Ingredient library
Every ingredient SkinAtlas knows about — all 2178 of them. What each one does, what it works well with, and what to watch for.
A strong foaming surfactant; milder than SLS but can still dry skin.
The sodium salt of N-lauroyl aspartic acid. A mild amino acid-derived anionic surfactant with excellent skin compatibility. Used in Curel's sensitive-skin foaming facial wash.
An N-acyl amino acid surfactant made by conjugating lauric acid to glutamic acid, providing gentle yet effective cleansing with a rich foam and excellent skin compatibility.
A lauroyl (C12) amide of hydrolyzed silk protein. Functions as a mild anionic surfactant and skin-conditioning agent, imparting a silky, smooth after-feel.
A mild, lactic-acid-derived surfactant and emulsifier often used in gentle cleansers and emulsions.
A mild sulfate-free surfactant derived from isethionic acid and lauric acid used in facial and body cleansers for effective cleansing with a creamy lather and low skin irritation.
A mild anionic surfactant derived from lauric acid and methylaminopropionic acid. Gentle cleansing agent used in Chifure's cleansing foam.
A mild anionic surfactant derived from the amino acid sarcosine and lauric acid, used for gentle cleansing, foaming, and skin conditioning in facial and body cleansers.
An N-acyl amino acid surfactant (sodium salt of N-lauroyl-N-methyl-alanine) that provides gentle, low-irritation cleansing. Popular in Japanese sensitive-skin cleansers.
A mild anionic surfactant derived from lauryl glucoside and carboxylic acid chemistry, used as a gentle cleansing agent in sensitive-skin formulations.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS / sodium dodecyl sulfate) is a C12 anionic surfactant and one of the most potent cleansing agents in cosmetics. It efficiently emulsifies sebum and particulates, producing abundant foam. However, its barrier-disruptive effect — removing lamellar lipids from the stratum corneum — makes it a known skin irritant and sensitizer. It is common in rinse-off cleansers at concentrations where contact time limits irritation, and is the benchmark irritant used in controlled dermatological patch testing.
An amino acid-derived anionic surfactant formed from taurine, methyl, and coconut oil fatty acids, used as a gentle cleansing and foaming agent in mild facial and body cleansers.
A sodium salt of N-methyl-N-stearoyl taurine, used as a mild anionic surfactant and emulsifier in cream formulations. Less irritating than traditional alkyl sulfates.
An amino acid-derived anionic surfactant produced by condensing myristic acid (C14) with glutamic acid, used in gentle cleansers for mild, effective foaming with a favorable skin-compatibility profile.
The sodium salt of oleic acid; functions as an emulsifier and surfactant, often found in soap-based or emulsion formulas.
The sodium salt of palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid naturally found in palm oil and animal fats. Acts as a mild soap-type surfactant and cleansing agent, commonly found in bar soaps and powder cleansers. Has emulsifying properties that allow it to lift oils and debris from skin. Can be drying at high concentrations.
The sodium salt of N-palmitoyl glutamic acid — an amino acid-based emulsifier and surfactant. Derived from palm oil and glutamic acid. Exceptionally gentle and skin-compatible, used in Naturie's milk for its emulsifying and conditioning properties.
A mild, amino-acid-derived nonionic emulsifier (the sodium salt of the stearoyl ester of glutamic acid) used to form stable oil-in-water emulsions in creams and sunscreens.
The sodium salt of stearoyl lactic acid, used as an emulsifier and skin-conditioning agent that stabilizes cosmetic emulsions and imparts a soft, conditioned feel.
An N-methyl taurine-based anionic surfactant derived from stearic acid, used as a gentle emulsifier and cleansing agent in Japanese formulations.
The sodium salt of surfactin, a cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis fermentation, used in cosmetics for gentle cleansing, emulsifying, and foam generation.
An amphoteric surfactant derived from sweet almond oil fatty acids (prunus amygdalus dulcis). It belongs to the amphoacetate family of mild cleansers, offering good foam, low irritancy, and a conditioning after-feel. Used in gentle facial cleansers, shampoos, and body washes.
A hydrophilic nonionic surfactant derived from sorbitol polyethoxylate and oleic acid, used as an emulsifier and solubilizer — especially effective in cleansing oils for rinsability.
A sorbitan ester of isostearic acid used as a water-in-oil emulsifier, commonly found in sunscreens and rich emollient creams.