Rating: Good
Categories: Solvent
This is the most widely used ingredient in skin care, often appearing first in product ingredient lists. Used as a solvent.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Emollient
Beneficial skin softening ingredient for skin (completely different from damaging/drying forms of alcohol). Also influences the foaming effects of a cleanser.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Emollient
This ester of cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid defends skin against moisture loss and adds an elegant slip to creams and lotions.

Rating: Good
Categories: Silicone, Emollient, Solvent
Lightweight, conditioning silicone that creates silky-smooth spreadabilty and an enhanced sensorial feel. Also promotes even distribution of other ingredients in a formula.

Rating: Best
Categories: Silicone, Emollient
An skin-softening silicone known for its permeable (think breathable) barrier that helps skin retain hydration. It has a uniquely silky, non-greasy feel.

Rating: Best
Categories: Humectant, Texture-Enhancer, Solvent
A naturally occurring substance in skin that helps retain moisture. It is used in skin care products to help defend against dryness.

Rating: Good
Categories: Humectant, Texture-Enhancer
Humectant (hydration booster), texture/penetration enhancer, and formulary solvent. May also help decrease rough surface skin and stabilize the formula.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Emollient
This ester of non-irritating cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid serves as a thickener and moisturizing ingredient that helps condition dry skin. In its raw form it is a white, waxy solid.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Also known as the shea tree, its most famous product, shea butter, is a plant lipid used as an emollient in cosmetics. It also provides antioxidant benefits.

Rating: Good
Categories: Emollient, Emulsifier, Cleansing-Agent
This moisturizing ingredient is found naturally in the human body but is usually plant- or synthetically derived in cosmetics. It has been deemed safe as used in cosmetics and is also used as a food additive.

Rating: Good
Categories: Cleansing-Agent, Emulsifier, Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer
Versatile, commonly used ingredient that can be used as an emulsifier, cleansing agent, and emollient. In general, it helps enhance the texture of the formula and contributes to a soft after feel on skin.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient, Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
This moisturizing non-fragrant plant oil is a rich source of both antioxidants and fatty acids.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Latin name for the vines that produce wine grapes.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Emollient, Emulsifier
This moisturizing ingredient can be either naturally or synthetically derived. It’s one of the longest-known fatty alcohols.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Retinoids
One of the most recognized anti-aging ingredients, this powerhouse has multiple benefits for skin. With over seven decades of research proving its effectiveness, it’s used in several strengths and types of products to deliver visible results.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant
Highly stable form of vitamin C that protects skin from oxidative damage and collagen breakdown.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant
A form of vitamin E frequently used in cosmetics for its antioxidant benefit.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient, Texture-Enhancer, Plant-Extracts
Emollient and skin-replenishing ingredient derived from coconut oil and glycerin. Contains fatty acids that help skin resist moisture loss.

Rating: Best
Categories: Humectant, Solvent
Also known as pro-vitamin B5. Humectant that increases hydration substantially by attracting/retaining moisture. Can also play a role in visibly reducing facial redness triggered by sensitivity.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Peptide that offers skin-soothing + antioxidant properties. Studies show promise for improving signs of aging, including wrinkles.

Rating: Good
Categories: Silicone, Emollient
Skin-conditioning emollient that helps preserve hydration while enhancing formulary texture for more elegant aesthetics.

Rating: Good
Categories: Silicone, Texture-Enhancer, Polymer
Silicone powder that’s used to give cosmetics a silky feel and has mild absorption properties. It has been ruled safe as used in cosmetics.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Emollient
Also called beeswax, this emollient is a good source of fatty acids and fatty alcohols.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Absorbent
Naturally derived clay-based absorbent that is most often used to enhance the texture and spreadability of a formula.

Rating: Average
Categories: Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer
Also known as lye, this ingredient is highly alkaline, meaning it is on the basic side of the pH range (its pH is naturally 13). It is used in small amounts in cosmetics (such as cleansers and exfoliants) adjust their pH.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Cleansing-Agent, Emulsifier
This naturally derived ingredient is produced from the fermentation of simple sugars, and acts as a thickening agent, texture enhancer, and emulsion stabilizer in cosmetics.

Rating: Good
Categories: Emollient, Solvent
Skin-conditioning agent, emollient, and solvent that can be naturally or synthetically derived. According to its manufacturer, it’s particularly suitable for use in sunscreen products.

Rating: Good
Categories: Humectant
This skin-softening synthetic glycol aids slip, softens skin, and can help enhance a cosmetic’s preservation system.

Rating: Good
Categories: Chelating-Agent
One of the salt forms of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, it improves the stability of other cosmetics ingredients, helping them last longer. It’s been deemed safe as used in cosmetics and is even used as an additive in some foods.

Rating: Good
Categories: Preservative
Effective skin care preservative that inhibits contamination and helps stabilize the formula’s shelf life.

Rating: Good
Categories: Preservative
Safe preservative known to be well-tolerated by skin; offers wide spectrum protection against unwanted microbials in a formula.