Instant Angel

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

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 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.

A plant-derived hydrocarbon fraction isolated from coconut oil, used as a lightweight emollient and solvent in skincare formulations. It is derived through physical refining of a natural source and carries a low risk of irritation or sensitization.

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 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 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 solvent and emollient ester used in leave-on and rinse-off formulas. The CIR Expert Panel reviewed alkyl benzoates and found no irritation even at full strength, with typical use levels ranging from 0.0008 to 50 percent depending on product type.

A light coconut-derived emollient ester used as a natural-feeling alternative to silicones, giving a dry, velvety finish. It is well tolerated and graded low concern in published assessments.

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 small glycol used as a solvent and to boost the absorption of actives, and to help preservatives work at lower levels. It is well tolerated and graded low concern in published assessments.

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.

Plant-derived sterols that function as emollients and barrier-supporting ingredients found naturally in many botanical sources. They are well tolerated in cosmetic formulations with no known safety concerns at typical use levels.

Natural fat molecules present in healthy skin that help reinforce the skin barrier. They are graded with no known concerns in cosmetic assessments and are well tolerated as skin conditioning agents.

A synthetic gelling and stabilizing polymer that gives lotions and gels their smooth, cushiony texture. The large molecule stays on the skin surface rather than penetrating, and it is graded low concern in published assessments.

A long-chain alkyl ester derived from behenic acid, used to condition and thicken cosmetic formulations. Available evidence from cosmetic use shows minimal sensitization potential.

Sodium PCA is a natural component of skin's own moisturizing factor and is used in cosmetics as a humectant to help skin hold onto water. It has an extensive history of safe use with no meaningful irritation or sensitization signal.

A natural component of skin's own moisturizing system, used at low percentages as a humectant and at higher percentages (10 percent plus) as a mild keratolytic for very dry or rough skin. It can sting broken or eczema-prone skin, especially at higher concentrations.

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

A rheology modifier that thickens gels and serums while maintaining a lightweight, non-sticky feel. Provides suspension and stability in water-based formulas. Widely used and well tolerated.

This branched hydrocarbon is one of the isoparaffins the CIR Expert Panel reviewed and found safe as used in cosmetics, including as an emollient in leave-on face creams. It is generally considered non-comedogenic and used mainly to give a lightweight, non-greasy skin feel.

A disaccharide sugar that acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin and helping prevent dryness. It is well tolerated and commonly found in skincare formulas designed to support skin barrier health.

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.

This small glycol is used to thin out formulas and help preservatives work better, similar in role to propylene glycol and butylene glycol already in wide use. Industry and EU safety reviewers have set purity and concentration conditions for its use rather than restricting it outright, and no consumer-relevant hazard has been established at typical cosmetic levels.

Sodium phytate is a plant-derived chelating agent used to bind trace metals and stabilize formulas, often as a preservative booster alongside other preservatives. Available safety reviews have not identified meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns at typical use levels.

A synthetic surfactant widely used to emulsify oils and water in cosmetics. It is well tolerated and has been used safely in cosmetic formulations for decades.

A positively charged conditioning polymer used in hair and skin products to improve texture and feel. It is graded safe by CIR and has a low incidence of reported sensitivities at typical use levels.

A saturated fatty acid found in palm oil and naturally in the skin, used as an emollient to soften and condition skin. It is one of the most studied fatty acids and is well tolerated.

The sodium salt of stearic acid, used mainly to firm up stick deodorant bases and as a mild cleansing/emulsifying agent; CIR's fatty acid salts review found only minimal to mild irritation in concentrated, undiluted testing and no restriction on cosmetic use.

A plant-derived emollient oil rich in ricinoleic acid, used in skincare for decades. Contact allergy has been reported but is uncommon relative to how widely it is used in leave-on products.

A larger, gentler alpha hydroxy acid than glycolic acid, used to exfoliate and to draw in moisture. It can still cause stinging or increased sun sensitivity at higher concentrations, so daytime SPF use is sensible, but it is generally better tolerated than glycolic acid.

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

A six-amino-acid peptide attached to palmitic acid that supports skin renewal and collagen production. Part of an established peptide family with consistent safety profiles across cosmetic applications.

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