Shaving Science

Ingredient Glossary

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Ingredient Glossary | Gillette UK

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A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Dive into our A-Z glossary to find out more about the ingredients that make up Gillette shave care and King C. Gillette beard care products. These ingredients are commonly used across the shave care category, and each ingredient that goes into our products is carefully selected for a specific purpose.

The descriptions below represent the important function of these ingredients in the formulas across our product lines.

A

Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Helps to thicken the product. Provides glide and acts as a thickener

Acrylonitrile / Methacrylonitrile / Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer

Helps to thicken the product

Alcohol Denatured

Dissolves substances or ingredients in the product

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder

Aloe vera. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate

Helps to make skin feel soft and smooth

Aminomethyl Propanol

Adjusts product to the desired pH

Amyl Cinnamal

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Amylcinnamyl Alcohol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Anise Alcohol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Aqua

Water. Dissolves substances or ingredients in the product

Arachidyl Alcohol

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Argan oil. Conditions to soften and smooth beard hair. Moisturizes skin

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Helps to prevent reactions promoted by oxygen in the product which can cause product spoilage

Avena Sativa Kernel Flour

Oat Flour. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

B

Behentrimonium Chloride

Conditions hair to leave it feeling soft and smooth

Benzophenone-4

Prevents product discoloration

Benzyl Alcohol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell. Helps protect the product from contamination and the growth of harmful bacteria

Benzyl Benzoate

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Benzyl Salicylate

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

BHT

Helps to prevent reactions promoted by oxygen in the product which can cause product spoilage

Bisabolol

Ingredient naturally occurring in Chamomile. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Butylene Glycol

Helps to make your skin feel soft, smooth, and supple

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Shea butter. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract

Shea butter extract. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

 

C

Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil

Tea seed oil. Conditions to soften and smooth beard hair and moisturizes skin

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Green tea extract. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Caprylyl Glycol

Helps to make your skin feel soft, smooth, and supple

Carbomer

Helps to thicken the product

Cetyl Alcohol

Helps to thicken the product. Helps condition to soften hair. Conditions hair to leave it feeling soft and smooth

Cetyl Palmitate

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Chondrus Crispus

Helps to make the foam last longer

CI 15985

Yellow 6 Lake. Gives the product its color

CI 16035

Red 40. Gives the product its color

CI 17200

Red 33. Gives the product its color

CI 19140

Yellow 5. Gives the product its color

CI 42053

Green 3. Gives the product its color

CI 42090

Blue 1. Gives the product its color

CI 45350

Yellow 8. Gives the product its color

CI 60725

Violet 2. Gives the product its color

CI 60730

Ext. Violet 2. Gives the product its color

CI 77489

Iron Oxides. Gives the product its color

CI 77491

Iron Oxides. Gives the product its color

CI 77492

Iron Oxides. Gives the product its color

CI 77499

Iron Oxides. Gives the product its color

Cinnamal

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Cinnamyl Alcohol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Citral

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Citric Acid

Adjusts product to the desired pH.

Citronellol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Citrus Aurantifolia Oil

Oil obtained from lime plants. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple. Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Oil obtained from the peel of the orange. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple. Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Oil obtained from the peel of the lemon. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple. Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Helps to clean or remove dirt and oil. Helps create foam when product is used with water

Coceth-7

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Coconut Acid

From Coconut oil. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple. Often used to make soap

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract

Coconut extract. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple

Coumarin

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Cyclopentasiloxane

Silicone. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple

 

D

Denatonium Benzoate

Creates a bitter taste in fragrance to prevent ingestion

Dimethicone

Silicone. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple. Conditions hair to leave it feeling smooth

Dimethicone PEG / PPG-20 / 23 Benzoate

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Dimethiconol

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple. Conditions hair to leave it feeling smooth

Disodium EDTA

Helps prevent impurities in water from causing adverse effects on product performance, appearance and stability

DMDM Hydantoin

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

 

E

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Oil extracted from the leaves of the eucalyptus plant. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple

Eugenol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

 

F

Farnesol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

 

G

Geraniol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Glycerin

Moisturizer that holds water to condition hair or the top layers of skin

Glyceryl Acrylate / Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Creates glide to help protect the skin during the shave

Glyceryl Oleate

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Glycine Soja Oil

Soybean Oil. Helps to make your skin and beard hair feel soft and smooth

Glycol Distearate

Gives the product a pearlescent finish

Glyoxal

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple. Conditions hair to leave it feeling soft and smooth

 

H

Hexyl Cinnamal

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Histidine

Helps protect the product from contamination and the growth of harmful bacteria

Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate

Helps to make your skin feel soft, smooth, and supple

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Hydrolyzed Silk

Silk. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Hydroxycitronellal

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Helps to thicken the product

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Helps to thicken the product

 

I

Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

Isobutane

Creates rich product lather

Isoeugenol

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Isopentane

Creates rich product lather

Isopropyl Alcohol

Helps protect the product from contamination and the growth of harmful bacteria

 

L

Laureth-23

Helps to clean or remove dirt and oil

Lauryl Alcohol

Helps to thicken the product

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Oil extracted from lavender plants. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple. Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Lecithin

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix.

Limonene

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Linalool

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

 

M

Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil

Macadamia seed oil. Conditions to soften and smooth beard hair. Moisturizes skin

Magnesium Chloride

Helps to thicken the product

Magnesium Nitrate

Naturally occurring Magnesium salt. Adjusts the viscosity of the product

Mentha Piperita Oil

Peppermint oil. Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

Menthol

Provides a cooling sensation

Menthyl Lactate

Provides a cooling sensation

Methylchloroisothiazolinone

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

Methylisothiazolinone

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

Methylparaben

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

Myristyl Alcohol

Helps to thicken the product

Myristyl Propionate

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

 

O

Oenothera Biennis Oil

Evening Primrose oil. Conditions to soften and smooth beard hair. Moisturizes skin

Orchis Mascula Flower Extract

Orchid flower extract. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple

 

P

Palmitic Acid

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple. Often used to make soap

Panthenol

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Paraffinum Liquidum

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Parfum

Contributes to product having a distinctive, pleasant smell

PEG-12 Dimethicone

Helps to make skin feel soft and smooth. Keeps the product from separating

PEG-23M

Creates glide to help protect the skin during the shave

PEG-30 Lanolin

Helps to make skin feel soft and smooth. Keeps the product from separating

PEG-4

Dissolves substances or ingredients in the product

PEG-4 Dilaurate

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

PEG-4 Laurate

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Helps to make skin feel soft and smooth. Keeps the product from separating

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Helps to make skin feel soft and smooth. Keeps the product from separating

PEG-90M

Creates glide to help protect the skin during the shave

Persea Gratissima Oil

Avocado oil. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple. Conditions to soften and smooth beard hair

Petrolatum

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Phenoxyethanol

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth.

Polyquaternium-6

Conditions hair to leave it feeling soft and smooth

Polysorbate 20

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Polysorbate 80

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Potassium Hydroxide

Adjusts product to the desired pH

Potassium Sorbate

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Propane

Creates rich product lather

Propylene Glycol

Dissolves substances or ingredients in the product. Helps protect the product from contamination and the growth of harmful bacteria

Propylene Glycol Laurate

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Propylene Glycol Stearate

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Propylparaben

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

Prunus Amygdalus Oil

Sweet almond oil. Conditions to soften and smooth beard hair and moisturizes skin

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil

Oil extracted from the kernels of apricots. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple

PTFE

Creates glide to help protect the skin during the shave

PVM / MA Copolymer

Helps provide a smooth, consistent coverage when product is applied

 

S

Silica

Helps materials to mix during product making

Silicone Quaternium-26

Conditions hair to leave it feeling smooth

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Jojoba oil. Conditions to soften and smooth beard hair and moisturizes skin

Sodium Benzoate

Prolongs the shelf-life of product, even after it has been opened, by protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and mold growth

Sodium Chloride

Helps to thicken the product.

Sodium Citrate

Adjusts product to the desired pH.

Sodium Hydroxide

Adjusts product to the desired pH.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Helps clean skin and hair by removing dirt and oil. Helps create foam when product is used with water

Sodium Lauroamphoacetate

Helps to clean or remove dirt and oil. Helps create foam when product is used with water

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Helps clean skin and hair by removing dirt and oil. Helps create foam when product is used with water

Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Sodium Trideceth Sulfate

Helps to clean or remove dirt and oil. Helps create foam when product is used with water

Sodium Xylenesulfonate

Adjusts the viscosity of the product

Sorbitan Laurate

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Sorbitol

Moisturizer that helps to bind water in product, in hair or in the top layers of skin

Stearic Acid

Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple. Often used to make soap

Stearyl Alcohol

Helps to thicken the product. Conditions hair to leave it feeling soft and smooth

 

T

t-Butyl Alcohol

Dissolves substances or ingredients in the product

TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate

Cleans skin and hair

Tetrasodium EDTA

Helps protect the product from contamination and the growth of harmful bacteria

Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter

Cocoa seed butter. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Tocopherol

Vitamin E. Helps to prevent reactions promoted by oxygen in the product which can cause product spoilage

Tocopheryl Acetate

A form of Vitamin E. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple

Trideceth-10

Emulsifier – helps prevent materials that ordinarily don’t mix from separating

Trideceth-3

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Triethanolamine

Adjusts product to the desired pH

Triethoxycaprylylsilane

Keeps the formula from separating by helping oils and water to mix

Triethylene Glycol

Adjusts the viscosity of the product

Trihydroxystearin

Helps to thicken the product

 

V

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Grapeseed oil. Conditions to soften and smooth beard hair. Moisturizes skin

 

X

Xanthan Gum

Helps to thicken the product

 

Z

Zea Mays Silk Extract

Corn silk extract. Helps make your skin feel silky-soft, smooth and supple

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Ginger Root Extract. Helps make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple



Gillette

Gillette

Writer and expert