Rating: Good
Categories: Emollient, Emulsifier
Imparts a velvety-soft feel and enhances spreadability of the formula.

Rating: Best
Categories: Exfoliant, Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer
This acid acts as both an antioxidant and alpha hydroxy acid. It also helps stabilize the pH of other AHAs so they can work as exfoliants.

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: Exfoliant, Humectant
Oil-soluble exfoliating ingredient that gently helps slough off dead skin cells and unclogs pores, for softer, smoother texture and tone.

Rating: Best
Categories: Exfoliant, Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer
This fruit-derived ingredient can serve different purposes in cosmetics, including as an exfoliant (when formulated between pH 3-4) and as a pH adjuster.

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, 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: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
This compound found naturally in licorice has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and dark spot-fading properties.

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

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: Texture-Enhancer, Film-Forming-Agent, Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer
This naturally derived ingredient serves as a thickening agent in cosmetics and has clinical and food usages as well.

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: 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: Emollient, Emulsifier, Cleansing-Agent
This ester of a polymer of glycerin and lauric acid can be synthetic or naturally derived, and works as an emollient, emulsifier, and cleansing agent. It has been found safe as used in cosmetics.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer
Synthetic powder ingredient that works particularly well to create an elegant consistency while simultaneously stabilizing several bio-active ingredients in a single formula.

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: Good
Categories: Coloring-Agent-Pigment, Texture-Enhancer, Occlusive-Opacifying-Agent
Natural mineral-based ingredient that imparts light-reflective shine for a healthy glow.

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