Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but offers no direct skin benefit on its own.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your skincare products, with a low risk of irritation.

A synthetic film-former that helps products glide on smoothly and stay put, but offers no active skincare benefit.

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

A gentle synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A synthetic fluorinated surfactant that helps products spread and clean, but its environmental persistence raises concerns.

Creates a flexible, water-resistant film on skin or lashes, but its perfluoroalkyl chain raises environmental persistence concerns.

A safe, non-greasy synthetic oil that helps products glide on smoothly without clogging pores.

A lightweight, volatile solvent that helps products spread smoothly and evaporate quickly, leaving a non-greasy finish.

A mild synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient that hydrates and smooths skin, ideal for sensitive and oily skin types.

A safe, synthetic polymer that improves product texture and stability without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A lightweight, volatile hydrocarbon that helps products spread easily and evaporate quickly without leaving a greasy feel.

A lightweight, volatile hydrocarbon that helps dissolve makeup and sebum without leaving a greasy residue.

A lightweight, non-greasy solvent that helps dissolve makeup and sunscreen while leaving a silky feel on skin.

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

A lightweight, non-greasy emollient that helps products spread smoothly and evaporates quickly, leaving a silky feel.

A gentle synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping, but may not suit ultra-sensitive skin in high concentrations.

C9-11 Pareth-4 is a mild synthetic emulsifier that helps cleansers remove dirt and oil, but may be slightly drying for very sensitive skin.

A synthetic cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but may be drying for sensitive skin.

A gentle synthetic surfactant that helps cleansers foam and rinse cleanly, but may cause mild irritation for very sensitive skin.

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

A gentle cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin, but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals at high concentrations.

A gentle synthetic surfactant that cleanses effectively while being less harsh than traditional sulfates.

A lightweight, non-greasy emollient that helps products spread smoothly and leaves a silky finish without clogging pores.

A gentle, fast-evaporating hydrocarbon that helps products spread smoothly without leaving a greasy feel.

A lightweight, volatile solvent that helps products spread smoothly and evaporate quickly, leaving a non-greasy finish.

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

A lightweight synthetic oil that helps products spread smoothly and dissolve makeup, generally safe for most skin types.

A lightweight synthetic oil that helps products glide on smoothly without a greasy feel.

A mild synthetic surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping, but may be slightly drying for very sensitive skin.

A synthetic surfactant that helps ingredients spread evenly and stay put, but its fluorinated nature raises environmental persistence concerns.

A synthetic cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil, but may be drying for sensitive skin.

A lightweight, silicone-like emollient that spreads easily and evaporates quickly, leaving a non-greasy feel.

A safe, lightweight solvent that helps products spread easily and evaporate quickly, but offers no active skincare benefits.

Cabbage leaf water is a gentle, hydrating ingredient that may help soothe the skin, but research on its specific benefits is still emerging.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich extract from young cabbage sprouts that may help calm and protect skin, though research is still emerging.

Cabreuva Wood Oil adds a warm, woody scent to products and may offer mild soothing benefits, but its fragrance components can be irritating for sensitive skin.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich plant ingredient from cacao cells that may help protect skin from environmental stress, though research is still emerging.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich botanical extract that may help calm skin and protect against environmental stress, though research is still emerging.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich extract from the cacao fruit that helps protect skin from environmental stress and may support a healthy glow.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich powder from cacao fruit that can help soothe and protect the skin, but it's not a cure-all and may not suit very sensitive skin in high concentrations.

A gentle, plant-based antioxidant that may help protect skin from environmental stress, though research is still early.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich water from cacao seeds that hydrates and soothes skin without the heaviness of cocoa butter.

A gentle, antioxidant-rich extract from cacao shells that helps protect skin from environmental stress without irritation.

Cade Wood Oil offers purifying and soothing benefits but can be irritating for sensitive skin due to its potent aromatic compounds.

A natural wood powder that gently exfoliates and absorbs excess oil, but may feel gritty and can be drying for sensitive skin.

Cadinene is a natural fragrance component with some antioxidant potential, but its benefits in skincare are not well-established and it may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A gentle, plant-derived extract that may help calm skin and fight free radicals, though research is still emerging.

A gentle plant extract with antioxidant potential, but research is still early and benefits are not yet proven in human skin.

A gentle, plant-derived antioxidant that may help protect skin from environmental stress, though research is still early.

A gentle, plant-based antioxidant that helps calm and protect the skin from environmental stress.

A gentle, plant-derived film-former that helps hydrate and soothe skin while creating a protective barrier.

A gentle, plant-derived conditioning agent that helps detangle and soften hair without heavy buildup.

Caffeic acid is a gentle antioxidant that helps defend skin against pollution and UV damage, but it's not a replacement for sunscreen or vitamin C.

Caffeine is a popular skincare ingredient that can temporarily tighten skin and reduce puffiness, but its long-term anti-aging benefits are still being studied.

Caffeine benzoate is a gentle, semi-synthetic form of caffeine that may help reduce puffiness and provide antioxidant protection, but its effects are temporary and best used in targeted treatments.

A gentler, modified caffeine that may help protect skin from environmental stress and support a more even tone, though research is still early.

A lab-made peptide fused with caffeine that may help tighten skin and reduce under-eye bags, though research is still early.

A hybrid peptide-caffeine ingredient that may help firm skin and fight oxidative stress, but research is still early.