Cosmetic Ingredients Supplier for Personal Care Formulators
Actives, emulsifiers, UV filters, and natural oils for cosmetic and personal care manufacturers, plus wholesale distribution of branded finished products.
Terracore Chemicals is a cosmetic ingredients supplier based in South Africa, supplying the actives, emulsifiers, UV filters, and natural oils used by personal care and cosmetics manufacturers across the region and internationally. As a dedicated cosmetic ingredients supplier, we stock everything from UV filters and skin actives through to emulsifiers and thickeners and natural oils used in formulation.
Beyond raw ingredients, Terracore also offers wholesale distribution of branded personal care and cosmetics products for retailers and distributors. Whether you’re formulating your own cosmetic line or sourcing finished branded stock, working with an established cosmetic ingredients supplier means consistent quality and reliable supply. Looking for a different product line? See our full range of chemical divisions.
Our Cosmetic Ingredient Categories
Eight ingredient families covering actives, texture agents, and natural oils for cosmetic formulation.
UV Filters & Sun Protection
Avobenzone, Titanium Dioxide, and Zinc Oxide for sunscreen and UV-protective formulations.
Skin Actives & Moisturizers
Hyaluronic Acid, Glycolic Acid, and Salicylic Acid for moisturizing and exfoliating formulations.
Emulsifiers & Thickeners
Carbomer, Cetostearyl Alcohol, and cellulosics for texture and formulation stability.
Emollients & Texture Aids
Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Magnesium Stearate for skin feel and powder formulations.
Surfactants
Mild, cosmetic-grade cleansing surfactants including Lauryl Glucoside.
Natural Oils
Castor Oil and Coconut Oil for natural and organic-positioned formulations.
Fragrance, Sensory & Colorants
Menthol Crystal, Tartrazine, and Talc for finished-product sensory appeal.
Specialty & Functional Actives
Caffeine, Rutin, and GABA for specialty active-ingredient formulations.
All Cosmetic Ingredient Products
Ingredients across 8 categories
UV Filters & Sun Protection (3)
Skin Actives & Moisturizers (3)
Emulsifiers & Thickeners (4)
Emollients & Texture Aids (2)
Surfactants (1)
Natural Oils (2)
Fragrance, Sensory & Colorants (3)
Specialty & Functional Actives (3)
Understanding Our Cosmetic Ingredient Categories
What each ingredient does in a formulation.
UV Filters & Sun Protection
Avobenzone (Parsol) is a broad-spectrum organic UV filter used in sunscreens and daily-wear SPF products. Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are mineral (physical) UV filters, offering broad-spectrum protection with lower skin sensitisation risk than some organic filters — both also serve as pigments in colour cosmetics, and Zinc Oxide additionally functions as a skin-soothing active.
Skin Actives & Moisturizers
Hyaluronic Acid is a widely used humectant valued for its ability to hold many times its weight in water, a staple in moisturizers and serums. Glycolic Acid (an AHA) and Salicylic Acid (a BHA) are exfoliating acids used in skin renewal and acne-treatment formulations, working at the skin surface and within pores respectively.
Emulsifiers & Thickeners
Carbomer is a widely used gelling and thickening agent in gels and lotions. Cetostearyl Alcohol functions as both an emulsifier and thickener in creams and lotions. Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose provides thickening and film-forming properties, while Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is best known as a hair-fixative polymer in styling products.
Emollients & Texture Aids
Ethylhexyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient that improves skin feel without a greasy after-effect. Magnesium Stearate functions as a lubricant and anti-caking agent in powder cosmetics like pressed powders and eyeshadows.
Surfactants
Lauryl Glucoside is a mild, naturally derived surfactant used in cleansing formulations where gentleness on skin is a priority, such as facial cleansers and baby care products.
Natural Oils
Castor Oil and Coconut Oil are widely used natural oils in cosmetic formulation, valued both for their functional emollient properties and for their appeal in naturally positioned product lines.
Fragrance, Sensory & Colorants
Menthol Crystal provides a cooling sensory effect in personal care products. Tartrazine functions as a colorant in cosmetic formulations. Talc (Pharma grade) is used as a texture and absorbency agent in powder products.
Specialty & Functional Actives
Caffeine Anhydrous is used in eye creams and anti-cellulite formulations for its stimulant and circulation-supporting properties. Rutin is a plant-derived antioxidant flavonoid used in anti-aging formulations. Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is used in specialty skincare positioned around calming and anti-stress claims.
Wholesale Branded Cosmetics & Personal Care
In addition to raw cosmetic ingredients, Terracore Chemicals wholesales a range of branded personal care and cosmetics products across eight categories, from everyday personal care essentials through to premium beauty.
Skincare
- Nivea
- Vaseline
- Johnson’s
Hair Care
- Head & Shoulders
- Pantene
- L’Oréal Paris
Oral Care
- Colgate
- Oral-B
Deodorants
- Rexona
Bath & Body Care
- Dove
- Palmolive
- Dettol
- Lifebuoy
Men’s Grooming
- Axe
- Gillette
Makeup
- Maybelline New York
- Fenty Beauty
- Rare Beauty
- Huda Beauty
- NYX Professional Makeup
- Revlon
Premium Beauty
- MAC Cosmetics
- Estée Lauder
- Lancôme
- Clinique
- NARS Cosmetics
- Dior Beauty
- Chanel Beauty
- YSL Beauty
- Charlotte Tilbury
Matching Ingredients to Your Product Type
The right starting point depends heavily on what you’re formulating. Sunscreen and daily SPF products need a UV filter as the anchor ingredient; mineral filters like Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide suit sensitive-skin and natural-positioned lines, while organic filters like Avobenzone offer a lighter, less visibly white finish preferred in cosmetic-grade daily wear formulas.
Moisturizers and serums typically build around a humectant like Hyaluronic Acid alongside an emulsifier such as Carbomer or Cetostearyl Alcohol to hold the formulation together. Exfoliating and anti-aging products lean on actives like Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Rutin. Natural and organic-positioned lines often substitute Castor Oil or Coconut Oil for synthetic emollients like Ethylhexyl Palmitate, trading some formulation stability for marketing positioning. As a cosmetic ingredients supplier working across conventional, natural, and specialty formulation approaches, Terracore can help you think through which ingredients fit your product brief, tell us your target product type and claims, and we can suggest a starting ingredient list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a cosmetic ingredients supplier provide?
A cosmetic ingredients supplier provides the actives, emulsifiers, UV filters, and other raw materials that personal care and cosmetics manufacturers use to formulate finished products.
Do you supply cosmetic ingredients internationally?
Yes — Terracore Chemicals exports cosmetic ingredients from South Africa to customers across Africa and internationally.
Can I get technical documentation with my order?
Yes, Certificates of Analysis and spec sheets are available on request for every ingredient in this range.
Do you sell finished cosmetic products, or only raw ingredients?
Both — raw ingredients for formulators, and wholesale branded finished products across skincare, hair care, oral care, deodorants, bath & body care, men’s grooming, makeup, and premium beauty for retailers and distributors.
Do you supply smaller trial quantities as well as bulk orders?
In most cases, yes — get in touch with your required volume and we’ll confirm options.
Why Source From Terracore
Bulk & Drum Supply
Flexible order quantities from trial amounts to full container loads.
Technical Documentation
Certificates of Analysis and spec sheets available on request for every ingredient.
Export-Ready Logistics
As a cosmetic ingredients supplier shipping across Africa and international markets, we handle bulk export logistics end to end.
Need a Cosmetic Ingredients Quote?
Tell us what you’re formulating or which brands you’re looking to stock — as your cosmetic ingredients supplier, we’ll respond with pricing, specifications, and lead times.
Request a Quote