beheneth-5

A synthetic or plant-derived derivative of polyethylene glycol and behenyl alcohol that functions as an emulsifier and can also be a surfactant.

emollient

Supple, waxlike, lubricating, thickening agents that prevent water loss and have a softening and...

emulsifier

When it comes to cosmetics, an emulsifier refers to any ingredient that helps keep unlike...

Enteromorpha compressa extract

Extract from green algae.

ethyl macadamiate

Mixture of fatty acids from macadamia nut oil.

ethylhexyl stearate

Euphorbia cerifera wax

fatty acid

Substance typically found in plant and animal lipids (fat). Fatty acids include compounds such as...

fatty alcohol

Made from fatty acids; fatty alcohols are used in cosmetics as thickening agents and emollients....

cetyl alcohol

Fatty alcohol used as an emollient, emulsifier, thickener, and carrying agent for other...

fuller's earth

Mineral substance that is similar to kaolin (a clay). Composed mainly of alumina, silica, iron...

gelatin

Protein obtained from plants or animals and used in cosmetics as a thickening agent.

glycereth-26

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glycereth-26 phosphate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glycereth-6 laurate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glycerol monostearate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glycerol triacetate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glycerol trioleate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl behanate

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

glyceryl cocoate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl dipalmitate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl distearate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl ester

Large group of ingredients that are composed of fats and oils. At room temperature, the fats are...

glyceryl isopalmitate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl isostearate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl myristate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl oleate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl palmitate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

glyceryl polymethacrylate

A blend of glycerin and polymethacrylic acid that functions as a film-forming agent. It has a...

glyceryl stearate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

isohexadecane

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

isoparaffin

isopropyl lanolate

Derived from lanolin, it is used in cosmetics as a thickening agent and emollient.

isopropyl titanium triisostearte/triethoxycaprylylsilane crosspolymer

A synthetic, silicone-enhanced polymer that occurs from combining isopropyl titanium triisostearate...

isostearamide DEA

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

isostearic acid

Fatty acid used as a binding agent and thickener.

Japan wax

Vegetable wax obtained from sumac berries, and used as a thickening agent and emollient in...

kelp extract

Laminaria digitata

Laminaria longicruris

Laminaria sacharrina

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...

lauryl PEG-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone

A silicone polymer that has multiple functions in cosmetic products, including skin/hair...

glyceryl stearate SE

Widely used ingredient that is a self-emulsifying (that’s what the “SE” stands for) form of...

glycol stearate

Used as an emollient and thickening agent.

glycolipid

Type of lipid composed of sugar (monosaccharide) and fat (lipid) that forms an important component...

guar gum

Plant-derived thickening agent...

guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride

Haslea ostrearia extract

Extract derived from a water plant also known as blue algae. In pure concentrations this extract...

Himanthalia elongate extract

Extract of a species of algae.

hydrogenated coco-glyceride

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

hydrogenated didecene

Skin-conditioning agent derived from didecene, which is a hydrocarbon. Hydrocarbons are organic...

hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyl dimethyl taurate copolymer

A polymer that functions as a stabilizer, thickening agent, and opacifying agent.

hydroxyethylcellulose

Plant-derived thickening agent typically used as a binding agent or emulsifier. Also used (most...

hydroxypropyl guar

hydroxypropyl starch phosphate

A plant-based or synthetic starch ingredient that functions as a thickener or bulking agent in cosmetics...

Irish moss extract

Type of red algae.

lipid

Wide range of ingredients found in plants, animals, and human skin. Lipids include fatty acids,...

lithium magnesium sodium silicate

Synthetic silica-based clay composed of lithium, sodium, and magnesium. Used as a thickening agent...

locust bean

magnesium aluminum silicate

Powdery, dry-feeling, white solid that is used as a thickening agent and powder in cosmetics.

magnesium stearate

Used as a thickening agent in cosmetics.

MEA

Abbreviation for monoethanolamine.

microcrystalline wax

Plastic-type, highly refined wax derived from petroleum. Used as a thickener and to give products a...

polyethylene

A form of plastic (synthetic polymer) that has numerous functions in cosmetic products. Rounded...

sodium hexametaphosphate

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

sodium lauroyl lactylate

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

sodium lauryl sulfate

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

sodium polyacrylate

A synthetic polymer with multiple functions, including film-forming agent, stabilizer, absorbent,...

Solanum tuberosum extract

Extract that is more commonly known as potato starch. Used as a thickening agent and texture enhancer in cosmetics.

sorbitan oleate

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

sorbitan sesquioleate

sorbitan stearate

Used to thicken and stabilize cosmetic formulations.

sorbitol

Sorbitol is a type of sugar that can be created synthetically or derived from natural sources.

spirulina

stearates

stearic acid

Fatty acid used as an emollient and emulsifier...

stearyl alcohol

Fatty alcohol used as an emollient and to help keep other ingredients intact in a formulation.

synthetic beeswax

An artificial form of beeswax composed of a mixture of alcohol esters...

Salvia officinalis

sclerotium gum

A plant-derived, gel-like polysaccharide (sugar-based) ingredient that’s used in cosmetics to thicken and stabilize formulas. It is considered safe as used in cosmetics, and is similar to xanthan gum.

Seamollient

Trade name for an algae extract.

seaweed

Group of sea plants (scientific name: algae) of all sizes and shapes, and having a gelatin-like...

sesquioleate

Used in cosmetics as a thickening agent and emollient.

silica

Mineral found abundantly in sandstone, clay, and granite, as well as in parts of plants and...

silicate

Inorganic salt that has potent absorbing and thickening properties.

sodium acrylate/acryloydimethyl taurate copolymer

Synthetic polymer used as a stabilizing and suspending agent and as a thickening agent.

sodium carboxymethyl beta-glucan

A carbohydrate ingredient with a gel-like texture, it functions as a binding agent and texture...

TEA-lauryl sulfate

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

thickening agent

Substances that can have a soft to hard waxlike texture or a creamy, emollient feel, and that can...

titanium dioxide

Inert earth mineral used as a thickening, whitening, lubricating, and sunscreen ingredient in...

tragacanth

Natural gum used as a thickener in cosmetics.

tribehenin

Also known as glyceryl tribehenate, a skin-conditioning agent that is a mixture of glycerin and...

tridecyl stearate

Used in cosmetics as a thickening agent and emollient.

tridecyl trimellitate

Used as a skin-conditioning agent and thickening agent. 

triglyceride

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract

Latin name for the fenugreek plant. The seeds are used most often, and their fiber content helps...

trihydroxystearin

Mixture of glycerin and fatty acids that is used as an emollient and thickening agent.

trilaurin

Group of ingredients that are triesters of glycerin and aliphatic acids, and known generically as...

trioctanoin

Used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics.

wheat germ glycerides

Used as emollient and texture enhancer in cosmetics.

xanthan gum

Used as a thickening agent.

xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that may be plant-derived or synthetic (Paula’s Choice uses the former).

zinc oxide

Zinc oxide is an inert earth mineral used as a thickening, whitening, lubricating, and sunscreen ingredient in cosmetics.

zinc stearate

The zinc salt of stearic acid. It has multiple functions in cosmetics, including serving as the...

candelilla/jojoba/rice bran polyglyceryl-3 esters

A natural mixture of polyglycerin-3, candelilla wax, jojoba seed wax, and rice bran wax...

myristyl alcohol

A lighter-weight fatty alcohol that functions as a thickener, emulsion stabilizer, and emollient.

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 polyacrylate starch

Sodium polyacrylate starch is a mixture of a natural starch combined with a synthetic acrylate polymer.

silica silylate

Silica silylate works as a binder, thickening agent, and emollient in cosmetics.

calcium aluminum borosilicate

Calcium aluminum borosilicate is a mineral-derived thickening agent often used in powders.

polyacrylate crosspolymer-6

Polyacrylate crosspolymer-6 is a synthetic powder ingredient that stabilizes and thickens water-based emulsions.