H2O, the most common ingredient in ingredient lists! 

• If you learned a little bit about this molecule in your chemistry classes, you will know that it is a polar molecule and hydrophilic (it loves water, because duh, water loves water).

• Thus, water is referred to as a universal solvent for hydrophilic ingredients

• But what about nonpolar molecules / hydrophobic ingredients? Well that’s where emulsifiers come in. These are super helpful ingredients that reduce the “tension” between oil and water and allow them to mix together. Read more about them here

• Emulsifiers are what create lotions, foundations, and pretty much most of the products because most products are oil in water / water in oil formulas :)