Ingredients Uncovered

Silicone ingredients in makeup have a bit of a reputation. Some swear by their smooth, pore-blurring finish, while others worry about breakouts and clogged pores. So, let’s get straight to it: silicones in makeup are generally safe and even beneficial for most skin types—including oily and acne-prone skin. They don’t clog pores, they don’t suffocate…

You’ve probably seen cyclopentasiloxane listed on the back of your favorite hair serum, leave-in conditioner, or smoothing oil. But what exactly is it, and is it even good for your hair? The short answer? Cyclopentasiloxane is generally good for hair. It’s a lightweight silicone that helps smooth frizz, detangle knots, and add a silky shine—without…

Dimethicone is a common ingredient in personal care products like lotions, makeup, and hair products. It’s a type of silicone that gives products a silky texture, helps them spread easily, and leaves your skin or hair feeling smooth. But is dimethicone safe? Specifically, does dimethicone cause cancer? The short answer is no. Current research and…

When it comes to soap, we tend to think more about how it smells or feels rather than what’s actually in it. But if you’ve ever checked the ingredients list, you’ve likely spotted a few unfamiliar names. One ingredient that often pops up—and is a bit misunderstood—is titanium dioxide. Known for its bright white, opaque…

If you’ve spotted amodimethicone and dimethicone on your hair care labels and wondered if they’re the same thing, the answer is no—they’re not. While both are silicones, they actually work in different ways on your hair. In this guide, we’ll break down how each one works, what makes them different, and which one might be…

Silicones in hair care—just hearing the word might make some of us cringe, especially if you’ve ever read a blog post warning about how they can weigh your hair down, cause buildup, or even lead to hair loss. One silicone that often gets thrown into this mix is amodimethicone, a popular ingredient in many conditioners…

When you see the word “alcohol” on your shampoo bottle, it’s easy to raise an eyebrow. After all, alcohols are known to be drying, right? But not all alcohols are created equal. Some are indeed drying, while others, like fatty alcohols, can be beneficial for your hair and skin. Benzyl alcohol falls somewhere in the…

Have you ever noticed Polypropylene Glycol (PPG) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) on your skincare labels and wondered what they do? These two ingredients may sound similar, but they have distinct roles in beauty products. PPG penetrates the skin deeply, delivering hydration and active ingredients below the surface. Meanwhile, PEG is excellent at holding moisture on…

Let’s clear something up right away: sodium lauroyl lactylate and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are not the same. While their names might look similar, they’re quite different in what they do and how they affect your hair and skin. Sodium lauroyl lactylate is a gentle cleanser, great for sensitive skin and hair, coming from lauric…

Many people get confused between Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). Although they sound similar, they are not the same. One key difference is that SLS is a stronger cleanser, while SLES is milder. Both SLS and SLES are surfactants, which means they lower the surface tension of water, allowing it to…