Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleans without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive skin.

A mild synthetic surfactant that helps cleansers foam and rinse cleanly, but may be too stripping for very dry or sensitive skin.

A behind-the-scenes stabilizer that protects your products from metal contamination, but offers no direct skin benefit.

Sodium perborate is an effective bleaching and antimicrobial agent, but its use in skincare is limited due to potential irritation and safety concerns.

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

Sodium persulfate is a powerful oxidizer used mainly in hair bleach, but it can cause skin and respiratory irritation and is not recommended for leave-on skincare.

A gentle, water-resistant silicone polymer that provides flexible hold and conditioning without heavy buildup.

A gentle silicone ingredient that may help improve skin firmness and reduce fine lines with consistent use.

A mild antimicrobial agent that helps control odor and reduce bacteria on skin, but is not a primary preservative.

Sodium Phenoxide is an effective preservative booster, but it can be irritating at higher concentrations and is best tolerated in rinse-off products.

A gentle, peptide-like ingredient that helps hydrate and calm the skin, with early research suggesting anti-aging potential.

A gentle, synthetic ingredient that helps calm skin sensitivity and reduce visible redness.

A safe, water-soluble UVB filter that feels lightweight and is less likely to clog pores, but offers no UVA protection on its own.

A mild synthetic surfactant that effectively cleanses without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Sodium phosphate is a safe, widely used pH adjuster that helps keep your skincare products stable and gentle on your skin.

A synthetic chelator that helps preserve product stability by binding trace metals, but it's rarely studied on its own for skin benefits.

Sodium Picramate is a synthetic dye used in hair color, but it can be a skin sensitizer and is best avoided by those with sensitive scalps.

A gentle synthetic chelator that protects your skincare formula from metal contamination without the harshness of EDTA.

A mild synthetic surfactant that helps cleansers foam and rinse away dirt without stripping the skin.

A common synthetic thickener that gives gels and creams a smooth, silky feel, but may not suit those avoiding synthetic ingredients.

A safe, synthetic thickener that gives gels and creams a smooth, non-sticky feel without clogging pores.

A reliable synthetic thickener that gives a silky, non-sticky feel to water-based products, with a strong safety profile.

A gentle, biodegradable polymer that helps your skin hold onto moisture and makes products feel silky without being sticky.

A synthetic polymer that improves product feel and spreadability, but has limited research on long-term skin benefits.

A powerful, natural humectant that holds more water than hyaluronic acid, making it a standout for dry or dehydrated skin.

A next-generation humectant that forms a flexible, breathable film to lock in moisture without the stickiness of traditional hyaluronic acid.

A next-generation humectant that holds more water than hyaluronic acid and forms a protective film on the skin.

A gentle, biotech-derived humectant that holds onto water better than hyaluronic acid, making it a standout for dry or dehydrated skin.

Sodium Polyitaconate is a gentle synthetic film-former that helps products spread smoothly and feel lightweight on skin.

Sodium polyphosphate is a safe, synthetic helper ingredient that keeps formulas stable and prevents metal contamination.

A gentle synthetic polymer that smooths hair and skin by forming a flexible, water-resistant film without heavy buildup.

A synthetic polymer that creates a temporary film on skin, often used in peel-off masks for a satisfying removal experience.

A gentle, hydrating seaweed extract that helps soothe skin and support moisture retention — a promising but less-studied ingredient.

Sodium Propionate is a mild, effective preservative that helps keep your skincare products fresh and safe from bacteria and mold.

A mild synthetic surfactant that helps create a rich lather and leaves skin feeling clean without excessive dryness.

An effective preservative with a long safety record, but some consumers prefer to avoid parabens due to endocrine-disruption concerns.

A gentle synthetic polymer that creates a smooth, non-sticky film on skin, often used to improve texture and wear of skincare products.

Sodium pyruvate is a gentle antioxidant and humectant that helps protect skin from environmental stress and supports hydration, but it is not a standout ingredient on its own.

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

A stable, water-soluble form of vitamin B2 that helps protect skin from oxidative stress and supports a healthy-looking complexion.

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

A gentle, castor-oil-derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping and helps hair feel soft and manageable.

Sodium Ricinoleate is a gentle, plant-derived cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil without stripping the skin, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive types.

A gentle, castor oil-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive skin.

A mild, rosehip-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being gentle enough for sensitive skin.

Sodium Rosinate is a natural foaming agent from pine rosin, effective in cleansers but can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin.

Sodium saccharin is a safe, non-nutritive sweetener used in tiny amounts to improve the taste of lip and oral care products, but it offers no skincare benefit.

A mild, plant-based cleanser that effectively removes impurities while being gentle on the skin barrier.

A milder, water-soluble form of salicylic acid that gently exfoliates and helps keep products fresh.

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

A mild, naturally derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin barrier, but its shark origin raises sustainability concerns.

A gentle, coconut-free alternative to traditional surfactants that cleans effectively while being kind to sensitive and dry skin.

A gentle pH adjuster that helps maintain product stability and mildness, but can be drying in high concentrations.

A gentle, shea butter-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive and dry skin.

A mild, plant-derived cleanser that cleans without stripping the skin, making it ideal for dry or sensitive skin types.

Sodium silicate is a safe pH adjuster and mild film former in cosmetics, but can be drying or irritating at high concentrations.

A safe, functional mineral powder that helps keep makeup products dry and smooth, but offers no direct skin benefit.

Sodium Silver Aluminum Silicate is a mineral-based preservative booster that helps keep products fresh, but its aluminum content raises questions for some users.

A novel hybrid ingredient that pairs hyaluronic acid's hydration with silver's antimicrobial and thioctic acid's antioxidant properties, but research is still limited.

A gentle, well-tolerated preservative that helps keep your products fresh and safe from microbial growth.