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

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: 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: 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, 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: Good
Categories: Cleansing-Agent, Emulsifier
A very mild cleansing agent that also helps stabilize skin care formulas and keep oil- and water-based ingredients from separating.

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

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts, Emollient
Glycine soja (soybean) oil is a non-fragrant plant oil with multiple uses for 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: 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: 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