Ingredients in Skincare

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.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is a tree native to Asia, one of the oldest plant species on the planet, and rich in flavonoids and terpenoids. These provide powerful antioxidant protection, reducing potential damage caused by reactive free radicals. Studies have also shown Ginkgo Biloba to provide skin-smoothing and hydrating properties.

Retinol

Retinol

Retinol, is a part of the vitamin A family of ingredients and is one of the most well-researched actives used in skincare today. Retinol and all of its derivatives are broken down within the skin first into retinaldehyde, then into retinoic acid, the active form recognised by the body to trigger its skin benefits. 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. It is part of a family of ingredients also found on ingredients lists as encapsulated retinaldehyde, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinaldehyde, retinyl palmitate, retinyl propionate and retinyl retinoate (8x more powerful than retinol)

Feverfew Extract

Feverfew has been used in ancient medicine for centuries to treat everything from headaches, constipation, vertigo, worms, spasms & arthritis. One of the oil-soluble flavonoids, Tanetin, has been shown to modulate inflammatory responses in the body, whilst other flavonoids provide antioxidant protection.

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.

Sacred Lotus Flower Extract

Sacred Lotus Flower Extract

This natural plant extract has been shown to have multi-functional benefits, targeting both pigmentation and wrinkles. Studies have shown the extract to be effective at inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in producing the pigment melanin in the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of dark spots. It has also been shown to help firm the skin, by slowing the rate at which elastin, an important protein for skin firmness, is degraded.

Red Algae

Red Algae

Algae is an incredibly interesting natural ingredient source. It is essentially an underwater plant, designed to get its food from sunlight, much like any other plants, although from much more challenging conditions. There are many types of algae (kelp, laminaria, microalgae), but in general 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.

Superoxide Dismutase

Superoxide Dismutase

Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme produced naturally in the body, specifically to break down the free radical superoxide (an oxygen with an excess electron and thus a negative charge). It is considered to be the body’s most important antioxidant and works by catalysing the conversion of superoxide, into elemental oxygen (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a process known as dismutation. This action is part of the body’s natural anti-ageing mechanism, so including this ingredient in skincare supports this natural protection process.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mineral UV Filters

Mineral UV filters are naturally-occurring mineral powders, used in sun protection products to absorb UV light. They work predominantly by absorbing UV rays, like their synthetic/chemical counterparts, with only about 5% of UV rays reflected. There are currently two mineral UV filters on the market: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract

Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract

Ascophyllum nodosum extract is a type of cold water brown seaweed that has antioxidant properties and serves as a texture enhancer in cosmetics. It is found along the shorelines in cold areas of the world, such as Northern Canada and Iceland. It is in the class of Algae Extract which also include ahnfeltia concinna extract, alaria esculenta extract, algae exopolysaccharides, algin, alteromonas ferment extract, alteromonas ferment 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, padina pavonica thallus extract, parachlorella beijerinckii exopolysaccharides, plankton extract, porphyridium cruentum extract, pseudoalteromonas exopolysaccharides, tripleurospermum maritimum extract, vibrio alginolyticus ferment filtrate, chlorella protothecoides oil

Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic Acid

Part of the Vitamin C family of ingredients, L-ascorbic acid is Vitamin C in its purest form, and the active form required by the body to result in the many skin skin benefits of Vitamin C. The issue with L-ascorbic acid is in the delivery, as it is very unstable in water, and needs a pH 4 or below for it to penetrate the skin. That being said, when it can be stabilised in a formula and is able to penetrate the skin, it provides the highest potency of any form of Vitamin C currently available. Vitamin C can also be found on ingredients lists as ascorbyl glucoside, ascorbyl palmitate, ethyl ascorbic acid, l-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.