Beauty and Health Terms

Acid: Reacts with a base alkali to form water and salt (neutralize bases).

Antiseptic: Inhibits the growth of microorganisms.

Antioxidant: A substance thought to protect against the damaging effects of oxidation.

Astringent: Shrinks tissues, helps tighten pores and removes excess oil from the skin.

Base: Alkaline; reacts with an acid to form water and salt (neutralize acids).

Emollient: A natural substance used as a skin softener.

Emulsifier: A substance that keeps two or more components of a product from separating; stabilizer.

Essential oil: A volatile oil, usually having the characteristic odor or flavor of the plant from which it is obtained, used to make perfumes and flavorings; extracted from a botanical via cold press, steam, or solvents.

Esterification: The process of conversion of an acid into an ester by combination with an alcohol and removal of a molecule of water. Esters make excellent emollients because of their low reactivity and good stability.

Exfoliant: A compound used to remove dead skin, dirt, or other impurities.

Extraction: Use of water, ethyl alcohol or other necessary solvents to remove desired ingredients from mixtures.

Fermentation: The chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts, or other microorganisms.

Humectant: A substance that promotes moisture retention.

Hydrolysis: The reaction of water with another chemical compound to form two or more products.

Hydroxylation: A process by which a hydroxyl group (-OH; a molecule of hydrogen linked to oxygen) is introduced into a compound. In cosmetics products, this makes the new compound more water soluble.

Hypoallergenic: Having a decreased possibility of causing an allergic reaction.

Modified Natural: A natural ingredient that is changed into a desired ingredient by using non-natural chemical ingredients.

Natural: A compound that occurs naturally, or is extracted from a natural source using physical means (e.g. distillation or filtration) or is derived from the natural source using a natural process such as saponification. Not made from petroleum sources.

Nature-identical: A compound found in nature, but the commercial, identical form is synthetically produced. There is no chemical or structural difference between the natural form and the synthetic form.

Noncomedogenic: Does not clog pores or contribute to the formation of acne.

pH: The measure of acidity or alkalinity (base); pH levels range from 0-14. The lower a pH the more acidic it is. pH-balanced skin will have a range between 5.5 and 6.0. pH levels need to be balanced in order for the skin to benefit from a product without being irritated.

Preservative: An ingredient used to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, or yeast. Adding these ingredients gives personal care products a longer shelf life.

Solvent: Something used to dissolve or extract another substance.

Surfactant: A substance used to lower the surface tension between two liquids, or between a liquid and a solid, allowing them to better mix or react with something else.

Synthesized: Man-made ingredients.

Toner: A lotion or wash designed to cleanse the skin and shrink the appearance of pores, usually used on the face.

Topical application: To apply something topically means to apply it to a local area of the skin.

Vegan: In the context of personal care ingredients we consider vegan to mean non-animal sourced.