acne soap

Soaps that often contain strong cleansing ingredients, they are often overly drying and...

bis-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane

A synthetic skin conditioning agent and surfactant belonging to the chemical class of siloxanes and...

C20-40 pareth-40

Mixture of polyethylene glycols of various molecular weight that can function as stabilizing...

alcohol

A group of organic compounds with a vast range of forms and uses in cosmetics...

ammonium laureth sulfate

Can be derived from coconut; used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent and is considered gentle...

ammonium lauryl sulfate

Can be derived from coconut; used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent and is considered gentle...

arachidyl glucoside

A mild surfactant (cleansing) and emulsifying agent, made from...

behenic acid

Fatty acid used as a thickening agent and surfactant.

disodium lauraminopropionate

A mild surfactant.

cocamide DEA and MEA

Both cocamide DEA (diethanolamine) and MEA (monoethanolamine) are widely used ingredients to thicken the water phase of cosmetics, keep ingredients blended, and boost foaming properties...

cocamidopropyl betaine

One of the more gentle surfactants used in skincare products.

cocamidopropyl dimethylamine

An antistatic agent derived from coconut oil, though it may be produced synthetically, too...

cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine

Mild surfactant.

coco-glucoside

A mixture of fatty alcohol from coconut and glucose. Chiefly functions as a cleansing agent. May be...

coconut

Has degreasing and cleansing properties, which is why detergent cleansing agents are frequently...

decyl glucoside

Used as a gentle detergent cleansing agent.

detergent cleansing agent

dicetyl phosphate

A mix of portions from cetyl alcohol and phosphoric acid that functions as surfactant and emulsifier.

dihydrocholeth-30

A synthetic ingredient that functions as an emulsifier...

disodium cocoamphodiacetate

Mild detergent cleansing agent.

disodium cocoyl glutamate

A cleansing agent derived from coconut.

glyceryl behanate

A simple mixture of glycerin and the naturally-occuring fatty acid behenic acid. Glyceryl behenate...

glyceryl oleate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl stearate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

isohexadecane

Used as a detergent cleansing agent, emulsifier, and thickening agent in cosmetics.

isostearamide DEA

Used as a surfactant, water-binding agent, and thickening agent.

lauramphocarboxyglycinate

Mild detergent cleansing agent.

laureth-23

Derived from lauryl alcohol and used either as a surfactant or emulsifier (or, in many cases, as...

laureth-4

Derived from lauryl alcohol and used either as a surfactant or emulsifier (or, in many cases, as...

laureth-7

A form of lauryl alcohol (a non-irritating fatty alcohol derived from coconut oil) that can...

laureths

Substances that in various combinations create a wide range of mild detergent cleansing agents...

lauric acid

One of several fatty acids found in coconut oil and other natural fats.

lauryl alcohol

lauryl glucoside

lye

magnesium laureth sulfate

Mild detergent cleansing agent.

magnesium oleth sulfate

Mild detergent cleansing agent.

PEG-10 dimethicone

PEG-10 dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer

A synthetic, silicone-enhanced polymer that helps products adhere…

PEG-10 phytosterol

A synthetic or soy-derived (Paula’s Choice Skincare uses the latter) ingredient used in cosmetics as a cleansing agent and emulsifier.

PEG-10 rapeseed sterol

A blend of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the fatty acid component of the rapeseed plant. Used as a...

PEG-100 stearate

PEG-12 dimethicone

PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate

PEG-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate

A complex mixture of a glycol with a fatty acid and glucose that funtions multiple ways: emollient,...

PEG-40 stearate

PEG-40 stearate typically functions as a cleansing agent, but also helps keep ingredients...

PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil

The chief function of this ingredient is cleansing agent.

PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate

PEG-8

PEG-80 sorbitan laurate

Mild surfactant.

PEG 90M

PEG

PEG is the acronym for polyethylene glycol. Various forms of PEG compounds are mixed with fatty...

PEG/PPG-17/6 copolymer

PEG stands for polyethylene glycol; PPG stands for polypropylene glycol.

PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone

PEG stands for polyethylene glycol; PPG stands for polypropylene glycol.

PEG/PPG-20/15 dimethicone

PEG stands for polyethylene glycol; PPG stands for polypropylene glycol.

poloxamer 184

A synthetic polymer that functions as a cleansing agent.

Poloxamer 407

Liquid polymer that functions as a surfactant. This ingredient can also keep unlike ingredients...

poloxamers

myristic acid

Cleansing agent that also creates foam and can be drying.

nonoxynols

Used as a mild cleansing agent.

oleic acid

Fatty acid used as a cleansing agent and texture enhancer.

oleth-10

A form of fatty alcohol that functions as a texture enhancer and cleansing agent.

oleths

Mild cleansing agents.

palm kernel acid

A mixture of fatty acids derived from palm oil. Used as a cleansing agent, emulsifier, or to add...

palmitic acid

Blend of the fatty acid palmitic acid with several amino acids…

polyglyceryl-10 laurate

A plant-derived or synthetic ester of lauric acid and the synthetic polymer polyglycerin-10.

polyglyceryl-3 beeswax

The ester of fatty acids from beeswax and polyglycerin-3 that functions as a surfactant and...

polyglyceryl-4 isostearate

The ester of isostearic acid and polyglycerin-4 that functions as an emollient and can also be a...

polysorbate 20

polysorbate 60

polysorbate 80

polysorbates

Large group of ingredients most often derived from lauric acid, which is derived from coconuts....

potassium cetyl phosphate

Used as a detergent cleansing agent.

potassium hydroxide

Also known as lye, a highly alkaline ingredient used in small amounts in cosmetics to modulate the...

potassium myristate

Detergent cleansing agent that is a constituent of soap; it can be drying and aggravate skin for some...

PPG-12 buteth-16

Versatile ingredient composed of several non-volatile alcohols. Functions as a skin-conditioning...

PPG-26-Buteth-26

PPG stands for polypropylene glycol, and this ingredient combines PPG with a fatty alcohol....

sodium cocoyl amino acids

The salt form of amino acids...

sodium cocoyl glutamate

A cleansing agent derived from coconut oil. This ingredient is also used to help soften (remove...

sodium cocoyl isethionate

Derived from coconut, it is a mild detergent cleansing agent.

sodium hexametaphosphate

Salt with multiple functions in cosmetics. It can act as a detergent, an emulsifier, a texturizer,...

sodium hydroxide

Also known as lye, it is a highly alkaline ingredient used in small amounts in cosmetics to...

sodium laureth-13 carboxylate

Used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent. 

sodium laureth sulfate

Can be derived from coconut; it is used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent. It is considered...

sodium lauroamphoacetate

Mild surfactant also used as a lather agent.

sodium lauroyl lactylate

Used as an emulsifier and mild thickening agent in cosmetics. In higher concentrations, it...

sodium lauroyl sarcosinate

Surfactant known (and used) for its foam-boosting properties.

sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate

A gentle cleansing agent that may be derived from coconut or made synthetically.

sodium lauryl sulfate

Versatile ingredient composed of several non-volatile alcohols. Functions primarily as a surfactant...

sodium methyl cocoyl taurate

Mild surfactant.

sodium methyl taurate

Mild surfactant often combined with...

sodium myreth sulfate

Detergent cleansing agent similar to sodium laureth sulfate or ammonium laureth sulfate...

sodium palm kernelate

sodium palmate

A soap ingredient created by the salts of acids derived from palm oil. May be naturally-derived or...

sodium PEG-7 olive oil carboxylate

A mild surfactant formed by reacting fatty acids from olive oil esters from polyethylene glycol...

sodium tallowate

Sodium salt of tallow.

sodium trideceth sulfate

sorbitan oleate

Synthetic or animal-derived ingredient used as an emulsifier and cleansing agent.

steareth-20

Derived from the benign fatty ingredient stearyl alcohol, this functions primarily as a surfactant...

sulfates

Sulfates are a group of ingredients that have many consumers worried but in truth, misinformation, not sulfates, are the actual problem...

surfactant

Shortened term for surface active agent. Surfactants degrease and emulsify oils and fats and...

reducing agent

Versatile ingredient composed of several non-volatile alcohols. Functions as a...

Salvia officinalis

Saponaria officinalis extract

soap

True “soaps” are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and are not required to list...

soapwort

Plant from which is derived an extract with detergent cleansing properties.

sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate

Can be derived from coconut. Used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent, but is potentially...

sodium cetearyl sulfate

A mixture of stearyl and cetyl sulfate that funtions as a surfactant.

sodium cocoamphoacetate

A gentle cleansing agent derived from coconut fatty acids. It functions as a cleansing agent and...

sodium cocoate

Used as a cleansing agent primarily in soaps. It can be drying and sensitizing for skin.

TEA-lauryl sulfate

While there is abundant research showing sodium lauryl sulfate is a sensitizing cleansing agent,...

tribehenin PEG-20 esters

A complex mixture of tribehenin and PEG-20, this ingredient has multiple functions in cosmetic...

polyglyceryl-3 rice branate

An ingredient that serves as a surfactant and emulsifier and is a derivative of the fatty acids that come from rice bran oil.

glyceryl rosinate

An ester of long chain acids derived from a plant-based ingredient known as rosin.

sorbitan laurate

Sorbitan laurate is an ester that works as a cleansing agent and emulsifier.

polyglyceryl-10 caprylate/caprate

Polyglyceryl-10 caprylate/caprate is a single ester created from polymers and glycerin used in skin care as an emulsifier or solvent.

sorbeth-230 tetraoleate

Sorbeth-230 tetraoleate is a mixture of oleic acid with sorbitol derivatives that can help thicken cosmetic formulas.

sodium lauroyl oat amino acids

A skin-soothing salt created by condensing the chloride form of a fatty acid with amino acids derived from oats.

coconut acid

A natural mixture of fatty acid found in coconut oil primarily used as a cleansing agent.

C11-15 pareth-7

C11-15 pareth-7 is a lightweight, synthetic mixture of fatty alcohols and polyethylene glycols that functions as an emulsifier and surfactant.

sucrose stearate

Sucrose stearate is an ester of stearic acid and sugar that works as an emollient and cleansing agent.

polyglyceryl-10 stearate

Polyglyceryl-10 stearate is the ester of stearic acid with a glycerin polymer that functions as a skin-softener and emollient ingredient.

C12-16 pareth-9

C12-16 pareth-9 is a lightweight, synthetic mixture of fatty alcohols and polyethylene glycols that functions as an emulsifier and surfactant.

trideceth-12

Trideceth-12 is a synthetic mixture of a fatty alcohol (tridecyl alcohol) and polyethylene glycol that functions as an emulsifier and cleansing agent.

sorbitan olivate

Sorbitan olivate is a mixture of the fatty acids from olive oil plus a sugar known as sorbitol.

sodium cocoyl glycinate

Sodium cocoyl glycinate is an amino acid-derived cleansing agent and skin-softening ingredient in skin care and hair care products.