How to Use the Ingredient Encyclopedia

353 Ingredients for Soap, Lotion & Cosmetic Formulation

The Ingredient Encyclopedia is SoapMath's searchable database of 353 cosmetic ingredients. Each entry includes the INCI name, functional class, recommended usage rates, pH stability range, solubility, charge, HLB value, and calculator compatibility. Whether you're formulating cold process soap, lotions, balms, or other cosmetic products, the encyclopedia helps you find the right ingredient and understand how to use it.

What You'll Find

Ingredient Properties: Every entry includes pH range, solubility (water, oil, or both), ionic charge, and HLB value where applicable.
INCI Names: The standardized International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients name for accurate labeling and regulatory compliance.
Usage Rates: Recommended percentage ranges so you know how much of each ingredient to include in your formula.
Calculator Compatibility: See which SoapMath calculators (Soap Math, Lotion Math, Balm Math) each ingredient works with.
Functional Classes: Ingredients are categorized into 11 classes — Emollients, Fatty Thickeners, Emulsifiers, Humectants, and more — so you can quickly find what you need.

How to Search

The encyclopedia offers multiple ways to find ingredients.

Search by Name

Type a common name, INCI name, or trade name into the search bar. The fuzzy search will find matches even if you don't spell it perfectly.

Browse by Class

Open the Filters panel and select one or more functional classes (e.g., Emollients, Preservatives) to narrow results to a specific category.

Filter by Calculator

Select "Soap," "Lotion," or "Balm" in the Calculator filter to see only ingredients compatible with that calculator.

Advanced Filters

Filter by charge, solubility, origin (natural vs. synthetic), skin type, hair type, and class-specific properties like microbial coverage or comedogenic rating.

Sort Results

Click any column header (Name, Class, Solubility, Charge) to sort the table alphabetically in ascending or descending order.

Ingredient Pages

Click any ingredient name to open its detail page. Here's what each field means:

INCI Name: The official standardized name used on cosmetic labels worldwide.
Functional Class: The ingredient's primary role in a formula (e.g., Emollient, Preservative).
Usage Rate: The recommended percentage range for the ingredient in a finished formula.
SAP Values: Saponification values used in soap calculators to determine lye amounts.
HLB Value: Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance — used to match emulsifiers with oils.
pH Stability Range: The pH range in which the ingredient remains effective and stable.
Solubility & Charge: Whether it dissolves in water/oil and its ionic charge.

Functional Classes Explained

Emollients

Oils, butters, and esters that soften and smooth the skin. They form the oil phase in lotions and balms and are the base oils in soap recipes.

Fatty Thickeners

Waxes and fatty alcohols that add body, structure, and thickness to formulas. Common in balms and lotion bars.

Emulsifiers

Ingredients that allow oil and water to mix into stable emulsions. Essential for lotions and creams.

Humectants

Water-attracting ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that draw moisture to the skin.

Rheology Modifiers

Thickeners and gelling agents that control texture in water-based formulas like xanthan gum.

Chelators

Ingredients that bind metal ions in water, preventing formula destabilization.

Preservatives

Antimicrobial ingredients that prevent spoilage in water-containing products.

Antioxidants

Ingredients that prevent oils and fats from going rancid (oxidizing).

Actives

Performance ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide that provide targeted skin benefits.

pH Adjusters

Acids and bases used to bring a formula's pH into the correct range.

Smart Substitutes

Every ingredient detail page ends with a Smart Substitutes section — a ranked list of similar ingredients you can swap in based on fatty acid profiles, solubility, and sensory properties.

75%+ match: High-quality alternatives with very similar properties.
50-74% match: Functional alternatives that may require formula adjustment.
Under 50%: Not shown as the ingredients are too different for direct substitution.

Smart Substitutes is a SoapMath-exclusive feature based on professional formulation data.

Tips for Success

Use the official INCI name on your product labels for regulatory compliance.
Always verify usage rates before formulating to ensure safety and performance.
Look for the 🌿 icon if you are building a natural or clean beauty brand.
Pay attention to pH stability — using ingredients outside their range causes formula failure.
Use filters to quickly find ingredients compatible with your preferred calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

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