Ingredients
| what‑it‑does | solvent |
Normal (well kind of - it's purified and deionized) water. Usually the main solvent in cosmetic products.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
A cleansing agent that's claimed to be so gentle on the skin that it hardly impacts the skin barrier. It also gives a rich, creamy foam, it's based on vegetable fatty acids and is readily biodegradable.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing | viscosity controlling |
A very mild and gentle thickening and foam-boasting co-surfactant. Comes from coconut oil.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
An amino-acid based cleansing agent that is described as extremely mild and having outstanding foamability. It can also reduce the harshness and leftover of stronger surfactants such as SLS or fatty acid soaps.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
A very mild cleansing agent with a dense and luxurious foam and an elegant after feel.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing | emulsifying | viscosity controlling |
A mild, biodegradable cleansing agent that is also a very good team-player next to other cleaning agents. It is known for its good foam-boosing abilities while improving the mildness of the formula.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
A vegetable origin (coconut or palm kernel oil and glucose) cleansing agent with great foaming abilities. It's also mild to the skin and readily biodegradable.
| what‑it‑does | emulsifying | surfactant/cleansing |
| what‑it‑does | moisturizer/humectant | emollient | viscosity controlling |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 0 |
It's a nice glycerin-based humectant and emollient that gives skin a smooth and luxurious feel.
| what‑it‑does | emollient | emulsifying | viscosity controlling |
A so-called diester created from two stearic acid molecules and an ethylene glycol molecule. Its main thing is being an opacifier and pearling agent in cleansing products making them white and glossy.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
A secondary cleansing agent (co-surfactant) that's a good aid next to other (anionic) cleansing agents. It improves foam, the mildness of the formula and builds viscosity, pretty much all the things co-surfactants are used for.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | preservative |
Pretty much the current IT-preservative. It’s safe and gentle, and can be used up to 1% worldwide.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | perfuming |
The generic term for nice smelling stuff put into cosmetic products so that the end product also smells nice. It is made up of 30 to 50 chemicals on average.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
A vegetable based co-surfactant that helps to create mild cleansing formulas.
| what‑it‑does | emulsifying |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 0 |
| what‑it‑does | moisturizer/humectant |
A corn sugar-derived, water-soluble, pale yellow syrup, that nicely moisturizes the skin. It has a light and smooth skin feel.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emollient |
A modified dimethicone-type silicone molecule that also contains amino-groups. Having amino-groups means that Amodimethicone also has Nitrogen in its molecule that likes to have a positive charge.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | viscosity controlling |
A big polymer molecule that has a bunch of different versions and thus different uses. It can act as a film former, as a thickening agent, or it can increase the water-resistance in sunscreens.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | buffering |
An AHA that comes from citrus fruits. It is usually used as a helper ingredient to adjust the pH of the formula.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emollient | solvent |
A clear, colorless and odorless oily liquid that works as a fast-spreading emollient with a dry skin feel.
| what‑it‑does | viscosity controlling |
A cellulose derived polymer that can help to thicken up products, form a nice film on the skin or hair and is considered to be an excellent hair conditioner.
| what‑it‑does | viscosity controlling |
| what‑it‑does | preservative | antimicrobial/antibacterial |
A little helper ingredient that works as a preservative. It works against bacteria and some species of fungi and yeast.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | chelating |
A helper ingredient that helps to neutralize the metal ions in the formula (they usually come from water) so it stays nice longer.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emollient | solvent |
| what‑it‑does | emollient | emulsifying | perfuming |
The attachment of glycerin and oleic acid that works mainly as a co-emulsifier and stabilizer to create stable water-oil mixes, aka emulsions. It is also popular in cleansing products as it helps to thicken them up and has some refatting and skin-smoothing effect.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emulsifying | surfactant/cleansing |
| what‑it‑does | emulsifying |
| what‑it‑does | skin-identical ingredient | emollient |
A type of lipid that's the major component of all cell membranes. As for skincare, it works as an emollient and skin-identical ingredient. It's also often used to create liposomes.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | skin-identical ingredient | moisturizer/humectant |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 0 |
A real oldie but a goodie. Great natural moisturizer and skin-identical ingredient that plays an important role in skin hydration and general skin health.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | preservative |
A preservative that works mainly against fungi. Has to be combined with other preservatives.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | soothing | moisturizer/humectant |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 0 |
Pro-Vitamin B5 is a goodie that moisturises the skin, has anti-inflammatory, skin protecting and wound healing properties.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emulsifying | surfactant/cleansing |
| what‑it‑does | emollient | perfuming |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 3 |
The emollient plant oil coming from the soybean. It is rich in barrier repairing linoleic acid (48-59%) and is generally a good moisturizing oil.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | buffering |
The acid found in vinegar. Can be a skin irritant and drying in larger amounts but in tiny amounts, it's used to set the pH of the cosmetic formula. Has also some disinfecting properties.
| what‑it‑does | chelating |
A helper ingredient that helps to neutralize the metal ions in the formula (that usually get into there from water) that would otherwise cause some not so nice changes.
| what‑it‑does | preservative |
An Ecocert-approved, natural preservative that counts as gentle and non-irritating to the skin. Usually, it comes to the formula as part of a preservative blend as it's not enough on its own.
| what‑it‑does | buffering |
Lye - A solid white stuff that’s very alkaline and used in small amount to adjust the pH of the product.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | chelating |
Super common little helper ingredient that helps products to remain nice and stable for a longer time. It does so by neutralizing the metal ions in the formula (that usually get into there from water) that would otherwise cause some not so nice changes.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | preservative |
A not so strong preservative that doesn’t really work against bacteria, but more against mold and yeast.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | moisturizer/humectant | emollient |
A handy multi-tasking ingredient that gives the skin a nice, soft feel and also boosts the effectiveness of other preservatives.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 0 |
A form of vitamin E that works as an antioxidant. Compared to the pure form it's more stable, has longer shelf life, but it's also more poorly absorbed by the skin.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emollient |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 0 |
Sunflower Oil - it's a great emollient that protects & enhances the skin barrier.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antimicrobial/antibacterial | solvent | viscosity controlling |
Simple alcohol that's a great solvent, penetration enhancer, creates cosmetically elegant, light formulas, great astringent, and antimicrobial. In large amount can be very drying.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant |
| irritancy, com. | 0-3, 0-3 |
Pure Vitamin E. Great antioxidant that gives significant photoprotection against UVB rays. Works in synergy with Vitamin C.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | emollient |
Argan oil - the "liquid gold of Morocco" that contains 80% unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic mainly), and antioxidant vitamin E and phenols. It's highly nourishing and moisturizing both for skin and hair.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | skin brightening | buffering |
Pure Vitamin C. A skincare superstar that is clinically proven to boost collagen production (in 5-20% concentration), fade hyperpigmentation and boost UV protection under sunscreen. Also, it's extremely unstable and hard to formulate.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | emollient |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 0-3 |
Avocado oil - a highly moisturizing, rich emollient oil that is loaded with fatty acids (oleic - 70%) and vitamin A, E and D.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emollient |
The emollient plant oil coming from the passion fruit. It is a high-linoleic acid oil (about 70% LA and 15% oleic acid), that makes your skin feel nice and smooth and supports a healthy skin barrier.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | moisturizer/humectant |
| what‑it‑does | soothing | emollient | moisturizer/humectant |
The extract coming from the juice containing leaves of the Aloe vera plant with moisturizing, emollient and anti-inflammatory properties.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | soothing | emollient |
Cucumber is a nice, non-irritating plant extract that’s known for it’s soothing and emollient properties.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | solvent | moisturizer/humectant |
A natural corn sugar derived glycol. It can be used to improve skin moisturization, as a solvent, to boost preservative efficacy or to influence the sensory properties of the end formula.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | soothing |
Green Tea - one of the most researched natural ingredients that contains the superstar actives called catechins. It has proven antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic properties.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | soothing | emollient | moisturizer/humectant |
| what‑it‑does | viscosity controlling |
A super commonly used thickener and emulsion stabilizer.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emollient | emulsifying |
It's quite the multi-tasker: an emollient and water-binding ingredient but also an emulsifier and can be used for stabilization purposes. It's also often used to create liposomes.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | antimicrobial/antibacterial |
Grape Seed Extract - contains awesome polyphenols that are super-potent antioxidants and also have UV-protecting and anti-cancer properties.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | preservative |
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate is an antioxidant molecule used in small amounts (less than 0.8%) to help products stay nice longer. More specifically, it is great at preventing discoloration or other types of oxidative degradation.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
A cleansing agent that's very mild, non-irritating but also has great foam properties.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | preservative |
It can boost the effectiveness of phenoxyethanol (and other preservatives) and as an added bonus it feels nice on the skin too.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing |
A naturally derived, readily biodegradable cleansing agent that gives a rich, creamy foam, is milder to the skin than most sulfate-based cleansers and provides a luxurious, silky skin-feel.
| what‑it‑does | emulsifying | surfactant/cleansing |
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing | emulsifying | surfactant/cleansing |
| what‑it‑does | moisturizer/humectant |
| what‑it‑does | emollient |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 1-2 |
Apricot Kernel Oil - a nice general purpose emollient plant oil with vitamin E and fatty acids (mostly oleic acid 54-74%, linoleic acid 12-35%).
[more]
| what‑it‑does | moisturizer/humectant | solvent |
A smallish polymer molecule that is used as a solubilizer and viscosity control agent in cosmetic products.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | soothing | antimicrobial/antibacterial |
Rosemary leaf extract - Its main active is rosmarinic acid, a potent antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. It has also anti-bacterial, astringent and toning properties.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | skin-identical ingredient | moisturizer/humectant |
| irritancy, com. | 0, 0 |
It's the salt form of famous humectant and natural moisturizing factor, hyaluronic acid. It can bind huge amounts of water and it's pretty much the current IT-moisturizer.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | soothing |
Burdock root - anti-inflammatory and antioxidant plant extract. Also has some anti-fungal and seborrhea regulation properties.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | viscosity controlling |
A big polymer (a molecule from repeated subunits) with crazy water binding abilities. Used as a thickening and emulsion stabilizing agent.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | perfuming |
A common fragrance ingredient that smells like lemon.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | perfuming |
A common fragrance ingredient that smells like jasmine. It is one of the “EU 26 fragrances” that has to be labelled separately because of allergen potential.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | perfuming | solvent |
A super common fragrance ingredient found naturally in many plants including citrus peel oils, rosemary or lavender. It autoxidizes on air exposure and counts as a common skin sensitizer.
[more]
Vitamin H is a great supplement for stronger nails and hair. As a skincare ingredient, it's a bit more questionable, but it might smooth the skin and strengthen the hair.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | viscosity controlling |
A big polymer (a molecule from repeated subunits) with crazy water binding abilities. Used as a thickening and emulsion stabilizing agent.
[more]
| what‑it‑does | emulsifying | surfactant/cleansing |
| what‑it‑does | surfactant/cleansing | emulsifying | surfactant/cleansing |
| what‑it‑does | antioxidant | emollient |
A goodie plant oil coming from the polyphenol-rich seeds of the grape. It's a light emollient oil that is a great source of antioxidant polyphenols, barrier repair fatty acid linoleic acid and antioxidant, skin-protectant vitamin E.