What Is This Ingredient and What Does It Do For My Skin? 

We have all purchased a plethora of skin care products and many of us are very confused when reading ingredients we can hardly pronounce.  Do you ever wonder what is really in your skin care products? Here is a partial skin care glossary that will enlighten you the next time you find yourself reading ingredients on a skin care product label!

A

ACAI

A deep purple fruit extract used as an antioxidant in skin care products

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

Found in cleansers and masks, it acts as a sponge as it helps to remove dirt and oils from skin.

AGAR

A thickener used in makeup and skin care products is derived from algae.

ALCOHOL

Tightens pores and helps deliver other ingredients deep into the skin

ALGURONIC ACID

Algae extracts used to minimize wrinkles and firm and brighten skin 

ALOE

Plant based and used to heal skin

ALPHA HYDROXY ACIDS

Chemicals that help loosen dead skin cells and found in line fighting cleansers and creams. 

ANTHOCYANINS

Derived from red, violet and blue plant pigments. They may slow down skin aging by slowing down UV sun damage.

ARGAN OIL

A fast absorbing Vitamin E rich oil used in skin care to moisturize without clogging pores and reduce the appearance fine lines.

ASCORBIC ACID

A topical form of vitamin C that helps brighten the skin, increase collagen production and reduces free radical damage. 

B

BENTONITE

Absorbent clay derived from volcanic ash. Used in masks as a detoxifying agent to pull oil and pollutants from pores.

BENZOIL PEROXIDE

An acne medicine that exfoliates and kills bacteria that cause acne.

BETA CAROTINE

Red/orange pigment found in fruit and vegetables. It works to improve skin tone and texture via cell turnover. 

BETA GLUCANS

Strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and keep away germs.

BETA HYDROXY ACIDS

Chemical exfoliants that smooth fine lines, even skin pigmentation and go deep in pores to dissolve dead skin. 

BIOSTIMULATORY FILLER

Increase skin volume by increasing collagen production.

BROAD SPECTRUM

Used in defining sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB light

BUTELYNE GLYCOL

A form of alcohol that is a lightweight moisturizing agent found in makeup to thin the formula so it can glide on easily.

C

CITRIC ACID

Found in fruits and used in peels and masks to brighten and exfoliate skin.

COENZYME Q-10

Used in skin care to fight fine lines and improve skin texture.

COPPER PEPTIDES

Amino acids found in fine line fighting products. They help to soothe inflammation and promote new formation of collagen. 

D

DIMETHICONE

A silicone that hydrates and protects skin and found in oil-free moisturizers.

DIMETHYLAMINOETHANOL

It is found in small fish and protects cells from damage and promotes smooth, bright and firm skin.

E

ELLAGIC ACID

A polyphenol found in red wine, pomegranates, and raspberries claims to possess antioxidant and anti-cancer properties and is added to skin care products.

EMULSIFIER

Chemicals that bind together skin care ingredients.

F

FEVERFEW

A plant extract, used to reduce redness, fight free radicals, and calm skin inflammation

FRUIT ENZYMES

Used in skin care products to break down the keratin proteins in dead skin cells and used for mild exfoliation.

G

GENESTEIN

A plant hormone used to brighten skin and is found to stimulate collagen production in post-menopausal women.

GLYCERIN

Pulls moisture from the air to hydrate skin and used in cleansers and moisturizers.

GLYCOLIC ACID

Used to exfoliate skin and improve texture, this acid used in cleansers, peels and creams.

GOJI EXTRACT

Derived from the small fruit, it claims to reduce environmental damage and slow aging.

GUARANA

Found in cellulite creams, this caffeine seed extract smooths the skin by increasing blood flow to the skin.

H

HELIOPLEX

A sunscreen technology that combines ingredients to block UVA and UVB light.

HYALURONIC ACID

Added to skin care products to increase moisture content of the skin and prevent water loss.  It is usually found in high end creams and serums.

HYDROGEL

A thick polymer material used in sheet masks.

HYDROXYPINACOLONE RETINOATE

A wrinkle-fighting derivative of vitamin A, less irritating than retinol.

HUMECTANTS

Moisturizing ingredients that pull water from the atmosphere to the top layer of skin.

HYDROQUINONE

A chemical used to lighten dark spots in the skin.  It may be purchased over the counter up to 2%. The prescription strength is 4%.

J

JOJOBA OIL

Similar to skin’s natural oil, this oil is added to skin care products to hydrate without clogging pores.

K

KOJIC ACID

Used as a skin lightener and may be irritating to the skin in higher concentrations.

L

LAMINARIA SACCHARINA

A sea-algae that reduces oil and soothes irritated skin.

M

MATRIXYL 3000

A peptide complex that claims to stimulate collagen and reduce fine lines when used over time. 

MEXORYL SX

A chemical found in sunscreen used to block UVA light and works well when combined with other chemicals.

MICELLAR WATER

This no rinse cleanser removes dirt and makeup and is a mix of water, glycerin and surfactants. 

O

OCTOCRYLENE

This chemical is found in sunscreens offers limited protection from UVA and UVB light.

OXYBENZONE

Chemical in sunscreens to mainly absorb UVB light.

P

PARABENS

A class of preservatives used in cosmetics that have shown to have estrogen like properties that may increase cancer risk.

PARSOL

Another sunscreen chemical used to absorb and protect against UVA and UVB light

PHTHALATES

Plasticizers used in nail polish, shampoos and cleansers that are controversial due to their possible role in increasing breast cancer risk.

R

RESTYLANE

Used by doctors, this filler is used to plump lips and replace lost volume in skin.

RETINOL

A derivative of vitamin A used in products that fight fine lines.  It may be irritating in higher concentrations.

S

SALYCYLIC ACID

Removes excess oil and dirt from skin’s surface and used in many acne products.  It is a form of beta hydroxy acids.

SHEET MASK

These masks have skin care ingredients embedded in the paper, cotton, plant fiber, or hydrogel forms that fit the face and neck.

SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE

A foaming detergent used in cleansers that is safe and not to be confused with sodium laurel sulfate that is more irritating.

STEARYL ALCOHOL

A fat that binds ingredients in creams and cleansers and provides a smooth and silky texture.

T

TITANIUM DIOXIDE

A natural mineral in sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB protection.

Z

ZINC OXIDE

A natural mineral in sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB protection.

Whew! This list provides a lot of information and is not conclusive.  There are too many ingredients in skin care products to include in this list, and at least it is a tool to use to create awareness that we as consumers should be educated in what we are putting on our skin.  Remember, if we put a product on our skin it is absorbed in the body.  The skin is the largest organ with a vast surface area, and we should be very critical regarding the ingredients we choose to use on our skin.  For more information on natural and organic skin care products with complete ingredient list information check out Timeless Organics Skin Care.