Ingredients in Skincare

Sea Buckthorn Water

Sea Buckthorn Water

Sea buckthorn is a natural plant extract which contains a high concentration of vitamin c, and polyphenols, which provide antioxidant protection against free radicals.

Rhamnose

Rhamnose

Rhamnose is a naturally occurring sugar found in plant sources such as buckthorn and birch. Studies have shown that its molecular size and structure allows it to penetrate to the area between the base of the epidermis and the top of the dermis, known as the ‘dermo-epidermal junction’. This is important as this is where the fibroblasts are situated, which produce the key skin proteins collagen and elastin, which contribute to overall skin structure & firmness. In vivo studies (on humans) from the manufacturers have shown that applying a product including rhamnose once daily for 8 weeks resulting in an increase in collagen production, and a decrease in overall wrinkle depth. Prebiotics are in a class of ingredients that can be found on ingredients lists as alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharides, lactobacillus extract filtrate and saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) extract.

Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract

Brassica Oleracea Capitata

Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract is derived from the root of the Boerhavia Diffusa plant, also known as Punarnava. It is used in skincare for its potential soothing, anti-inflammatory, and skin-conditioning properties.

Milk Thistle Extract

Milk thistle extract is derived from the seeds of the milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum). In skincare, it is used for its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-protecting properties.

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a gentle and water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is more stable for use in skincare than pure ascorbic acid. Vitamin C can also be found on ingredients lists as ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, ascorbyl palmitate, ethyl ascorbic acid, l-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.

Ectoin

Ectoin

Ectoin is an emollient used in skincare to help maintain moisture balance in the skin. New research shows it may also be able to protect against certain environmental aggressors, such as pollutants and UV. This is believed to be down to its antioxidant properties, as well as the ability to protect skin from dehydration from the surrounding environment.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow root is extracted from the Althea plant, native to Northern Africa, Europe and Western Asia, and is rich in polysaccharides and flavonoids. The polysaccharides provide natural humectant benefits, meaning this attracts water-molecules to plump and hydrate the area. The flavonoids provide antioxidant protection from free radicals, as well as anti-inflammatory benefits, by modulating inflammatory responses within the body.

Caprooyl Phytosphingosine

Caprooyl Phytosphingosine

Caprooyl Phytosphingosine is a mixture of fatty acids Caproic acid and Phytosphingosine. It acts as a precursor for ceramide synthesis, meaning it encourages the skin to produce ceramides naturally. The function of ceramides 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. This leads to an impaired skin barrier, which results in dry, rough skin with more visible wrinkling and redness. Encouraging the skin’s natural production of ceramides leads to an improved skin barrier, resulting in smoother, more hydrated, younger-looking skin. Caprooyl phytosphingosine is in the class of essential lipids, it can be found on ingredient lists as caprooyl sphingosine, cholesterol, glycolipids, glycoproteins, glycosphingolipids, lecithin, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phospholipids and phytosphingosine.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate is in a class of ingredients that can be found on ingredients lists as natural moisturising factors, sodium PCA or trehalose.

Fructooligosaccharides

Fructooligosaccharides

Fructooligosaccharides are in a class of prebiotic ingredients also found on ingredients lists as alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharides, lactobacillus extract filtrate, rhamnose and saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) extract. Prebiotics are a class of ingredients which can be found on ingredients lists as alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, lactobacillus extract filtrate, rhamnose and saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) extract.

Prickly Pear Extract

Prickly Pear Extract

Prickly pear is a cactus native to Mexico, and is used in skincare for its soothing and hydrating properties. It is also known as hydrolyzed opuntia ficus indica flower extract and opuntia ficus-indica fruit extract.

Retinaldehyde

Retinaldehyde

Retinaldehyde (RetinAl) is a part of the vitamin A family of ingredients and is the most potent cosmetic retinoid. As with most retinoids, retinal must be converted to retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A, in order to work. However, compared to retinol which undergoes 2 conversion steps to retinoic acid, retinal undergoes only one conversion, making it more potent/effective than retinol. Retinaldehyde is also unique in comparison to other retinoids in that it has antibacterial properties, alongside all other properties of retinoids. This means that you get the smoother, firmer, and more even skin tone that retinoids provide with the additional bonus of antibacterial properties for people with acne. It is part of a family of ingredients also found on ingredients lists as encapsulated retinaldehyde, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl propionate and retinyl retinoate (8x more powerful than retinol).

Plankton Extract

Plankton Extract

Plankton Extract has nourishing and hydrating properties which can benefit those with dry skin, and its gentle nature makes it a fitting choice for individuals with sensitive skin. It is in the class of Algae Extract which also include ahnfeltia concinna extract, alaria esculenta extract, algae exopolysaccharides, 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, marine extract, parachlorella beijerinckii exopolysaccharides, parachlorella beijerinckii exopolysaccharides, porphyridium cruentum extract, pseudoalteromonas exopolysaccharides, tripleurospermum maritimum extract, vibrio alginolyticus ferment filtrate, chlorella protothecoides oil

Quercetin

Quercetin

Quercetin is a naturally occurring bioflavonoid found in fruits and vegetables such as kale, onion, tomatoes and berries. It is used in skincare for its antioxidant abilities, meaning it can neutralise free radicals before they cause any damage to the skin. Studies also show Quercetin to have anti-inflammatory effects, and an ability to protect the skin against aggressors such as UV, histamine and toxic chemicals. It is also believed to support the skin barrier functioning, reducing water-loss via the skin to improve hydration levels in the epidermis.

Coconut Oil

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Coconut oil, also known as cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, is naturally rich in fat-soluble Vitamins A & E, which provide antioxidant benefits, as well as supporting the skin barrier by reducing TEWL and therefore retaining moisture levels within the epidermis.