Water is a great solvent. It’s neutral and doesn’t provide any strong positive or negative effects. It just helps components to mix better and to transport active components.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a pH 4.5-5.5 liquid that is used to improve the overall efficiency of the formulation. It’s usually combined with different surfactants and is used because of its cleansing efficiency. It helps to remove sebum and dirt from the skin and hair. It also works as a foaming agent helping to make a pleasant foam.
Dipropylene Glycol is a solvent, emulsifier, viscosity decreasing, and masking agent. It helps to extract useful chemicals from plants and leaves, making natural components in a product more effective. It also helps to hydrate the skin. Considered safe for health and doesn't irritate the skin in common concentration.
Green Tea Leaf Extract is a great antioxidant often used in Korean skincare products. It contains EGCG - the most effective flavonoid. It makes the skin look fresh, fills it with vitamines, and helps to prevent aging. It also helps to lower inflammation.
Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Sprout Extract
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Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Leaf Extract
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Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
Roles: Emollient, Humectant
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Sargassum Muticum Extract
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Hypnea Musciformis (Hypneaceae) Extract
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Ulva Lactuca (Sea Lettuce) Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Ecklonia Cava Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Codium Tomentosum (Algae) Extract
Moisturizing
Softening
Elasticity improvement
Rejuvenation
Anticellulite
Tones up skin
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Agarum Cribrosum Extract
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Enteromorpha Compressa (Linnaeus) Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Saccharina Japonica Extract
Roles: Fragrance
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Dunaliella Salina Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Sargassum Fulvellum Extract
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Porphyra Yezoensis Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Fucus Vesiculosus ExtractAntioxidant
Roles: Skin conditioning, Fragrance
Moisturizing
Soothing
Anti-aging
Elasticity improvement
Anticellulite
Protection
Hair structure improvement
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Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Roles: Fragrance
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Spirulina Platensis Extract
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Jania Rubens Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Gelidium Cartilagineum (Red Algae) Extract
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Euglena Gracilis Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract
Roles: Viscosity controlling
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Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
Softening
Lightening
Hair structure improvement
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Codium Fragile Extract
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Laminaria Hyperborea Extract
Roles: Fragrance
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Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Chlorella Minutissima Extract
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Hizikia Fusiforme Extract
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Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Plankton Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
Soothing
Nutrifying
Regeneration
Protection
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Pikea Robusta Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Hydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning
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Haematococcus Pluvialis (Algae) Extract
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Laminaria Digitata Extract
Roles: Skin conditioning, Fragrance
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Hydrogenated Lecithin
Roles: Skin conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant
Softening
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Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Water
Roles: Fragrance
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Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
Roles: Fragrance, Masking
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Hydroxyethylcellulose
Roles: Binding, Emulsion stabilizer, Film former, Stabilising, Viscosity controlling
Hydroxyethylcellulose doesn’t provide any notable skincare benefits. It’s used for formulation purposes. It’s a very effective emulsifier and thickening agent. It also improves the product’s texture and feel. It allows manufacturers to use less surfactant making the product safer for your skin.
Panthenol is a proud member of a league of the best-performing components. It's a stable form of Vitamin B5 and is also known as Pro-Vitamin B5. It’s a very good and effective component for hydration, healing, and soothing irritated skin. It works so soft and gentle that it’s even recommended for people with skin problems like eczema.
In haircare products it’s used for protecting the fiber. It’s researched very well and doesn’t have any negative side effects.
Hexylene Glycol is mostly used for formulation purposes. It’s a good surfactant, emulsifier, and viscosity-reducing agent. It maintains the density of the formulation of the product preventing it from separating. It also makes the product feel better.
Glycerin is one of the most outstanding and helpful skincare components. It's used in many skincare products because it works and provides notable results. It's one of the best moisturizers. Molecules of Glycerin can absorb water and deliver it into deep layers of the skin making it hydrated.
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Disodium EDTA
Roles: Chelating, Viscosity controlling
Disodium EDTA is an emulsion stabilizer and chelating agent. It deactivates the metal ions preventing them from reacting with other active ingredients. It improves the stability of a cosmetic formula and keeps the product’s consistency, texture, and pH unchanged. It doesn’t have any skincare effects and is used for formulation purposes only.
Butylene Glycol is a very popular synthetic alcohol. It helps the product to absorb deeper and faster. It is also a solvent for other ingredients. As for the skin benefits, it helps to attract water and helps to make the skin softer.
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Fragrance
Roles: Deodorant, Fragrance, Masking
Fragrances
Fragrance is a mix of chemical ingredients (usually 20-30 chemicals but up to 200 sometimes) that help the product to smell better. It can hide many bad things. Synthetic fragrances may contain many different chemicals, but manufacturers don’t want to reveal each of them for some reason and hide them behind the word "Fragrance".
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1,2-Hexanediol
Roles: Solvent
Moisturizing
Good for dry skin
1,2-Hexanediol can do a lot of good things for the formulation of the product. It’s an emollient, preservative, and humectant. It keeps skin hydrated and soft. It’s a good component for dry and dehydrated skin.
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Phenoxyethanol
Roles: Fragrance, Preservative
Antiseptic
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most popular preservatives. It kills bacteria and makes the product live longer. Manufacturers like this ingredient because it can dissolve in any liquid, even in oils.
Another purpose of this component is the fixation of aromas in perfumery. Phenoxyethanol is also used as a strong antiseptic and a good antibacterial agent. It is widely used in dermatological cosmetics alongside natural antiseptics such as chamomile, sage, and calendula.
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Ethylhexylglycerin
Roles: Skin conditioning, Deodorant
Moisturizing
Softening
Antiseptic
Deodorant
Ethylhexylglycerin makes the skin softer, smoother and more hydrated. It acts deeply but without any heavy or sticky feeling. In haircare products, it works as a conditioner and scalp cleanser. It is safe but only in concentration below 8% in rinse-off products and below 2% in leave-on products. Can be an irritator in higher concentrations. In general, this component is great if you see it somewhere at the bottom of the list.
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Limonene
Roles: Fragrance
Antiseptic
Allergens
Limonene provides a nice and fresh citrus scent. It can be found in many plants. It's used in cosmetics because of its low price and pleasant smell.