Rating: Best
Categories:
Formerly known as C13-16 isoparaffin, this versatile ingredient improves the texture, finish, and spread of cosmetic formulas without feeling heavy or oily.

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: Solvent, Texture-Enhancer
Improves ingredient absorption while adding moisturizing properties for skin. Can also be used to support the stability of a formula.

Rating: Best
Categories: Humectant, Texture-Enhancer, Prebiotic-Probiotic-Postbiotic
Derived from chicory root or sugarcane, this complex carbohydrate is also a resistant starch (fiber) that has prebiotic, hydrating and soothing benefits on skin.

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: 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: Best
Categories: Emollient, Antioxidant
Prevents moisture loss and restores suppleness to skin. Also strengthens skin’s barrier and provides antioxidant support.

Rating: Good
Categories: Emulsifier, Emollient, Texture-Enhancer
Emollient that delivers skin-softening properties and a smooth after feel.

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, Plant-Extracts
Conditions skin and hair and is a moisturizing ingredient in many skin care products. Because of its antibacterial action, it also is an effective cosmetics preservative.

Rating: Best
Categories: Plant-Extracts
An ingredient that can be naturally derived or made synthetically. It has skin-soothing and moisturizing properties, making it an excellent inclusion in products designed for sensitive skin.

Rating: Good
Categories: Chelating-Agent
Synthetic salt form of the antioxidant phytic acid. Acts as a stabilizer and chelating agent to keep metals such as iron and copper from binding to water in the formula.

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: Solvent, Texture-Enhancer
Solvent that is well-known for producing smooth spreadability and more pleasing textures in skin care formulas. Also used to enhance the efficacy of cosmetic preservative phenoxyethanol so it works better in lower amounts.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient, Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
This natural prebiotic helps reinforce and support a healthy microbiome while helping skin become less likely to show signs of irritation.

Rating: Good
Categories: Humectant
Glycogen is a complex sugar that aids in the replenishment of skin’s ceramides, in turn helping skin maintain a strong barrier. Its humectant qualities hydrate skin.

Rating: Best
Categories: Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
Extract from a type of algae that offers antioxidant and soothing benefits for skin.

Rating: Best
Categories: Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
Also known as Northern Truffle, this wild mushroom is proving to be very helpful for soothing reddened, sensitized skin.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
A type of cactus also known as prickly pear whose stem is a bountiful source of antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols.

Rating: Good
Categories: Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
A complex, plant-derived sugar whose film-forming properties help skin retain moisture and its soothing properties calm signs of redness.

Rating: Good
Categories: Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer, Chelating-Agent
Ingredient used in skin care products to adjust a formula's pH. In the right concentration/formula, it can also exfoliate skin.

Rating: Good
Categories: Absorbent, Film-Forming-Agent, Humectant
This versatile plant-based sugar is used as an absorbent, stabilizer, film-forming agent, and skin softener in cosmetics

Rating: Best
Categories: Polymer, Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant, Humectant
Plant-derived skin soother obtained via fermentation that helps calm signs of irritation, hydrates, and visibly improves firmness.

Rating: Best
Categories: Peptides, Humectant
One of several peptides used in skin care products, this ingredient has skin-restoring and water-binding properties, helping it improve both the look and feel of skin.

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
This preservative, which can be naturally derived, is often used in conjunction with others because of its weak activity. It also is used to help preserve foods like dried meats and cheeses.