Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient, Texture-Enhancer, Plant-Extracts
Emollient and skin-replenishing ingredient derived from coconut oil and glycerin. Contains fatty acids that help skin resist moisture loss.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts, Emollient
Also known as shea butter, this a plant lipid used as an emollient in cosmetics. It also provides antioxidant benefits.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Emollient
This ester of cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid defends skin against moisture loss and adds an elegant slip to creams and lotions.

Rating: Good
Categories: Emollient, Solvent, Texture-Enhancer
A skin softening and smoothing ingredient that can help reduce moisture loss from skin's upper layers, it also serves as a silicone alternative in skin care products.

Rating: Good
Categories: Solvent, Texture-Enhancer
Dimethyl isosorbide is a clear, slightly oily-feeling liquid that functions as a solvent and may be plant-based or synthetic.

Rating: Best
Categories: Peptides
Synthetic peptide proven to strengthen skin’s underlying supportive elements and visibly reduce signs of sun damage such as wrinkles and rough texture.

Rating: Best
Categories: Peptides
This synthetic peptide helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by providing a boost in plumping hydration and water balance.

Rating: Best
Categories: Peptides
Tridecapeptide-1 is a synthetic peptide that has a documented wrinkle-smoothing effect that works within minutes.

Rating: Best
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Natural ingredient that's a rich source of potent, effective antioxidants skin needs to look and act younger. Also contains hydrating saccharides.

Rating: Good
Categories: Humectant, Solvent, Preservative
This water-binding ingredient works well in cosmetics as a hydrating ingredient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It has been deemed safe for use in skin care products.

Rating: Best
Categories: Emollient, Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Natural oil rich in skin-beneficial fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidant compounds that help prevent environmental damage. Also known as plum oil.

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: 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: Good
Categories: Humectant, Occlusive-Opacifying-Agent
This mix of glycerin and behenic acid conditions skin and has been deemed non-irritating and safe as used in cosmetics.

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: Good
Categories: Emollient
Synthetic and plant-derived ingredient that works as a skin-smoothing emollient and also helps the hair's cuticle layer flatten so it feels healthier and reflects light better.

Rating: Best
Categories: Exfoliant, Humectant, Ph-Adjuster-Stabilizer
This exfoliating acid helps skin shed dead cells on the surface also offers hydrating properties.

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: Emollient, Emulsifier, Texture-Enhancer
Versatile, gentle, coconut-derived cleansing agent, foam booster, texture enhancer, and emollient used in both rinse-off and leave-on products.

Rating: Good
Categories: Antioxidant, Plant-Extracts
Flavoring agent with a sweet, vanilla aroma; also offers antioxidants properties.

Rating: Good
Categories: Cleansing-Agent, Emulsifier
This emulsifier and cleansing agent has been ruled safe as used in cosmetics.

Rating: Average
Categories: Coloring-Agent-Pigment
Red 7 lake is a synthetic coloring agent approved for use in drugs and cosmetics.