Ingredient knowledge without the fear.
We believe you deserve to understand what's in your beauty products—not be afraid of ingredients you can't pronounce.
The BaeBlu Ingredient Library explores the ingredients you'll find throughout our makeup and skincare, what they do, why they're used, and how they contribute to the complete formula.
Some ingredients hydrate. Some brighten. Some create color. Others keep a formula stable, give a product its beautiful texture, or help preserve it safely.
Every ingredient doesn't need to be a hero ingredient. It does need to have a purpose.
How We Think About Ingredients
We've grown beyond the idea that an ingredient is automatically good because it's natural or automatically bad because it was created or refined in a laboratory.
Instead, we ask better questions:
- What does this ingredient do?
- Why is it in this formula?
- Is it appropriate for its intended cosmetic use?
- Does it improve performance, stability, texture, preservation, or the skin experience?
- Does the complete formula meet the BaeBlu Standard?
Because origin is only one part of an ingredient's story. Context, concentration, formulation, and your individual skin matter too.
Want to understand how our ingredient philosophy has evolved? Read Clean Makeup, Reconsidered or explore The BaeBlu Standard.
Hydrate + Plump
These ingredients help attract, hold, or support moisture within the skin. Hydration can improve comfort while helping the complexion look softer, smoother, and more plump.
Aloe Vera — Hydration + Skin Conditioning
INCI: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice / Leaf Powder
Aloe is a water-rich botanical used to help hydrate and condition the skin. You'll find it in both BaeBlu skincare and makeup formulas where it contributes to a comfortable skin feel.
Found in: Silk Cream Cleanser, Drink Hydrating Serum, Essence Micellar Water, Lux Liquid Foundation, Pregame Skin Perfecting Primer and additional BaeBlu formulas.
Glycerin — Humectant + Hydration Support
INCI: Glycerin
Glycerin is a highly effective humectant that helps attract and hold water. It isn't trendy—and that's exactly the point. It's one of the dependable hydration ingredients you'll find throughout BaeBlu skincare and select makeup formulas.
Found throughout BaeBlu, including: Dew Hydrating Toner, Drink Hydrating Serum, Plump Collagen Serum, Radiant Vitamin C Serum and Lux Liquid Foundation.
Hyaluronic Acid — Hydration + Plumping
INCI may include: Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic acid is known for its ability to bind water. Different forms may be used within cosmetic formulas to help support hydrated, smoother, more plump-looking skin.
Found in: Drink Hydrating Serum, Plump Collagen Serum, Glow Peptide Serum, Radiant Vitamin C Serum, Dew Hydrating Toner and Renew AHA Resurfacer.
Sodium PCA — Humectant + Moisture Retention
INCI: Sodium PCA
Sodium PCA is associated with the skin's natural moisturizing system and is used as a humectant to help maintain water within the skin.
Found in: Dew Hydrating Toner, Plump Collagen Serum, Glow Peptide Serum, Radiant Vitamin C Serum and Silk Cream Cleanser.
Betaine — Hydration + Skin Comfort
INCI: Betaine
Betaine is a humectant and conditioning ingredient used to help support hydration and a comfortable skin feel.
Found in: Drink Hydrating Serum and Essence Micellar Water.
Panthenol — Conditioning + Moisture Support
INCI: Panthenol
Also known as provitamin B5, panthenol is used to condition and support moisture. In makeup, it can contribute skin- and hair-conditioning benefits without changing the primary job of the product.
Found in: Brow Powder Pans and Brow Babe Powder.
Brighten + Renew
These are the ingredients we turn to when supporting brighter, smoother, fresher, and more even-looking skin.
Ascorbyl Glucoside — Stable Vitamin C Derivative
INCI: Ascorbyl Glucoside
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a vitamin C derivative valued for its stability in cosmetic formulas. It provides antioxidant support and helps promote a brighter, more even-looking complexion.
Found in: Radiant Vitamin C Serum.
Good to know: This is not the same form of vitamin C as pure L-ascorbic acid. We like it because it offers a more stable approach to daily vitamin C skincare.
Ferulic Acid — Antioxidant Support
INCI: Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid is an antioxidant commonly paired with other antioxidant ingredients. Within Radiant C, it complements the formula's vitamin C and vitamin E antioxidant system.
Found in: Radiant Vitamin C Serum.
Lactic Acid — AHA + Surface Renewal
INCI: Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid. At exfoliating levels, it helps loosen dull surface buildup and support smoother, brighter-looking texture. At lower levels, it can also play other formulation roles, including pH adjustment.
Hero ingredient in: Renew AHA Resurfacer.
It also appears in smaller supporting roles in other BaeBlu skincare formulas. The presence of an ingredient on an INCI list does not automatically tell you its concentration or function.
Niacinamide — Tone + Barrier Support
INCI: Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 used in skincare to support the skin barrier and improve the appearance of tone, texture, and visible pores.
Found in: Harmony Gel Moisturizer.
Bakuchiol — Retinol-Alternative Smoothing Support
INCI: Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived skincare ingredient used to support smoother, more refined-looking skin and the appearance of visible signs of aging.
It is often described as a retinol alternative, but it is not chemically the same ingredient as retinol.
Found in: Refine Retinol-Alternative Oil.
Smooth + Support
Hexapeptide-11 — Peptide + Skin-Smoothing Support
INCI: Hexapeptide-11
Hexapeptide-11 is a cosmetic peptide included to support smoother, firmer-looking skin as part of a complete formula.
Found in: Glow Peptide Serum.
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline — Conditioning + Firmness Support
INCI: Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
A modified amino-acid derivative used in skincare for conditioning and to support the appearance of smoother, firmer skin.
Found in: Glow Peptide Serum.
Nourish + Condition
Oils, butters, lipids, and emollients help soften skin, improve comfort, and create the supple textures you'll find throughout both BaeBlu Makeup and BaeBlu Skin.
Jojoba Oil — Emollient + Conditioning
INCI: Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Jojoba is technically a liquid wax ester rather than a traditional oil. It helps soften and condition without necessarily creating a heavy, greasy finish.
Jojoba has been part of BaeBlu's ingredient DNA for years and appears throughout both makeup and skincare.
Found in products including: Drink, Radiant C, Refine, Pregame Primer, Beachin' Bronzer and Blush Crush.
Squalane — Lightweight Emollient
INCI: Squalane
Squalane is a lightweight, stable emollient that helps soften the skin and create elegant slip. It can provide conditioning without the heavier feel of some traditional oils.
Found in: Lux Liquid Foundation, Pregame Skin Perfecting Primer and Lined Up Liquid.
Shea Butter — Rich Emollient + Softening
INCI: Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Shea butter is rich in fatty components that help soften dry skin and contribute a cushioned, nourishing texture.
Found in: Cocooning Night Cream, Liquid Gloss, Illusion Concealer and Lux Liquid Foundation.
Cocoa Butter — Rich Emollient + Texture
INCI: Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Cocoa butter helps soften and condition while also contributing richness and structure to cream, lip, complexion, and skincare formulas.
Found in: Cocoon, Liquid Silk Concealer, Luscious Lipstick and Liquid Gloss.
Sunflower Seed Oil — Emollient + Conditioning
INCI: Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Sunflower seed oil provides emollient fatty acids that help soften and condition skin.
Found in: Plump, Cocoon, Liquid Silk Concealer and select BaeBlu makeup formulas.
Rosehip — Botanical Oil + Antioxidant Support
INCI: Rosa Canina Fruit/Seed Oil or Extract
Rosehip is used as a nourishing botanical rich in naturally occurring fatty acids and antioxidant compounds.
Found in: Refine, Timeless, Radiant C and Pregame Primer.
Sea Buckthorn — Botanical Oil + Antioxidant Support
INCI: Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Sea buckthorn oil is a deeply colored botanical oil valued for its naturally occurring fatty acids and antioxidant compounds.
Found in: Timeless Facial Oil and Radiant Vitamin C Serum.
Evening Primrose Oil — Nourishing Botanical Oil
INCI: Oenothera Biennis Oil
Evening primrose oil is used to nourish and condition dry or mature-feeling skin.
Phytosterols — Lipid + Skin Conditioning
INCI: Phytosterols
Plant-derived sterols used to help condition skin and complement lipid-rich formulas.
Found in: Glow Peptide Serum.
Glycolipids — Conditioning + Formula Support
INCI: Glycolipids
Glycolipids are lipid-based ingredients that can contribute conditioning, emulsion support, and an elegant skin feel.
Found in: Drink Hydrating Serum and Glow Peptide Serum.
Antioxidants + Botanicals
Vitamin E — Antioxidant + Conditioning
INCI: Tocopherol
Vitamin E is an antioxidant used extensively across BaeBlu. It can help condition skin while also supporting the oxidative stability of oil-based ingredients.
Found throughout BaeBlu Makeup + Skin, including: Timeless, Radiant C, Liquid Silk Concealer, Blush Crush and Pregame Primer.
Green + White Tea — Botanical Antioxidants
INCI: Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Tea extracts contain naturally occurring antioxidant compounds and are used to provide supportive botanical care within a complete formula.
Found in: Renew AHA Resurfacer, Velvet Setting Powder and Pregame Primer.
Chamomile — Botanical Conditioning
INCI: Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract / Hydrosol
Chamomile is a botanical commonly used in formulas intended to feel comfortable and conditioning on the skin.
Found in: Dew, Essence, Cloud Foaming Cleanser and select BaeBlu makeup formulas.
Ginkgo Biloba — Botanical Antioxidant Support
INCI: Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Ginkgo is included for botanical antioxidant and conditioning support.
Found in: Harmony Gel Moisturizer and Glow Peptide Serum.
Cloudberry — Antioxidant-Rich Botanical
INCI: Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Cloudberry is used for its antioxidant-rich botanical profile and conditioning properties.
Found in: Drink Hydrating Serum and Cocooning Night Cream.
Blueberry — Botanical Antioxidant Support
INCI: Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil / Fruit Extract
Blueberry-derived ingredients contribute antioxidant and conditioning support.
Calendula — Botanical Conditioning
INCI: Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Calendula is included as a skin-conditioning botanical within gentle cleansing formulas.
Found in: Cloud Foaming Cleanser.
Mineral Pigments + Makeup Performance
Color is one area where our standard is simple: BaeBlu uses mineral pigments—not artificial dyes.
Iron Oxides — Mineral Color Pigments
INCI: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Iron oxides are mineral pigments used to create reds, yellows, browns, blacks, and the countless complexion shades created by blending them.
Found throughout BaeBlu color cosmetics, including: Liquid Silk Concealer, InstaFame Foundation, Beachin' Bronzer, Blush Crush, Brow Babe Gel and more.
Titanium Dioxide — Mineral Pigment + Opacifier
INCI: Titanium Dioxide / CI 77891
Titanium dioxide is a white mineral pigment used to create opacity, adjust shade depth, and contribute coverage.
Important: Its presence in a makeup formula does not mean the product provides SPF. We do not make sunscreen claims unless a finished product has been appropriately tested for them.
Found throughout BaeBlu makeup, including: InstaFame Foundation, Liquid Silk Concealer, Blush Crush and Brow Babe Powder.
Zinc Oxide — Mineral Ingredient + Opacity
INCI: Zinc Oxide
Zinc oxide is a mineral ingredient that can contribute opacity and coverage in makeup.
As with titanium dioxide, the presence of zinc oxide does not automatically make a cosmetic product a sunscreen.
Found in: InstaFame Foundation, Lux Liquid Foundation and Flawless Filter Banana Powder.
Mica — Mineral Texture + Luminosity
INCI: Mica / CI 77019
Mica is a mineral used to improve slip and create anything from subtle luminosity to more noticeable shimmer depending on the formula and particle characteristics.
Found throughout BaeBlu powders and color products, including: Perfect Pigment Eye Shadow, Blush Crush, Frosted Highlighter and Velvet Setting Powder.
Silica — Soft Focus + Slip + Oil Absorption
INCI: Silica
Silica helps improve slip, absorb excess oil, and create a smoother, soft-focus feel in powders, complexion products, and primers.
Found in: Liquid Silk Concealer, Velvet Setting Powder, Pregame Primer, Beachin' Bronzer and more.
Kaolin — Mineral Absorbent + Texture
INCI: Kaolin
Kaolin is a clay used to absorb oil and contribute structure and texture. In makeup, it can help create a more balanced, less greasy finish.
Found in: Velvet Setting Powder, Liquid Gloss and BaeBlu brow pomades.
Boron Nitride — Slip + Soft-Focus Performance
INCI: Boron Nitride
Boron nitride is a mineral-based performance ingredient used to improve slip, blendability, adhesion, and a silky skin feel in makeup.
Found in: Brow Powder Pans, Brow Babe Powder and Lux Liquid Foundation.
Rice Powder + Rice Starch — Texture + Oil Control
INCI: Oryza Sativa Powder / Starch
Rice-derived powders can help absorb excess oil, soften the feel of a formula, improve texture, and support a smooth cosmetic finish.
Found throughout BaeBlu makeup, including: Velvet Setting Powder, Perfect Pigment Eye Shadow, Beachin' Bronzer, Blush Crush and Lux Liquid Foundation.
Magnesium + Zinc Stearates — Adhesion + Slip
INCI: Magnesium Stearate / Zinc Stearate
These fatty-acid salts are used in pressed and loose cosmetics to help pigment adhere, improve slip, and create a smoother application.
You'll find them in select BaeBlu eye, brow, blush, bronzer, and highlighter formulas.
Texture + Formula Support
This category matters to us because it demonstrates one of the biggest lessons we've learned:
An ingredient doesn't need an exciting marketing story to earn its place.
A formula still needs to spread, blend, stay mixed, feel beautiful, dispense correctly, and remain stable throughout its intended life.
Dicaprylyl Carbonate — Lightweight Emollient + Silky Slip
INCI: Dicaprylyl Carbonate
A lightweight emollient that creates smooth, dry-touch slip without relying on silicone. It can make oils and creams feel more elegant and less greasy.
Isoamyl Laurate — Lightweight Emollient + Glide
INCI: Isoamyl Laurate
Isoamyl Laurate helps products spread smoothly and contributes a light, silky finish. It's one of the ingredients that can create beautiful sensory performance without the use of silicones.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride — Emollient + Spreadability
INCI: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
A lightweight emollient commonly derived from plant-based fatty acids. It helps soften the skin and improves spreadability without requiring a heavy oil feel.
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 — Emollient + Creamy Texture
INCI: Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
This is one of the ingredients that helped change the way we think about formulation. It is a processed emollient used to create a smooth, creamy texture and improve spreadability.
It doesn't have a romantic botanical name—and it doesn't need one. Its job is performance.
Found in: Liquid Silk Concealer.
Why it matters to BaeBlu: This is a perfect example of Purpose Over Purity. We don't reject an ingredient simply because it requires laboratory processing. We evaluate why it's there and what it contributes to the complete formula.
Cetearyl Alcohol — Fatty Alcohol + Texture
INCI: Cetearyl Alcohol
Despite the word “alcohol,” cetearyl alcohol is not the same thing as a volatile, drying alcohol. It's a fatty alcohol used to thicken, soften, and stabilize creams and emulsions.
Found throughout BaeBlu Skin, including: Drink, Plump, Glow, Radiant C and Cocoon.
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate — Emulsifier
INCI: Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
An emulsifying ingredient used to help oil and water stay evenly combined while contributing to a smooth, consistent texture.
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate — Emulsifier + Formula Stability
INCI: Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
An emulsifier that helps keep water- and oil-based ingredients evenly distributed so a formula remains stable and pleasant to use.
Xanthan Gum — Thickener + Stabilizer
INCI: Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum helps control viscosity and keep formulas uniform. It isn't there to transform your skin. It's there to help the product itself work properly.
Found throughout select BaeBlu skincare and makeup formulas.
Carnauba Wax — Plant Wax + Structure
INCI: Copernicia Cerifera Wax
A firm plant wax used to give pencils, lip products, mascaras, creams, and sticks structure and staying power.
Found throughout BaeBlu Makeup, including: Luscious Lipstick, Lined Up Lip Liner, Magnetic Mascara and BaeBlu brow products.
Candelilla Wax — Plant Wax + Structure
INCI: Euphorbia Cerifera Wax / Candelilla Cera
Candelilla wax helps create structure, glide, and payoff in cream and pencil cosmetics. It is a common plant-based alternative to animal-derived waxes.
Found in: BaeBlu lip liners, eyeliners, brow products, Illusion Concealer and Pregame Primer.
Preservation + Stability
Water-based beauty products need to remain safe and stable throughout normal use. Preservatives aren't the enemy of clean beauty. A poorly preserved product is not a cleaner product.
Phenoxyethanol — Preservative
INCI: Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used in a small number of BaeBlu makeup formulas to help protect the product from microbial contamination.
Its presence is also part of BaeBlu's evolution: we no longer believe an ingredient becomes unacceptable simply because it is synthetic. Preservation has a purpose.
Found in: Lined Up Lip Liner and Lined Up Eyeliner.
Sodium Benzoate — Preservative
INCI: Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is used as part of preservation systems that help protect water-containing formulas from unwanted microbial growth.
Found in multiple BaeBlu Skin products, including: Dew, Essence, Harmony and Silk.
Potassium Sorbate — Preservative
INCI: Potassium Sorbate
Potassium sorbate is another preservation ingredient used to help maintain formula integrity and protect water-based cosmetics during their intended shelf life.
Found throughout select BaeBlu skincare formulas.
Natural Fragrance + Essential Oils
Some BaeBlu skincare formulas contain natural fragrance compositions, botanical aromatic substances, or essential oils. Other formulas are fragrance-free.
Our manufacturing partners formulate these fragrance systems without synthetic fragrance materials or phthalates.
But here's where our philosophy matters:
Natural fragrance isn't automatically non-irritating simply because it's natural.
Components such as limonene, linalool, geraniol, citronellol, and citral can occur naturally within essential oils and aromatic botanical ingredients. Some people tolerate them beautifully; others may be sensitive.
We don't believe in hiding that nuance.
If fragrance is something your skin tends to react to, check the complete ingredient list on the individual product page before introducing a new formula.
Your skin gets a vote too.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Natural Doesn't Mean Unprocessed
Many naturally derived cosmetic ingredients begin with plant, mineral, or other naturally occurring raw materials and then undergo processing so they can perform reliably in a modern formula.
Synthetic Doesn't Automatically Mean Harmful
Some synthetic or laboratory-processed ingredients can improve stability, safety, texture, preservation, and performance. We evaluate ingredients based on their role within the complete formula, not simply whether their names sound natural.
Ingredient Order Matters—but It Doesn't Tell You Everything
Cosmetic ingredient lists are generally presented in descending order until lower-concentration ingredients, but an INCI list alone cannot tell you everything about formulation quality. Some ingredients work effectively at relatively low use levels.
An Ingredient Can Have More Than One Job
Lactic acid may be an exfoliating active in one formula and serve partly as a pH-adjusting ingredient in another. Oils may condition skin while also improving pigment dispersion. Waxes can provide structure while influencing glide and wear.
That's why we keep coming back to the same question:
Why is it here?
Your Skin Is Individual
An ingredient can have excellent research behind it and still not be right for every person.
Allergies, sensitivities, skin condition, environment, the rest of your routine, and the complete formula all influence how your skin may respond.
We provide this library to help you make more informed decisions—not to tell you that one ingredient is universally perfect or universally terrible.
Ingredient education should empower you, not scare you.
Keep Learning
- The BaeBlu Standard — See what we use, what we choose not to use, and how Makeup + Skin differ.
- Clean Makeup, Reconsidered — Learn how our definition of clean beauty has evolved beyond dogma.
- Our Skincare Philosophy — Explore our approach to thoughtful formulation, evidence-informed actives, barrier-first care, and honest beauty.
- Dryness + Dehydration Guide — Learn what dry and dehydrated skin may need.
- Dullness + Uneven Tone Guide — Learn how hydration, renewal, antioxidants, and protection support radiance.
- Fine Lines + Wrinkles Guide — Learn how hydration, peptides, antioxidants, and thoughtful renewal support skin as it changes.
- Sensitive Skin + Compromised Barrier Guide — Learn when your skin may need less, not more.
