Ingredients in Skincare

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.

Salicylic Acid

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. Salicylic acids are a family of ingredients and can also be found on ingredients lists as beta hydroxy acid (BHA) or capryloyl salicylic acid.

Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine

Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine

Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine is a synthetic tetrapeptide used in skincare for its firming abilities. It works by inhibiting the enzyme elastase, which breaks down elastin in the skin (the protein responsible for skin firmness and elasticity). This reduction in elastase allows for higher levels of elastin in the skin, which in turn leads to skin that looks firmer, tighter and restructured. It is in a class of ingredients also found on ingredients lists as acetyl hexapeptide, acetyl tetrapeptide, 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.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Aloe vera, also appear on ingredients lists as aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, contains around 75 active constituents, including Vitamins A,C & E to provide antioxidant protection, 8 enzymes to inhibit inflammatory processes in the body and 9 different minerals to support the body’s natural functioning. It also includes sugars to provide hydrating humectant properties, fatty acids to provide anti-inflammatory & antiseptic properties, and hormones to promote wound healing.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3 and Nicotinamide, has many skincare benefits. Firstly, it regulates sebum production in the skin, which in turn reduces blemishes and visible pore size. It also reduces facial redness by improving microcirculation, which means moving the blood inside the capillaries away from the face to reduce visible redness. It also has the ability to strengthen the natural lipid barrier of the skin by encouraging ceramide production (the building blocks which seal our skin cells together), which in turn increases the hydration within the epidermis. Lastly, niacinamide works to help reduce hyperpigmentation by blocking melanin from being deposited on the skin cells.

Perfluorodecalin

Perfluorodecalin

Perfluorodecalin is a synthetic active, used in skincare to dissolve and deliver oxygen into the skin. A lack of oxygen in the skin can cause unwanted bacteria to populate, for example in conditions like acne and rosacea. Adding extra oxygen into the skin, creates a hostile environment for these anaerobic (oxygen-hating) bacteria to survive.

Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5 is a humectant, meaning it can draw water molecules to it, hydrating and plumping the area it has been applied to. It also supports the natural lipid barrier of the skin, by encouraging the production of a precursor to fatty acids & sphingolipids, both of which are essential parts of the skin barrier. This mechanism helps to moisturise the skin by reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), therefore retaining more moisture within the skin. This also helps to reduce inflammation in dry or broken skin, as an intact skin barrier will prevent potential irritants from getting into the epidermis. Vitamin B5 is a family of ingredients also known as calcium pantothenate, calcium pantothenate (vitamin b5), d-panthenol, pantothenic acid, panthenol, and panthenyl triacetate.

Endothelyol

Endothelyol

Endothelyol is used in skincare to target redness and rosacea. It provides a soothing effect by regulating inflammatory processes in the skin, as well as reducing visible redness via encouraging microcirculation (blood flow in the capillaries). It has been proven to reduce rosacea symptoms after 28 days daily use.

Adenosine

Adenosine

Adenosine is a well-researched anti-ageing and soothing ingredient. It is produced naturally in the body, but can also be derived from yeast. It works by stimulating the skin's own collagen production process, to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It also has anti-inflammatory and barrier repair benefits, so is a fantastic multi-functional skincare ingredient.

Algae Extract

Algae Extract

It is essentially an underwater plant, designed to get its food from sunlight, much like any other plants, although from much more challenging conditions. In all its forms it acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting from free radical damage, as well as being able to hydrate the skin and deliver naturally-occurring vitamins into the skin. Algaes are a class of ingredients, many of which can be used in skincare. Variants of algae used in skincare are ahnfeltia concinna extract, alaria esculenta extract, algae exopolysaccharides, algin, alteromonas ferment extract, ascophyllum nodosum extract, asparagopsis armata extract, chlorella protothecoides, chlorella protothecoides oil (oleic acid), chlorella vulgaris extract, dunaliella salina (green algae) extract, hydrolysed algin, hydrolyzed f-fucoidan, laminaria ochroleuca (kelp) extract, laminaria ochroleuca extract. macrocystis pyrifera (kelp) extract, and marine extract

Allantoin

Allantoin

Allantoin occurs naturally in the body, but can also be derived from the root of the Comfrey plant or Chamomile, or produced synthetically. It is used in skincare for its ability to promote wound healing and healthy tissue growth, helping in the production of collagen and elastin fibres. Allantoin has also been shown to have soothing and anti-irritant properties, which is thought to be down to its ability to form complexes with irritating agents, thus preventing them from activating inflammatory mechanisms within the skin.

Acai Extract

Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Acai is a plant ingredient which can also be referred to by its botanical name, euterpe oleracea. It displays potent antioxidant abilities, meaning it is able to protect skin against free radical damage.

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (PAD) is a water-soluble derivative of azelaic acid which conveys many of the same benefits as pure azelaic acid. It is a gentle anti-inflammatory so is suitable for sensitive skin, and is able to improve rosacea and acne symptoms, as well as fading pigmentation left from acne.