Rating | Ingredient |
---|---|
Good |
dipotassium phosphate
A synthetic salt that helps to adjust and maintain the pH of water-based and...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Average |
acidAnything with a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic—above 7 is considered alkaline. Water has a pH...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Best |
bifida ferment lysateBifida ferment lysate is a probiotic ingredient derived from a specific type of yeast obtained by the fermentation of Bifida bacteria.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Hydration
|
Poor |
advanced glycation endproduct (AGE)Advanced glycation endproducts, also known as AGEs, are caused by the body's major fuel source, namely glucose.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Poor |
AGE
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
aminomethyl propanolAminomethyl propanol is a synthetic ingredient used in cosmetics as a pH adjuster.
Categories:
Uncategorized,
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
EDTAAcronym for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, a stabilizer used in cosmetics to prevent ingredients...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Poor |
environmental damageOccurrence that takes place at an atomic level and is a complex physiological process. Molecules...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
erythruloseSubstance chemically similar to the self-tanning agent dihydroxyacetone. Depending on your skin...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
ethoxydiglycol
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
ethylhexylglycerinA synthetic skin-conditioning agent used as a preservative or as a carrier or suspending agent for...
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Preservatives
|
Average |
fish cartilage extractMay have water-binding properties, but there is no research showing that this has any benefit for...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Average |
flavorAccording to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the term "flavor" on a product label signifies...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Average |
fruit acid
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Plant Extracts
|
Good |
glucose oxidaseGlucose oxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of the sugar glucose.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
gluten ingredientsGluten is a protein that occurs naturally in many types of grains, including wheat, rye, and barley.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Average |
isocetyl salicylate
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
isododecaneHydrocarbon ingredient used as a solvent. Isododecane enhances the spreadability of products and...
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Texture Enhancer
|
Best |
lactoperoxidaseEnzyme derived from milk; it has purifying benefits for skin and may be helpful for...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Poor |
lady's mantle extract
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
laurdimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed soy protein
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
laurdimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed wheat protein
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
lauroyl lysineAmino acid derivative that functions as a skin- and hair-conditioning agent. It also contributes to...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
lauryl PEG-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethiconeA silicone polymer that has multiple functions in cosmetic products, including skin/hair... |
Poor |
goldAn ingredient that seems luxe and helpful but is actually a frequent contact sensitizer…
Categories:
Sensitizing,
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride |
Good |
hydrolyzed vegetable proteinThe protein portion of vegetables obtained by hydrolysis, which is the breakdown of a substance when it’s reacted with water. This natural ingredient conditions skin and hair.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Hydration
|
Average |
hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acidAlso known by the acronym HEPES, hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid is a buffering ingredient typically used to...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
inactive ingredientThe list of inactive ingredients is the part of an ingredient label that is not regulated by the...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
isobutyl acetate
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
liposomesDelivery system (not an ingredient) capable of holding other ingredients and releasing them after...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
magnesium hydroxideActive ingredient in milk of magnesia. It is an absorbent and has disinfectant properties for skin.
Categories:
Absorbent,
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
methylpropanediolGlycol that functions as a solvent. Methylpropanediol can enhance ingredients such as salicylic acid.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Hydration
|
Average |
Mucor miehei extractExtract of a type of mold whose enzymes are used as a food additive and flavor enhancer in cheeses....
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Best |
myristyl nicotinateA derivative of nicotinic acid, a component of vitamin B3 (niacin) that isn’t the same ingredient...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
sodium lactateSodium salt of lactic acid. Used primarily as a hydrating and buffering agent (to adjust a...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
sodium phytateThe salt form of the corn-derived plant component phytic acid, used as a chelating agent in...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Average |
sodium salicylateSalt form of salicylic acid (BHA). Because it is not the acid form of salicylate (i.e., salicylic...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Poor |
sodium tallowateSodium salt of tallow.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Cleansing Agents
|
Good |
solventDescribes a large group of ingredients, including water, that are used to dissolve or break down...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Best |
SPF
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
steapyrium chlorideAntistatic agent used in hair-care products.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
stearalkonium chlorideAntistatic ingredient used in hair-care products to control flyaways and aid in helping a brush or...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
stearalkonium hectoriteUsed as a suspending agent.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Best |
sun protection factorMost commonly seen as SPF, it is a number that is assigned to a product that identifies its ability...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
synthetic waxA wax derived from a mixture of various oils. It functions as a binding and stabilizing agent.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Texture Enhancer
|
Average |
talcNaturally occurring silicate mineral (any group of substances containing negative ions composed of...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Poor |
tallowSubstance extracted from the fatty deposits of animals, especially from suet (the fat of cattle and...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Average |
Saccharomyces calcium fermentExtract of yeast fermented in the presence of calcium ions. It has no known benefit for skin.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
sebacic acidUsed as a pH adjuster.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
TEA
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
tetrasodium EDTAChelating agent used to prevent minerals present in formulations from bonding to other ingredients.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
tetrasodium etidronateUsed as a chelating agent in cosmetics to prevent varying mineral components from binding together...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Average |
thymus hydrolysateForm of animal thymus derived by acid, enzyme, or other methods of hydrolysis. It can have...
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Hydration
|
Best |
tranexamic acidA synthetic amino acid that functions as a skin-conditioning agent and astringent.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
trehalosePlant sugar that has hydrating properties for skin.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Hydration
|
Good |
tridecyl salicylateSalt form of salicylic acid (BHA). When it is no longer an acid (as in this case), salicylic acid...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
triethanolamineUsed in cosmetics as a pH balancer. Like all amines, it has the potential for creating...
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Emulsifiers
|
Good |
trioclanolinDerived from lanolin and used as a texture enhancer, most commonly in powder-based products such as...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
trisodium EDTASimilar to tetrasodium EDTA. Used as a water-softening and chelating agent (a compound that binds...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Poor |
UVAUltraviolet A radiation. The sun produces a range of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, of which UVA and...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Poor |
UVBUltra-violet B radiation.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
waterThe most widely used cosmetic ingredient; water is almost always listed first on an ingredient...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
wheat amino acidsA blend of amino acids from wheat protein after it has been broken down via hydrolysis. Most often...
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Hydration
|
Good |
whey proteinA form of protein derived from milk. An animal-derived ingredient, whey protein functions as a hair...
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Skin-Softening
|
Good |
xyloseForm of sugar. Similar to other sugars, xylose has hydrating properties for skin.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Hydration
|
Good |
xymenynic acidSynthetic fatty acid that functions as a skin-softening agent.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Skin-Softening
|
Average |
yogurtThere is no research showing that yogurt is effective when applied topically on skin. Yogurt...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Poor |
zinc carbonate
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Sensitizing
|
Best |
zinc PCAA synthetic skin-softening ingredient derived from zinc, research has shown it to have anti-aging benefits due to...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin
A plant- derived or synthetic carbohydrate that functions as a chelating agent and...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
sodium bicarbonateA synthetic inorganic salt more commonly known as baking soda. It has many functions in cosmetics, including pH adjuster, buffering agent, and abrasive, such as in face or body scrubs.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Scrub Agents
|
Good |
tetrasodium glutamate diacetateTetrasodium glutamate diacetate is a chelating agent that can boost the effectiveness of preservatives.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
citrate bufferCitrate buffer is a buffered mixture of sodium citrate and citric acid and is used in cosmetics as a pH adjuster.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
potassium citratePotassium citrate is a buffering agent that is the potassium salt of citric acid.
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
sodium gluconateThe salt form of gluconic acid, sodium gluconate is a mild acid produced from the sugar glucose.
Categories:
Skin-Softening,
Miscellaneous
|
Good |
C13-15 alkaneC13-15 alkane is a synthetic blend of alkanes that functions as a solvent.
Categories:
Skin-Softening,
Miscellaneous
|
About the Experts
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:
The Paula's Choice Research Team is dedicated to busting beauty myths and providing expert advice that solves your skincare frustrations so you can have the best skin of your life!