Ingredients in Skincare

Rosemary Leaf Extract

Rosemary Leaf Extract

Rosemary Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the rosemary plant (Rosmarinus officinalis). In skincare, it is used for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics, can be classed as a food source that encourages the growth of good bacteria on the skin. The microbiome (the ecosystem of bacteria on the skin) is a relatively new discovery and we are learning that this is linked to many different aspects of our health, mood and appearance. Prebiotics are a class of ingredients which can be found on ingredients lists as alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharides, lactobacillus extract filtrate, rhamnose and saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) extract.

Lily Extract

Lilium Candidum Flower Extract

Lily extract is derived from various species of lilies, particularly Lilium candidum (also known as Madonna lily) or Lilium longiflorum. In skincare, lily extract is used for its potential skin-soothing, moisturizing, and brightening properties.

Jojoba Oil

Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil

Jojoba oil, also known as hydrogenated jojoba oil or simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, is a natural oil from the jojoba plant. It is structurally similar to our skin's natural sebum (oil), so absorbs very well into the skin and doesn't clog the pores. It is fantastic for nourishing the skin and is naturally high in fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins to optimise skin barrier health.

Shea Butter

Shea Butter

Shea butter is high in fatty acids and vitamins, so works to support the natural lipid barrier of the skin, reducing water loss via the epidermis to keep skin soft, smooth and moisturised.

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate is an anti-ageing peptide, seen as an ingredient that makes skincare 'botox in a bottle'. It is in a class of ingredients also found on ingredients lists as acetyl hexapeptide, acetyl tetrapeptide, acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine, arginine/lysine polypeptide, azelaoyl bis-dipeptide, copper heptapeptide-14 pantothenate, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, ferric hexapeptide, heptapeptide-15, palmitate, myristol hexapeptide, myristol pentapeptide, myristoyl nonapeptide, myristoyl pentapeptide, oligopeptide, palmitoyl tripeptide, palmitoyl decapeptide, palmitoyl heptapeptide, palmitoyl hexapeptide, palmitoyl nonapeptide, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl pentapeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide, palmitoyl tripeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide, pentapeptide, sh-oligopeptide, tetrapeptide and copper palmitoyl heptapeptide.

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose oil is derived from the seeds of the Oenothera biennis plant. It is naturally rich in omega-6, which provides anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as supports the skin's natural lipid barrier. Evening primrose oil also acts as an antioxidant to offer protection against free radical damage.

Urea

Urea is humectant ingredient found in the skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF), making up around 7-8% of the total composition. Its humectant properties mean it can bind to water molecules in the atmosphere, drawing them to it, and in turn plumping and hydrating the skin. Research also shows that Urea has a mild exfoliating action on the skin, encouraging the removal of dead cells which results in smoother, healthier, more hydrated skin.

Chemical UV Filters

Chemical UV filters are a family of ingredients also known as bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, ethylhexyl salicylate, ethylhexyl triazone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene and triazine diethyl butamidotriazone. They work by absorbing UVB light in the outer layers of the epidermis, then converting it into heat (to neutralise the energy which otherwise can lead to cell damage), and scattering it away from the body.

Mandelic Acid

Mandelic Acid

Mandelic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), derived from bitter almonds. AHAs work by dissolving the keratin binding the outermost layer of skin cells, speeding up the skin’s natural exfoliation process. This leads to smoother, brighter, clearer skin, whilst reducing skin discolouration & fine lines/wrinkles with continued use. Mandelic acid has a larger molecular weight vs. other acids in the AHA category. It is twice the molecular weight of glycolic acid for example (the smallest AHA on the market), so it tends to be better tolerated than smaller AHAs, which penetrate the skin much faster. Research also shows that mandelic acid is particularly effective at improving some forms of pigmentation, compared with other AHAs.

Apple Stem Cells

Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract

Apple stem cells, also known as malus domestica fruit cell culture extract, occur naturally within plants to help regenerate cells after stress or injury, and studies show this can encourage similar regenerating mechanisms in human skin. Apple stem cells have been shown to increase synthesis of collagen & elastin to achieve visible anti-ageing results in the skin.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble Vitamin contained in many plant oils, or can also be produced synthetically. Vitamin E is found naturally in our own skin, and its main benefit is to offer powerful antioxidant protection against pollution and free radical damage. It also helps to support our skin’s natural lipid barrier, which in turn improves the hydration levels within the epidermis, as water loss through the skin is minimised. Vitamin E is a family of ingredients also known as alpha tocopherol, tocopherol acetate, tocopheryl (vitamin e) acetate, tocopheryl glucoside or tocopheryl linoleate/oleate.

Polyhydroxy Acids

Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) work by gently dissolving the keratin that binds our outermost layer of skin cells, encouraging the natural exfoliation process of the skin, leading to smoother, clearer skin. This process also encourages new skin cell generation in the basal layer of the epidermis and with repeated use this can have an overall anti-ageing effect on the skin. PHAs are much larger in molecular weight vs AHAs so they cannot penetrate the skin as fast or as far, which therefore makes more gentle & suitable for more sensitive skin types, including those with rosacea-prone skin. Gluconolactone is also especially good for drier skin types as it also has natural humectant qualities, meaning it draws water towards it, hydrating the skin from within. Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) are a class of ingredients also known by gluconolactone, lactobionic acid, lactobionic acid (pha) and maltobionic acid.

Algae Exopolysaccharides

Algae Exopolysaccharides

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are phytochemicals produced by Algae to protect from external stressors: UV radiation, oxidation (from free radicals) and temperature, so these provide skin-protecting benefits in skincare. Being a polysaccharide, this also offers humectant qualities, meaning it can draw water to it, plumping & hydrating the area it is applied to. It is in the class of Algae Extract which also include ahnfeltia concinna extract, alaria esculenta extract, algae extract, algin, alteromonas ferment extract, ascophyllum nodosum extract, asparagopsis armata extract, chlorella protothecoides, chlorella vulgaris extract, dunaliella salina (green algae) extract, hydrolyzed f-fucoidan, laminaria ochroleuca (kelp) extract, macrocystis pyrifera (kelp) extract, and marine extract.

Alanine

Alanine

Amino acids like Alanine are the small building blocks that make up peptides, and proteins. Alanine is part of a class of Amino Acids. They can also be found on ingredients lists as acetyl glucosamine, acetyl tyrosinamide, arginine, arginine hcl, arginine pca, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, taurine, threonine and valine and yeast amino acids.