EASY AND SIMPLE
Let us help you understand the new skincare jargon.
We've put together a list of several new skincare terms which appear in beauty advertising, and that we may not always be 100% sure to understand. After reading this glossary, not only you'll know what to expect from each of the products but also understand when to introduce a specific ingredient into your skincare routine.
1. NONCOMEDOGENIC
2. SKIN CYCLING
Skin cycling aka rotating through your beauty products. It is usually a 4-day cycle where you apply different skincare products instead of going through the same product. On the first day, you should focus on exfoliation, the second night is for retinoid which is great for targeting the first signs of skin ageing. Nights three and four are all about skin healing and recovery using moisturizer and hyaluronic-acid based cosmetics. What's cool about skin cycling is the fact that you can adjust this method to your skin's needs. Those with sensitive skin can add an extra day for recovery, while peeps with oily skin are good to go with just one recovery day.
3. NIACINAMIDE
If you suffer from skin inflammation, eczema, acne - niacinamide is your BFF. It minimizes pore appearance, it reduces redness, and helps improve skin texture.
4. LACTIC ACID
You may have heard about lactic acid when you had sore muscles after working out in the gym, but in the skincare world, it is used to remove dead skin cells, help with hyperpigmentation (bye-bye dark spots!), and tackle early signs of aging. If you see a product with the acronym AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), then you found your lactic acid.
5. BETA-GLUCANS
Little guy with great potential. Beta-glucan is responsible for hydrating skin, which is similar to the properties of hyaluronic acid, but trust us: this one has more power. All this thanks to being equipped with antioxidants. What does that mean for you and your skin? You can try using products with beta-glucans in order to repair skin (eczema, dermatitis, burns, etc), plump your skin, and even boost its immunity (aka avoid bigger breakouts yay!)
6. POLYPEPTIDES
7. SQUALANE (& SQUALENE)
To put it simply: SQUALENE is a lipid that is produced by your skin cells. It has amazing moisturizing properties, but it is too unstable to be used in skincare products. In order to be able to use squalEne in a product, it has to be hydrogenated into SQUALANE, which is more stable. Squalane has tremendous hydrating benefits and can help your skin (and your hair!) look healthier.
8. DERMATOLOGIST VS ESTHETICIAN
Dermatologists are doctors who specialize in treating your skin. Estheticians provide services that are supposed to improve the appearance of your skin. Both of these professions have an extensive knowledge on skincare, but it is always a dermatologist who will provide you with a medical help.
9. "CLINICALLY TESTED" or "CLINICALLY PROVEN"
We really wish we could tell you that if the packaging says the product was "clinically tested" it means the product went through rigorous testing and clinical trials. Unfortunately, it only means the consumers tried the product to see if they got the desired result.
10. "STRENGTHEN THE SKIN BARRIER"
Very popular phrase that you'll find on a majority of moisturizers in a drug store. As we are being told, the harsh radicals from the environment weaken our skin barrier, which is partially true, but we should always look at this phrase with a grain of salt. From the marketing perspective, it looks like the skin barrier is an extremely thin layer that is easily damaged. In reality, our bodies are pretty smart, and mother nature equipped us with pretty complex skin layers which protect us from any harmful ingredients. In that case, there is no reason to panic over the weakened skin barrier. What actually DOES weaken the skin barrier is cleansing too often using products that are too aggressive for your skin or exfoliating it too often. Also, if you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea, your skin barrier may be compromised. In that case, using ceramide-based moisturizer may be a good step to help you strengthen your skin.
11. RETINOL VS RETINAL VS RETINOIDS
Retinol is a hot word of the moment! What's the hype about? This Vitamin A derivative is loved for its anti-aging features and for amazing results in fighting acne scars. And while it has been proven to work miracles, the most recent studies show that retinal, another Vitamin A derivative, is more effective for the skin and works 11 times faster than retinol. If you decide to dig deeper into skincare terminology, you'll come across "retinoid" for sure. Sounds similar to retinol, but are they really the same? They definitely share the anti-aging benefits, but as research shows, retinoids are included in stronger and more powerful prescription products, while retinol refers to weaker over-the-counter formulas.
Are you feeling more confident with your beauty choices after reading this glossary?
You're more than welcome to explore our skincare collection where not a single ingredient will be a mystery to you.