Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Ceteareth-2 is a gentle emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures in skincare, but it may be derived from ethylene oxide, which concerns some consumers.

A gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation.

A reliable emulsifier that helps your skincare products feel smooth and mix well, but it's synthetic and may be too heavy for very oily skin.

A reliable emulsifier that keeps your creams and lotions smooth and stable, with a low risk of irritation.

A reliable emulsifier that helps water and oil mix, making creams and lotions stable and smooth.

Ceteareth-24 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in products, generally considered safe and low-irritation for most skin types.

Ceteareth-25 is a reliable emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable lotions and creams, but it may be drying for very sensitive skin.

A gentle cleansing and emulsifying ingredient that helps blend oil and water in skincare products, with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteareth-27 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in creams and cleansers, with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteareth-28 is a gentle emulsifier that helps water and oil mix in your skincare, making creams and cleansers smooth and stable without harshness.

Ceteareth-29 is a gentle, synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in creams and lotions, with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteareth-3 is a reliable emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams and lotions with low irritation potential.

Ceteareth-30 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in creams and cleansers, with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteareth-33 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but it can be mildly irritating for sensitive skin.

A reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps keep your lotions and creams smooth and stable, but may be too heavy for very oily skin.

A reliable emulsifier that helps keep your lotions and creams smooth, but may be too heavy for very oily skin types.

A gentle emulsifier and surfactant that helps blend oil and water in cleansers and creams, with low irritation potential.

Ceteareth-40 is a reliable emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable creams and lotions, but it may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane in its raw form.

Ceteareth-5 is a gentle emulsifier that helps keep your lotions and creams smooth and stable, but it may contain trace impurities from its manufacturing process.

A gentle, phosphate-based emulsifier that helps blend water and oil without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive skin formulations.

Ceteareth-50 is a reliable emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and cleansers, but it may be slightly irritating for very sensitive skin.

Ceteareth-55 is a reliable emulsifier that keeps creams and lotions smooth, but it's synthetic and may be a minor concern for very sensitive skin.

Ceteareth-6 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your skincare, but it may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane during manufacturing, so look for purified versions.

A gentle, olive-derived emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without stripping the skin.

Ceteareth-60 is a reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil, but it may be too rich for very oily or acne-prone skin in high concentrations.

A reliable emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures, but may feel heavy on very oily skin.

Ceteareth-7 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in skincare products, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A gentle emulsifier that keeps creams and lotions smooth and stable, with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteareth-8 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your products, but it may be contaminated with trace levels of 1,4-dioxane, a potential impurity to watch for.

Ceteareth-80 is a reliable emulsifier that helps products feel smooth, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin types.

Ceteareth-9 is a reliable emulsifier that helps products feel smooth, but it may cause irritation for sensitive skin due to its surfactant nature.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and softens hair, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive scalps.

A safe, non-drying fatty alcohol that makes creams and lotions feel smooth and creamy without clogging pores.

A gentle, plant-derived emollient that makes creams feel silky without clogging pores or irritating sensitive skin.

A gentle, plant-based wax that gives products a smooth, creamy feel without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone that improves product feel and skin softness with a very low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A gentle silicone that improves product feel and wear without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A gentle silicone polymer that creates a smooth, silky feel on skin and hair without clogging pores or causing irritation.

A lightweight, silky emollient that softens skin without clogging pores, making it a favorite for non-greasy formulas.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and reduce static without heavy buildup.

A mild, plant-derived emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures without stripping the skin.

A gentle silicone that smooths skin and hair without feeling heavy, making it a popular choice for lightweight formulas.

A lightweight, non-greasy emollient that helps skin feel soft and smooth without clogging pores.

A gentle, olive-derived emulsifier that stabilizes formulas and softens skin, ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

A gentle, plant-based emollient that helps moisturizers feel silky without clogging pores or irritating sensitive skin.

A gentle, waxy emollient that helps creams feel silky and spread smoothly without clogging pores.

A mild emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy formulas without stripping the skin.

A gentle, plant-based emollient that softens skin and improves product feel without clogging pores.

Cetearyl Stearate is a gentle, waxy ingredient that helps creams feel rich and smooth without clogging pores.

A gentle, plant-based emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures without harsh chemicals.

A gentle, eco-friendly emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures without common irritation.

Ceteth-1 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in cleansers and lotions, but it is not a star active ingredient.

Ceteth-10 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle, phosphate-based emulsifier that helps water and oil mix without stripping the skin, making it a solid choice for mild cleansers and lotions.

Ceteth-10 Stearate is a gentle emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures in skincare products with a low risk of irritation.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, but may be too heavy for very sensitive or acne-prone skin in high concentrations.

Ceteth-13 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in creams and cleansers, with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteth-14 is a gentle emulsifier that helps oil and water mix in skincare products, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

Ceteth-15 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteth-150 is a gentle synthetic thickener and emulsifier that helps create smooth, stable textures in cleansers and lotions, but it offers no direct skin benefit beyond formulation.