Skincare Terminology

Hydrating - brings water to the skin using humectants. These humectants help collect moisture in the environment and bind  into the skin, which allows the skin to absorb water.

Brightening - promotes luminous and glowing skin, skin brightening restores the natural glow of your skin by removing dull and dead skin cells from the surface.

Resurfacing - even complexion by removing the most damaged older layers of skin to reveal the healthier looking skin and encouraging cell turnover.

Lightening - helps by reducing hyperpigmentation, sunspots, unwanted pigmentation. The goal is not to bleach your skin but to face out dark spots.

Repairing - helps rebuild the skin’s barrier by keeping out external aggressors and irritants and sealing in moisture. Repairing products help strengthen the skin’s acid mantle.

Soothing - these products work to visibly calm signs of irritation or sensitivity when applied to skin. They also reduce redness and provide a cooling and calming effect.

Balancing - helps to restore the PH balance to prevent over drying and stripping of the skin of its natural oils. Balancing products help keep skin healthy and plump.

Clarifying - helps to remove excess oils in the skin, deeply cleanses to remove dirt or debris from the skin. Clarifying products helps unclog pores.

Ingredients

Here is a list of ingredients that we use in our formulations that are not common terms to everyone. We choose to clarify so that you know that what is going on your skin and hair is safe and healthy.

Phenoxyethanol - is a preservative that prevents the growth of bacteria, enhances shelf life and stabilizes products. It has become a popular ingredient since the fall of parabens from skincare and it works with most, if not all natural ingredients.

Leucidal SF Complete - is a natural preservative that can function as an alternative to synthetic preservatives. It inhibits the growth of a variety of bacteria and fungi. It also has skin conditioning properties.

Potassium Sorbate - is a chemical with preservative functions and is used in different types of packaged foods (cheese, baked goods, dried fruits, syrups, jams, smoked meat and fish, etc) and personal care products. It is a popular preservative because its effective and does not change the qualities of a product such as smell and appearance.

Sodium Benzoate - is a chemical preservative added to packaged foods, sodas and personal care products to extend shelf life. It also has medicinal and other functions such as deterring corrosion in car engines.

Germall Plus - is a broad spectrum preservative used for its antimicrobial properties. It is compatible with virtually all cosmetic ingredients for use in personal and household products extending their shelf life. 

Emulsifying Wax NF - is a plant derived nonionic emulsifying wax used to create oil-in-water emulsions. Basically it enables oil and water to mix to create lotions and creams. 

Cetyl Alcohol - is derived from plant oils such as palm oil or coconut oil. It serves as a thickening agent and emulsifier, to bind ingredients together, which helps smooth application. It is also used as a food additive as a flavouring agent.

Caprylyl Glycol - is derived from palm and coconut oils. It is a moisturizer that improves the spreadability and feel of a product on your skin and it has antimicrobial properties. CG helps to attract moisture to the skin resulting in a softer and plump appearance.

SCI -  Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate is an extremely gentle surfactant and cleansing agent that hardly impacts the skin barrier and works well even with hard water. It is made from coconut fatty acids. It is safe for use even on babies.

Decyl Glucoside - is a plant-derived cleanser for your scalp and hair which maintains natural moisture and reduces the chance of skin irritation. It is safe for all hair types and textures, and beneficial for those with irritated and dry scalps. 

BTMS 50 - Behentrimonium Methosulfate is a vegetable based conditioning emulsifier used in lotions, scrubs and hair conditioners. It offers excellent detangling and conditioning properties without build-up.

Beeswax - is a natural wax produced by honey bees. It is ideal for formulating skin and hair care products with hydrating, moisturizing and soothing properties. Beeswax is also used in candle making, cosmetics and skincare.

Optiphen - is a paraben free preservative that consists of phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol. The combination of these two provides protection against microbial growth while keeping the product’s viscosity smooth.

Soy Lecithin - is an emollient that makes the skin feel smooth by restoring hydration, keeping skin moisturized for a longer time. It is derived from soybeans. It is a penetration enhancer that acts as an emulsifier attracting and holding water molecules from skin.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine - is a chemical fatty acid derived from coconuts. It acts as a surfactant, which means it interacts with water to bond with dirt, oil and other debris so it can rinse them away. It makes products lather easily and leaves the skin and hair hydrated due to the coconut content.

Xanthan Gum - is a popular food additive that is used as a thickener or stabilizer. It is created by fermenting sugar. It is found in personal care products allowing solid particles to be suspended in liquids.

MSM Powder - Methylsulfonylmethane is found in all living organisms and is formed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur. It can be ingested and used topically as in the human body, it acts like the glue that holds together amino acid chains. It improves cell wall permeability, allowing vital nutrients to flow through the cells.

Propanediol - is a colourless liquid derived from corn sugar that acts as a natural alternative to propylene glycol. It dissolves harder ingredients, it decreases the viscosity and improves humectancy allowing nutrients to flow well. It also boosts preservatives in skincare products.