A
Abrasive
Aids the removal of a variety of soils/stains through mechanical action
Absorbent
Absorbs water or other substances
Additive
Ensures desirable product properties.
Adhesive
Substances that bind surfaces to each other.
Alkalinity Source
Increases the alkalinity of the product to aid dissolution of dirt.
Anti-redeposition Agent
Prevents dirt in the wash solution being re-deposited on the clothes.
Anticaking Agent
Prevents the formation of lumps in the product.
Antidandruff Agent
Controls dandruff.
Antifoaming Agent
Suppresses the formation of excess foam during production and/or consumer use.
Antifoaming Agent
Suppresses the formation of excess foam during production and/or consumer use.
Antimicrobial Agent
Added to cosmetic products to help reduce the activities of micro-organisms on the skin or body.
Antioxidant
Inhibits the product reacting with oxygen, which can cause product spoilage.
Antioxidant
Inhibits the product reacting with oxygen, which can cause product spoilage.
Antiperspirant Agent
The active component that reduces perspiration.
Antistatic Agent
Prevents static charges on human surfaces e.g. skin/hair or on clothes.
Astringent
Induces a tightening or a tingling sensation on the skin.
B
Binder
Substances which provide adhesive properties so that the solids stick together e.g tablets, eye shadow.
Bleach Catalyst
Boosts the performance of the bleach component, and making it effective at lower temperatures.
Bleach Precursor
Reacts in the wash to form a bleaching substance.
Botanicals
Ingredients derived from plants e.g. Aloe Vera.
Buffering Agent
Adjusts or stabilises the acidity/alkalinity of a product.
Builder
Reduces the effect of water hardness by binding calcium and magnesium ions
Bulking Agent
Increases the volume of a product through dilution, so that it can be applied at the correct concentration.
C
Colourant
Colours the skin/hair and/or the product.
Cooling Agent
Makes the skin feel cooler.
Corrosion Inhibitor
Prevents corrosion of the packaging
D
Denaturant
Makes an alcohol-containing product taste very bitter, rendering it unpalatable.
Deodorant Agent
Reduces or masks unpleasant body odours.
Dye Transfer Inhibitor
Helps prevent "free dye" in the wash water being re-deposited on the clothes.
E
Emulsifier
Used in small quantiities that help to form or stabilize immiscible liquids in an emulsion.
Emulsion Stabiliser
Improves stability of an emulsion and increases shelf life of product.
Enzyme
Specialist ingredients which remove specific types of stains at lower temperatures e.g. fats, egg, blood.
Enzyme Stabiliser
Prevents deactivation of enzymes in liquid detergents
Evaporation Aid
Helps the product dry faster after application.
Exfoliating Agent
Helps remove dead skin cells from the surface.
F
Fabric Conditioner Agent
Softens/conditions the fabric.
Fabric Lubricating Agent
Lubricates the fibres of the fabrics and gives benefits such as making ironing easier.
Film Former
Makes product form a uniform film when applied to a surface
Fixing Agent
Maintains the hold/shape of a hair style.
Flavour
Improve the taste of oral hygiene and lipstick products.
Fragrance
Makes the product smell nice in the packaging and during use.
H
Hair - Waving/Straightening Agent
Modifies hair fibres to facilitate configurational changes.
Hair Conditioning Agent
Enhances the appearance and texture of the hair and facilitates styling. Conditioning agents will also improve gloss, sheen and texture of damaged hair.
Humectant
Holds/retains water in the product, and/or increases the moisture content in the top layers of the skin.
Hydrotrope
Increases the solubilty of the detergent in the product.
O
Opacifier
Reduces the transparency/transluscency of a product, may give a pearly appearance.
Optical Brightener
Makes products or washed fabrics look brighter and whiter.
Oral Care Agent
Provides e.g.cleansing, deodorising and protection to the oral cavity
Oxidising Agent
In detergents stains are removed by oxidation (bleaching). In cosmetics they are used to remove hair colourants or stabilise the hair after perming.
P
Pearlescer
Gives sheen to a liquid, which can be seen as flow lines when poured.
Plasticizer
Reduces brittleness and modifies flow properties.
Preservative
Protects products from microbial growth and spoilage from accidental contamination by the consumer during use.
Preservative
Protects products from microbial growth and spoilage from accidental contamination by the consumer during use.
Process by-product
Produced as a technically unavoidable result of the manufacturing process.
Propellant
Delivers the product from an aerosol.
R
Reducing Agent
Changes the chemical nature of another substance by adding hydrogen or removing oxygen.
Regeneration Salt
Regenerates the water softener in a machine dishwasher.
S
Sequestrant
Prevents free metal ions from causing any adverse effects on product performance,appearance, or stability by reacting with them.
Skin Conditioning Agent
Help to keep the skin soft, smooth, pliable and healthy looking.
Skin Lightening Agent
Lightens the shade of the skin.
Skin Protectant
Protects the skin from the influences of the external environment.
Slip Modifier
Enhances the physical flow characteristics of the product.
Softness Extender
Improves the effectiveness of a softening agent.
Solubiliser
Improves the solubility of one or more product ingredients.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients/materials.
Spray Modifier
Modifies the spray characteristics of a spray.
Stabilising Agent
Maintains ingredient or formulation stability.
Structurant
Gives form or shape to final products.
Sunscreen Agent
Filters out harmful UV rays.
Surface Modifiers
Change the physical characteristics of the surface.
Surfactant
Changes the surface tension of water to assist cleansing, wetting surfaces, foaming and emulsifying (the suspension of one liquid evenly within another).
Surfactant
Changes the surface tension of water to assist cleansing, wetting surfaces, foaming and emulsifying (the suspension of one liquid evenly within another).
Surfactant
Changes the surface tension of water to assist cleansing, wetting surfaces, foaming and emulsifying (the suspension of one liquid evenly within another).
Suspending Agent
Aids the even dispersal of a solid within a liquid.
Sweetener
Makes dental products taste sweeter.
T
Tablet Disintegrant
Makes the tablet disintegrate faster so that the active ingredients are working immediately
U
UV Absorber
Filters UV rays to protect the product or skin/hair from UV damage.
V
Viscosity Controlling Agent
Controls the thickness of the product.
Viscosity Controlling Agent
Controls the thickness of the product.