Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle, plant-derived humectant that hydrates and soothes skin, but research on its cosmetic benefits is still emerging.

A synthetic polymer that helps products stay put on skin, especially in water-resistant formulas.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put, but it's rarely used in modern skincare and has limited research on long-term skin effects.

A synthetic humectant that helps hydrate the skin and improve the feel of cosmetic products, with a good safety profile for most skin types.

Polyoxymethylene melamine is a synthetic film former found mainly in nail and hair products, not a typical skincare ingredient, and has limited safety data.

A synthetic resin used in nail products to create a durable, glossy film, but with limited safety data and potential for formaldehyde release under certain conditions.

A synthetic resin used mainly in nail products for durability, but with limited safety data for leave-on skincare.

Polyoxymethylene urea is a synthetic resin that creates a hard, glossy film on nails, but it may release trace formaldehyde and is not commonly found in everyday skincare.

A synthetic film-former that helps products stay put and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefit.

Polypentene is a synthetic polymer that helps products spread smoothly and form a light, flexible film on skin or hair.

A synthetic fluorinated polymer that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps products resist water and sweat, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A synthetic film-former that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A synthetic fluorinated ingredient that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

A synthetic, silicone-like ingredient that creates a smooth, water-resistant film on skin and hair, but raises environmental persistence concerns.

A safe, non-greasy silicone alternative that provides a smooth, water-resistant finish without clogging pores.

A high-performance silicone resin that helps makeup and sunscreen stay put without feeling heavy.

A gentle, biomimetic polymer that helps lock in moisture and improve skin feel without clogging pores.

A gentle fern extract rich in antioxidants that helps defend skin against pollution and UV-related stress, though human studies are still limited.

A fern-derived antioxidant that may help shield skin from UV-related stress and support a more even complexion, though most research is oral rather than topical.

A fern-derived antioxidant that may help shield skin from UV damage and environmental pollution, though more human studies are needed.

A fern-derived antioxidant that may help shield skin from UV-related damage and support a more even complexion, but human skincare studies are still limited.

A gentle fern-derived antioxidant that helps calm skin and defend against environmental stress, though human studies are still limited.

A gentle fern root extract that may help calm skin and fight free radical damage, though human studies are limited.

A gentle, effective humectant that hydrates skin without the sticky feel of glycerin, making it a great alternative for lightweight formulas.

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

A gentle, plant-derived emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures without common irritation.

A synthetic film-former that helps makeup and skincare last longer and feel smoother, but offers no active skin benefits.

Polypropylene is a safe, synthetic plastic used in cosmetics to improve texture and film formation, but it has no active skincare benefits.

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

A gentle silicone film-former that helps products spread smoothly and resist water, but offers no active skincare benefits.

Polyquaternium is a synthetic polymer that smooths hair and skin by forming a thin, flexible film, but some types may cause buildup with frequent use.

A synthetic polymer that helps hair hold its style and reduces static, but may build up with heavy use.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps hold hairstyles and adds a smooth feel to products without heavy buildup.

A gentle synthetic polymer that helps hair hold its shape and reduces frizz without heavy buildup.

A synthetic conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and static, but may cause buildup with frequent use.

A gentle conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and static without heavy buildup, commonly found in eye-friendly formulas.

A gentle conditioning polymer that reduces flyaways and improves wet combing without heavy buildup.

A gentle conditioning polymer that leaves hair and skin feeling soft without heavy buildup.

A gentle, effective detangler and antistatic agent that leaves hair smooth and manageable without buildup.

A gentle conditioning polymer that smooths hair and reduces static without heavy buildup.

Polyquaternium-103 is a gentle conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and static while improving the feel of hair and skin.

A gentle, synthetic conditioning polymer that smooths hair and reduces frizz without heavy buildup.

Polyquaternium-105 is a gentle conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and static in hair while improving product spreadability, with a low risk of irritation.

Polyquaternium-106 is a gentle synthetic polymer that smooths hair, reduces frizz, and improves manageability without heavy buildup.

Polyquaternium-107 is a gentle conditioning polymer that reduces frizz and static without heavy buildup, making it suitable for fine or oily hair types.

A gentle, modern conditioning polymer that smooths hair and reduces static without the heavy feel of older polyquaterniums.

Polyquaternium-11 is a gentle synthetic polymer that helps hair feel smooth and reduces frizz without heavy buildup.

Polyquaternium-110 is a gentle conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and improve hair feel without heavy buildup.

Polyquaternium-111 is a gentle synthetic polymer that helps hair feel smooth and reduces frizz without heavy buildup.

Polyquaternium-112 is a gentle, synthetic polymer that smooths hair, reduces static, and improves texture without heavy buildup.

Polyquaternium-113 is a gentle conditioning polymer that helps detangle hair and improve product feel without heavy buildup.

A gentle synthetic polymer that smooths hair and skin without heavy buildup, ideal for sensitive scalps.

Polyquaternium-12 is a gentle synthetic polymer that helps detangle hair and reduce static without heavy buildup.

A gentle synthetic polymer that smooths hair and skin without heavy buildup, but may not suit those avoiding silicones or synthetic ingredients.

Polyquaternium-14 is a gentle conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and static in hair while adding a smooth, silky feel.

Polyquaternium-15 is a synthetic polymer that helps reduce static and improve the feel of hair and skin, but its use has declined due to concerns about formaldehyde release.

Polyquaternium-16 is a synthetic conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and static while improving the feel of hair and skin.

Polyquaternium-17 is a gentle conditioning polymer that helps reduce frizz and static without heavy buildup, making it a good choice for fine or normal hair.

A gentle synthetic polymer that smooths hair and skin by forming a thin, flexible film, but may cause buildup with frequent use.