Cosmetic Ingredients A–Z
Understand what's really in your products. Each ingredient page explains what it is, why it might cause reactions, and how to spot it on a label.
Acrylates (Methacrylates)
Acrylates Copolymer
Synthetic polymers used in gel nails, acrylic nails, and dental composites. A fast-growing…
Alpha Arbutin
Alpha Arbutin
A bearberry-derived compound that inhibits tyrosinase to fade dark spots and hyperpigmenta…
Argan Oil
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
A plant oil from the Moroccan argan tree, rich in oleic and linoleic acids plus vitamin E,…
Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8)
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
A neuropeptide that reduces the appearance of expression lines by partially inhibiting mus…
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin
A potent red carotenoid pigment from microalgae that protects skin from oxidative stress a…
Avobenzone
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
A chemical UV filter that provides strong UVA protection, widely used in global sunscreens…
Azelaic Acid
Azelaic Acid
A dicarboxylic acid from grain that treats acne, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea gently and…
Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol
A compound from the babchi plant that mimics retinol's effects on fine lines and pigmentat…
Balsam of Peru
Myroxylon Pereirae
A natural resin used in fragrances and flavorings. A marker allergen indicating sensitivit…
Benzocaine
Benzocaine
A local anaesthetic found in lip products, sunburn gels, and topical pain relievers. Can c…
Betaine
Betaine
A naturally occurring osmolyte from sugar beets that hydrates skin, protects cells from wa…
Butylene Glycol
Butylene Glycol
A small four-carbon glycol used as a humectant, solvent, and slip agent in lightweight ski…
Ceramides
Ceramide NP / Ceramide AP / Ceramide EOP
Lipid molecules that form a major part of the skin's natural barrier; replacing them topic…
Cetyl Alcohol
Cetyl Alcohol
A fatty alcohol that thickens and emulsifies cosmetics; rarely allergenic but can cause ir…
Cholesterol
Cholesterol
A lipid that occurs naturally in skin cells and is essential to a healthy moisture barrier…
Potassium Dichromate (Chromium)
Potassium Dichromate
A strong chromium allergen found in green pigments, leather, and some industrial products.
Cinnamal (Cinnamaldehyde)
Cinnamaldehyde
A cinnamon-scented fragrance compound and one of the EU-regulated allergens in cosmetics
Citronellol
Citronellol
A rose-scented fragrance compound found in many essential oils and perfumes
Cobalt Chloride
Cobalt Chloride
A metal allergen commonly found in blue and violet cosmetic pigments, with frequent cross-…
Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB)
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
A coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant common in gentle cleansers; a rising contact aller…
Coconut Oil
Cocos Nucifera Oil
A highly occlusive plant oil from coconut meat, traditional in Indian hair care but often…
Colophonium (Rosin)
Colophonium
A natural resin from pine trees used for adhesion and texture. Common in mascara, wax, and…
Copper Peptides (GHK-Cu)
Copper Tripeptide-1
A naturally occurring peptide bound to copper that promotes wound healing, collagen synthe…
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Ubiquinone
A naturally occurring antioxidant essential for cellular energy production; depletes with…
Coumarin
Coumarin
A sweet-scented compound found in tonka beans and vanilla fragrances, restricted in some c…
DMDM Hydantoin
DMDM Hydantoin
A formaldehyde-releasing preservative used in shampoos and personal care. Subject of lawsu…
EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor)
sh-Oligopeptide-1
A growth factor protein that triggers skin cell proliferation and regeneration, used in pr…
Eugenol
Eugenol
A clove-derived fragrance compound commonly found in perfumes and dental products
Ferulic Acid
Ferulic Acid
A plant-derived antioxidant that stabilizes vitamins C and E and dramatically boosts their…
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
A preservative and hair-straightening agent. Classified as a human carcinogen and strong s…
Fragrance (Parfum)
Parfum
A mixture of fragrance chemicals. Very common allergen, present in most cosmetics.
Geraniol
Geraniol
A rose-like fragrance compound that can cause allergic skin reactions in sensitized indivi…
Gluconolactone (PHA)
Gluconolactone
A polyhydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin surface as gently as possible while also actin…
Glycerin
Glycerin
A clear, odorless plant-derived sugar alcohol that draws water into the skin and is one of…
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic Acid
The smallest and most penetrating alpha hydroxy acid, derived from sugarcane. Loosens dead…
Granactive Retinoid
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
A newer retinoid ester that binds directly to retinoid receptors, giving retinoid benefits…
Homosalate
Homosalate
A chemical UVB filter widely used in US and Indian sunscreens, currently undergoing FDA re…
Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
A naturally occurring sugar molecule that pulls water into the skin to plump fine lines an…
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone
A powerful tyrosinase inhibitor that is the gold standard for fading melasma and hyperpigm…
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Imidazolidinyl Urea
A formaldehyde-releasing preservative used in cosmetics and personal care. Can sensitize s…
Jojoba Oil
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
A liquid wax ester from the jojoba plant that closely resembles human sebum, balancing oil…
Kojic Acid
Kojic Acid
A fungal-fermentation byproduct that inhibits melanin production; effective for hyperpigme…
Kumkum & Sindoor Allergens
Various
Traditional Indian vermillion and forehead cosmetics that may contain heavy metals or alle…
Lactic Acid
Lactic Acid
A larger alpha hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates while also acting as a humectant, makin…
Lanolin (Wool Wax)
Lanolin
A natural emollient derived from sheep wool; effective moisturizer but an allergen for som…
Lavender Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
A popular essential oil in skincare that can cause photosensitivity and allergic reactions
LHA (Capryloyl Salicylic Acid)
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
A lipophilic hydroxy acid that penetrates pores like salicylic acid but works more slowly…
Licorice Root Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
A plant extract rich in glabridin and glycyrrhizin that inhibits melanin production and ha…
Limonene
Limonene
A citrus-scented compound present in most cosmetics that becomes allergenic when it oxidiz…
Linalool
Linalool
One of the most common fragrance allergens — found in lavender, coriander, and most perfum…
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
A water-soluble, neutral-pH vitamin C derivative that brightens skin and is one of the gen…
Malic Acid
Malic Acid
A mild alpha hydroxy acid from apples and other fruits, used for gentle exfoliation and as…
Mandelic Acid
Mandelic Acid
An almond-derived alpha hydroxy acid with a large molecule size, making it the slowest-pen…
Marula Oil
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
A plant oil from the African marula tree, rich in oleic acid and antioxidants, used as a l…
Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4)
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
A signal peptide that stimulates collagen synthesis and improves fine lines, widely used i…
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
A powerful antimicrobial preservative typically used with methylisothiazolinone (MI). High…
Methylisothiazolinone (MI)
Methylisothiazolinone
A powerful preservative that has become a leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis.
Methylparaben
Methylparaben
A preservative used to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Common allergen in skincare pr…
Mexoryl SX
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
A water-soluble UVA filter patented by L\u2019Oréal, used in premium European sunscreens f…
Neomycin Sulfate
Neomycin Sulfate
An aminoglycoside antibiotic used in topical creams and some cosmetics. Frequently causes…
Niacinamide
Niacinamide
A water-soluble form of vitamin B3 that brightens, hydrates, controls sebum, calms redness…
Nickel Sulfate
Nickel Sulfate
The most prevalent metal allergen worldwide, present in cosmetic tools, packaging, and pig…
Octinoxate
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
A chemical UVB filter used globally but banned in Hawaii and several reef regions, and fla…
Octocrylene
Octocrylene
A chemical UV filter that absorbs UVB and short UVA, widely used to stabilize avobenzone a…
Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3)
Benzophenone-3
UV filter used in sunscreens. Can cause photoallergic reactions.
Panthenol
Panthenol
A vitamin B5 precursor that hydrates, soothes irritation, supports wound healing, and adds…
Parthenium (Congress Grass)
Parthenium Hysterophorus
An invasive weed found across India causing airborne contact dermatitis. May contaminate h…
Phytosphingosine
Phytosphingosine
A sphingoid base that the skin uses to build ceramides; also has gentle antibacterial acti…
Paraphenylenediamine (PPD)
p-Phenylenediamine
A permanent hair dye ingredient. One of the most common causes of allergic contact dermati…
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol
A common solvent and humectant in cosmetics that can cause allergic contact dermatitis in…
Propylparaben
Propylparaben
A preservative from the paraben family, often used with methylparaben for broad-spectrum a…
Quaternium-15
Quaternium-15
A strong formaldehyde-releasing preservative. One of the most potent formaldehyde donors i…
Resveratrol
Resveratrol
A plant polyphenol with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects when applied topi…
Retinaldehyde (Retinal)
Retinal
A vitamin A derivative one step closer to retinoic acid than retinol — more potent but sur…
Retinol
Retinol
A vitamin A derivative that dramatically improves fine lines, pigmentation, acne, and skin…
Retinyl Palmitate
Retinyl Palmitate
An ester of retinol and palmitic acid that converts slowly to active vitamin A, making it…
Rosehip Oil
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
A plant oil from wild rose hips, rich in linoleic acid, vitamin A precursors, and antioxid…
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic Acid
A beta hydroxy acid that is oil-soluble, so it penetrates into pores to dissolve sebum and…
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
A foam-producing surfactant common in shampoos and cleansers, milder than SLS but potentia…
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
A cleansing agent that can be irritating and drying to skin.
SNAP-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3)
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
An eight-amino-acid peptide developed as a more potent extension of Argireline, used in an…
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
A water-soluble vitamin C derivative that works at neutral pH, doesn't sting, and has docu…
Sodium PCA
Sodium PCA
The sodium salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid — a humectant that mirrors a key component…
Squalane
Squalane
A saturated, shelf-stable lipid derived from olives or sugarcane that mimics the skin's na…
Succinic Acid
Succinic Acid
A dicarboxylic acid with antibacterial and oil-balancing properties, used in spot treatmen…
Tartaric Acid
Tartaric Acid
A mild AHA from grapes that exfoliates gently and is often used as a pH adjuster in multi-…
Tea Tree Oil
Melaleuca Alternifolia Oil
A widely used natural ingredient for acne that can cause allergic contact dermatitis
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD Ascorbate)
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
An oil-soluble vitamin C derivative that penetrates deeper than ascorbic acid, remains sta…
Tinosorb M
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
A broad-spectrum UV filter that combines chemical absorption and physical scattering, offe…
Tinosorb S
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
A next-generation chemical UV filter that covers the full UV spectrum with excellent photo…
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium Dioxide
A mineral sunscreen filter that provides UVB and short-UVA protection, often paired with z…
Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin
Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin
A formaldehyde-containing resin used in nail polish for durability. Common cause of allerg…
Tranexamic Acid
Tranexamic Acid
A synthetic amino acid derivative originally used as a clotting medication, now a powerful…
Urea
Urea
A naturally occurring molecule in skin that hydrates at low concentrations and gently diss…
Uvinul A Plus
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
A photostable UVA filter that protects against long-wave UVA1 rays, used in European and A…
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Ascorbic Acid
The most-studied form of vitamin C in skincare; brightens skin, fades pigmentation, and st…
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Tocopherol
A fat-soluble antioxidant that quenches free radicals, protects oils from rancidity, and s…
Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide
A mineral UV filter that provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection by scattering and…
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