All-In-One Defense Lotion Moisturizer SPF 35

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

A lightweight salicylate ester used mainly as a solvent to keep avobenzone stable and to give modern sunscreens a non-greasy finish. It has not drawn any published safety flags and functions cosmetically rather than as an active.

A synthetic polymer used to impart silky texture and film-forming properties in skincare. Nylon particles remain on the surface and do not penetrate or absorb systemically, with a long history of safe use in cosmetics.

A lightweight ester used as a skin-conditioning agent in cosmetics, valued for its non-greasy feel. Cosmetic use data indicates minimal reported adverse reactions.

A long-chain fatty alcohol used to thicken and stabilize creams and soften skin. It is a waxy emollient, not a drying solvent, and is graded low concern in published assessments.

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

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

An ester formed from myristic acid, used to provide emollient and conditioning effects. Long track record in cosmetics with well-established safety in topical applications.

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 synthetic polymer used as a gentle exfoliant in scrubs and peeling products. It is an inert, non-biodegradable microparticle with no known skin irritation or sensitization potential when used topically in cosmetic formulations.

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 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 synthetic polymer used to thicken and stabilize water-based formulas like gels and serums. It provides texture and suspension of particles without interfering with skin feel. Well established in cosmetics.

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 hexapeptide designed to reduce facial muscle contractions by interfering with acetylcholine release. Cosmetic-grade formulations show no systemic absorption at recommended use levels and are well tolerated.

A polysaccharide produced through fermentation that thickens formulations and provides hydration. It is used across rinse-off and leave-on cosmetics with a low irritation profile, though very rare sensitivities to fermented polysaccharides have been documented.

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 salt form of glycyrrhizic acid, a compound from licorice root prized for soothing irritated skin. It is well tolerated at cosmetic levels and has a long history of use in skincare formulations.

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.

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 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.

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 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 broad class of seaweed and microalgae extracts, commonly used in skincare for water retention and antioxidant properties. Most forms are well tolerated, though individuals sensitive to iodine or seaweed should patch test.

A low-viscosity cyclic silicone used in primers and lightweight cosmetics for smooth application. It is inert and well tolerated on the skin without identified safety concerns.

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

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 metabolite produced through fermentation of milk by Lactobacillus bacteria, valued in skincare for humectant and antioxidant properties. It is documented in cosmetic formulations as well tolerated, though people sensitive to fermentation byproducts or lactic acid may want to patch test.

A surfactant derived from stearyl alcohol with a higher degree of ethoxylation than Steareth-2, providing enhanced emulsification. It is graded safe for cosmetic use and well tolerated.

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.

An undisclosed scent blend that can contain dozens of components. The single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, and the blend is not itemized, so you cannot see what is in it.

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 fatty alcohol used as an emollient and emulsifier in creams and lotions. Despite the name, it does not dry the skin and is well tolerated at cosmetic concentrations.

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.

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.

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.

A small-dose synthetic antioxidant that prevents oils and fragrance in a formula from oxidizing. Not shown to pose a toxicological risk at the levels used in cosmetics.

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