Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Sodium lactate is a gentle, water-loving humectant that hydrates the skin without clogging pores, making it a great option for sensitive or oily skin types.

A gentle, multi-tasking humectant that combines the hydrating power of sodium lactate with the skin-smoothing benefits of methylsilanol.

A gentle surfactant that cleans without stripping, but may not suit ultra-sensitive scalps or those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

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

Sodium Lanolate is a mild, lanolin-derived cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil without stripping the skin, but may be comedogenic for some and is unsuitable for those with wool allergies.

Sodium Lardate is a traditional soap ingredient from animal fat that effectively cleanses but may be drying for some skin types.

A gentle surfactant that cleanses effectively without over-drying, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle, amino acid-based surfactant that cleanses effectively without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Sodium Laurate is an effective cleanser but can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

A natural soap ingredient that cleans effectively but can be drying for sensitive or dry skin types.

An effective foaming cleanser that can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin, but is generally safe in rinse-off products.

A gentle, non-stripping surfactant that cleanses without disrupting the skin barrier, ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle, effective surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin barrier, ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

A strong but slightly gentler cousin of SLS that effectively cleanses and foams, though it can still be drying for sensitive skin.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin barrier.

A gentle, non-stripping surfactant that effectively cleanses while being kinder to sensitive skin than traditional sulfates.

A gentle, non-stripping surfactant that effectively cleanses while being kinder to sensitive skin than traditional sulfates.

A gentle, high-foaming surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin, making it a great alternative to harsher sulfates.

A gentle surfactant that helps cleanse and emulsify without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive skin formulations.

A gentle, soap-free cleanser that effectively removes impurities while being kind to sensitive skin.

A gentle, semi-synthetic surfactant that effectively cleanses without the harshness of traditional sulfates, making it a good choice for sensitive skin.

A gentle cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin, but may not suit ultra-sensitive types if used in high amounts.

A milder relative of sodium lauryl sulfate that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentler cousin of SLS that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin barrier.

A gentle, non-stripping surfactant that effectively cleanses while being kind to sensitive skin.

A gentle, effective cleansing agent that creates a rich lather without stripping the skin as harshly as some other sulfates.

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, ethoxylated surfactant that cleans effectively without stripping the skin, but its ethoxylation process raises minor environmental and purity concerns.

A strong cleanser that can strip natural oils; best for oily skin or occasional deep cleansing.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that helps create a rich lather without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin barrier — ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

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

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

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

A gentle, amino-acid-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil while respecting the skin barrier.

A mild, amino-acid-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle chelating agent that helps preserve formula integrity and boost antioxidant performance without the irritation of stronger alternatives.

A gentle, amino-acid-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil while respecting the skin barrier.

A gentle, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive skin.

A mild, collagen-derived surfactant that cleanses gently and may leave skin feeling soft, but offers no lasting anti-aging benefits.

A mild, silk-based cleanser that cleans without stripping and leaves skin and hair feeling soft.

A gentle, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses effectively without over-drying, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle, sulfate-free cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A mild, coconut-derived cleanser that removes impurities without stripping the skin barrier, making it ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

A mild, skin-friendly surfactant that cleanses without stripping, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

A mild, effective cleanser that gives a creamy foam without the harshness of sulfates.

A gentle, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive and dry skin.

A mild, plant-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin barrier.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses effectively while respecting the skin barrier—ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

A mild, effective cleanser that’s kinder to skin than traditional sulfates.

A mild, silk-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while respecting the skin barrier, ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

A mild, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses effectively while respecting the skin barrier.

A gentle, amino-acid-based surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive skin.

A gentle, amino-acid-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil while being kind to sensitive skin.

A gentle, amino-acid-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kinder to sensitive skin than traditional sulfates.

A gentle, biodegradable surfactant that effectively cleanses while being kind to sensitive skin.

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentler alternative to traditional sulfates that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin's moisture barrier.

A mild, phosphate-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.