Skin & Cosmetics
This outermost layer of the skin is made of dead cells and lipids and acts as a barrier.
What is the stratum corneum?
The main job of lip balm is to prevent this from escaping our lips.
What is moisture (water)?
In our recipe, this ingredient must be melted first because it has the highest melting point.
What is beeswax
This common packaging material in cosmetics is one of the biggest contributors to waste.
What is plastic
This brand is famous for “naked” products with little or no packaging.
What is Lush
Unlike other parts of our skin, our lips lack these oil-producing glands, making them more likely to dry out.
What are sebaceous glands
This ingredient in our recipe makes the balm harder and gives it structure.
What is beeswax
When the mixture changes from solid to liquid in the microwave, we are observing this scientific process.
What is melting (phase change)
This term describes a product’s total impact from raw materials to disposal.
What is life cycle (or carbon footprint)
This brand focuses on “clean” ingredients and partners with TerraCycle and Pact Collective for recycling.
What is Ilia Beauty?
This term describes the process where water naturally evaporates from our skin.
What is transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
This soft, creamy butter is known for nourishing skin and comes from the nuts of an African tree.
What is shea butter
After pouring the mixture into containers, it must sit for this long to solidify.
What is 20–30 minutes
Consumers increasingly demand products that are cruelty-free, meaning they avoid this practice.
What is animal testing
This large global company has set goals for all plastic packaging to be recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025.
What is L’Oréal
These molecules attract and hold water, often added to moisturizers and lip balms.
What are humectants?
This oil, often used in cooking, makes lip balm smooth and moisturizing.
What is coconut oil
Testing balm firmness by adjusting ingredient ratios is an example of this part of the scientific method.
What is experimentation/variable testing
These types of programs allow customers to return empties for reuse or recycling.
What are take-back or recycling programs
Customers who return black pots at this store may get a reward or free product.
What is Lush
Too much of this kind of cosmetic ingredient can feel greasy, while too little makes a product ineffective.
What is an occlusive/barrier ingredient?
Adding more of this ingredient makes your balm harder; adding more oil makes it softer.
What is beeswax
Stirring continuously helps ensure this property of the mixture, where ingredients are evenly blended.
What is homogeneity (or uniformity)
Using less water, reducing emissions, and avoiding deforestation are all goals under this broader concept.
What is sustainability
Between Lush, Ilia, and L’Oréal, this brand is sometimes criticized for setting big goals that are slower to implement due to its massive scale.
What is L’Oréal