Rating: Best
Categories: Humectant, Solvent
Also known as pro-vitamin B5. Humectant that increases hydration substantially by attracting/retaining moisture. Can also play a role in visibly reducing facial redness triggered by sensitivity.

Rating: Good
Categories: Emulsifier, Emollient, Cleansing-Agent
This versatile moisturizing ingredient can be an emollient, emulsifier, or secondary cleansing agent in cosmetics.

Rating: Good
Categories: Cleansing-Agent
This ingredient has mild cleansing properties on its own but is primarily used to create stable liquid emulsions or richer creams when blended with substantive emollients.

Rating: Best
Categories: Humectant
This excellent hydrating ingredient is part of skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF). As such, it is a cornerstone of many moisturizers thanks to its ability to help skin both attract and retain moisture, resulting a more supple, youthful appearance.

Rating: Best
Categories: Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
The root of this plant contains several beneficial compounds that have antioxidant, soothing, and redness-reducing properties.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Emulsifier
This synthetic polymer made from an ammonium salt helps stabilize emulsions and contributes to a soft finish in skin care products.

Rating: Good
Categories: Texture-Enhancer, Emollient
Beneficial skin softening ingredient for skin (completely different from damaging/drying forms of alcohol). Also influences the foaming effects of a cleanser.

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: 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: Emulsifier, Cleansing-Agent
Dicetyl phosphate does double duty as a cleansing agent and emulsifier that helps control the thickness of liquids. Learn more at Paula’s Choice.

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

Rating: Best
Categories: Plant-Extracts, Antioxidant
This soothing plant also helps visibly repair damaged skin and provides light emollient properties.

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: Chelating-Agent
Synthetic salt form of the antioxidant phytic acid. Acts as a stabilizer and chelating agent to keep metals such as iron and copper from binding to water in the formula.

Rating: Good
Categories: Humectant
This hydrating ingredient is required for the production of the B vitamins panthenol and pantothenic acid, both of which benefit skin in several ways.

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