Common Skincare Terms
We are advocates of supporting conscious consumers - folks that know the facts about how their products are sourced and what's in them. In our Ingredients Index, we discuss several terms that may be new to you. Here we'll uncover some common skincare elements.
Virgin, Cold-Pressed, Unrefined
Extra Virgin / Virgin
Cold-Pressed
Unrefined
Emollient, Humectant, Occlusive
Emollient
When our skin lacks enough water, it becomes dry, flaky and irritated.
Emollients are ingredients that support moisture retention in the skin, reducing water loss. They offer a barrier of protection while smoothing skin cells, resulting in softer skin.
Natural emollients are available in all London Grant Body Care products. They are great for anyone suffering from seasonal dry skin, irritations, or conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rashes, and burns.
Humectant
Humectants attract water from the atmosphere and from deeper layers of the skin to provide moisture to the surface of your skin.
Synthetic humectants pull water from the deeper layers of the skin without replenishing lost nutrients. The natural humectants used in London Grant products draw moisture to the surface of your skin while driving nutrients back into those deeper layers.
The result is longer lasting hydration and healthier skin.
Occlusive
Occlusives partner with Emollients to protect the skin, sealing in hydration.
Most skincare products on the market contain synthetic, pore-clogging and toxic synthetics. They do a great job of preventing moisture loss, but also clog pores and block the skin from receiving key nutrients. Petroleum jelly, silicones and mineral oils (such as baby oil) are typical synthetic occlusive ingredients.
Our natural occlusive ingredients seal in moisture, preventing nutrients from being lost through evaporation into the atmosphere.
Comedogenic ratings
Comedogenic is a term used to reference the likelihood of an ingredient to promote clogged pores. While not a precise science, the comedogenic index offers a reference scale for many ingredients as a measure of their tendency to clog pores.
0 – Not Likely to Clog Pores |
1 – Low | 2 – Moderately Low | 3 – Moderate | 4 – Fairly High | 5 – High |
Ingredients with a rating of 3 to 5 are considered comedogenic and have a tendency to cause breakouts or blocked pores. Ingredients with a rating of 0 to 2 are less likely to do so.
While this scale is a helpful reference, everyone will experience different results and reactions to natural fatty oils and acids. Some may find that products containing “high comedogenic” ingredients are beneficial for their skin and don’t clog their pores. However, if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, we advise using products that are “non-comedogenic” on your face to prevent inflammation and breakouts.
CoQ10 + Squalene
CoQ10
Sounds really scientific, and it is (sort of).
CoQ10 (Coenzyme) is naturally occurring in our bodies. It plays an essential role in protecting our skin by delivering antioxidants and neutralizing free radicals -- directly linked to signs of aging. As our bodies age -- with 30 being the magic number -- we begin losing optimum levels of CoQ10. This leads to a decreased ability to produce collagen and elastin.
Ultimately, CoQ10 helps to reduce the signs of aging and protect the skin from wrinkle-causing free radicals. See, that wasn’t too "sciency," was it?
Rice Bran Oil contains naturally occurring CoQ10 and is a base for Sheer Glow Body OIl.
Squalene
Squalene is another naturally occurring oil in our bodies. Like CoQ10, squalene production can decrease with age. It helps to fight free radicals that contribute to the skin’s signs of aging.
Squalene penetrates deeply into mature skin to provide nutrients and anti-inflammatory benefits that support conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, and general dryness. It also helps to promote blood circulation and thereby collagen production for firmer and more youthful looking skin.
Squalene is naturally occurring in many of our products thanks to ingredients like Argan, Camellia, and Rice Bran Oils.