Ingredients in Skincare

Willow Bark Extract

Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract

Willow bark contains naturally-occurring salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works as an exfoliating acid to dissolve the keratin that binds the outermost layers of the skin, encouraging the natural exfoliation process of the skin. Due to its oil-soluble form, salicylic acid can penetrate inside the pore, to clear out dead skin cell build up and prevent comedones (blocked pores) from occurring, or acne-causing bacteria to overpopulate within the pore. This C. Acnes bacteria is anaerobic so needs an oxygen-free environment to thrive, and thus require a pore to be blocked.

Dioic Acid

Octadecenedioic Acid

Dioic acid is a naturally-occurring acid found in plant and animal fats/oils. It is used in skincare for its ability to regulate sebum production in the skin, as well as its antibacterial action against acne-causing C. Acnes bacteria. It has also been shown to visibly reduce hyperpigmentation, with results being comparable to that of hydroquinone (the gold standard prescription for treating hyperpigmentation).

Ceramides

Ceramides

Ceramides are a class of ingredients, which includes ceramide ap, ceramide 3, ceramide eop, ceramide eos, ceramide ng, ceramide np, ceramide ns and ceramide 6-ll. Their function is to hold the skin cells together by creating a barrier against water-loss from the inside-out, and external aggressors from the outside-in. They make up almost 50% of our skins composition, but they can be depleted by UV, free radicals & pollution, and their production also naturally slows with age. Applying ceramides topically can increase the levels of ceramides in the epidermis, and therefore supports the natural healthy functioning of the skin.

Yerba Mate Extract

Yerba Mate Extract

Yerba Mate Extract is derived from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant, native to South America. In skincare, it is used for its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-soothing properties. It contains various natural compounds, including polyphenols, xanthines (such as caffeine), and vitamins, which contribute to its skincare benefits.

Amino Acids

Amino Acids are the small building blocks that make up peptides, and proteins. Each amino acid has a unique structure, and as such plays a specific role within the body. There are around 20 different types considered to be most important for human health. Amino acids are a class of ingredients. They can also be found on ingredients lists as acetyl glucosamine, acetyl tyrosinamide, alanine, arginine, arginine hcl, arginine pca, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, taurine, threonine and valine and yeast amino acids.

Blue Lotus Extract

Nymphaea Caerulea

Blue lotus is typically used in skincare for its moisturising properties. As with most plant extracts, it also demonstrates antioxidant abilities, so is able to help protect skin against free radical damage.

Willow Herb Extract

Willow Herb Extract

A botanical extract used for its antioxidant and skin-soothing abilities.

Avocado Oil

Persea Gratissima Oil

Avocado oil is rich source of fatty acids, it helps to protect excess water loss through the skin’s surface, to keep it moisturised, soft and smooth. This oil also has antioxidant properties so helps to protect skin against free radical damage.

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Part of the Vitamin C family of ingredients, Ascorbyl Glucoside is a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin C. This derivative was created to provide improved stability and skin penetration vs. ascorbic acid alone. It is still unclear how well ascorbyl glucoside is converted into ascorbic acid (the active form of Vitamin C) within the body, but some of it will be lost during this conversion, making this less potent, and therefore requiring higher levels in the formulation in order to achieve great results. Vitamin C can also be found on ingredients lists as ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, ethyl ascorbic acid, l-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.

Anti-Ageing Peptides

Many peptides function as anti-ageing ingredients in skincare, due to their ability to fit specific receptors in the body to trigger anti-ageing responses. This includes mechanisms like collagen production, cell regeneration or even blocking muscle contractions to smooth expression lines. Peptides are 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, 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.

Isoleucine

Isoleucine

A branch-chained, essential amino acid that can be found in things like almond, cashew or soy protein. In skincare, it is used in moisturising products and is found to be good for skin barrier defence. Amino acids are a class of ingredients. They can also be found on ingredients lists as acetyl glucosamine,acetyl tyrosinamide, alanine, arginine hcl, histidine, arginine pca, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, taurine, threonine and valine and yeast amino acids.

Centella Asiatica

Centella Asiatica

Centella asiatica promotes wound healing and skin repair, helping to accelerate the recovery process. It exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, reducing redness, irritation, and inflammation and provides soothing and calming benefits, making it beneficial for sensitive or compromised skin.

Vitamin A

Retinoic acid (aka tretinoin) is the gold standard of anti-ageing and works in a number of ways. Firstly, it blocks the production of collagen-degrading enzymes, meaning collagen does not get broken down as quickly in the skin. After prolonged use (6M+), it has also been shown to stimulate the production of type I and type III collagen, reducing wrinkles and improving skin firmness. It has been shown to protect against UV-induced damage, as well as reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation in the skin. Skin treated with retinoids is smoother, more even-toned, firmer and younger looking. Vitamin A is a family of ingredients also known as retinol, retinaldehyde, encapsulated retinaldehyde, Retinoic acid (aka tretinoin), hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinyl palmitate, retinyl propionate or retinyl retinoate (8x more powerful than retinol). Vitamin A is one of the most well-researched actives used in skincare today. Retinol and all of It's derivatives are broken down within the skin first into retinaldehyde, then into retinoic acid, the active form recognised by the body to trigger it’s skin benefits.

Wild Cherry Extract

Prunus Serotina

Wild cherry is a natural fruit extract, rich in plant antioxidants and vitamin c which help to protect the skin from free radical damage. It may also offer skin calming benefits.

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane / Avobenzone is a synthetic sunscreen filter used in skin care to protect against damage from UVA light. Other ingredients in the class of synthetic filters include bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, ethylhexyl salicylate, ethylhexyl triazone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene and triazine diethyl butamidotriazone.