Ingredient Categories
The most commonly used skincare ingredient. Considered a functional and performance ingredient.
What is water?
Reactions may include itching, inflammation, blisters, hives, or rashes
What is an allergic reaction?
Also known as physical; ingredients used to polish dead cells from the skin’s surface.
What is mechanical exfoliation?
Short chains of amino acids; building blocks of proteins; used to reinforce naturally occurring proteins in the skin
What are peptides?
An antioxidant that stimulates collagen and elastic synthesis; helps maintain skin elasticity, tone, and texture.
What is copper?
This category of ingredients includes oils, silicones, fatty acids, fatty esters, and fatty alcohols.
What are emollients?
Pretesting a small area of the product on the inside of the arm near the elbow or behind the ear and wait 24 hours to see if reaction occurs
What is a patch test?
Chemical agents used to dissolve dead skin cells on the surface and the intercellular matrix, or “glue”, that holds them together (desmosomes), loosening bonds between dead cells; remove dead skin cells and brighten skin tone
What are chemical exfoliants?
restore skin’s natural barrier and help protect against foreign elements; replenish natural lipids lost from exposure, from drying products, and the natural aging process
What are ceramides?
Natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties; used to treat acne and rosacea.
What is sulphur?
This category of ingredients includes detergents and emulsifiers.
What are surfactants?
If skin becomes excessively red or the client complains of burning, immediately remove the product and rinse the skin with cold water and apply this to the skin
What is a cold compress?
A type of enzyme exfoliant product also know as a roll-off mask; applied to skin, left to dry slightly, allowing enzymes to digest dead skin cells on the surface, and then rubbed off the skin, taking dead skin cells with
What is a gommage?
hydrators, hydrophilic agent - attract water to the surface of the skin, lock in moisture, and reduce dehydration
What are humectants?
Boosts immune function, heals, reduces inflammation, antimicrobial, protects against UV exposure and pollution
What is zinc?
These ingredients are added to give products a specific consistency or help suspend ingredients that are hard to mix into products; they are derived from lipids, emulsifiers, polymers, minerals, and synthetic ingredients.
What are thickeners?
This group is responsible for a client’s allergic reaction when the product is purchased in bulk and repackaged by the salon
This exfoliating ingredient does not cause immediate redness or irritation on the skin and sloughing of dead skin may take several days after application; can cause sensitization of the skin over time.
What is retinol?
protect from free radicals, include vitamins A, C, E, green tea, reservitrol
What are antioxidants?
anti-inflammtory, antimicrobial, wound-healing properties, help strengthen the skin’s immune system
What is silver?
Used to distribute a product’s key performance ingredients into the skin once applied; including liposomes, polymers, and vehicles.
What are delivery systems?
This group is responsible for a client’s reaction to a product when the product is taken directly from the manufacturer’s packaging.
Who is the manufacturer?
This hydroxy acid has the smallest molecular structure and therefore penetrates the deepest; most active AHA; use with caution on thin, reactive, or sensitive skin
What is glycolic acid?
Aids damaged cells to mature normally, encourages skin exfoliation, stimulates cell proliferation, and brightens skin
What is retinol?
healing and anti-inflammatory qualities; helps revitalize and firm the skin
What is gold?