Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A gentle plant extract with antioxidant potential, but research is limited and it's not a standout ingredient.

Coceth-10 is a gentle surfactant and emulsifier that helps cleansers foam and rinse cleanly, with a low risk of irritation for most skin types.

Coceth-20 is a gentle, coconut-derived emulsifier that helps mix oil and water in cleansers and creams, with a low risk of irritation.

Coceth-25 is a gentle cleansing ingredient that helps mix oil and water, making it a staple in many rinse-off products, but it may not suit those avoiding PEG compounds.

Coceth-3 is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing ingredient that helps products foam and rinse cleanly without stripping the skin.

A gentle, plant-derived cleansing agent that effectively removes dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A gentle, coconut-derived cleansing agent that helps products foam and rinse clean without stripping the skin.

Coceth-6 is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing agent that helps products foam and rinse cleanly without stripping the skin.

A gentle, coconut-derived cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin.

A gentle, coconut-derived cleansing ingredient that effectively removes dirt and oil while being kind to sensitive skin.

Coceth-8 is a gentle cleansing ingredient that helps products foam and rinse clean without stripping the skin.

A natural red dye from insects that gives vibrant color but may trigger allergies in sensitive individuals.

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

A mild, plant-based cleansing polymer that helps create a creamy, non-stripping lather — great for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle, plant-derived conditioning ingredient that makes hair feel softer and reduces frizz without heavy buildup.

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

A gentle, plant-based sulfate surfactant that cleans effectively without stripping the skin.

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that creates rich lather while being far less stripping than traditional sulfates.

Coco-Caprylate is a gentle, coconut-derived emollient that provides a silky, non-greasy feel, making it a popular silicone alternative in skincare and haircare.

A silky, plant-based alternative to silicones that hydrates without clogging pores.

A gentle, coconut-derived conditioner that helps reduce static and soften hair without heavy buildup.

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

A gentle, coconut-derived emollient that softens skin without clogging pores, ideal for dry or sensitive skin.

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin or scalp.

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that helps create rich foam without stripping the skin.

A lightweight, plant-based emollient that softens skin without clogging pores or leaving a greasy residue.

A mild, plant-based emollient that softens skin without clogging pores, ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

A gentle, plant-derived emollient that helps soften skin and stabilize formulas without clogging pores.

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

A gentle, plant-derived surfactant that helps create rich lather while being kinder to skin than harsher cleansers.

A gentle, plant-based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, ideal for sensitive or dry skin types.

An effective but potentially drying cleanser that may irritate sensitive skin; best for normal-to-oily skin types.

Cocoa butter is a classic, deeply moisturizing emollient that softens skin and helps protect its barrier, but it can be comedogenic for some people.

A gentle, cocoa-derived emollient that softens skin without the heavy feel of plain cocoa butter.

A gentle, water-friendly emollient that delivers cocoa butter's moisturizing benefits in a lighter, less greasy form.

A mild, cocoa-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water while leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.

A gentle, natural exfoliant and antioxidant that can brighten skin without harshness, but may be messy in formulations.

A gentle, natural exfoliant with antioxidant potential, best suited for rinse-off scrubs.

Cocoalkonium chloride is a synthetic conditioning ingredient that helps reduce static and improve manageability, but it may cause irritation or clog pores in sensitive or acne-prone individuals.

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

A gentle, amino-acid-based surfactant that effectively cleanses while being kind to sensitive skin.

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleans without stripping, making it a solid choice for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kinder to sensitive skin than traditional sulfates.

A synthetic conditioning agent that reduces static and softens hair, but may cause irritation for sensitive scalps.

A gentle conditioning protein that helps hair feel softer and more manageable, but may not suit protein-sensitive hair types.

A gentle conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and skin, but its collagen source may not provide anti-aging benefits as often claimed.

A gentle, protein-based conditioner that helps repair and protect hair without weighing it down.

A gentle, protein-based conditioning ingredient that helps repair and protect hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A gentle, protein-based conditioning agent that helps soften hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A mild, plant-derived conditioning ingredient that helps soften and detangle hair while reducing static and frizz.

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

A gentle, protein-derived conditioning ingredient that helps soften hair and skin without heavy buildup.

A mild, protein-based conditioner that helps hair feel soft and smooth without weighing it down.

A gentle, plant-derived conditioning ingredient that makes hair feel soft and smooth without heavy buildup.

A gentle, biodegradable conditioning ingredient that helps hair feel soft and detangled without heavy buildup.

A mild, conditioning surfactant that cleanses without stripping and helps reduce frizz—great for sensitive scalps and dry hair.

A mild, coconut-derived emollient that helps moisturize and soften skin with a low risk of irritation or clogged pores.

A gentle, plant-based emollient that hydrates without clogging pores, ideal for sensitive and oily skin types.

A gentle, plant-based antioxidant extract that may help calm skin and fight free radical damage, though research is still limited.

A gentle fermented ingredient that helps hydrate and support the skin barrier, ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.