All About Eyes Rich

The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.

A rich plant butter pressed from shea tree nuts, valued for softening and cushioning dry skin. It is generally well tolerated, though very rare allergic reactions have been reported and people with tree nut allergies who are cautious may want to patch test first.

A blend of cetyl and stearyl fatty alcohols used to thicken lotions and soften skin. It is chemically unrelated to drying alcohols like ethanol, and the CIR expert panel has found fatty alcohols safe as used in cosmetics.

A synthetic emollient with properties similar to silicones, used for a smooth skin feel. Inert and not absorbed through intact skin, with no documented safety concerns in cosmetic formulations.

A silicone with phenyl groups that provides conditioning and a refined feel in foundations and color cosmetics. It is inert and well tolerated across skin types.

A light, low-odor glycol used as a solvent and humectant, extremely common in Korean toners and essences. It has a low reported irritation rate and is graded low concern in published assessments.

A synthetic polymer that functions as a lightweight occlusive emollient, providing slip and smoothness to formulations. It is an inert ingredient with no reported sensitization or irritation concerns and is widely used in cosmetic and personal care products.

A disaccharide (table sugar) that acts as a humectant to improve skin hydration and is a naturally occurring component of the skin barrier. It is well established as safe for topical cosmetic use with no known hazards.

A mixture of waxes derived from cetyl alcohol and fatty acids, used to thicken and condition cosmetic formulas. Established safety profile from decades of use in personal care products.

A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.

A common emulsifier and texture-softener made from glycerin and stearic acid. CIR review of this class found no evidence of reproductive, carcinogenic, sensitizing, or phototoxic effects in the studies examined.

A natural, plant-based emulsifier made from cetyl alcohol and glucose that mixes oil and water phases in cosmetics. It is well studied, nonirritating in published testing, and presents no known safety concerns for cosmetic use.

A lightweight humectant and solvent similar in role to propylene glycol, used to carry actives and give lotions a lighter feel. CIR has reviewed it and considers it safe as used in cosmetics.

A more stable, esterified form of vitamin E used as an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient. It is a different substance from the vitamin E acetate implicated in vaping-related lung injury, which involved inhaling the oil, not applying it topically to skin.

A PEG-based emulsifier that blends oils and water in formulas. It is a workhorse ingredient in stable emulsions and is approved for cosmetic use. Well tolerated.

A silicone polymer used in hair and skin care products for conditioning and shine. It is inert and well tolerated, with no identified safety concerns at cosmetic concentrations.

A glucose-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in formulas. Generally well-tolerated and supports texture and stability without documented safety concerns.

Green tea extract is a well-studied topical antioxidant with a long history of use in serums and moisturizers, generally well tolerated at cosmetic concentrations. Panel safety reviews of Camellia sinensis-derived ingredients have not identified meaningful topical hazard.

A synthetic polymer used as a thickener and film-former in cosmetic formulations. Direct human safety data is limited, but the ingredient has a good track record in established cosmetic use and shows no signs of concern.

A naturally occurring fatty acid (also made in the body and found in many foods) used to thicken lotions and help stabilize cleansing bars. It is one of the most well-studied emollient ingredients and is not a meaningful irritant at cosmetic use levels.

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide attaches a fatty palmitic acid tail to a short synthetic peptide, a design used in anti-aging serums to signal skin cells, including as one component of the widely marketed Matrixyl 3000 complex. CIR's review of palmitoyl oligopeptides as a class did not identify a safety signal, and as a large synthetic peptide it is not expected to cross intact skin in meaningful amounts. Independently published clinical evidence on how well any single palmitoyl peptide performs is thinner than the marketing built around it.

A stable, saturated version of squalene, a lipid the skin already produces, now usually sourced from olives or sugarcane instead of shark liver. It is very well tolerated across skin types and helps reinforce the skin barrier.

Another stable phosphate ester of vitamin C, chosen by formulators for its water solubility and gentleness compared to pure ascorbic acid. Available safety data and long history of use in leave-on products show a low rate of irritation.

A waxy sterol found naturally in skin and used in cosmetics as an emollient and emulsifier. It supports the skin barrier and is well tolerated across skin types.

A natural alkaloid and studied active ingredient in skincare, valued for its antioxidant properties and potential to promote local circulation and reduce puffiness. Topical application results in minimal systemic absorption, graded low concern in regulatory assessments.

A lightweight polyethylene glycol that draws moisture into skin and helps dissolve other ingredients. Published safety reviews support its use; concerns about absorption through skin are overstated for leave-on formulations.

A plant-derived lipid precursor found naturally in skin that supports barrier function and lipid composition. It is used in skincare formulations to strengthen the stratum corneum and is documented as well tolerated, though rare individual sensitivities may occur.

A basic amino acid naturally found in skin that draws moisture into the stratum corneum. It is well tolerated in cosmetics at typical concentrations and has been used safely in skincare formulations for decades.

A crosslinked acrylic polymer that thickens and stabilizes formulations. Published assessments show it to be well tolerated at cosmetic use levels, with no evidence of penetration into viable skin layers or systemic absorption.

A buffering agent used in small amounts to maintain or adjust the pH of formulas to keep them skin-friendly. It is not added as an active ingredient but to keep the product at a safe and stable pH level.

The simplest amino acid, naturally present in skin and collagen, commonly used as a humectant to help retain moisture. It has a long history of safe use in cosmetics with no known hazards at typical concentrations.

A silicone that gives a smooth, soft feel and helps hold water in the skin. Inert and well studied.

The most well-studied form of topical vitamin C, used as an antioxidant and to support collagen signaling and brighten uneven tone. It is acidic and can sting or irritate sensitive skin, and it oxidizes readily once a bottle is opened, which can reduce its effectiveness rather than create a safety issue.

An essential omega-6 fatty acid and key component of the skin barrier. Well documented as safe and beneficial in topical cosmetics, supporting skin integrity and hydration.

A humectant that holds water at the skin surface for a more hydrated look. No safety concern.

A glycol used very widely in Korean and Western skincare as a lightweight humectant, solvent, and gentle preservative-booster, often in place of traditional preservatives. It has a low reported irritation rate at use levels and is graded low concern in published assessments.

A starch derivative used in cosmetics to thicken formulations and improve texture. It has been used safely in food and cosmetics for decades and shows low irritation potential across rinse-off and leave-on products.

A widely used, gentle preservative also common in food. It is generally well tolerated, though it can occasionally cause mild, transient irritation in people with already-compromised or very reactive skin.

Caprylyl glycol is a plant-derived humectant that also has mild antimicrobial properties, so it is commonly paired with other preservatives to allow lower overall preservative levels. Available data do not point to meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns at typical use levels.

A chelating agent that binds trace metal ions to keep formulas stable and preservatives working properly. It is not a functional skincare "active" and only a very small amount is used, with minimal skin penetration expected.

Sodium dehydroacetate is a preservative that fights bacteria and fungi in water-based formulas, typically used alongside other preservatives at up to 0.6% (as the acid) and not permitted in aerosol sprays. CIR's panel has reaffirmed since 1985 that it's safe as used, based on it being practically nonirritating and nonsensitizing across many clinical tests, though the panel has also noted a small number of published hypersensitivity case reports set against very widespread use.

A widely used preservative, safe at the legal limit of 1% or less. Often the "paraben-free" replacement.

Mineral pigments used to add color to cosmetics. Iron oxides are FDA-approved colorants with a well-established safety record in cosmetic formulations.

A naturally occurring mineral silicate that adds shimmer and light-diffusing properties to cosmetics. Cosmetic-grade mica is well tolerated and should be free of asbestos and talc contamination.

A mineral UV filter and white pigment used in sunscreens and makeup. It sits on the skin surface rather than being absorbed, and major regulators consider it safe for topical cosmetic use.