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
Functions as a non-aqueous skin-softening agent (emollient) and formulary thickening agent. Derived from a mixture of neopentyl glycol and heptanoic acid.

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: 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: 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: 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: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Film-Forming-Agent, Polymer
A synthetic polymer and film-forming agent that also serves as a thickening agent in cosmetics products.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant
Stable, water-soluble form of vitamin C that brightens dull skin and fades discolorations.

Rating: Good
Categories: Cleansing-Agent, Emulsifier
This detergent cleansing agent and emulsifier is used in concentrations up to 8.3% in cosmetics.

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

Rating: Good
Categories: Emollient
A synthetic ingredient used in skin care products that enhances texture and has emollient properties.

Rating: Good
Categories: Emulsifier, Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 dioleate is a mixture of the fatty acid esters of oleic acid and a polymer, polyglycerin-10, which functions as a hydrator and emulsifier.

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

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient
Provides barrier strengthening properties and helps skin retain moisture for a more hydrated, supple appearance.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient
This type of ceramide helps strengthen skin’s barrier against external stimuli.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient
This ceramide helps restore skin’s hydration, texture, and suppleness.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient
Formerly known as ceramide 1, this ingredient helps replenish factors that defend skin from environmental stressors.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient
This type of ceramide helps improve the look and feel of skin thanks to its water retention properties.

Rating: Best
Categories: Peptides
Anti-aging peptide proven to visibly impact wrinkles, firmness, and rough texture for smoother, younger-looking skin.

Rating: Best
Categories: Peptides, Humectant
Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 is a synthetic peptide that has calming, smoothing, hydrating, and firmness-enhancing benefits when applied to skin.

Rating: Best
Categories: Humectant, Antioxidant
The more bio-available, salt form of hyaluronic acid. I’s considered an excellent moisturizer, helping skin retain water so it looks and feels smoother.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient
Ceramide ingredient that works to replenish and restore a healthier-looking skin surface, creating a smooth, hydrated feel. Effective for stopping moisture loss from skin’s uppermost layers.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient
Ceramide ingredient that helps replenish hydration in skin’s uppermost layers and contributes to a smooth feel and healthier-looking surface.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient
Plays a key role in maintaining skin's health, softness, and hydration.

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

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, Plant-Extracts
This plant seed extract that has been shown to help mitigate the effects environmental stressors have on skin.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Offers soothing and anti-aging benefits.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
This ingredient, also known as pomegranate fruit extract, has antioxidant and anti-wrinkle properties for skin.

Rating: Best
Categories: Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
A type of micro-algae that's known for being adaptable and able to survive even in harsh natural conditions. It's a rich source of beta-carotene.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient, Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Oil derived from the seeds of the Millettia pinnata tree, a plant native to South and Southeast Asia.

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

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: Best
Categories: Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
Soothing ingredient with significant skin-calming properties. Can be derived from plants (such as chamomile) or made synthetically.

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

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: Humectant
This excellent hydrating ingredient is part of skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF). As such, it is a cornerstone of many moisturizers thanks to its ability to help skin both attract and retain moisture, resulting a more supple, youthful appearance.

Rating: Good
Categories: Antioxidant, Texture-Enhancer
Water-binding (hydration) and film-forming agent with antioxidants properties. Can be used to enhance delivery of key ingredients.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant
A moisturizing, stabilized form of vitamin C that provides skin-smoothing and anti-aging benefits.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Cleansing-Agent
A synthetic or plant-derived long-chain fatty acid that primarily serves to thicken and opacify skin care and makeup products but can also assist cleansing agents.

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: Good
Categories: Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer, Chelating-Agent, Antioxidant, Preservative
This workhorse ingredient helps control the pH of skin care products, making it valuable in exfoliants, cleansers, and toners. It also has antioxidant, chelating and preservative properties, and is used in both food and medical applications.

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

Rating: Good
Categories: Emulsifier, Cleansing-Agent
This versatile fatty alcohol works as a surfactant and emulsifier in cosmetics. It can be derived from plants, animals, or manufactured synthetically.

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: Emulsifier, Cleansing-Agent
An emulsifier, meaning it helps keep unlike ingredients (such as oil and water) from separating in an emulsion.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant
Antioxidant that benefits skin while promoting formulary stability.