Many cosmetics nowadays are advertised as “natural,” but looking at the ingredients can cause you to wonder. To be sure of what you’re getting, read the label carefully. The following explanations of cosmetic ingredients should make things clearer.

Amyl Dimethyl PABA – a sun-screening agent from PABA, a B-complex factor.

Annatto – a vegetable colour obtained from the seeds of a tropical plant.

Avocado oil – a vegetable oil obtained from avocados

Caprylic/Capric triglyceride – an emollient obtained from coconut oil

Carrageenan – a natural thickening agent from dried Irish moss

Castor oil – emollient oil collected from the pressing of castor bean seeds

Cetyl alcohol – a component of vegetable oils

Cetyl palmitate – a component of palm and coconut oils

Citric acid – a natural organic acid found widely in citrus plants

Cocamide DEA – a thickener obtained from coconut oil

Coconut oil – obtained by pressing the kernels of the seeds of the coconut palm

Decyl oleate – obtained from tallow or coconut oil

Disodium   monolaneth-5-sulphosuccinate   –   obtained   from lanolin and used to improve the texture of hair

Fragrance – oils obtained from flowers, grasses, roots, and stems that give off a pleasant or agreeable odour

Goat milk whey – protein-rich whey obtained from goat’s milk

Glyceryl stearate – an organic emulsifier obtained from glycerin

Hydrogenated castor oil – a waxy material obtained from castor oil

Imidzaolidinyl urea – a preservative derived naturally as a product of protein metabolism [hydrolysis]

Lanolin alcohol – a constituent of lanolin that performs as an emollient and emulsifier

Laureth-3 – an organic material obtained from coconut and palm oils

Methyl glucoside sesquistearate – an organic emulsifier obtained from a natural simple sugar Mineral oil – an organic emollient and lubricant

Olive oil – a natural oil obtained from olives

Peanut oil – a vegetable oil obtained from peanuts

Pectin – derived from citrus fruits and apple peel PEG lanolin – an emollient and emulsifier obtained from lanolin

Petrolatum – petroleum jelly

P.O.E. [20] methyl glucoside sesquistearate – an organic emulsifier from a simple natural sugar

Potassium sorbate – obtained from sorbic acid found in the berries of mountain ash

Safflower oil-hybrid – a natural emollient obtained from a strain of specially cultivated plants Sesame oil – oil of pressed sesame seeds

Sodium cetyl sulphate – a detergent and emulsifier obtained from coconut oil

Sodium laureth sulphate – a detergent obtained from coconut oil

Sodium lauryl sulphate – a detergent obtained from coconut oil

Sodium PCA – a natural-occurring humectants found in the skin where it acts as the natural moisturizer

Sorbic acid – a natural preservative derived from berries of mountain ash

Tocopherol – a natural vitamin E

Undecylenamide DEA – a natural preservative derived from castor oil

Water – the universal solvent and the major constituent of all living material.

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GENERAL HEALTH