We’ve listed below in alphabetical order all the various functions our ingredients perform - from fragrances to preservatives, emulsifiers to solvents.
Use the letter links to easily navigate to each section.
A
- Abrasive
Removes dirt to leave surfaces clean or polished through rubbing/ brushing
- Additive
Added to a product to improve one or more important properties
- Alkalinity Source
Increases the alkalinity of the product to help in the washing away of dirt.
- Anti-redeposition Agent
Helps prevent the removed dirt in washing water from reattaching to a surface
- Antifoaming Agent
Prevents excessive foam or bubbles forming when a product is used
- Antimicrobial Agent
Helps to reduce the amount of bacteria on a surface or body (part)
- Antioxidant
Helps to prevent reactions promoted by oxygen in the product, which can cause product spoilage.
B
- Binder
Helps materials to bind or stick together
- Bleach Catalyst
Boosts the performance of bleach to make it more effective at low temperatures
- Bleach Precursor
Becomes a bleaching substance during washing
- Botanicals
Ingredients from herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, leaves or seeds
- Buffering Agent
Maintains the right acidity / alkalinity balance of a product
- Builder
Reduces water hardness, makes cleaning products more effective
- Bulking Agent
Diluant. Dilutes solids or liquids to allow for more accurate dosing
C
- Cleaning Agent
Probiotics , in their activated state, secrete secondary metabolites that work as cleaning agents
- Colourant
Colours the product, your hair or skin
- Corrosion Inhibitor
Prevents corrosion of packaging
D
- Denaturant
Changes the taste of a product to prevent ingestion. Typically used in alcohol-containing products.
- Dye Transfer Inhibitor
Prevents colour rinsed out from clothes into wash water being deposited on to your other clothes during the wash
E
- Emulsifier
Helps two or more liquids, that don't usually combine to form a single solution; often referred to as an 'emulsion'
- Emulsion Stabiliser
Prevents a mixture from separating and helping to increase a product's shelf life
- Enzyme
Boosts the cleaning properties of a product to help remove specific stains at lower temperatures e.g. fats, egg, blood.
- Enzyme Stabiliser
Makes an enzyme last longer in liquid detergent
F
- Fabric Conditioner Agent
Helps to soften and improve the feel of a fabric
- Film Former
Helps provide a smooth, consistent coverage when applied
- Flavour
Improves the taste of oral or lip care products, such as tooth paste or lip balm
- Fragrance
Provides a distinctive, pleasant smell
H
- Humectant
Helps to retain water in a product, in hair or the top layers of skin
- Hydrotrope
Allows cleaning agents to be uniformly dispersed within a product.
O
- Opacifier
Makes the product appear more opaque or pearly
- Optical Brightener
Provides additional brightness to the surface to which product is applied.
- Oxidising Agent
In laundry and household care products stains are removed by oxidation (bleaching).
P
- pH Adjuster
Controls the acidity / alkalinity balance of products
- Preservative
This prolongs the shelf-life of the product, even once it has been opened, protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and moulds
- Process by-product
A secondary component/ingredient which is created when making the product
- Propellant
A compressed gas that helps expel product from a can
S
- Sequestrant
Helps prevent impurities from water from causing adverse effects on product performance, appearance, or stability.
- Skin Conditioning Agent
Helps to make your skin feel soft, smooth and supple.
- Softness Extender
Makes a softening agent more effective and last longer
- Solubiliser
Helps an ingredient in the product dissolve better
- Solvent
Dissolves substances or ingredients
- Stabilising Agent
Helps maintain the stability of a product's formulation, appearance and texture
- Structurant
Gives a product form or shape
- Surfactant
An ingredient which helps to clean or remove dirt and oil, creating foam when used with water
- Suspending Agent
Helps keep solids separated and evenly dispersed within a product
U
- UV Absorber
Helps to protect the product formulation from UV rays
V
- Viscosity Controlling Agent
Controls the density or thickness of a product