Education on Skincare Ingredients
There are so many cosmetic ingredients out there. How do you know which ones to choose?
Educating yourself in hopes of learning which ingredients are right for you is essential when comparing components you want to avoid altogether.
Different types of ingredients.
There are a variety of ingredients to choose from. In fact, there's a whole alphabet of beauty ingredients listed out there. But one typical product can contain anywhere from 15 to 50 ingredients, and the average woman will use about 9 to 15 beauty products per day.
When you take a look at one of your beauty products, you'll see the core ingredients listed. Unfortunately, we don't always know what they mean. But here are some necessary explanations for the most common types of beauty ingredients.
Water (Aqua). This ingredient is most evident and is most likely to be the first thing listed on the bottle. It's the basis for almost every type of cosmetic product. But it's not your everyday typical tap water. Water ingredients are ultra-pure and free from toxins.
Emulsifiers. This type of ingredient refers to keeping unlike ingredients, such as oil and water, from separating. These are added to ensure that surface tensions between the two unlike ingredients are changed so that you have a well-mixed product. A few examples of emulsifiers include polysorbates, laureth-4, and potassium cetyl sulfate.
Preservatives. Preservatives are essential ingredients to have in your products. It's best for preventing microorganisms from growing inside your product. And it's great for extending the shelf-life of your products. Some preservatives can be natural or synthetic and perform differently. It just all depends on the formulation of your beauty product. The most common ingredient examples include parabens, benzyl alcohol, salicylic acid, and formaldehyde.
The list goes on, but these are the most popular ingredients that fill your beauty products. If you want to learn about more ingredients, The Chemistry of Cosmetics has an excellent overview.
Active ingredients
Active ingredients are components approved by the FDA, where each performs a particular function for a specific condition. Some examples include benzoyl peroxide for acne, titanium dioxide for sun protection, and hydroquinone for skin lightening. Other active ingredients also contain Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, Vitamins, or Antioxidants. Active ingredients are always listed with percentages and a short description of how they perform and how they should be applied.
Chemical ingredients
When we hear the name chemical ingredients, we ultimately feel like we should run for the hills. We hear a lot about how bad chemical ingredients can be for our skin. But the truth is, some chemical elements are ideal for you to use in your skincare regimen.
For instance, salicylic acid is one main ingredient that's good for your skin. This ingredient is vital in taking care of your acne problems. It's excellent for opening up clogged pores and neutralising bacteria.
Zinc oxide is another example of an excellent chemical ingredient. It's crucial for the benefit of preventable sun damage. Most likely, you will find zinc oxide in sunscreen lotions and creams.
Retinol is also beneficial. This is a chemical ingredient that promotes new skin cell growth, making it suitable for wrinkles and fine lines.
When it comes to chemical ingredients that are bad for you, there are tons of products that contain them. And they can be linked to a large number of health concerns. Some health-related issues include skin irritation, allergic reactions, and even cancer. It's important to know which ingredients to choose from because they can be harmful and toxic, which is why it makes them so dangerous.
What we use in our skincare products.
Yvearay chooses to use a balance of all-natural and active skincare ingredients. We believe it is crucial to select the best ingredients all around for the best results. When it comes to skincare, we're all about educating you and being transparent about what we use. If you ever have concerns about what we use in our products, reach out to us so we can help identify them for you!