Yeast extract (e.g. Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) is used in skincare for its benefits as a moisturising and soothing agent. It has strong antioxidant properties to protect against free radical damage and its fermented nature means it also functions as a prebiotic on the skin (meaning it acts as a food source for beneficial skin bacteria to thrive).

Prebiotics are in a class of ingredients that can be found on ingredients lists as alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharides, lactobacillus extract filtrate and rhamnose.

Renude

barrier support

enlarged pores

This gentle formula is pH balanced to cleanse the skin whilst respecting the natural lipid barrier and acidic nature of the skin's surface. It's a great option for you as a simple daily cleanse to remove impurities whilst maintaing skin hydration.

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, by stimulating the fibroblasts in the dermis to produce collagen and elastin fibres, essential tissues for skin regeneration and healing. 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.

allantoin

Yeast extract (e.g. Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) is used in skincare for its benefits as a moisturising and soothing agent. It has strong antioxidant properties to protect against free radical damage and it’s fermented nature means it also functions as a prebiotic on the skin (meaning it acts as a food source for beneficial skin bacteria to thrive).

saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) extract

Prebiotics in simple terms, 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. A diverse breadth in the strains of bacteria living on the skin results in a healthy microbiome, and some early research has linked certain imbalances in this microbiome to skin conditions such as acne, ezcema and psoriasis.

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.

sacred lotus flower extract

Tea tree oil is an essential oil extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, native to Australia. Tea tree leaf oil is known to have antibacterial qualities, the mechanism for this is not completely understood, but research shows that it could be due to an ability to damage the bacterial cell wall.

It also has anti-inflammatory effects, due to its content of terpen-4-ol, which studies have shown reduces inflammation in the skin when applied topically. These functions make it a great ingredient for the use in acne treatments, both to kill p.acnes bacteria, but also reduce the associated inflammation.

tea tree leaf oil

Discover day-long moisture with the COSRX Low pH Good Morning Cleanser; a daily face wash that is gentle enough for sensitive skin types. Boasting a mildly acidic pH, the cleansing formula is similar to skin’s natural pH level. The effective gel formula works to remove waste produced by skin during sleep, leaving the complexion clean and clear. A healthy dose of Tea Tree Oil is ideal for those with oily skin types. This works to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and control excess sebum production.

These gentle SLES/SLS free foaming cleansers work to remove the build up of dead skin cells and excess oils to leave skin clean but not stripped.

Gentle foaming cleanser picks

A cult Korean beauty classic, this cleanser boasts an average star rating of 4.5 with neary 3000 reviews. It's pH balanced formula is slightly acidic (just like our skin's surface), so it gently removes dirt and excess sebum, without throwing the skin out of balance. It includes tea tree oil to act as an antibacterial so can also help to minimise blemishes.

A fragrance-free, dermatologist favourite, this gentle foaming formula uses non-stripping cleansing agents to gently remove excess oils and dirt. The formula also includes ceramides to support the natural lipid barrier, niacinamide to soothe and regulate sebum production, and glycerin to hydrate.

Cruelty free

Diverse founder

Hypoallergenic

Awarded

Sensitive

Vegan

blackheads

blemishes

uneven texture

This formula is great for congested skin, prone to dehydration. It includes salicylic acid to deep-clean pores and prevent blemishes, in a hydrating formula that doesn't strip the skin or leave any dry feeling.

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), which occurs naturally in willow bark. 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 P.Acnes bacteria is anaerobic so needs an oxygen-free environment to thrive, and thus require a pore to be blocked.

salicylic acid

Salix Alba (white willow) bark extract, is a plant extract containing naturally-occurring salicylic acid as it’s active constituent.

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 P.Acnes bacteria is anaerobic so needs an oxygen-free environment to thrive, and thus require a pore to be blocked.

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 P.Acnes bacteria is anaerobic so needs an oxygen-free environment to thrive, and thus require a pore to be blocked.

Melt away the skin’s impurities with COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser, a nourishing cleansing wash that helps to treat and prevent breakouts. Infused with a potent blend of Tea Tree Oil, Willow Bark Water and 0.5% Salicylic Acid, the cleanser gently removes dirt, excess oil and product build-up while replenishing moisture in order to combat the underlying causes of blemishes and breakouts. The result is a touchably soft, visibly clearer complexion that boasts a natural glow.

These cleansers will exfoliate the skin, decongest pores, minimise breakouts and blackheads, leaving skin clearer, smoother & more even-toned.

Resurfacing cleanser picks

A cult classic, this potent foaming gel cleanser includes sugarcane, bilberry and willowbark extracts, containing naturally-occurring AHAs and BHAs (glycolic, lactic & salicylic acids), to resurface the skin, deep clean pores and leaving the skin smoother, brighter and clearer. Fragrance free.

Designed for oily and congested skin types, this foaming gel cleanser contains a blend of PHAs (3% gluconolactone), BHAs (5% salicylic acid), and AHAs (mandelic acid) to deep the clean the skin, removing dead cell build up from the pores, and in turn reducing blemishes and blackheads.

Containing a blend of AHAs (lactic & mandelic acid), and BHAs (salicylic acid), this best-selling foaming gel formula works to exfoliate the skin, deep cleaning pores and targeting blemishes, blackheads and enlarged pores. Essential oils provide a delicate scent.

A 5* rated, creamy foaming cleanser, this formula contains 0.5% salicylic acid alongside tea tree oil as an antibacterial and prebiotics to balance the skin and further reduce blemishes.

fine lines

firmness

ultra dry skin

wrinkles

I have chosen this active-packed anti-ageing cream to target the concerns you mention - wrinkles & skin firmness. It contains a host of growth factors and peptides to trigger the production of collagen within the skin, alongside prebiotics and vitamins to provide antioxidant protection and support healthy skin functioning.

aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice

Aloe vera has been used for millennia as a natural medicine across many regions of the world, with references as early as Cleopatra using it as part of her beauty routine. It 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.

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.

ascorbic acid

Vitamin C has many skin benefits, including its action as an antioxidant, to neutralise free radicals (reactive molecules with an unpaired electron), preventing them from causing damage to cells within the body. Vitamin C is also involved in the collagen-production process, so provides anti-wrinkle activity through this mechanism. Lastly, Vitamin C inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in melanin-synthesis, and can therefore visibly reduce areas of hyperpigmentation in the skin.

Ascorbyl palmitate is an oil-soluble Vitamin C ester, produced by the reaction of ascorbic acid and palmitic acid. This oil-soluble form works to improve stability against oxidation (something L-ascorbic acid is notorious for), as well as improve skin affinity to allow the ingredient to penetrate further.

ascorbyl palmitate

Vitamin A derivative. It is broken down in the body to retinol, and then into retinaldehyde, then again into retinoic acid, the active form recognised by the body to trigger it’s skin benefits.

retinyl palmitate

Vitamin A, aka Retinol, 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 it’s 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.

sh-oligopeptide

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 made up of amino acids, and are unique in shape, with a huge variety available to target specific responses in the body.

Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid (a polysaccharide which occurs naturally in the body), created to improve the ingredient stability. It works as an extremely powerful humectant, able to attract 1000x its own weight in water, to immediately plump and hydrate the area it is applied to. The body’s own production of hyaluronic acid slows with age, so supplementing this ingredient in topical formulations helps to support the skin’s natural moisture-binding, anti-ageing mechanisms.

sodium hyaluronate

Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide which occurs naturally in the body. Hyaluronic acid works as an extremely powerful humectant, able to attract 1000x its own weight in water, to immediately plump and hydrate the area it is applied to. The body’s own production of hyaluronic acid slows with age, so supplementing this ingredient in topical formulations helps to support the skin’s natural moisture-binding, anti-ageing mechanisms.

Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA), which is found naturally in the body, and in the skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF). PCA acts as a humectant, meaning it draws water to it, plumping and hydrating the area. The skin’s NMF ensures adequate hydration of the stratum corneum, which also works to support the overall barrier function of the skin, regulating trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). Including Sodium PCA in skincare supports this natural mechanism of the skin.

sodium pca

Natural moisturising factor (NMF) is a substance produced by the body, made up of minerals, lactate, urea, amino acids & humectants, which coats the surface skin cells to keep them moisturised. NMF increases the skin’s ability to retain moisture, which results in more hydrated, plump, smoother skin.

Tocopherol, aka 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 it’s 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.

tocopherol

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 it’s 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.

Tocopheryl acetate is a specific form of the fat-soluble Vitamin E, with improved stability vs. Tocopherol. Vitamin E is found naturally in our own skin, and it’s 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.

tocopheryl acetate

tocopheryl linoleate

Go beyond simple hydration with this luxurious, patented growth factor, peptide and antioxidant solution! The ultimate in advanced hydrators to reduce the appearance of aging and damaged skin.


Transformation Face Cream's advanced, patented formula helps reduce the visible signs of aging while providing superb hydration to the skin. From the first application skin will appear immediately smoother with a silky softness.

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract

What is Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract?

What does Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract do?

Who is Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract good for?

Who should avoid Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract?

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract

What is Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract?

What does Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract do?

Who is Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract good for?

Who should avoid Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract?

Cleansers (2)