Chemical Ingredients Found in Cosmetics - Skin Diseases, Conditions, Symptoms, and Procedures on MedicineNet.com

Chemical Ingredie
Moisturizers function as a moisture barrier or to attract moisture from the environment:

• cetyl alcohol (fatty alcohol) - keeps oil and water from separating; also a foam booster
  
• dimethicone silicone - skin condition and anti-foam ingredient
  
• isopropyl lanolate, myristate, and palmitate
  
• lanolin and lanolin alcohols and oil - used in skin and hair conditioners
  
• octyl dodecanol - skin conditioner
  
• oleic acid (olive oil)
  
• panthenol (vitamin B-complex derivative) - hair conditioner
  
• stearic acid and stearyl alcohol

Preservatives and antioxidants (including vitamins) prevent product deterioration:

• trisodium and tetrasodium edetate (EDTA)
  
• tocopherol (vitamin E)

Antimicrobials fight bacteria:

• butyl, propyl, ethyl, and methyl parabens
  
• DMDM hydantoin
  
• methylisothiazolinone
  
• phenoxyethanol (also rose ether fragrance component)
  
• quaternium-15

Thickeners and waxes used in stick products such as lipsticks and blushers:

• candelilla, carnauba, and microcrystalline waxes
  
• carbomer and polyethylene thickeners

Solvents used to dilute:

• butylene glycol and propylene glycol
  
• cyclomethicone (volatile silicone)
  
• ethanol (alcohol)
  
• glycerin

Emulsifiers break up and refine:

• glyceryl monostearate (also pearlescent agent)
  
• lauramide DEA (also foam booster)
  
• polysorbates

Color additives:

• Synthetic Organic colors derived from coal and petroleum sources (not permitted for use around the eye):
  • D&C Red No. 7 Calcium Lake (lakes are dyes that do not dissolve in water)
• Inorganic pigments - approved for general use in cosmetics, including for the area of the eye:
  • iron oxides
    
  • mica (iridescent)
  
  

Hair Dyes - phenol derivatives used in combination with other chemicals in permanent (two-step) hair dyes:

• aminophenols

pH adjusters stabilize or adjust acids and bases:

• ammonium hydroxide in skin peels and hair waving and straightening
  
• citric acid - adjusts pH triethanolamine pH adjuster used mostly in transparent soap

Others:

• magnesium aluminum silicate absorbent - anti-caking agent
  
• silica (silicon dioxide) - absorbent, anti-caking, abrasive
  
• sodium lauryl sulfate - detergent
  
• stearic acid - cleansing, emulsifier
  
• talc (powdered magnesium silicate) - absorbent anti-caking
  
• zinc stearate - used in powder to improve texture, lubricates.