Shopping for skin care products can become a daunting task as you stare at the hundreds of products lining the shelves, their lists of ingredients and the skin health benefits they claim to offer.
But you can sift through the products' claims, simplify your shopping and find the most effective products for your skin type by educating yourself on what the ingredients are and what they really do when applied to your skin.
Common Skin Care Ingredients
Every company uses a different formula to create its line of skin care products, and there are thousands of ingredients that may go into those formulas. However, there are a number of staples used in many skin care products. Understanding how these ingredients are sourced and how they work can help you evaluate whether or not the product is right for you. Some staple ingredients are:
Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and there are a number of proteins in the dermal matrix, including collagen and elastin. UV radiation incites oxidative stress, which damages proteins responsible for skin's tone and texture. A supply of amino acids at the site (i.e. topically applied amino acids) can facilitate quicker skin repair for more noticeable results improved elasticity and firmness, diminished fine lines and wrinkles.
However, there are hundreds of amino acids. The two most effective for skin care are proline and glycine.
Cetyl or Stearyl Alcohol
This ingredient is a fatty alcohol that has hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. These properties make it an ideal emulsifier an agent that keeps ingredients that normally do not play well with each other like oil and water from separating. It's water-attracting and repelling properties can also help to draw moisture to the skin (hydration) as well as provide a barrier against it.
Glycerin
Glycerin is a common (and inexpensive) humectants an ingredient that pulls moisture from the atmosphere. Glycerin is often used in moisturizers and other products designed to aid moisture retention.
Salicylic Acid
This ingredient is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) with anti-inflammtory properties. As a BHA, it is lipophilic it can dissolve in oil, allowing it to penetrate deeper into pores and remove excess oil. It also stimulates skin cell turnover and reduces irritation an redness. As a result, salicylic acid is a common treatment for acne.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
SLS is a detergent (cleaner) and lathering agent. It is often added to shampoos and cleansers to generate foamy bubbles. While consumers generally associate rich lather with a good cleanser, how foamy a product gets is not a good indicator of its effectiveness. SLS is not biodegradable, and there is some speculation about its carcinogenic potential. As a result, sulfate-free cleansers are becoming more popular.
Alcohol (SD)
SD, or specially denatured, alcohol is commonly used as a delivery vehicle for other active ingredients. Because it is lipid-soluble, it can penetrate pores, dissolve oil and help carry other compounds deeper into the skin. This makes it particularly useful in toners and other acne-fighting products.
Aloe Barbadensis
Aloe barbadensis is the Latin name for aloe vera, an ingredient long used for natural moisturizing and soothing benefits. Because it has a pH similar to that of the skin, it can be especially comforting for sensitive skin and for skin inflamed by conditions such as psoriasis or sun overexposure.
Caffeine
In skin care, caffeine is valued not for its stimulating effects but for its vasoconstrictive properties. By causing blood vessels to constrict, it can help reduce the appearance of redness and puffiness beneath delicate tissue, which is why it is often used in under-eye creams and serums. This same effect can also diminish the appearance of cellulite.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Also known as ubiquinone, CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant and a popular ingredient in anti-aging skin care formulas. By helping neutralize free radicals, it supports healthy skin cell function and helps preserve firmer, more youthful-looking skin texture.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is similar in chemical structure to the natural oils produced by your skin, which makes it an effective moisturizer that can penetrate without clogging pores. It is also a particularly stable ingredient, resisting degradation when exposed to heat, so its properties remain intact during processing and storage.
At Hale Cosmeceuticals, we like to educate our customers before they purchase any type of skin care product. If you have questions about our ingredients, please ask. We are happy to provide free samples so that you may test a product before purchasing.Contact us for a Personal Skin Assessment, product recommendations, free samples or to place your order! 1-800-951-7005.
