Cleansing Agents | Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary

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Rating	Ingredient
Poor	acne soap Soaps that often contain strong cleansing ingredients, they are often overly drying and... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	bis-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane A synthetic skin conditioning agent and surfactant belonging to the chemical class of siloxanes and... Categories: Silicones, Cleansing Agents, Texture Enhancer, Emollients
Good	C20-40 pareth-40 Mixture of polyethylene glycols of various molecular weight that can function as stabilizing... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Average	alcohol A group of organic compounds with a vast range of forms and uses in cosmetics... Categories: Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	ammonium laureth sulfate Can be derived from coconut; used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent and is considered gentle... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	ammonium lauryl sulfate Can be derived from coconut; used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent and is considered gentle... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	arachidyl glucoside A mild surfactant (cleansing) and emulsifying agent, made from... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	behenic acid Fatty acid used as a thickening agent and surfactant. Categories: Texture Enhancer, Cleansing Agents
Good	disodium lauraminopropionate A mild surfactant. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Average	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... Categories: Texture Enhancer, Cleansing Agents
Good	cocamidopropyl betaine One of the more gentle surfactants used in skincare products. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	cocamidopropyl dimethylamine An antistatic agent derived from coconut oil, though it may be produced synthetically, too... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine Mild surfactant. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	coco-glucoside A mixture of fatty alcohol from coconut and glucose. Chiefly functions as a cleansing agent. May be... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	coconut Has degreasing and cleansing properties, which is why detergent cleansing agents are frequently... Categories: Plant Extracts, Cleansing Agents
Good	decyl glucoside Used as a gentle detergent cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	detergent cleansing agent Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	dicetyl phosphate A mix of portions from cetyl alcohol and phosphoric acid that functions as surfactant and emulsifier. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	dihydrocholeth-30 A synthetic ingredient that functions as an emulsifier... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	disodium cocoamphodiacetate Mild detergent cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	disodium cocoyl glutamate A cleansing agent derived from coconut. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	glyceryl behanate A simple mixture of glycerin and the naturally-occuring fatty acid behenic acid. Glyceryl behenate... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	glyceryl oleate Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics. Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	glyceryl stearate Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics. Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	isohexadecane Used as a detergent cleansing agent, emulsifier, and thickening agent in cosmetics. Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents, Texture Enhancer
Good	isostearamide DEA Used as a surfactant, water-binding agent, and thickening agent. Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer, Cleansing Agents
Good	lauramphocarboxyglycinate Mild detergent cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	laureth-23 Derived from lauryl alcohol and used either as a surfactant or emulsifier (or, in many cases, as... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents, Texture Enhancer
Good	laureth-4 Derived from lauryl alcohol and used either as a surfactant or emulsifier (or, in many cases, as... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer, Cleansing Agents
Good	laureth-7 A form of lauryl alcohol (a non-irritating fatty alcohol derived from coconut oil) that can... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents
Good	laureths Substances that in various combinations create a wide range of mild detergent cleansing agents... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Best	lauric acid One of several fatty acids found in coconut oil and other natural fats. Categories: Skin-Replenishing, Cleansing Agents
Good	lauryl alcohol Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	lauryl glucoside Categories: Cleansing Agents
Poor	lye Categories: Cleansing Agents, Sensitizing
Good	magnesium laureth sulfate Mild detergent cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	magnesium oleth sulfate Mild detergent cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	PEG-10 dimethicone Categories: Silicones, Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	PEG-10 dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer A synthetic, silicone-enhanced polymer that helps products adhere… Categories: Silicones, Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	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. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	PEG-10 rapeseed sterol A blend of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the fatty acid component of the rapeseed plant. Used as a... Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	PEG-100 stearate Categories: Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	PEG-12 dimethicone Categories: Silicones, Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	PEG-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate A complex mixture of a glycol with a fatty acid and glucose that funtions multiple ways: emollient,... Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	PEG-40 stearate PEG-40 stearate typically functions as a cleansing agent, but also helps keep ingredients... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil The chief function of this ingredient is cleansing agent. Categories: Plant Extracts, Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	PEG-8 Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	PEG-80 sorbitan laurate Mild surfactant. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	PEG 90M Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	PEG compound PEG is the acronym for polyethylene glycol. Various forms of PEG compounds are mixed with fatty... Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	PEG/PPG-17/6 copolymer PEG stands for polyethylene glycol; PPG stands for polypropylene glycol. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone PEG stands for polyethylene glycol; PPG stands for polypropylene glycol. Categories: Silicones, Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	PEG/PPG-20/15 dimethicone PEG stands for polyethylene glycol; PPG stands for polypropylene glycol. Categories: Silicones, Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	poloxamer 184 A synthetic polymer that functions as a cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	Poloxamer 407 Liquid polymer that functions as a surfactant. This ingredient can also keep unlike ingredients... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	poloxamers Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	myristic acid Cleansing agent that also creates foam and can be drying. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	nonoxynols Used as a mild cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	oleic acid Fatty acid used as a cleansing agent and texture enhancer. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Texture Enhancer
Good	oleth-10 A form of fatty alcohol that functions as a texture enhancer and cleansing agent. Categories: Texture Enhancer, Cleansing Agents
Good	oleths Mild cleansing agents. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	palm kernel acid A mixture of fatty acids derived from palm oil. Used as a cleansing agent, emulsifier, or to add... Categories: Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	palmitic acid Blend of the fatty acid palmitic acid with several amino acids… Categories: Emollients, Skin-Replenishing, Cleansing Agents
Good	polyglyceryl-10 laurate A plant-derived or synthetic ester of lauric acid and the synthetic polymer polyglycerin-10. Categories: Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents, Skin-Softening
Good	polyglyceryl-3 beeswax The ester of fatty acids from beeswax and polyglycerin-3 that functions as a surfactant and... Categories: Texture Enhancer, Cleansing Agents
Good	polyglyceryl-4 isostearate The ester of isostearic acid and polyglycerin-4 that functions as an emollient and can also be a... Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Good	polysorbate 20 Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	polysorbate 60 Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	polysorbate 80 Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	polysorbates Large group of ingredients most often derived from lauric acid, which is derived from coconuts.... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	potassium cetyl phosphate Used as a detergent cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Average	potassium hydroxide Also known as lye, a highly alkaline ingredient used in small amounts in cosmetics to modulate the... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Average	potassium myristate Detergent cleansing agent that is a constituent of soap; it can be drying and aggravate skin for some... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	PPG-12 buteth-16 Versatile ingredient composed of several non-volatile alcohols. Functions as a skin-conditioning... Categories: Texture Enhancer, Cleansing Agents
Good	PPG-26-Buteth-26 PPG stands for polypropylene glycol, and this ingredient combines PPG with a fatty alcohol.... Categories: Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium cocoyl amino acids The salt form of amino acids... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium cocoyl glutamate A cleansing agent derived from coconut oil. This ingredient is also used to help soften (remove... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium cocoyl isethionate Derived from coconut, it is a mild detergent cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium hexametaphosphate Salt with multiple functions in cosmetics. It can act as a detergent, an emulsifier, a texturizer,... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Preservatives, Cleansing Agents
Average	sodium hydroxide Also known as lye, it is a highly alkaline ingredient used in small amounts in cosmetics to... Categories: Cleansing Agents, Sensitizing
Good	sodium laureth-13 carboxylate Used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium laureth sulfate Can be derived from coconut; it is used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent. It is considered... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium lauroamphoacetate Mild surfactant also used as a lather agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium lauroyl lactylate Used as an emulsifier and mild thickening agent in cosmetics. In higher concentrations, it... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium lauroyl sarcosinate Surfactant known (and used) for its foam-boosting properties. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate A gentle cleansing agent that may be derived from coconut or made synthetically. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Poor	sodium lauryl sulfate Versatile ingredient composed of several non-volatile alcohols. Functions primarily as a surfactant... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents, Sensitizing
Good	sodium methyl cocoyl taurate Mild surfactant. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium methyl taurate Mild surfactant often combined with... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium myreth sulfate Detergent cleansing agent similar to sodium laureth sulfate or ammonium laureth sulfate... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Poor	sodium palm kernelate Categories: Cleansing Agents
Poor	sodium palmate A soap ingredient created by the salts of acids derived from palm oil. May be naturally-derived or... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium PEG-7 olive oil carboxylate A mild surfactant formed by reacting fatty acids from olive oil esters from polyethylene glycol... Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Poor	sodium tallowate Sodium salt of tallow. Categories: Miscellaneous, Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium trideceth sulfate Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sorbitan oleate Synthetic or animal-derived ingredient used as an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents
Good	steareth-20 Derived from the benign fatty ingredient stearyl alcohol, this functions primarily as a surfactant... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sulfates Sulfates are a group of ingredients that have many consumers worried but in truth, misinformation, not sulfates, are the actual problem... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	surfactant Shortened term for surface active agent. Surfactants degrease and emulsify oils and fats and... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	reducing agent Versatile ingredient composed of several non-volatile alcohols. Functions as a... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Poor	Salvia officinalis Categories: Plant Extracts, Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents
Good	Saponaria officinalis extract Categories: Plant Extracts, Cleansing Agents
Poor	soap True “soaps” are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and are not required to list... Categories: Cleansing Agents, Sensitizing
Good	soapwort Plant from which is derived an extract with detergent cleansing properties. Categories: Plant Extracts, Cleansing Agents
Poor	sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate Can be derived from coconut. Used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent, but is potentially... Categories: Cleansing Agents, Sensitizing
Good	sodium cetearyl sulfate A mixture of stearyl and cetyl sulfate that funtions as a surfactant. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	sodium cocoamphoacetate A gentle cleansing agent derived from coconut fatty acids. It functions as a cleansing agent and... Categories: Cleansing Agents
Poor	sodium cocoate Used as a cleansing agent primarily in soaps. It can be drying and sensitizing for skin. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Sensitizing
Poor	TEA-lauryl sulfate While there is abundant research showing sodium lauryl sulfate is a sensitizing cleansing agent,... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Sensitizing, Cleansing Agents
Good	tribehenin PEG-20 esters A complex mixture of tribehenin and PEG-20, this ingredient has multiple functions in cosmetic... Categories: Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents, Emollients
Best	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. Categories: Emulsifiers, Cleansing Agents
Good	glyceryl rosinate An ester of long chain acids derived from a plant-based ingredient known as rosin. Categories: Emulsifiers, Emollients, Cleansing Agents
Good	sorbitan laurate Sorbitan laurate is an ester that works as a cleansing agent and emulsifier. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	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. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer
Good	sorbeth-230 tetraoleate Sorbeth-230 tetraoleate is a mixture of oleic acid with sorbitol derivatives that can help thicken cosmetic formulas. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers, Thickeners/Emulsifiers
Best	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. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Skin-Soothing
Good	coconut acid A natural mixture of fatty acid found in coconut oil primarily used as a cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents
Good	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. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	sucrose stearate Sucrose stearate is an ester of stearic acid and sugar that works as an emollient and cleansing agent. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients, Emulsifiers
Good	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. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emollients, Emulsifiers
Good	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. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	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. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	sorbitan olivate Sorbitan olivate is a mixture of the fatty acids from olive oil plus a sugar known as sorbitol. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Emulsifiers
Good	sodium cocoyl glycinate Sodium cocoyl glycinate is an amino acid-derived cleansing agent and skin-softening ingredient in skin care and hair care products. Categories: Cleansing Agents, Skin-Softening

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Paula Begoun is the best-selling author of 20 books about skincare and makeup. She is known worldwide as The Cosmetics Cop and creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare. Paula’s expertise has led to hundreds of appearances on national and international radio, print, and television including:

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