yavuzyilmaz/cosmetic-ingredients huggingface dataset:
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
The oil coming from the seeds of the carrot, the orange root vegetable we all know and eat regularly. This oil is a really tricky one, as it can refer to two types of oil that can both be extracted from the carrot seeds: the essential oil (about 0.83% yield) and the fixed oil (about 7.84% yield). The two seed oils are very different and to make matters even worse these two oils are also very different from carrot root oil , or carrot oil, that is basically carrot root extract macerated in a carrier oil such as sunflower or olive oil and is the one that contains the vitamin A precursor, carotene. Let's start with the fixed oil : it's a nice emollient plant oil that is loaded with moisturizing fatty acids (petroselinic acid - 60% and linoleic acid - 12% are the main ones). Other important components are carotol (30%) and daucol (12%) that give the seed oil antifungal and antioxidant properties. Browsing cosmetic manufacturer info , the oil is also often described as revitalizing, toning and stimulating . As for the essential oil , it is a light yellow colored oil with a rich, spicy and earthy fragrance. Its main component is carotol (about 65%) but similar to other essential oils, it is a chemically complex mixture with lots of compounds in small amounts. The essential oil also has antifungal and antioxidant properties but also contains fragrant components that might irritate sensitive skin types.
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
When it comes to grape and skincare, the seed extract and the seed oil steals most of the show. The reason for that is that the seed contains the majority of the skin goodies, the antioxidant superstar polyphenols. The fruit also contains some, but it's less potent. However - according to manufacturer info - the fruit extract is not only an antioxidant , but it's also a soothing, moisturizing and nourishing agent .
Oenothera Biennis Oil
The oil coming from the seeds of the nice, little, yellow-flowered plant called Evening Primrose . Similar to other plant oils, it's loaded with nourishing and moisturizing fatty acids . It's a very rich source of linoleic acid (66-76%), and also contains the soothing and healing superstar fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid (aka GLA, 7-12%) (Btw, the richest known source of GLA is the borage oil , but evening primrose still counts as a very good source of it). It also contains oleic acid, but not too much around 6-15%. Since the 1980's, EPO is a well-known food supplement and there are quite a lot of studies examining what happens if you take it orally. It seems to be helpful with a bunch of  things: atopic dermatitis, dry eyes, brittle nails, sunburn and even acne. As for the skin, it's a great hydrating plant oil, that can also reduce inflammation and irritation . It's a superb healing agent that can truly help dry skin, not just on the surface by covering it (and not letting water to evaporate) but by initiating structural changes within the skin. If that's not enough, it also helps skin cell regeneration . All in all, a real goodie especially for dry, easily irritated skin.
Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract
The extract coming from the herb stinging nettle. According to manufacturer info , it's anti-allergenic and is loaded with several good-for-the-skin stuff: it contains firming and toning mineral salts, anti-irritant flavonoids, and astringent and anti-bacterial gallic acid. It's recommended for treatment of oily skin and even stimulation of hair growth.
Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
The extract coming from the leaves of dandelion. It's a folkloric medicine for the treatment of liver and kidney disorders and we could find several studies confirming its liver-protecting, "detoxifying" effect . What we could not find is information on what dandelion is doing in cosmetic products. Our best info is that it "enhances the clarity of skin" by helping the detoxification of the liver (though we have to admit we are a bit sceptical about this).
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
The extract coming from the lovely herb, rosemary. It contains lots of chemicals, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and diterpenes . Its main active is rosmarinic acid , a potent antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory . It has also anti-bacterial, astringent and toning properties. The leaves contain a small amount of essential oil (1-2%) with fragrant components, so if you are allergic to fragrance, it might be better to avoid it.
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
The oil coming from the pulp of the sea buckthorn berry. It has a pretty unique fatty acid composition: 65% is a combination of the rare Omega-7, aka palmitoleic acid and the more common palmitic acid . Fatty acids give the oil nice moisturizing and skin-protecting abilities. But that's not all the goodness of sea buckthorn oil. It contains antioxidant superstar, Vitamin E (in multiple forms), antioxidant (and orange color giving) pigments beta-carotene and lycopene , as well as skin-soothing and replenishing beta-sitosterol . Btw, used undiluted, it will make your skin orange. All in all, a goodie emollient plant oil.
Calophyllum Tacamahaca Oil
An oil coming from cool places like Tahiti, Bora Bora, and the island of Polynesia. Similar to other more common plant oils, it's loaded with nourishing and moisturizing fatty acids ( oleic acid : 40%, linoleic acid : 35%, palmitic acid : 15% and stearic acid : 11%). Its unique thing is that it contains calophyllic acid that gives the oil extra healing and regenerating effects. A manufacturer even claims that tamanu oil can protect small capillary vessel and is recommended for redness and rosacea-prone skin .
Potassium Hydroxide
It's a very alkaline stuff that helps to set the pH of the cosmetic formula to be just right. It's similar to the more often used sodium hydroxide and pretty much the same of what we wrote there applies here too.
Palmitic Acid
A fatty acid that can be found naturally in the skin. In fact, it's the most common saturated fatty acid found in animals and plants. As for skincare, it can make the skin feel nice and smooth in moisturizers (emollient) or it can act as a foam building cleansing agent in cleansers. It's also a very popular ingredient in shaving foams.
Lauric Acid
A 12 carbon length fatty acid that can be found naturally in coconut milk, coconut oil, laurel oil, and palm kernel oil. It's also in breast milk. As a skincare ingredient, it can be used as an emulsifier or as a cleansing agent . What's more, there is emerging research about lauric acid being a good anti-acne ingredient .  A 2009 study found that the lowest concentration to prevent evil acne-causing P. acnes growth of lauric acid is over 15 times lower than that of gold standard anti-acne ingredient benzoyl peroxide. Though the studies are only in-vitro (made in the lab, not on real people), and it also has a high comedogenicity index, it might be worth a try if you are prone to inflamed acne (the type that's caused by P. acnes bacteria).
Myristic Acid
A 14 carbon length fatty acid that can be naturally found in nutmeg, palm kernel oil, coconut oil and butter fat. It's used as a foam building cleansing agent . Paula Begoun writes that it can be a bit drying to the skin.
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
A mild and non-drying cleanser that gives skin a nice and soft after-feel. It also has great foaming properties, comes from coconuts and it's biodegradable.
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
This is a cool looking fruit coming from the Australian sub-tropical rainforests. Caviar lime really is the perfect name for it. You have to click here and look at it . As for skincare, we could not find too much info about it, but this manufacturer claims that it's a source of AHAs and can gently exfoliate the skin for a smoother, brighter and even skin complexion.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
A spray-dried or freeze-dried version of Aloe Leaf Juice . The point of both drying methods is to make water evaporate from the juice and leave just the "useful" components behind. So the aloe powder has similar soothing, emollient and moisturizing properties as the juice. You can read a bit more about the juice here.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
A naturally derived, readily biodegradable cleansing agent that gives a rich, creamy foam, is milder to the skin than most sulfate-based cleansers and provides a luxurious, silky skin-feel.
Cocos Nucifera Water
Coconut Water is the liquid inside the coconut and/or the juice pressed from the coconut fruit . It is a really nice and refreshing beverage loaded with good for the body and the skin things . It is about 95% of water and the other 5% are things such as skin-moisturizing sugars, skin nourishing amino acids, minerals, vitamins and phytohormones (kinetin) . This adds up to coconut water being a nice moisturizing and nourishing ingredient on the skin and it is also claimed to have some antioxidant and anti-glycation properties .
Helianthus Annuus Extract
When it comes to sunflower and skincare, the seed oil is the common and well-known one. But according to manufacturer info , the seed extract also contains a bunch of skin goodies, including anti-inflammatory minerals, moisturizing and soothing amino acids, sugars and proteins as well as antioxidant polyphenol derivatives.
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
We love a cold slice of watermelon on a hot summer day and we love watermelon as a skincare ingredient. It's really full of good-for-the-skin stuff : it contains a bunch of vitamins (A, B, C and E) , mineral salts (K, Mg, Ca and Fe) , amino acids citrulline and arginine and antioxidant carotenoids and phenolics . It's especially rich in potent antioxidant, lycopene (a type of carotenoid), the cool pigment that's responsible for the red color of the watermelon. According to manufacturer info , in-vitro (made in the lab not on real people) studies show that watermelon extract gives significant DNA protection against UV damage . The in-vivo (made on real people) study also confirmed this and the watermelon formula showed 25% increase in skin protection compared to placebo. All in all, a cool fruit extract with potent antioxidant magic abilities.
Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract
The resin extract coming from a nice tree with white flowers native to Sumatra in Indonesia. It's the brother of Siam Benzoin that also comes from a type of Styrax tree. They have a similar composition but this one contains more cinnamic acid. It also contains fragrant compounds and it is used as a perfuming ingredient . It's better to avoid if your skin is sensitive.
Cyclopentasiloxane
A super commonly used 5 unit long, cyclic structured silicone that is water-thin and does not stay on the skin but evaporates from it (called volatile silicone). Similar to other silicones, it gives skin and hair a silky, smooth feel . It's often combined with the non-volatile (i.e. stays on the skin) dimethicone as the two together form a water-resistant, breathable protective barrier on the skin without a negative tacky feel.
Superoxide Dismutase
Superoxide Dismutase - or in short SOD - is the body's smart antioxidant enzyme that protects the cells from highly reactive, cell-damaging superoxide radicals (O2−). You have probably read the terms "free radicals" and "antioxidants" a thousand times, and you know that free radicals are the evil guys, and antioxidants are the good guys. So superoxide radical is a very common free radical that can cause all kinds of cell damages and superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of superoxide radicals into molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (btw, this one has to be further converted by other antioxidant enzymes, called catalases). The extra nice thing about SOD is that it remains intact during the neutralization process and can continue its magic, while non-enzymatic antioxidants (like vitamin E ) are used up during neutralization. The efficacy studies of topical SOD are promising. In-vitro (made in the lab) tests show that SOD is a more effective antioxidant than vitamin E , green tea extract , and MAP . There is also an in-vivo (made on real people) study that measured how SOD can reduce the redness caused by UV rays and it was much more effective than vitamin E ( pure or acetate form) and ascorbyl palmitate . All in all, SOD is a really potent antioxidant and slathering it all over yourself is a great way to give the skin a little extra help in protecting itself from all the bad environmental things out there.
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
The extract coming from Laminaria Saccharina, a brown algae . According to manufacturer info , it's loaded with a bunch of good-for-the-skin things : alginates are polysaccharides (a big molecule from repeating sugar units) that are water-loving and can form a protective film on the skin. This means moisturizing, skin protecting and soothing magic properties. The extract also contains another polysaccharide called laminarin , that has decongestant and lipid-reducing action that might be useful for combination, acne-prone skin types. The third major type of actives in the Laminaria Saccharina Extract are phenolic compounds that have antioxidant and soothing properties. They can also trap heavy metal ions, and give sensitive skin some protection against polluted urban air.
Sodium Carbomer
A pre-neutralised form of super common thickener, Carbomer . This means that it forms viscous gels immediately upon addition to water (while Carbomer has to be neutralized with a base), but it can also be harder to disperse evenly in the formula.
Salix Alba Bark Extract
The extract coming from the bark of the White Willow, a big (25 m/80 ft.) tree that likes to live on riverbanks. It's famous for containing anti-inflammatory natural salicylates ( this powder , for example, is standardized to contain 53-65%), a close chemical relative to famous exfoliant salicylic acid . Thanks to its salicin content, willow bark is often touted as a natural alternative to salicylic acid, though it's quite questionable how effective it is as a chemical exfoliant in the tiny amounts used in cosmetics. Apart from soothing salicin, it also contains flavonoids and phenolic acids that give willow bark tonic, astringent, and antiseptic properties.
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
The essential oil coming from the flowers of bitter orange (which is the sister of the sweet orange we all know and eat). It contains several fragrance components including linalool (around 30%) and limonene (around 10%) and has a lovely sweet smell . As it's an essential oil with lots of fragrant components, be careful with it if your skin is sensitive .
Dimethicone/​Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
A white, elastomeric silicone powder that gives a nice silky and powdery feel to the products. It also has some oil and sebum absorption capabilities.
Polyacrylate-13
A helper ingredient that functions as a film-forming polymer (big molecule from repeated subunits). It usually comes to the formula as part of a thickener-emulsifier trio paired with Polyisobutene and Polysorbate 20 . The three togeather have excellent thickening properties with remarkable emulsifying-stabilising abilities. They also have a nice silicone feel with glide-on spreading.
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
We wholeheartedly support the rise of seedless grapes as fruit snacks, but when it comes to skincare, we are big fans of the seeds. They contain the majority of the skin goodies that - similar to green tea - are mostly polyphenols (but not the same ones as in tea). The most abundant ones in grape are called proanthocyanidins, and 60-70% of them are found in the seeds (it's also often abbreviated as GSP - grape seed proanthocyanidins). In general, the darker the fruit, the more GSPs and other flavonoids it contains. So what's so special about GSPs? Well, they are super-potent antioxidants , much stronger than Vitamin C or Vitamin E. And if that's not enough, GSPs and other flavonoids in grape also show UV protecting and anti-cancer properties . It's definitely a goodie to spot on the INCI list.
Hydrolyzed Collagen
The chemically chopped up version of the big protein molecule, collagen . It is often derived from fish or bovine sources and works as a nice moisturizer and humectant that helps the skin to hold onto water. To understand a bit more what Hydrolyzed Collagen is, you have to know that proteins are large chains of amino acids connected with so-called peptide bonds. These bonds can be broken up when a water molecule is added and the resulting thing is a mix of shorter length amino acids, also called peptides. So Hydrolyzed Collagen is not really collagen, it is rather an undefined and varying mix of largish peptides . Based on a manufacturer's data, the whole, soluble collagen has an average molecular weight of 300 000 Da, while this chopped up mixture has an average MW of 12 000 Da (still pretty big). The main thing of these largish peptides is to act as water-binding agents , and to make the skin nice and smooth (aka emollient). Hydrolyzed Collagen is also often used in cleansers as it can make harsh surfactants milder and in hair conditioners as it improves the flexibility and manageability of hair. If you wanna know more about collagen in cosmetics, we have a shiny explanation about soluble collagen here >>
Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
The emollient plant oil coming from Milk Thistle , the yearling plant with purple flowers. Similar to many other plant oils,  its main fatty acids are barrier-repairing linoleic (53%) and skin-nourishing oleic (21%) and also contains some antioxidant vitamin E (600 mg/kg). It is claimed to be a cosmetically elegant oil that spreads easily and absorbs quickly into the skin. The manufacturer also recommends the oil for skin types suffering from chronic inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis or acne.
Polyisobutene
A polymer (big molecule from repeated subunits) that's used as a gloss improver for lipsticks and lipglosses. Its stickiness also helps lip products to stay on longer. Combined with polyacrylate-13 and polysorbate 20 , it forms a very effective tickener-emulsifier trio.
Methyl Gluceth-20
A corn sugar derived, water-soluble, pale yellow syrup, that nicely moisturizes the skin. It has a light and smooth skin feel , it is non-tacky, and it can improve the after-feel of the formula. It is also mild and gentle, popular in sensitive skin formulas.
Glyceryl Caprylate
A 100% plant derived, natural (Ecocert approved) multi-functional ingredient that has emollient and moisturizing properties, can work as a co-emulsifier (meaning that next to other emulsifiers it can help water and oil to mix)  and even more importantly has a strong antimicrobial activity . Thanks to this last thing, it allows a lower percentage of traditional preservative or it might even be able to completely replace them.
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
The emollient plant oil coming from the seeds of the cactus commonly called Prickly Pear or Nopal Fig. It is a native to Mexico cactus with large, sweet fruits that are used to create jam and jellies. About  18–20% of the peeled fruits are seeds, and the seeds contain only about 3-5% oil. This means that the oil is rare and expensive as a ton of fruit (and it is literally a ton) is needed to yield 1 liter of it. As for its composition, its three main fatty acids are barrier-repairing linoleic (60-70%), nourishing oleic (9-26%), and saturated fatty acid, palmitic (8-18%). It is also rich in antioxidant vitamin E (110mg/100g) and in anti-inflammatory sterols (beta-sitosterol, campesterol).  As a high-linoleic oil, it has a light skin feeling , absorbs easily into the top layer of the skin and gives a velvety skin feel .
Sorbitan Olivate
An ester coming from sorbitol and the fatty acids of olive oil. It is part of the popular emulsifier trade named Olivem 1000 that is well-known for generating biomimetic liquid crystal structures . We have more info on Olivem 1000 at Cetearyl Olivate >>
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate is an antioxidant molecule used in small amounts (less than 0.8%) to help products stay nice longer. More specifically, it is great at preventing discoloration or other types of oxidative degradation . It is a trendy alternative to often bad-mouthed synthetic antioxidant and stabilizer, BHT .
Asiaticoside
One of the main biologically active components of the famous medicinal plant, Centella Asiatica, aka Gotu Kola . It has well established wound healing and antioxidant activities. In-vitro (made in the lab) studies also show that Asiaticoside stimulates GAGs (glycosaminoglycans - polysaccharides that are part of the liquidy stuff between our skin cells) production as well as collagen I synthesis. Read more at Gotu Kola >>
Sclerotium Gum
A big sugar molecule (polysaccharide) that is used as a natural thickening and gelling agent . It is similar to more commonly used Xanthan Gum , and the two are also often combined to create gel formulas or to stabilize emulsions.
Cetearyl Olivate
An ester that comes from Cetearyl alcohol and the fatty acids of olive oil. It often comes to the formula coupled with Sorbitan Olivate as the two together form the well-known, natural emulsifier trade named Olivem 1000. Other than helping oil and water to blend, the main thing of Olivem 1000 is generating liquid crystal structures that are similar to the lipid structures of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin). Thanks to this, Olivem 1000 doubles as an active ingredient with significant moisturizing, barrier-repairing and soothing properties. It also helps to deliver water-soluble actives such as caffeine more effectively, and can even boost SPF in sunscreen formulas. Its typical use level is 1-5% and has wide compatibility with other actives and oils. Overall, a real multi-tasker with nice sensorial properties. No wonder it is so popular.
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
An "eco-designed" emollient ester coming from shea butter . While pure shea butter is a rich emollient that might feel greasy on the skin, this one is designed for its light, silky-soft feeling . The manufacturer claims that it has a great sustainability profile, long lasting stability and a unique, light and silky feel that's ideal as a base for modern, eco-friendly body lotions and facial care products.
Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf/​Flower Oil
The essential oil coming from the leaves and flowers of Rose Geranium .  It has a lovely scent with a mix of rose and citrus. Like most essential oils, it contains antioxidant and antimicrobial components , but the main ones are fragrant constituents (like citronellol and geraniol ). Be careful with it, if your skin is sensitive.
Oleic/​Linoleic/​Linolenic Polyglycerides
A polyglyceride created from sunflower oil using green, Ecocert approved technology. Oils are mostly made up of triglyceride molecules: a glycerin and three fatty acids attached to it. So this guy is like a modified oil where the manufacturer changed up the fatty acids attached to the glycerin . Thanks to carefully selecting and arranging the fatty acids, the manufacturer claims that it had created an active ingredient that's not simply an emollient but a water-binding and skin-plumping active ingredient . It's also great in lip care formulas as it has high gloss and excellent stick.
Agonis Fragrans Branch/​Leaf Oil
An essential oil coming from Western Australia with a citrus, spicy, floral scent . Its special property is to be very "balanced" meaning it has a near perfect 1:1:1 ratio of oxides, monoterpenes, and monoterpenols (though it's not clear what the benefit of this is). The manufacturer claims that the oil has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory , analgesic, expectorant, immune enhancement, and emotional balance properties. It does contain fragrant components like linalool or limonene so if your skin is sensitive be careful with it.