Fatigue Fix

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

A synthetic ester used to provide lightweight emollient and conditioning properties in cosmetic formulations. Limited but consistent use history in cosmetics without adverse reports.

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

A lightweight, odorless emollient made by combining coconut or palm-derived fatty acids with glycerin. It spreads easily, feels non-greasy, and has a long history of use in skin and hair products with no meaningful irritation or sensitization signal.

A film-forming copolymer used to add texture and stability to formulas. Well-tolerated with no documented safety concerns at cosmetic concentrations.

A sugar-derived humectant made from corn and other plant sources that draws water into the skin for hydration. Well-tolerated in skincare formulations.

A sugar alcohol humectant that helps retain moisture in the skin. It is well-tolerated at typical cosmetic use levels.

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

A naturally derived molecule combining glycerin and glucose that functions as both a humectant and emollient. It is graded with no known concerns in cosmetic use and draws moisture into the skin.

A corn-derived solvent and humectant that has largely replaced propylene glycol in "clean" formulas; CIR reviewed the alkane diol group and found use concentrations up to about 40 percent in leave-on products like deodorant sticks with no meaningful irritation signal.

A five-carbon sugar alcohol (polyol) that functions as an effective humectant comparable to glycerin, drawing moisture into the skin. It is well tolerated in cosmetics and assessed as safe by regulatory bodies at typical formulation levels.

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.

A polysaccharide produced by fermentation of fungal cultures, used to thicken and stabilize formulas. It is well tolerated in cosmetics and often chosen by natural-leaning brands. It functions similarly to other gelling agents but comes from a more controlled fermentation source.

A lab-made version of a lipid naturally found in the outer skin barrier. It is added to creams and cleansers to help replace lipids that washing can strip away, and it is not linked to irritation or safety concerns.

A common preservative and fragrance/solvent ingredient found naturally in many essential oils. It is well tolerated by most people at the levels used in cosmetics, but it is one of the 26 EU-designated fragrance allergens and can trigger reactions in people with an existing sensitivity.

Xanthan gum is a microbial-fermentation-derived polysaccharide used to thicken and stabilize textures, similarly common in food. Cosmetic panel review of this and related microbial gums found them safe as used, with no meaningful irritation signal at typical concentrations.

A polysaccharide produced by yeast fermentation used as a film-former and thickener in serums and gels. Its safety profile is supported by extensive use in food and cosmetic applications.

An inert mineral oxide used as a filler and opacifying agent in color cosmetics. It is an FDA-approved colorant with a well-established safety record in cosmetic formulations.

An antioxidant that helps protect a formula and condition skin. Well tolerated.

A beta hydroxy acid used to smooth texture and clear pores. Safe at cosmetic levels; can be mildly irritating if overused.

An essential oil from ylang ylang flowers, prized for its floral, creamy-sweet scent. It is a known fragrance allergen with documented contact sensitization in dermatitis patients; the oil oxidizes readily, so stored or air-exposed products may trigger reactions in sensitive individuals.

A simple sugar that functions as a humectant to bind moisture into the stratum corneum and is a component of the natural moisturizing factor. It is well tolerated in cosmetics and has no known sensitization concerns.

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.

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 pigment used to add opacity and soft-focus effects in cosmetics. FDA-approved for cosmetic use and graded low concern in published safety assessments.

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

A phospholipid emulsifier from soy or sunflower that binds water and oil and helps other ingredients absorb. It is a natural component of skin membranes, well tolerated, and reviewed as safe as used; a soy-derived grade is not a meaningful concern for a soy food allergy because the protein is largely absent.

The sodium salt of benzoic acid, used as a preservative in both foods and cosmetics. Decades of safety review support its use at typical cosmetic concentrations, with mild irritation the main reported issue in sensitive skin.