The Definitive Guide to skincare ingredients

Skin is the largest organ of our body that covers our internal organs. Primary defense from external hazardous is not only the purpose of taking care of skin. But skincare is necessary for aesthetic beauty. Every individual wants flawless skin. Everybody is using some skincare products to maintain skin health. But the selection of skincare products is a bit tricky. Cost is not the factor to select a good product that suits your skin type. But the ingredients used in the formulation are crucial for its efficacy and safety. One should choose skincare products by checking its ingredient depending upon the skin type.

What are skincare ingredients?

Skincare ingredients are the elements present in the formulation. They are mentioned in the product label to give information to the end-users.

Skincare ingredient types

Some of the skincare ingredients are considered active ingredients. The list of these active ingredients and their quantity are the determinants of usability, efficacy, and safety of any skincare product. Along with active ingredients, some inert elements like color, fragrances are also added to the skincare products to make them appealing. [1]

Skin types

Skin types differ. Broadly following are some common skin types and their characteristics:

• Dry skin: tends to frequent peeling because dryness makes the skin tetchy. Fine lines and small pore size are common findings in dry skin.
• Sensitive skin: Skin can react with external or internal factors and gets irritated. Both dry and oily types of skin can be sensitive. The associated symptoms like redness, rashes may occur frequently.
• Normal skin: The controlled sebum secretion makes the skin not too dry or oily. Normal skin is non-sensitive along the texture is smooth.
• Combination skin: Some parts of facial skin are dry and easily peel out, whereas the remaining parts are oily with visible skin pores because of larger pore size.
• Oily skin: T zone appears oily with large pores and tends to breakouts.
• Mature skin: Facial skin becomes dry with loss of luminosity, visible wrinkles, deep fine lines, and open pores. Skin lost its tone and firmness.

Here it is necessary to mention that environmental factors, aging, or other changes alter the skin type over some time. Many of us experience the alteration of type of skin after pregnancy, ill-health, during seasonal changes, or age transition. Merging of two or more types of skin is also possible.

Skin concerns

We often bothersome of the following skin concerns:

• Acne or blemishes: Acne is breakouts of pimples that damage skin tissue. Acne either has whiteheads, blackheads, or blind spots. A severe acne outbreak requires medical treatment.

• Dryness or dehydrated skin: Dryness or dehydrated skin can occur because lack of moisture content in the skin tissue makes skin itchy, flaky, and tight.

• Hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, dark spots, and dullness: There are categorized under the same heading because harmful UV radiation often leads to these conditions. Otherwise, age spots, scars, or melisma can also be responsible for these skin concerns. Over-production of melanin or remaining scar marks can cause long-lasting skin spots.

• Lines and wrinkles: We often have generalized thought that lines and wrinkles on the skin only appear because of aging. Even in the 20s or 30s age group people can face the skin issues like smile lines and forehead creases.

• Aging signs: Skin becomes dull with increasing age. Fine lines and wrinkles are prominent with aging.

• Uneven texture:Skin looks uneven because of roughness, bumpy texture, and enlarged pores.

• Sensitivity:  Skin certainly gets reactive and develops irritation and redness. [2, 3]

Ingredients to avoid in skincare

Some harmful chemicals are present in different skincare products. These harmful chemicals not only affect external skin tissue. But they can also damage internal organs by penetrating through blood vessels present beneath the skin tissue. Parabens, formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalate, aluminum compounds, propylene glycol, talc, alpha-hydroxy acids, triclosan are different chemicals used in skincare products as an active ingredient. Among these harmful ingredients, some of the chemical ingredients like parabens, aluminum compounds, sodium lauryl sulfate, alpha-hydroxy acids, talc have a link with carcinogenic effects. The harmful effects of chemicals used as skincare product ingredients can also cause other ailments. For example, paraben can inhibit testosterone secretion that causes impairment of male fertility. Phthalate is also not recommended for male users as it can diminish the size of the male genital organ. Aluminum compounds may cause Alzheimer’s Disease. Penetration of formaldehyde through the skin can reach to lungs and causes hypersensitivity reactions like asthma, bronchospasm. Therefore, long-term application of formaldehyde-containing products does not advisable. Some the chemicals like formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulfate and paraben can cause skin sensitivity reactions. Application of propylene glycol causes skin dehydration that leads to wrinkle formations and early skin aging. The topical application of alpha-hydroxy acid makes the skin more radiation-sensitive. The UV ray exposure may cause skin cancer due to an increased rate of oxidant free radical formation that resultant from excessive application of this ingredient. Phthalate-containing skincare products are not recommended during pregnancy because they can cause a birth defect. [4]

Best natural skincare ingredients

Aloe vera Aloe barbadensis miller is the scientific name of Aloe vera with 75 bioactive constituents like vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugar, saponins, lignins, salicylic acid, and amino acids. Aloe vera is a common natural skincare ingredient because it has multiple skin benefits. Mucopolysaccharides present in Aloe vera hold skin moisture and prevent skin dehydration. Aloe vera activates fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin to maintain skin elasticity. Thus aloe vera prevents wrinkle formation because of its anti-aging property. Aloe vera is a good natural skincare ingredient for dry skin. Cohesive effects of Aloe vera act on the epidermal layer of skin to prevent flaking and make skin soften. Aloe vera also has antiseptic property that inhibits fungal and bacterial skin infections. Aloe vera also triggers natural hyaluronic acid synthesis in the skin and accelerates wound healing through topical application. Aloe vera is also added for sun protection in skincare formulation as it acts against UV radiation damage to the skin due to its antioxidant property. [5] Gotu Kola Centella asiatica is the scientific name of Gotu kola. Saponin is one of the primary phytochemical compositions in Gotu kola that provides multiple skin benefits. Centella Asiatica has an excellent wound healing property. The topical application of this natural ingredient significantly increases collagen and fibronectin production. Thus, it stimulates scar maturation. Centella Asiatica has anti-psoriatic activity and shows therapeutic benefits against scleroderma, cellulite, and striae. Therefore, many cosmetic products contain Gotu kola as an active ingredient. Gotu kola improves skin nourishment by stimulating vascular activity present beneath the skin. Gotu kola promotes proliferation of fibroblast and increases collagen and acidic mucopolysaccharides synthesis. Gotu kola also significantly improves the tensile strength of newly formed skin by increasing intracellular fibronectin content and mitotic activity in the germ layer. The anti-inflammatory property of Gotu kola inhibits the inflammatory phase of keloids and hypertrophic scars. [6] Oat Bran Avena sativa is the scientific name of oat. Oat-derived products are used in skincare products as an antioxidant, abrasives, absorbents, skin conditioning agents, and bulking agents. Saponins, flavonoids, enzymes, phenolic compounds, lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates, Sterols, and Vitamins and minerals are different constituents present in oat. Oat bran is a common natural cleaning skincare ingredient used in cosmetic products. [7] Some significant skin benefits of oatmeal are anti-itch, skin protection, anti-fungal, moisturizing, act against atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne eruption, etc. [8] Sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides is the scientific name of Sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn is an abundant source of essential lipids, and 14 vitamins such as vitamin A, C, D, E, F, K, P, and B complex vitamins (B1, B2, B6) and vitamin C. Well-balanced composition of fatty acids, vitamins, and carotenoids present in Sea buckthorn make it excellent skincare natural ingredient for dry, flaky, irritated, rapidly aging or burned skin. [9] The cosmetic industry formulates sea buckthorn containing cosmeceuticals for mature skin. It has anti-aging and anti-wrinkle properties with a potent antioxidant property. Sea buckthorn can firm and tone flabby skin and smoothen out wrinkles. [10] Magnolia Magnolia officinalis is the scientific name of Magnolia. Magnolol and honokiol are two primary lignans present in Magnolia. Magnolia also contains alkaloids and volatile oils. [11] The anti-inflammatory property of magnolia can slow down aging processes by preventing wrinkles and sagging skin. Magnolia reduces facial skin redness and improves the visco-elastic properties and hydration of the skin. [12]

Natural Skincare ingredients supplier recommended

Luck Herb is a well-established China base natural ingredient manufacturing and supplier company. The authenticity of the products available in Luke herb is unquestionable. The quality control department of Luke Herb thoroughly check and follow every step in the manufacturing of different natural ingredients that comprise raw material collection to the packing of the finished product. Luck Herb is one roof source of commonly used natural skincare ingredients like Centella Asiatica extract, Sea buckthorn, Magnolia Bark Extract, etc. Call to action for authentic buyers are contact Luck Herb, send a quotation request to get technical documents. [13]