Ingredients Explained
Emulsions explained: why creams and lotions stay mixed
Creams and lotions are emulsions, blends of oil and water held together by emulsifiers. Learn how they are built, why they separate and how storage keeps them stable.
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Ingredients Explained
Plain-language explanations of common cosmetic ingredients and formula types, so you can read a label and understand why products feel and behave differently.
Ingredients Explained
How to read a cosmetic ingredient list
A cosmetic ingredient list shows what a product contains and roughly in what order, but not how much of each one. Learn the naming patterns, the order rules and the limits of a label.
Ingredients Explained
Humectants, emollients and occlusives explained simply
Humectants draw water toward the skin, emollients smooth its surface and occlusives slow water loss. Learn how each group works and why most moisturizers combine them.
Ingredients Explained
Silicones in hair and skin products: what they do
Silicones give hair and skin products a smooth, slippery feel. They can build up over time, so knowing how they behave and how to rinse them away helps keep products working as expected.
Ingredients Explained
Water-based and oil-based formulas compared
A product's base shapes how it spreads, absorbs and layers. Water-based formulas usually feel lighter and dry quickly, while oil-based formulas feel richer and stay on the surface longer.