Ingredient dictionary

Soaps that often contain strong cleansing ingredients, they are often overly drying.

Most soaps are considered very drying due to their alkaline base (i.e., a pH over 8). Bar cleansers can be gentler than bar soaps, but are more often than not still drying, depending on their composition.

Sensitizing anionic surfactant with cleansing and foaming properties. It can disrupt skin’s barrier, causing dryness due to water loss.

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

This sodium salt of tallow has a high pH that can lead to skin barrier damage and water loss.

This cleansing agent is drying and is irritating in high amounts.

This type of soap can cause irritation and lasting damage to skin’s barrier.

Detergent cleansing agent that is a constituent of soap; it can be drying and aggravate skin for some.

Both cocamide DEA (diethanolamine) and MEA (monoethanolamine) are widely used ingredients to thicken the water phase of cosmetics, keep ingredients blended, and boost foaming properties...

Legumes that are often ground up for use in skincare scrub products.

Used as a preservative in skincare products.

Quaternary ammonium salt and cationic surfactant that serves as a cleansing and emulsifying agent in skin care preparations.

Surfactant with cleansing, emulsifying, and foaming properties. Can also be used to solubilize fragrance ingredients in a formulation.

Cleansing agent, emulsifier, and foam booster. It’s a constituent of soap that has the potential to be drying on skin—although formulary steps can be taken to avoid this.

This coconut-derived ingredient works as an emulsifier and surfactant in cosmetics.

This sodium salt of palmitic acid can be drying to skin when formulated in a cleanser.

Cleansing, emulsifying and dispersing agent that helps to create uniform textures.

Used as a cleansing agent primarily in soaps. It can be drying and sensitising for skin.

Cleansing agent that also creates foam and can be drying.

Surfactant, emulsifier, and viscosity-adjusting agent commonly found in bar soaps and other cleansers.

Surfactant, emulsifier and viscosity-adjusting agent commonly found in bar soaps and other cleansers.

Serves multiple functions in personal care products, including working as a surfactant, emulsifier, preservative, and conditioning agent.

Mild cleansing agent noted for its foaming properties.

Cleansing agent that also assists in foam creation. Often used as an alternative to sodium lauryl sulfate.