Ingredient Dictionary | Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary

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Rating	Ingredient
Best	ecamsule Sunscreen ingredient that provides UVA protection... Categories: Sunscreen Actives
Best	Echium plantagineum seed oil A novel, non-fragrant plant oil that's a rich source of saturated fatty acids... Categories: Emollients
Best	Eclipta prostrata extract An annual plant common to Korea, Eclipta prostrata has potent antioxidant and skin-calming properties. Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts
Good	ectoin Skin-softening ingredient that also functions in cosmetics as a stabilizer. There's limited research... Categories: Miscellaneous
Good	EDTA Acronym for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, a stabilizer used in cosmetics to prevent ingredients... Categories: Miscellaneous
Best	egg yolk Egg yolk is mostly water and lipids (fats), especially cholesterol, which makes it a good emollient... Categories: Emollients, Skin-Replenishing
Best	eicosapentaenoic acid Fatty acid derived from salmon oil; it is a good emollient and replenishing ingredient for skin. Categories: Skin-Replenishing, Emollients
Best	Elaeis guineensis Categories: Antioxidants, Emollients, Plant Extracts
Good	elderberry Also known as black elderberry or Sambucus nigra, this plant has potent antioxidant properties... Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts
Poor	elecampane Latin name Inula helenium; it is a plant that can be very sensitizing to the skin... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Best	ellagic acid Potent antioxidant compound found in pomegranate and most berries. Categories: Antioxidants
Good	emollient Supple, waxlike, lubricating, thickening agents that prevent water loss and have a softening and... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Emollients
Good	emulsifier When it comes to cosmetics, an emulsifier refers to any ingredient that helps keep unlike... Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers
Good	emu oil The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a large, flightless bird indigenous to Australia. The oil... Categories: Emollients
Poor	English ivy extract Plant extract that can be a skin sensitizer due to its stimulant and astringent (skin-constricting) properties. Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Good	Enteromorpha compressa extract Extract from green algae. Categories: Antioxidants, Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Plant Extracts
Poor	environmental damage Occurrence that takes place at an atomic level and is a complex physiological process. Molecules... Categories: Miscellaneous
Good	enzymes Vast group of protein , produced by all living things, that act as catalysts in chemical... Categories: Exfoliant, Skin-Restoring
Best	epigallocatechin gallate One of the constituents of green tea believed to be responsible for its many health... Categories: Skin-Soothing, Antioxidants, Plant Extracts
Best	Epilobium angustifolium extract Extract derived from a plant commonly known as fireweed or willow herb... Categories: Skin-Soothing
Poor	Equisetum arvense Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Good	ergocalciferol Technical name for vitamin D. Categories: Antioxidants, Vitamins
Best	ergothioneine A substance derived from animal tissue or various types of mushrooms that has potent antioxidant... Categories: Skin-Soothing, Antioxidants
Best	Eriobotrya japonica Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts
Good	erythrulose Substance chemically similar to the self-tanning agent dihydroxyacetone. Depending on your skin... Categories: Miscellaneous
Poor	esculin Component of horse chestnut, it is considered harmful and is not recommended for skin... Categories: Sensitizing
Poor	essential oil Categories: Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Good	ester A compound formed from the reaction between an alcohol and an acid via the elimination of water.... Categories: Emollients
Best	Ester-C Trade name for a combination form of vitamin C that contains mainly calcium ascorbate, but in... Categories: Vitamins
Poor	ethanol Categories: Sensitizing
Good	ethoxydiglycol Categories: Miscellaneous
Poor	ethyl alcohol Categories: Sensitizing
Average	ethyl hexanediol A synthetic, viscous alcohol that functions as a solvent and can also be... Categories: Texture Enhancer
Good	ethylhexylglycerin A synthetic skin-conditioning agent used as a preservative or as a carrier or suspending agent for... Categories: Miscellaneous, Preservatives
Best	ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Categories: Sunscreen Actives
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	ethylhexyl palmitate A mixture of a fatty alcohol and palmitic acid that functions as an emollient. Categories: Emollients, Texture Enhancer
Good	ethylhexyl stearate Categories: Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Texture Enhancer, Emollients
Good	ethyl macadamiate Mixture of fatty acids from macadamia nut oil. Categories: Plant Extracts, Thickeners/Emulsifiers, Emollients
Good	ethylparaben Parabens are a group of controversial preservatives that include butylparaben... Categories: Preservatives
Good	ethyl vanillin Flavoring agent derived from vanilla. It has antioxidant properties (Source: Journal of... Categories: Antioxidants
Poor	eucalyptus extract Extract that may have beneficial properties on the skin... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
Poor	eucalyptus oil Fragrant plant oil whose active constituents are found in the leaves and the oil obtained from... Categories: Plant Extracts, Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Eugenia aromatica Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	Eugenia caryophyllus Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Poor	eugenol Fragrance chemical that occurs naturally in some plant ingredients... Categories: Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Good	Euphorbia cerifera wax Categories: Plant Extracts, Emollients, Texture Enhancer, Thickeners/Emulsifiers
Average	Euphrasia officinalis Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing
Best	Euterpe oleracea (acai) sterols Euterpe oleracea (acai) sterols are the sterol portion derived from the acai plant. Categories: Emollients, Skin-Soothing, Skin-Replenishing
Best	Euterpe oleracea fruit extract Categories: Antioxidants, Plant Extracts
Best	evening primrose oil Can have significant soothing and emollient benefits for skin. Categories: Skin-Soothing, Emollients, Plant Extracts
Good	Evodia rutaecarpa extract A species of Asian tree whose fragrant fruit functions as a good soothing agent in... Categories: Skin-Soothing, Plant Extracts
Good	Ext. D&C Type of coloring agent. According to the FDA (www.fda.gov), when Ext. D&C is followed by a color,... Categories: Coloring Agents/Pigments
Average	eyebright A plant; although the name sounds like it would be beneficial for the eye area, there are no... Categories: Plant Extracts, Sensitizing

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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:

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!

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