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

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
This ginger-derived antioxidant offers a long list of benefits to skin, mostly around offsetting the visible impact of environmental exposure and helping to visibly repair past damage.

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: Antioxidant
This ester functions as an antioxidant and photostabilizer in skin care, meaning it can protect against deterioration caused by light. It also stabilizes UV filters, most notably avobenzone.

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: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Humectant, Plant-Extracts
Plant extract whose various parts have notable antioxidant, soothing, and skin-protecting properties.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Humectant, Plant-Extracts
Latin name for a type of red algae that’s proven to help defend skin from environmental stressors and has great synergy with vitamin C.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient, Emulsifier, Suspending-Dispersing-Agent
Plays many different roles including dispersing agent, skin-conditioning emollient, and emulsifying agent. Enhances the penetration of other ingredients for greater efficacy.

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

Rating: Good
Categories: Cleansing-Agent, Texture-Enhancer
Multitasks as a cleansing agent, emulsifier/stabilizer and formulary texture enhancer.

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.

Rating: Good
Categories: Preservative
This preservative is used to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in cosmetics and food products. It’s derived from benzoic acid.

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: Coloring-Agent-Pigment
Cosmetic pigments that originate from natural minerals and are considered both synthetic and mineral when refined. Used to tint sunscreens, create complexion-enhancing makeup shades, and help protect skin from visible light.