Common Beauty and Skin Care ingredients and what they do
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First off, what are common skincare creams? It is usually water and oil emulsion that is designed to hydrate, repair or deliver active ingredients.
What are some of their specific purposes?
|
Type |
Purpose |
Key Ingredients |
|
Moisturizing |
Hydrates and seals in water |
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides |
|
Acne treatment |
Clears pores, kills bacteria |
Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide |
|
Anti-aging |
Stimulates cell turnover |
Retinol, peptides, antioxidants (like Vitamin C) |
|
Brightening |
Fades dark spots, evens tone |
Vitamin C, niacinamide, kojic acid |
|
Barrier repair |
Soothes irritation, heals skin |
Ceramides, panthenol, madecassoside |
Common Chemicals in Creams and What They Do
|
Ingredient |
Function |
|
Glycerin |
Humectant – draws water into skin |
|
Hyaluronic Acid |
Hydrates by holding 1000x its weight in water |
|
Niacinamide |
Reduces inflammation, oil, and dark spots |
|
Ceramides |
Repair skin barrier and prevent water loss |
|
Salicylic Acid (BHA) |
Penetrates pores to fight acne |
|
Lactic/Glycolic Acid (AHA) |
Gently exfoliate to improve texture and tone |
|
Retinol (Vitamin A) |
Speeds cell turnover, fades wrinkles and acne |
|
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) |
Antioxidant; brightens skin and fights free radicals |
|
Panthenol |
Soothing and anti-inflammatory |
|
Fragrance/Alcohol |
Often added but can irritate sensitive skin |
 Are Most Creams the Same?
No — but many are 90% similar.
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Most creams use the same base ingredients: water, emollients, preservatives, and a thickening agent.
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What makes them different is:
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The actives (like salicylic acid or vitamin C)
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The percentage of actives
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Whether they’re formulated correctly (pH, stability, etc.)
If they’re targeting a specific concern (acne, scarring, dry skin, etc.)