No.1 Clear Filter Sun Essence

A plant extract long used in traditional wound care and now common in "cica" soothing products, valued for calming redness and supporting the skin barrier. It is generally well tolerated, with rare contact allergy reported.

A leaf extract long used in Korean and Chinese folk medicine and popularized in K-beauty as "heartleaf." Small in-vitro and cell-culture studies suggest anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, but there is little rigorous human clinical trial data isolating the extract itself, so soothing claims should be read as plausible rather than proven.

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

A lightweight emollient used in cosmetics and sunscreens to give a smooth texture. Inert and well tolerated.

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 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.

An organic UVB filter approved in the EU and widely used in Korean and Japanese sunscreens at up to 5 percent. It is highly photostable and shows low skin penetration in the reviewed data. It is not on the FDA-approved UV filter list, so US-formulated sunscreens do not use it; that is a regulatory-process gap rather than a documented safety finding against the ingredient.

A silicone-based powder used to improve texture and slip in formulas. It is lightweight, absorbs excess moisture, and provides smooth application. Well studied in cosmetics with no skin safety concerns.

A form of vitamin B3 used to support a more even-looking tone and a comfortable barrier. Well tolerated at cosmetic levels.

A buffering agent used in tiny amounts to set a product's pH, most often alongside gel-forming polymers. It is graded low concern in published assessments at the levels used.

A mild emulsifier derived from plant glycerin and stearic acid that is widely used in natural and clean formulations. Published assessments show it to be well tolerated with no known safety concerns at cosmetic use levels.

Pentylene glycol is a humectant and solvent that also offers mild antimicrobial support in formulas. It is generally well tolerated, with only rare reports of irritation, mostly in already sensitive or compromised skin.

A modern UVA sunscreen filter widely used in Europe and Asia, valued for photostability and low skin penetration. It is not yet approved as a sunscreen active in the United States, which reflects a slower regulatory pathway rather than a specific safety finding against it.

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 light silicone emollient that spreads easily and gives a dry, non-greasy finish, common in Korean sunscreens and primers. It stays on the skin surface and is graded low concern in published assessments.

A silicone-based UV filter that provides broad-spectrum protection. Approved in cosmetics and graded safe; the silicone backbone makes it stable and non-irritating.

An extract from neem tree leaves, valued for antioxidant and skin-conditioning benefits in formulations. Well tolerated overall, though isolated cases of contact sensitivity have been reported in the literature.

An extract from the fruit of Coccinia indica, used in some skincare formulas for soothing and hydrating effects. Published safety data is limited, but the ingredient has not raised safety signals in cosmetic use.

Plant extract from ayurvedic tradition valued for antioxidant properties. Limited cosmetic clinical data but established use without significant adverse reports.

An extract from neem tree flowers, used for its antioxidant and conditioning properties. While neem has traditional use in skincare, rare cases of contact sensitization have been noted in literature; most people tolerate it without issue.

A traditional East Asian botanical extract used in cosmetics for hydrating and claimed soothing properties. Limited modern cosmetic safety data exists, but it has a long history of topical use and no documented safety concerns have emerged in the available literature.

A seaweed extract containing minerals, polysaccharides, and phenols, used in cosmetics for hydrating and antioxidant claims. It is generally well tolerated, though those with iodine sensitivity should be cautious, as seaweed-derived ingredients contain naturally occurring iodine.

An extract from the root of the Ulmus davidiana tree, used in some skincare formulas for soothing and conditioning effects. Published safety data is limited, but the ingredient has not raised signals in cosmetic use.

A plant-derived water or extract used mainly as a soothing humectant filler. Evidence for dramatic skin benefits beyond mild hydration and soothing is limited, but it is well tolerated by most people.

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

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 broad-spectrum organic UV filter used widely in European and international sunscreens. Approved by the EU and other regulators as safe at cosmetic levels.

An emulsifier made from cetyl alcohol and phosphoric acid, used to create stable creams with light conditioning properties. Well tolerated in finished products at cosmetic concentrations.

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 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.

Carbomer is a synthetic polymer used purely to thicken and stabilize gels and lotions, with negligible skin penetration due to its large molecular size. Safety reviews have found low toxicity and minimal irritation potential even in leave-on use.

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.

An emulsifier combining glyceryl stearate with citric acid to stabilize oil-water mixtures and moderate pH. Well tolerated in cosmetic formulas at standard use concentrations.

A glycerin derivative used as a skin conditioner and preservative booster, often paired with phenoxyethanol to allow lower total preservative levels. It has a low irritation and sensitization profile in safety reviews.

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 naturally occurring nucleoside used in anti-aging formulas, often marketed for smoothing the look of fine lines. It has a low irritation profile and no established hazard at cosmetic use levels.

A purified triterpene from Centella asiatica (the "cica" plant) used in soothing and barrier-support products, especially Korean formulas. It is well tolerated with a low reported irritation rate; the strong repair and anti-aging claims around it are more marketing than settled evidence.

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

A lower molecular weight version of hyaluronic acid designed for better skin penetration. It has been extensively studied and shown to support skin hydration and barrier function with excellent tolerability in diverse formulations and skin types.

A broken-down form of hyaluronic acid with smaller molecules intended to penetrate more deeply into the skin. It functions as a humectant and is well tolerated, with the same safety profile as standard hyaluronic acid.

The potassium salt of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring molecule found in skin that binds moisture. It is graded with no known concerns in cosmetic assessments and is well tolerated across all skin types.

A chemically cross-linked form of sodium hyaluronate designed to remain on the skin surface longer and provide sustained hydration. It functions as a humectant and is well tolerated, with the same safety profile as standard hyaluronic acid.

A quaternized derivative of hyaluronic acid that combines hydration and film-forming benefits for enhanced moisturizing effects. It is documented in cosmetic use as well tolerated, though people sensitive to quaternary ammonium compounds may want to perform a patch test.

A chemically modified form of hyaluronic acid that improves stability and penetration in skincare formulations. Clinical assessments show it hydrates skin effectively and is well tolerated across sensitive and normal skin types.