Eau Thermale Water Cream

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

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

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

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

A fatty alcohol used to soften skin and stabilize creams. Despite the name, it does not dry the skin.

A sugar alcohol humectant that helps retain moisture in the skin. It is well-tolerated at typical cosmetic 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 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 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 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 cross-linked polymer used to thicken formulas and create lightweight gel textures. The large molecular weight prevents penetration into the skin and is not absorbed; well tolerated in cosmetics.

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.

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.

Chlorphenesin is a preservative subject to an EU maximum concentration limit and has been linked to contact dermatitis in a minority of users, particularly with repeated exposure. Most people tolerate it at the regulated use level without issue.

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.

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.

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 naturally occurring amino acid that is a key component of skin barrier lipids and the natural moisturizing factor. It binds water to the skin and is well established as a safe hydrating ingredient with no known sensitization concerns.

A strong alkali used in tiny amounts to adjust the pH of cosmetics to safe, skin-friendly levels. At the pH found in finished products, sodium hydroxide is neutralized and well tolerated.

An emulsifier made from sorbitol and isostearic acid, used to stabilize oil-in-water formulas. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel assessed it as safe for cosmetic use at typical concentrations.

A natural polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, used as a thickener and gelling agent in cosmetics. It has a strong safety history in topical formulations and is well tolerated across skin types.

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 salt used to adjust and maintain the pH of cosmetic formulations. It has no safety concern at typical cosmetic use levels.

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.

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

A volatile alcohol used as a solvent to dissolve fragrance and active ingredients in cosmetics. Published assessments support its safe use at concentrations found in cosmetic formulations.

A mineral salt used as a buffer and pH adjuster in cosmetics. No safety concerns at cosmetic concentrations.