skincare dictionary: decoding the lingo
Skincare can be a confusing world, filled with all sorts of buzzwords and technical terms. But don't let that discourage you! Knowing your skincare lingo is essential for making informed choices about your skincare routine and achieving your desired results.
To help you navigate the world of skincare, we've put together a comprehensive skincare dictionary. This handy guide will explain some of the most common skincare terms, so you can feel confident about your skincare journey.
Common Skincare Terms
Let’s start with the basics:
- Cleanser: Cleansers are used to remove dirt, oil, and makeup from your skin. They come in a variety of forms, including gels, creams, and foams.
- Moisturizer: Moisturizers help to hydrate your skin and prevent it from drying out. They can also help to protect your skin from the environment.
- Night Moisturizers: These moisturizers are specially formulated to nourish and repair your skin while you sleep. They often contain richer ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to deeply hydrate and support skin renewal. Some of these richer ingredients can also be photosensitive, which means they will react to the sun and can be more irritating to your skin during the day.
- Sunscreen: Sunscreen is essential for protecting your skin from the harmful effects of the sun's UV rays. Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Serum: Serums are lightweight, concentrated products that are packed with nutrients. They are applied after cleansing and before moisturizer.
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Oil vs Water Serums: Oil based serums are typically thicker and more emollient, making them ideal for dry or mature skin. They often contain nourishing oils like rosehip, argan, or jojoba.
Water serums are lighter and more easily absorbed, suitable for oily or combination skin. They often contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and antioxidants. - Toner: Toners help to remove any remaining dirt or oil from your skin and prepare it for moisturizer.
- Eye Cream: Eye creams are specifically formulated to address the delicate skin around your eyes. They can help to reduce puffiness, wrinkles, and dark circles.
Now let’s talk about some of the common ingredients you may see boasting their incredible benefits on product labels (and a few of our products that contain them for you to try!):
- AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid): AHAs are exfoliating acids that can help to remove dead skin cells, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some common AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, and1 citric acid. Give our Radiant Eye Gel a try to get the benefits of AHAs in your routine.
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BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid): BHAs are another type of exfoliating acid, but they work differently than AHAs. They penetrate deeper into the pores to unclog them and reduce oil production. Salicylic acid is the most common BHA.
Our Refresh Exfoliating Cleaner and Clarity Cleaner both contain BHAs(and AHAs) and are great options for you to try! - Ceramides: Ceramides are lipids that help to protect your skin's barrier function. They are essential for keeping your skin hydrated and healthy.
- Collagen: Collagen is a protein that is found in the skin, hair, and nails. It helps to keep the skin firm and elastic.
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Retinol: Retinol is a form of vitamin A that can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. It can also help to improve skin texture and tone.
We offer a high quality Retinol Serum to boost your skin's glow! -
Niacinamide: Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that can help to brighten the skin, reduce redness, and improve skin texture.
Try our Renewal Night Moisturizer to incorporate Niacinamide into your routine! -
Peptides: Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can help to boost collagen production and improve skin elasticity.
Our Radiant Eye Gel is a great option for adding peptides into your routine. -
Squalane: Squalane is a naturally occurring lipid found in human skin. It's a highly effective moisturizer that mimics the skin's natural oils. While it is known to be derived from sharks, squalane can be derived from plant sources like olive pits.
If you're looking to try a product with Squalane and you want to make sure it's responsibly sourced and cruelty-free, try our Liquid Gold Serum. -
Zinc oxide: A mineral sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. It's gentle on sensitive skin and creates a physical barrier on the skin to deflect the sun's rays.
In our Organic Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 we made use of zinc oxide to give you a sunscreen that's effective and reef-safe to protect you and the planet! -
Jojoba oil: This is a liquid wax that closely resembles the sebum produced by your own skin. This makes it easily absorbed and non-comedogenic (won't clog pores), making it suitable for most skin types, even oily.
Our Liquid Gold Serum is a great choice to add some extra hydration to your routine with jojoba oil; while our Refresh Exfoliating Cleanser uses jojoba beads to give you a powerful exfoliating yet hydrating experience.
A few more terms you may see on labels include:
- Plant Based: Plant-based products are primarily made from ingredients derived from plants. It doesn't necessarily mean all ingredients are plant-derived.
- Botanical: Botanical ingredients are derived from plants and focus on the specific use of the plant extracts for their beneficial properties.
- Actives: Actives are ingredients that are added to skincare products to provide specific benefits.
- Cruelty Free: Cruelty-free products are not tested on animals.
- Fragrance-free: Products marked fragrance-free contain no added perfumes or essential oils.
- Unscented: Unscented products may contain masking agents to counteract the natural scent of the ingredients. These masking agents can still cause skin irritation in some individuals.
Now let’s explore some more advanced terms you may encounter as you dive deeper into your skincare journey:
- Double Cleanse: Double cleansing is a two-step cleansing method that involves using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. This2 method is effective at removing makeup, sunscreen, and other impurities from the skin.
- Skin Barrier: The skin barrier is a protective layer that helps to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
- Sebum: Sebum is an oily substance that is produced by the sebaceous glands. It helps to keep the skin moisturized.
- Purging: Purging is a process that can occur when you start using a new skincare product. It is characterized by an increase in breakouts. Purging is usually temporary and should subside within a few weeks.
- Hormone Disrupters: Hormone disrupters are chemicals that can interfere with the body's hormone system.
- Notox: Notox is a term that is used to describe skincare products that are designed to provide the same benefits as Botox without the need for injections.
- Occlusives: These are ingredients that create a protective barrier on the skin to prevent moisture loss. They help to "lock in" hydration and are often found in thick creams and ointments. Examples include shea butter, petrolatum (petroleum jelly), and lanolin.
- UVA vs UVB rays: UVA rays are longer and penetrate deeper into the skin, contributing to premature aging, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. UVB rays are shorter and stronger, primarily responsible for sunburns.
We hope this skincare dictionary helps you on your journey to beautiful, healthy skin.
Remember, everyone's skin is different, so it's important to find a routine that works for you. With a little knowledge and effort, you can achieve healthy, glowing skin.
Ready to take your skincare routine to the next level? Check out our selection of skincare products, all of which are formulated with high-quality ingredients to help you achieve your skincare goals.
Here are a few Additional Resources you may want to check out to help you on your journey: