What do all the ingredients do?
If you’ve ever wondered what the active ingredients in cosmetic products do for your skin, you’re not alone. Vitamin A vs. Vitamin E or C or peptides. What are they all for exactly?!?!?!
I’ve assembled a quick to read skin care and cosmetics ingredients dictionary with links to my sources in the event you want to delve in a bit more. As always, consult your doctor if you’re unsure about allergies or reactions.
Almond Oil: Treats rashes, acne, and dryness of the skin. Anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
Aloe Vera: Helps heal sunburns, bacteria fighter, reduces inflammation, redness and itching. Burn and wound healer. Used to fight psoriasis and cold sores. Has over 75 potentially active ingredients that include salicylic acid, fatty acids, enzymes, lignin, vitamins, and mineral. Anti-fungal.
Alpha-hydroxy acids: Includes glycol, lactic, tartaric and citric acids. Primary function is to help with fine lines, age spots and irregular pigmentation. Sides effects may include mild irritation and sun sensitivity
Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Gives skin a healthy glow, diminishes the look of fine lines. Boosts levels of other antioxidants like Vitamin C. Super anti-aging. Fights skin damage and helps to repair past damage.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Kills bacteria and other pathogens to clear skin issues related to gut issues. Cleanses the skin to help stop acne. Used for treating skin sores.
Argon Oil: Moisturizes skin. Rick in Vitamin A, E, omega06 fatty acids and linoleic acid, antioxidant.
Avocado: Boosts collagen production, treats age spots, reduces inflammation. Oils found in topical creams.
Beta-hydroxy acid (Salicylic acid): To improve the texture and color of sun damaged skin. Acne treatment. Less irritating than Alpha-Hydroxy acids.
Castor Oil: Used in lash growth serums. Can be drying so if used as a face cleanser for skin so it should be cut with almond or coconut oil.
Copper Peptide: Helps to firm, smooth and soften skin quickly. Peptides promote collagen and elastin production and production of glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronic acid). Removes damaged collagen and elastin from the skin and scar tissue.
DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol): Reduces fine lines and wrinkles. DMAE occurs naturally in the brain and anchovies, salmon and sardines.
Hyaluronic Acid: For wrinkle treatment. Used to reverse the aging process. HA occurs naturally in humans and animals. Found in joint fluid, tissues, and young skin. Over time the hyaluronic acid in the body is destroyed, and topical application can help with that.
Hydroquinone: To lighten hyperpigmentation like age spots and dark spots related to pregnancy or hormone therapy. Often called bleaching or lightening creams. Also used to improve discoloration from sun damage.
Jojoba Oil: Treats acne, psoriasis, sunburn and chapped skin. Can also help heal burns, sores, scars, dermatitis. Wrinkle-fighter. Reduces balding by encouraging hair regrowth.
Kojic Acid: Derived from a fungus and works similarly to hydroquinone. May slow down the production of melanin (brown pigment)
L-Ascorbic Acid: Vitamin C. The only antioxidant that’s proven to minimize fine lines, scars, and wrinkles by stimulating the synthesis of collagen. The only form of Vitamin C you need and want in your face products. Other derivatives of vitamin C are not useful for anything.
Lemon Oil: Diminish acne due to bacteria in pores, fades scars and age spots, exfoliates, brightens and lightens skin tone, fights wrinkles.
Manuka raw honey: Encourages wound healing, reduces scarring and fights rashes. Suitable as a dressing for wounds and burns. Can help heal bacterial infections, dandruff, diaper dermatitis and psoriasis.
Retinol: Derivative of Vitamin A also known as Retinal. Use Retinal to improve mottled pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, texture, tons and color of skin. To be used if Retinal (Retin-A, Renova from the dermatologist) is too potent and causes irritation. Retinol and Retinal penetrate deeply to collagen and elastin layers. Retinol is found in department store brands. Be careful of which are cruelty-free because most are not. The best source of Retinal that’s the closest thing to prescription, but without irritation, is R and F.
Sea Salts: Anti-inflammatory to soothe skin, calm breakouts, remove dead skin cells, irritation, oil production balance and helps the skin retain moisture levels. Used in toners, masks, and scrubs.
Shea Butter: Moisturizer and reduces flaking, redness, and peeling.
Tea Tree Oil: Fights breakouts, redness, and inflammation. A natural unit-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antimicrobial and anti-fungal essential oil.
Wow! Never would have thought half of these could help with skin care. Are there any brands of lotions that you could recommend?
Hi Will. I can recommend products for you absolutely! It really depends what you are looking for and we have to start there.
Are you wanting face or body, all natural or dermatologist grade formulas? Do you have any specific skin concerns? The products I like are on my Skin Care pages. You can browse the natural formulations here, https://thecrueltyfreeface.com/searching-for-the-best-natural-skin-care or the dermatologist grade here, https://thecrueltyfreeface.com/the-best-cruelty-free-skin-care-brand-for-all-skin-types. Apologies for the direct links not working for some reason, a copy and paste to your browser will work though.
Let me know how I can be of further help once we narrow things down a bit.
Regards, Sydney
Hi Sydney
this is a fantastic resource! I love all things natural and have used most of the natural ingredients you’ve mentioned. Yet, when it comes to natural cosmetics/make-up, I’m unsure which particular brands are good. Can you recommend some that can be available in the UK? Thanks
Hi Teresa, Thank you for reaching out and the kind comment@
All of the brands on this site have a focus on clean beauty and all have stellar reviews. I’m not 100% sure what you’re looking for specifically, but if it’s face makeup (foundation/powder), the popular favourites right now are Cover Fx, Au Naturale and Afterglow (currently offline which is too bad) and 100% Pure. Personally, I use Rodan and Fields mineral powder and it works really well for me. My “Face” section for makeup and blush isn’t finished yet but Cover Fx and Afterglow are on there. Have a look here https://thecrueltyfreeface.com/shop for links to the other companies. If it’s something else you’re looking for please let me know and I’ll help you out. I had a quick look at it appears they all ship Internationally. I do know if you’re from the UK and don’t want to order online Jane Iredale products are beloved by their users and I believe they are made in the UK as well.
Hope that helps!
Sydney
Thanks for being so thorough! I’m looking for a concealer and foundation.I have a dark birthmark on my face which I cover up so looking for a more natural way to cover. Would any of these companies be able to send samples too? Thanks
Hi Teresa, I’m going to recommend four companies to look at for the options they offer. Since there are many ways to go for both foundation and concealer, and I’m not 100% sure of your personal preferences (powder/liquid) please bear with me as I go through the options for you.
Au Naturale. They have starter kits for $25 in powder or creme and with that, you get a $10 off coupon for your next order, or you can order 5 samples for $15. They have Completely Covered Creme Concealer or Color Theory Creme Correctors to go with the foundation you like. The Covered click or Correct Click might be what you’re looking for to cover your birthmark.
Afterglow I like Afterglows “Start Here” feature to find your best match of colour for your foundation. They have a Powder Color Corrector Concealer and a Creme Undereye Concealer that could probably be used anywhere on your face. They don’t have samples, unfortunately.
100% Pure has a feature where you start off picking your coverage and finish in the Foundation section. They have 3 concealers to choose from and they sell a sample set of four, second skin foundations to help you choose your best shade and you get a coupon for your next full-sized purchase.
Cover Fx This has a wonderful Find My Shade and Formula section that you’ll find in Shop/Foundation Finder. They’ve got really cool concealers called Cover Click and correct click that you should look at, they are also refillable for future orders. Cover Fx does not have samples, unfortunately.
I hope you find what you are looking for in these companies. Please keep me posted on how you make out. If you have any other questions, I’ll do my best to find you the answers. Also, if you have any trouble linking through here please let me know!
Take care!
Sydney