Cosmetics and personal care chemicals and ingredients
- Chemicals
- 5,131
- Applications
- 12
- Suppliers
- 12,890

About cosmetics and personal care
Cosmetics and personal care products are built from ingredients that each do a job. Emollients give skin feel, emulsifiers hold creams together, humectants keep skin moisturised, surfactants cleanse, thickeners build texture, preservatives keep products safe, antioxidants protect oils, UV filters protect skin, conditioning agents care for skin and hair, colorants give shade and fragrance ingredients give scent. This page groups cosmetic ingredients by those functions, using the function names of the EU CosIng database and the INCI names found on product labels.
Read more about cosmetics and personal careShow less
Formulators usually search by INCI name or function rather than by CAS number, because one INCI name can cover products from many manufacturers. A cetearyl alcohol from one supplier may differ from another in the ratio of cetyl to stearyl alcohol, in physical form or in its palm or coconut origin, so compare grade details and request samples before switching.
Regulation decides what can be used and how much. The EU Cosmetics Regulation lists prohibited substances and restricted preservatives, colorants and UV filters in its annexes, the US regulates sunscreens as drugs, and China, India, ASEAN countries and others have their own ingredient lists and registration steps. Brands also respond to consumer demand for natural, vegan, sustainably sourced and microplastic-free ingredients. When you post a request, give the INCI name, the grade, the documents you need, such as the technical data sheet, safety data sheet, allergen and impurity statements and certifications, and the quantity, so suppliers can respond with the right offer.
Browse by application in cosmetics and personal care
Chemicals grouped by the job they do in a formulation or process.
- Emollients
Esters, oils and fatty alcohols that soften the skin and shape the sensory profile.
480 chemicals - Emulsifiers
Nonionic and anionic emulsifiers that stabilize creams, lotions and serums.
315 chemicals - Humectants
Glycerin, glycols, sugars and other water-binding moisturizers.
209 chemicals - Preservatives
Antimicrobial ingredients that protect formulas from contamination.
374 chemicals - UV filters
Organic and mineral sunscreen agents for sun care and daily wear products.
89 chemicals - Surfactants and cleansing agents
Primary and secondary surfactants for shampoos, washes and cleansers.
398 chemicals - Thickeners
Rheology modifiers, gums and film formers for texture and stability.
445 chemicals - Antioxidants
Ingredients that protect oils and actives against oxidation.
355 chemicals - Skin conditioning agents
Moisturizing, soothing, brightening and protective actives.
1,608 chemicals - Hair conditioning agents
Conditioning, styling, antistatic and anti-dandruff ingredients.
550 chemicals - Colorants
Cosmetic color additives and hair dye ingredients.
432 chemicals - Fragrance ingredients
Aroma chemicals and perfume materials used in personal care.
1,913 chemicals
Top cosmetics and personal care chemicals
Showing 1 to 48 of 5,131 chemicals, most searched and traded first.
- EthanolCAS 64-17-5C2H6O736 suppliers
- CopperCAS 7440-50-8Cu136 suppliers
- D-GlucoseCAS 50-99-7C6H12O6303 suppliers
- WaterCAS 7732-18-5H2ORequest quotes
- EstradiolCAS 50-28-2C18H24O2123 suppliers
- CalciumCAS 7440-70-2Ca70 suppliers
- CholesterolCAS 57-88-5C27H46O178 suppliers
- OxygenCAS 7782-44-7O2111 suppliers
- ZincCAS 7440-66-6Zn103 suppliers
- GlycerolCAS 56-81-5C3H8O3992 suppliers
- AcetaminophenCAS 103-90-2C8H9NO2360 suppliers
- ProgesteroneCAS 57-83-0C21H30O2168 suppliers
- TestosteroneCAS 58-22-0C19H28O2Request quotes
- GlutathioneCAS 70-18-8C10H17N3O6S255 suppliers
- GoldCAS 7440-57-5Au47 suppliers
- Hydrogen peroxideCAS 7722-84-1H2O2729 suppliers
- SilicaCAS 7631-86-9O2Si593 suppliers
- MagnesiumCAS 7439-95-4Mg64 suppliers
- Sodium chlorideCAS 7647-14-5ClNa587 suppliers
- Lactic acidCAS 50-21-5C3H6O3440 suppliers
- SilverCAS 7440-22-4Ag86 suppliers
- L-Glutamic acidCAS 56-86-0C5H9NO4217 suppliers
- UreaCAS 57-13-6CH4N2O338 suppliers
- SucroseCAS 57-50-1C12H22O11152 suppliers
- Zinc oxideCAS 1314-13-2OZn641 suppliers
- AdenosineCAS 58-61-7C10H13N5O4178 suppliers
- L-ArginineCAS 74-79-3C6H14N4O2295 suppliers
- L-(+)-CysteineCAS 52-90-4C3H7NO2S191 suppliers
- L-Ascorbic acidCAS 50-81-7C6H8O6732 suppliers
- Salicylic acidCAS 69-72-7C7H6O3338 suppliers
- AluminumCAS 7429-90-5Al125 suppliers
- CreatinineCAS 60-27-5C4H7N3O86 suppliers
- Folic acidCAS 59-30-3C19H19N7O6347 suppliers
- GlycineCAS 56-40-6C2H5NO2389 suppliers
- CaffeineCAS 58-08-2C8H10N4O2276 suppliers
- Titanium dioxideCAS 13463-67-7O2Ti746 suppliers
- Acetic acidCAS 64-19-7C2H4O21,107 suppliers
- NicotinamideCAS 98-92-0C6H6N2O318 suppliers
- L-LysineCAS 56-87-1C6H14N2O2211 suppliers
- IodineCAS 7553-56-2I2219 suppliers
- MelatoninCAS 73-31-4C13H16N2O2225 suppliers
- L-LeucineCAS 61-90-5C6H13NO2244 suppliers
- AdenineCAS 73-24-5C5H5N5151 suppliers
- TheophyllineCAS 58-55-9C7H8N4O2142 suppliers
- L-PhenylalanineCAS 63-91-2C9H11NO2181 suppliers
- L-HistidineCAS 71-00-1C6H9N3O2182 suppliers
- Citric acidCAS 77-92-9C6H8O71,149 suppliers
- L-Arginine, monohydrochlorideCAS 1119-34-2C6H15ClN4O2170 suppliers
Suppliers serving cosmetics and personal care
Companies that list this industry or sell its chemicals. Paid members appear first.
New cosmetics and personal care products from suppliers
Products recently listed for the applications in this industry.




Related chemical categories
Chemical families that this industry buys most often.
Guides for buyers
Practical reading on grades, documents, regulation and shipping before you buy.
- Article ยท FormulationHow to choose a cosmetic emulsifier
A structured way to choose an emulsifier for creams and lotions: emulsion type, HLB and its limits, emulsifier families, formula fit, stability testing and what to ask suppliers.
- Article ยท SourcingHow to write an RFQ that gets fast and accurate quotes
What suppliers need to quote quickly and comparably: exact product identity, quantity and packing, delivery terms, documents, samples and payment, with a ready to use template.
- Guide ยท Trade and logisticsIncoterms 2020 for chemical buyers
The eleven Incoterms 2020 rules from a chemical buyer's point of view, with the traps around CIF insurance, FOB for containers, EXW exports, DDP imports and dangerous goods.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about sourcing cosmetics and personal care chemicals on CompoundList.
Can I search cosmetic ingredients by INCI name?
Yes. Search by INCI name, CAS number or function, or browse the INCI directory, which lists ingredients with their CosIng functions and links to suppliers.
Where do the cosmetic functions come from?
They follow the EU CosIng database, which lists the technical functions of cosmetic ingredients. Some functions are grouped for easier browsing, for example cleansing and foaming surfactants.
How do I check that an ingredient is allowed in my market?
Check the regulations of each market, for example the annexes of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, the US FDA rules and Chinese ingredient lists. Ask suppliers for a regulatory statement for the markets you sell in.
Can suppliers provide natural and sustainability certificates?
Many can. Ask for natural origin index, COSMOS approval, RSPO certification for palm derivatives, vegan statements and animal testing statements in your request.