Skin-Softening | Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary

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Rating	Ingredient
Good	lentil fruit extract Extract that functions as a skin-conditioning agent and likely has antioxidant benefit, too. Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Skin-Softening
Good	hexyl laurate Skin-softening agent and emollient that is a mixture of hexyl alcohol and lauric acid. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Good	hexyldecanol A synthetic, non-drying fatty alcohol used as an emollient and skin-conditioning agent. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Good	hydrogenated polyisobutene Synthetic polymer used as a skin-conditioning agent and emollient. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Best	hydrolyzed glycosaminoglycans A skin-restorative ingredient that has been hydrolyzed, which is a chemical process involving the... Categories: Skin-Replenishing, Skin-Softening
Best	hydrolyzed jojoba esters Essential fatty acids from the jojoba plant, broken down by water to form a new complex with... Categories: Plant Extracts, Emollients, Skin-Softening
Good	isoamyl laurate The ester of isoamyl alcohol and lauric acid, this plant- or synthetic-based texture-enhancing ingredient feels velvety-soft. Categories: Emulsifiers, Skin-Softening
Good	Limnanthes alba Plant commonly known as meadowfoam; its seed oil is a non-volatile plant oil used as a... Categories: Plant Extracts, Skin-Softening
Good	Lycium barbarum fruit extract The extract of the fruit commonly known as goji, goji berry, or wolfberry. This fruit extract is an antioxidant... Categories: Antioxidants, Skin-Softening
Good	methyl gluceth-20 Liquid that functions as a water-binding and skin-conditioning agent. Categories: Skin-Softening
Good	methyl glucose sesquistearate A mixure of the diesters of methyl glucoside and stearic acid. Functions as a skin-conditioning... Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Good	methylglucoside phosphate A type of monosaccharide (simple sugar) derived from glucose, it serves as a skin-conditioning agent... Categories: Skin-Softening
Average	millet seed extract Extract from a cereal grain that has no established benefit for skin, but is added to cosmetic... Categories: Plant Extracts, Skin-Softening
Good	neopentyl glycol diheptanoate Mixture of texture-enhancing ingredient neopentyl glycol and grape-derived fatty acid heptanoic acid... Categories: Texture Enhancer, Skin-Softening
Good	octyldodecyl myristate Mixture of octyldodecanol (thickener) and myristic acid that forms a new compound used as a... Categories: Texture Enhancer, Skin-Softening, Emollients
Good	octyldodecyl neopentanoate Skin-softening agent and emollient. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Good	oleyl erucate Skin-softening agent derived from oleyl alcohol, which is obtained chiefly from fish oil. Categories: Skin-Softening
Best	Oryza sativa cera A natural, non-fragrant wax obtained from rice bran. It functions as a skin-softening agent... Categories: Skin-Softening
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	tridecyl trimellitate Used as a skin-conditioning agent and thickening agent. Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer, Hydration, Skin-Softening
Good	trimethylsiloxysilicate Used as a skin-softening and occlusive agent. Categories: Silicones, Slip Agents, Skin-Softening, Emollients
Good	trioctyldodecyl citrate Mixture of octyldodecanol and citric acid used as a skin-softening agent and emollient. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Good	Triticum vulgare (wheat) germ extract Extract from the germ portion of the wheat plant. In cosmetics, this ingredient functions as a... Categories: Plant Extracts, Skin-Softening
Good	Triticum vulgare oil Categories: Plant Extracts, Skin-Softening, Emollients
Good	whey protein A form of protein derived from milk. An animal-derived ingredient, whey protein functions as a hair... Categories: Miscellaneous, Skin-Softening
Good	xymenynic acid Synthetic fatty acid that functions as a skin-softening agent. Categories: Miscellaneous, Skin-Softening
Best	cocos nucifera (coconut) fruit extract The extract of the fruit of the coconut tree, this ingredient is rich in skin-conditioning fatty acids, proteins, and complex B vitamins. Categories: Skin-Softening
Good	magnesium aspartate Magnesium aspartate is the magnesium salt of aspartic acid that plays a role in maintaining proteins in skin. Categories: Skin-Softening, Hydration
Good	caprylyl caprylate/caprate A synthetic ester blend of medium chain fatty acids and fatty alcohol that works as an emollient. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Best	ethylhexyl olivate A natural ester of skin-conditioning fatty acids derived from olive oil. It can have an occlusive effect on skin. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Good	isoamyl cocoate Isoamyl cocoate, an ester of isoamyl alcohol and coconut acid, works as a lightweight, fast-absorbing emollient and skin softener in skin care. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Softening
Good	sodium gluconate The salt form of gluconic acid, sodium gluconate is a mild acid produced from the sugar glucose. Categories: Skin-Softening, Miscellaneous
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

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!

About the Experts

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