Beauty ingredient research

Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

Browse the review database to understand what an ingredient is, what it does in a beauty formula, when it is useful, and when it deserves caution across skincare, haircare, bodycare, makeup, and more.

20769

Reviewed ingredients

524

Low-concern standouts

2884

Need usage caution

Showing 60 of 20,769
AllUV absorberUV filterabrasiveabsorbentacne treatmentactiveactive ingredientadhesivealkalizing agentamino acidanti-aginganti-androgenanti-cavityanti-cavity agentanti-inflammatoryanti-irritantanticariesanticavity agentantidandruffantifungalantimicrobialantioxidantantiperspirantantiplaqueastringentbarrier repairbarrier supportbarrier-repairbarrier-supportbinderbinding agentbiotechbiotechnologybond-builderbotanicalbotanical extractbotanical oilbotanical waterbrighteningbrightening agentbufferbuffering agentcell-communicating ingredientceramidechelating agentchemicalchemical intermediateclaycleansercleansingcleansing agentcolorantconditionerconditioningconditioning agentcooling agentcosmeticcosmetic additivecosmetic colorantcosmetic ingredientcosmetic pigmentcosmetic powdercosmetic-texturizercosmetic-waxcosmeticscrosslinking agentdelivery agentdelivery systemdenaturantdeodorantdeodorant agentdepigmenting agentdepilatorydepilatory agentdesensitizing agentdyedye intermediatedye precursordye-intermediateemollientemulsifierenzymeessential oilexfoliantexperimentaleyelashfermentfilm formerfilm-formerfilm-formingfilm-forming agentfirming agentfixativeflavoring agentformulationfragrancefragrance ingredientfunctional ingredientgashair carehair colorhair coloranthair conditionerhair dyehair removalhair-carehair-colorhaircarehumectantindustrialinsecticideintermediatelashlash carelash enhancerlash-and-browlip carelipidmakeupmarine extractmasking agentmicrobiomemicrobiome modulatormineralmoisturizernail carenail-careocclusiveoilopacifieropacifying agentoptical agentoral careotheroxidative dyeoxidative dye precursoroxidizing agentpH adjusterpain reliefpenetration enhancerpeptidepersonal careph adjusterpharmaceuticalpheromonepigmentplant oilplasticizerpolymerpolymer precursorprebioticprescription-drugpreservativepreservative boosterprobioticprocessing agentprocessing aidpropellantproteinpurifyingreducing agentretinoidscalp caresebum regulatorsebum-regulatorself-tannerself-tanningsensory additivesensory agentsensory modifiersiliconeskin barrierskin barrier supportskin conditionerskin conditioningskin conditioning agentskin lighteningskin protectantskin-conditioningskin-conditioning agentskin-identicalskin-identical ingredientskin-lighteningskin-lightening agentskincaresolventsoothingsoothing agentstabilizerstimulantsunscreensurfactantsyntheticsynthetic colorantsynthetic dyesynthetic resinsynthetic-coloranttexture enhancertexturizerthickenertoneruv-absorberuv-filtervasoactivevasodilatorviscosity controlviscosity controllingviscosity controlling agentvitaminwax

Surfactant

Disodium Isostearoamphodipropionate

DISODIUM ISOSTEAROAMPHODIPROPIONATE

4.0

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin barrier, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Disodium Laureth-5 Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM LAURAMIDO PEG-5 SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

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

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Laureth-6 Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM LAURETH-6 SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

A gentle surfactant that cleanses effectively without the harshness of traditional sulfates, making it a good choice for sensitive skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Laureth-7 Citrate

DISODIUM LAURETH-7 CITRATE

4.0

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

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Laureth-9 Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM LAURETH-9 SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant that effectively cleanses while being kinder to sensitive skin than many harsher alternatives.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Lauriminodipropionate

Disodium Lauriminodipropionate

4.0

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

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Disodium Lauroamphodipropionate

DISODIUM LAUROAMPHODIPROPIONATE

4.0

A gentle, synthetic surfactant that helps create a rich lather while keeping cleansers non-stripping — a great choice for sensitive or dry skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Lauroyl Glutamate

DISODIUM LAUROYL GLUTAMATE

4.5

A mild, effective cleanser that respects the skin barrier and is well-tolerated by sensitive skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Lauryl Phosphate

DISODIUM LAURYL PHOSPHATE

3.8

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

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarecleansing agent
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Skin brightening agent

Disodium Malyl Tyrosinate

Disodium Malyl Tyrosinate

3.8

A gentle, synthetic brightener that may help fade dark spots with minimal irritation, but clinical evidence is still limited.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarebrightening agent
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Surfactant

Disodium N-Lauroyl Aspartate

Disodium N-Lauroyl Aspartate

4.3

A mild, amino-acid-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt and oil while respecting the skin barrier.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Antioxidant

Disodium NADH

DISODIUM NADH

3.8

Disodium NADH is a promising antioxidant that supports skin cell energy, but research is still early and it's less proven than classic antioxidants like vitamin C.

Irritation

low

Source

biotech

beautyskincareantioxidant
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Surfactant

Disodium Oleamido MIPA-Sulfosuccinate

Disodium Oleamido MIPA-Sulfosuccinate

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it a good choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Oleoamphodipropionate

Disodium Oleoamphodipropionate

4.0

A gentle, amphoteric surfactant that cleanses effectively without stripping the skin, making it a great choice for sensitive or dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Oleth-3 Sulfosuccinate

DISODIUM OLETH-3 SULFOSUCCINATE

4.0

A gentle, low-irritation surfactant ideal for sensitive skin and baby care, but may not be suitable for very dry or compromised skin due to its cleansing nature.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium Oleyl Phosphate

Disodium Oleyl Phosphate

4.0

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

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Surfactant

Disodium Oleyl Sulfosuccinate

Disodium Oleyl Sulfosuccinate

4.0

A gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive and dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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Surfactant

Disodium PEG-8 Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate

DISODIUM PEG-8 GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE

4.0

A gentle, PEG-based surfactant that helps cleanse without stripping the skin, but may raise environmental concerns due to its synthetic nature.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleansing agent
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Surfactant

Disodium PEG-8 Ricinosuccinate

DISODIUM PEG-8 RICINOSUCCINATE

3.5

A mild synthetic cleanser that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin, but may cause irritation for very sensitive skin types.

Irritation

moderate

Source

synthetic

beautyskincaresurfactant
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Antioxidant

Disodium Phloretin Disulfonate

Disodium Phloretin Disulfonate

4.0

A gentle, water-soluble antioxidant that helps even skin tone and defend against pollution without the stability issues of natural phloretin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincareantioxidant
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pH Adjuster

Disodium Phosphate

Disodium Phosphate

4.0

Disodium phosphate is a safe, widely used pH adjuster that helps maintain product stability and comfort on skin.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarepH adjuster
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Buffering Agent

Disodium Pyrophosphate

Disodium Pyrophosphate

3.5

A safe, functional stabilizer that helps your products stay effective and gentle by controlling pH and binding unwanted minerals.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarechelating agent
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Antioxidant

Disodium Rutinyl Disulfate

DISODIUM RUTINYL DISULFATE

4.0

A gentle, water-soluble antioxidant that helps calm skin and protect against environmental stress, with a good safety profile.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincareantioxidant
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Exfoliant

Disodium Salicylphosphate

Disodium Salicylphosphate

3.8

A milder, phosphate-modified form of salicylic acid that aims to exfoliate and brighten skin with less irritation.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincareexfoliant
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Surfactant

Disodium Sebacate

DISODIUM SEBACATE

3.8

Disodium Sebacate is a gentle cleansing agent that helps remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin, making it suitable for sensitive skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarecleansing agent
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Surfactant

Disodium Sebacoyl Bis-Lauramidolysine

Disodium Sebacoyl Bis-Lauramidolysine

4.3

A gentle, amino-acid based surfactant that cleanses without stripping the skin, making it ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

Irritation

low

Source

synthetic

beautyskincarecleansing agent
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Surfactant

Disodium Soyamphodiacetate

DISODIUM SOYAMPHODIACETATE

4.0

A gentle, coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses effectively while being kind to sensitive skin.

Irritation

low

Source

semi-synthetic

beautyskincarecleanser
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