a workhorse emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it may be slightly drying or irritating for very sensitive skin.

A mild, olive-derived emulsifier that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, but may not suit everyone due to its PEG component.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that helps create smooth, lightweight textures and improves product spreadability without clogging pores.

PEG-9 Ricinoleate is a mild emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers and creams, but its PEG component raises minor purity concerns for some users.

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

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

A synthetic film-former found mainly in nail and lash glues; effective but can be a skin sensitizer for some people.

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

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable formulas, but its PEG component raises mild environmental and purity concerns.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and form a light, flexible film on skin, but offers no direct active benefits.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams and lotions, but may be too heavy for very oily or acne-prone skin.

PEG-90M is a safe, synthetic thickener that gives a smooth, non-sticky feel to water-based products.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but its fluorinated chemistry raises environmental persistence concerns.

A synthetic silicone polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight, but may not suit those avoiding silicones.

A stabilized form of vitamin E that offers antioxidant benefits with better formulation flexibility than plain tocopherol.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and form a light, flexible film on skin, but it offers no active skincare benefits.

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

A synthetic film former that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put, but its long-chain polymer structure means it's not easily absorbed and may feel heavy on some skin types.

A silicone emulsifier that helps mix water and oil for a smooth, spreadable texture, but may not suit those avoiding silicones.

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

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps keep your lotions and creams smooth and stable, but it's not a star ingredient on its own.

A synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but may feel heavy on some skin types.

A water-friendly version of vitamin E that helps protect skin from environmental damage and keeps it feeling soft.

A gentle synthetic humectant that helps hydrate skin and improve product texture, with a low risk of irritation.

A synthetic conditioning ingredient that helps reduce static and improve the feel of hair and skin, but may not suit those avoiding PEGs.

A gentle, water-binding polymer that helps keep skin hydrated and smooth without clogging pores.

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

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

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

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

A versatile silicone emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable formulas without a greasy feel.

A safe, synthetic thickener that improves product texture without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps products feel silky and spread smoothly, while also providing light hydration.

A gentle, water-attracting polymer that helps hydrate skin and improve product texture without clogging pores.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight on skin.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that improves texture and helps ingredients mix, but may not suit those avoiding silicones.

A versatile silicone emulsifier that improves texture and spreadability without heavy greasiness.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps products feel silky and spread evenly without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps creamy products stay smooth and stable, but it offers no direct skin benefit beyond texture.

A gentle synthetic thickener that gives water-based products a smooth, non-sticky feel without clogging pores.

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

A versatile silicone emulsifier that improves texture and spreadability with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle synthetic humectant that helps your skin hold onto water without feeling sticky or heavy.

A safe, synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily, but offers no active skin benefits.

A gentle silicone that gives skin and hair a silky, smooth feel without clogging pores, but may not be ideal for those avoiding silicones.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and hair products resist water and last longer, but offers no skincare benefit.

A silicone emulsifier that helps create smooth, lightweight textures and improves product spreadability without clogging pores.

A versatile silicone emulsifier that improves product texture and spreadability with a low risk of irritation.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives water-based products a silky, non-sticky feel, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A safe, synthetic thickener that helps create a smooth, spreadable texture in cleansers and lotions, but offers no active skin benefits.

A gentle synthetic ingredient that helps products feel silky and spread evenly without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that stabilizes formulas and leaves skin feeling smooth without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable formulas without heavy residue.