Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a woody or floral note; generally considered safe at low levels but offers no skincare benefit.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a pleasant aroma but offers no skincare benefits and may be unnecessary for sensitive skin.

A synthetic scent ingredient that can make products smell pleasant but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

A gentle synthetic ingredient that helps other ingredients dissolve and keeps skin feeling soft without clogging pores.

A synthetic helper ingredient that improves product texture and stability, but with limited independent research on skin benefits.

A lightweight synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread easily without greasiness.

A gentle silicone that gives skin and hair a silky, smooth feel without clogging pores.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a fresh note but offers no skincare benefit and may cause sensitivity in some people.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a warm, woody note but offers no skincare benefit and may be a concern for those with fragrance sensitivities.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a pleasant note but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

A synthetic solvent and emollient with limited safety data; generally considered low risk in small amounts.

A synthetic fragrance compound that provides a fresh scent but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A natural fragrance compound that adds a woody scent but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds a woody or musky scent; generally safe at low levels but may cause sensitivity in some individuals.

Trimethylamine Oxide is a gentle buffering agent that helps maintain product stability, but its role in skincare is minor and not a primary active ingredient.

Trimethylbenzene is a synthetic solvent used in tiny amounts in some cosmetics; it is not a beneficial skincare ingredient and may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a floral note but offers no skincare benefit; generally well-tolerated but may irritate sensitive skin.

Trimethylbenzophenone is a synthetic UV filter that helps protect skin from sun damage, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin and raises some environmental concerns.

A synthetic fragrance compound that adds a pleasant woody-amber scent but offers no skincare benefits and may cause sensitivity in some individuals.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a warm amber note to products, but may cause sensitivity in those with fragrance allergies.

A synthetic cooling ingredient that provides a refreshing, minty sensation without actual mint, but may cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a fresh, woody note but may irritate sensitive skin at higher levels.

A synthetic fragrance compound that adds a pleasant scent but offers no skincare benefits and may cause sensitivity in some individuals.

A synthetic scent ingredient that can give a fresh, cooling feel but may irritate sensitive skin.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a fresh, cooling note to products, but offers no direct skincare benefit and may be unnecessary for sensitive noses.

A natural fragrance component that gives a fresh, woody scent but offers no direct skincare benefits.

A fragrance ingredient with a camphor-like scent; generally safe at low levels but may cause sensitivity in some individuals.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a fresh, woody aroma but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a fresh, woody note to products but offers no skin benefit and may cause sensitivity in some people.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a woody note but offers no skincare benefit; safe at low levels but may cause sensitivity in some.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a pleasant woody note but offers no skincare benefits and may cause sensitivity in some people.

A synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds scent but offers no skincare benefit and may irritate sensitive skin.

A synthetic scent ingredient that makes products smell pleasant but offers no skin benefit and may cause sensitivity in some people.

A synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds a pleasant scent but offers no skincare benefits; safe for most people at low concentrations.

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

A synthetic peptide-like ingredient that helps soften expression lines by calming facial muscles, offering a gentler alternative to neurotoxins.

A synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds scent but offers no skin benefit; safe at low levels but may cause sensitivity in some people.

A synthetic scent ingredient that adds a warm, woody aroma but offers no skincare benefits and may be unnecessary for sensitive skin.

A synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds a pleasant scent but offers no skincare benefits; generally safe at low levels but may cause sensitivity in some individuals.

A synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds scent to products; generally safe at low levels but may cause sensitivity in some individuals.

A synthetic scent ingredient that can make products smell pleasant but may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

A synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds a pleasant scent but offers no skincare benefits; generally safe at low concentrations.

A lightweight, non-greasy emollient that helps soften skin and improve product texture without clogging pores.

A natural fragrance compound that adds a woody, camphor scent but may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

A synthetic film-former that improves product feel and wear without common irritation concerns.

Trimethylolpropane is a synthetic alcohol used as a building block for other ingredients; it is not a direct active and is generally safe at low concentrations.

A synthetic ingredient that helps products form a flexible film and control thickness, but it's rarely the star of the formula.

A synthetic crosslinker for nail coatings, not a beneficial skincare ingredient; may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

A synthetic polymer that helps makeup and skincare products last longer and feel smoother, but is not a functional active ingredient.

A lightweight, non-greasy emollient that helps products spread smoothly and leaves skin feeling soft without clogging pores.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient derived from coconut oil that helps skin feel soft and smooth without clogging pores.

A lightweight, non-greasy emollient that helps products spread smoothly and leaves skin feeling soft without clogging pores.

A lightweight, non-greasy emollient that helps products glide on smoothly and leaves skin feeling soft without clogging pores.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient that helps soften and smooth skin without clogging pores.

A synthetic ingredient that strengthens nail coatings but may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

A synthetic crosslinker that strengthens nail and hair formulas but can be a skin sensitizer for some people.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps products feel silky and spread smoothly without clogging pores.

A synthetic fragrance ingredient that adds a warm, woody scent but offers no skincare benefits and may cause sensitivity in some people.

A synthetic polymer that creates a flexible, water-resistant film on skin or lashes, improving product wear and durability.

A gentle film-forming polymer that helps skincare and makeup stay put without feeling heavy or clogging pores.