Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps water and oil mix, but may not suit those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

Ceteth-17 is a gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps keep your skincare products stable and creamy, but it's not a star active ingredient.

Ceteth-18 is a gentle cleansing and emulsifying ingredient that helps blend oil and water in skincare formulas, with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteth-2 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in your skincare products, but it's not a star active ingredient.

A gentle synthetic emulsifier that helps mix oil and water, commonly used in cleansers and lotions.

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

Ceteth-25 is a gentle, water-loving emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare formulas without stripping the skin.

Ceteth-3 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix water and oil in products, but it may not suit those seeking completely natural formulations.

A reliable emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures with a low risk of irritation.

Ceteth-4 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and lotions, with a low risk of irritation for most skin types.

A reliable emulsifier that keeps creams smooth and stable, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

Ceteth-45 is a mild synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in products, making it a reliable choice for stable, creamy formulations.

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

Ceteth-6 is a gentle emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in your skincare, making it a common but low-risk ingredient in cleansers and creams.

A gentle emulsifier that helps water and oil mix, making creams and cleansers smooth and stable.

Ceteth-7 Stearate is a reliable synthetic emulsifier that keeps creams and lotions stable and smooth, with a low risk of irritation for most skin types.

A gentle surfactant and emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in skincare formulas without stripping the skin.

Ceteth-9 Stearate is a reliable synthetic emulsifier that helps create stable, creamy textures, but it may not be ideal for those avoiding ethoxylated ingredients.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and softens hair, generally safe for most skin types.

A synthetic conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and reduce static, but may cause irritation or clog pores in sensitive individuals.

Cetoleth-4 is a gentle emulsifier that helps water and oil mix in creams and cleansers, with a low risk of irritation.

Cetoleth-6 is a gentle emulsifier that helps cleansers foam and rinse cleanly without stripping the skin.

Cetonal is a synthetic emollient that helps soften and smooth the skin, but it's not a standout ingredient and is best used as part of a broader formulation.

Cetrimonium bromide is an effective hair conditioner and mild preservative, but can be irritating to sensitive skin or eyes at higher concentrations.

A gentle silicone conditioner that detangles and softens hair without heavy buildup.

A common conditioning ingredient that softens hair and reduces static, but can be irritating or pore-clogging for some skin types.

A silicone derivative that smooths hair and skin but may be too heavy for fine hair or acne-prone skin.

A gentle, multi-tasking conditioning ingredient that smooths hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A mild conditioning ingredient that helps hair feel soft and smooth without being overly heavy or greasy.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and softens hair without heavy buildup.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that reduces static and improves hair manageability, but may not suit very sensitive scalps.

Cetrimonium tosylate is a synthetic conditioning agent that reduces static and softens hair, but may cause mild irritation for sensitive skin.

A gentle, oil-soluble vitamin C derivative that brightens and protects without the sting or instability of pure vitamin C.

A gentle, oil-friendly vitamin C derivative that brightens skin and fights free radicals without the sting of pure ascorbic acid.

Cetyl acetate is a gentle emollient that softens skin and improves product texture without clogging pores.

A gentle, plant-derived emollient that softens and smooths skin without clogging pores.

Cetyl alcohol is a safe, non-drying fatty alcohol that helps thicken and stabilize products while leaving skin soft and smooth.

Cetyl Amodimethicone is a gentle silicone that adds slip and shine to hair and skin, with low irritation potential.

A gentle, synthetic emollient that helps skin feel soft and smooth without clogging pores.

A lightweight, plant-based emollient that hydrates and softens skin without clogging pores.

Cetyl Behenate is a gentle, non-greasy emollient that helps moisturizers feel smooth and spread easily without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone emollient that smooths skin and improves product feel without clogging pores.

A gentle, conditioning surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

Cetyl Betaine is a gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin barrier, making it ideal for sensitive skin and daily use.

A gentle synthetic surfactant that cleans without stripping the skin, ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

A gentle, semi-synthetic surfactant that cleanses effectively while being less likely to irritate sensitive skin.

A gentle, non-greasy emollient that helps moisturizers feel silky without clogging pores.

Cetyl Caprylate is a gentle, non-greasy emollient that improves product feel and skin softness, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that creates smooth, lightweight textures and helps stabilize formulas without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone that softens skin and improves product feel, widely considered safe and non-irritating.

A safe silicone polymer that gives products a silky feel and helps ingredients spread evenly without clogging pores.

A gentle silicone emulsifier that helps create smooth, creamy textures and leaves skin and hair feeling soft without heavy residue.

A gentle synthetic emollient that improves skin feel and helps lock in moisture without clogging pores.

A lightweight synthetic emollient that softens skin without clogging pores, ideal for oily and combination skin types.

A gentle synthetic emollient that helps soften and smooth skin with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and reduce static, but may not suit very sensitive skin.

A lightweight, non-greasy emollient that softens skin and improves product texture without clogging pores.

A gentle emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas, with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A gentle film-forming polymer that helps lock in moisture and gives a smooth, non-greasy feel to skincare products.

Cetyl Glycol is a gentle, non-irritating ingredient that helps moisturize skin and improve the texture and stability of creams and lotions.