The Key Ingredients in Cosmetics Explained

Every cosmetic product is powered by carefully selected ingredients. This lecture explores the essential building blocks of cosmetics—from surfactants and emulsifiers to preservatives and thickeners—and how they work together to create effective, safe, and enjoyable products. This video is a lecture from the *Olay Introduction to Cosmetic Science and Ingredients Specialization*. As part of a free course preview, it introduces how raw materials shape product performance—and what becomes possible when exploring the full program. Learn how ingredients, formulation, and science come together to create the products used every day. Explore the full specialization: 00:00 Introduction: The science behind everyday products 00:25 What are cosmetic raw materials? 00:58 Surfactants: Cleansing and foaming 01:13 Emulsifiers: Blending oil and water 01:35 Preservatives: Safety and shelf life 01:52 Rheology modifiers: Texture and feel 02:10 Additives and product enhancement 02:36 How ingredients work together 03:05 Common ingredients in shampoos and lotions 03:45 Why ingredients matter in formulation #CosmeticScience #SkincareScience #BeautyScience #Cosmetics #Ingredients #LearnOnCoursera #Olay #BeautyEducation #Skincare #Chemistry