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: 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: Humectant, Solvent
A synthetic polymer that works to bind moisture to skin and as a solvent for other cosmetic ingredients, helping them penetrate more efficiently.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Polymer, Film-Forming-Agent
A synthetic polymer whose many uses in cosmetics depend on whether it is used in solid, wax, or liquid forms. In solid form it can be an abrasive; wax and liquid forms serve as binding or thickening agents and film-formers.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Absorbent, Occlusive-Opacifying-Agent
This mineral ingredient functions as an absorbent and thickening agent in cosmetics and can help enhance the absorption of other ingredients as well.

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: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Wood extract derived from Norway spruce, known for its skin-soothing properties. Can be upcycled as a byproduct of the timber industry.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant
Stable, effective form of vitamin C that visibly firms, brightens dullness and evens skin tone.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Retinoids
A form of vitamin A that’s found naturally in skin and works in cosmetics as an antioxidant. It has been ruled as safe as used in cosmetics.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant
One of four forms of vitamin E. It can be naturally or synthetically derived. Regardless of its origin, tocopherol has potent oil-soluble antioxidant properties and can help defend skin from pollution and environmental stressors.

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

Rating: Best
Categories: Uv-Filters, Coloring-Agent-Pigment, Occlusive-Opacifying-Agent
A versatile ingredient that serves several functions in cosmetics, this earth mineral is perhaps best known as a sunscreen active that's gentle enough even for skin prone to redness and sensitivity.

Rating: Best
Categories: Humectant, Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
Juice expressed from the leaves of the aloe plant. Commonly used in skin care formulations for its soothing and hydration benefits.

Rating: Good
Categories: Absorbent, Occlusive-Opacifying-Agent, Texture-Enhancer
Type of clay that is most famously used as an absorbent in oil-reducing face masks. Also functions as a thickener, emulsion stabilizer, and opacifying agent in cosmetic formulations.

Rating: Good
Categories: Emollient, Emulsifier
This vegetable-derived ingredient acts as both a skin-softening ingredient and moisturizer in skin care products.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer, Polymer
This synthetic ingredient is used to enhance the texture of skin care and hair care products and has been ruled safe as used in cosmetics.

Rating: Good
Categories: Film-Forming-Agent, Polymer, Absorbent
Has multiple uses in cosmetics as a film-forming agent, emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and absorbent. It can absorb 100–1000 times its mass in water.

Rating: Good
Categories: Absorbent, Texture-Enhancer, Occlusive-Opacifying-Agent
Natural, highly absorbent clay that also helps to thicken cosmetics, modify product slip, add opacity, and prevent makeup and skin care formulas from caking.

Rating: Good
Categories: Preservative, Humectant
Skin-softening agent with hydration boosting properties. Also plays an important preservative role to help keep cosmetic formulas stable.

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

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