Our skin is our body's largest organ. It serves as a defensive shield against the elements and aids in the regulation of temperature, infection, and other factors. Our skin is capable of reacting to and adapting to the environment around us, including the skincare products we use.
Proper skincare is therefore necessary, as it assists in the preservation of our skin's outermost layer. Since this layer retains skin's overall hydration and acts as our primary protection against the environment, it is crucial to keep it strong and safe.
This explains why the cosmetic industry's focus has changed over time. With the plethora of synthetic and harmful chemicals used in the majority of skincare products, natural and non-invasive procedures such as homemade or DIY projects have now become the most sensible alternative option.
It's more important than ever to know which skincare products are safe, long-lasting, and ideally tailored to your unique needs. After all, we use skincare items on a daily basis, whether it's a soap bar, a lotion, a lip balm, or all of the above. It may seem that doing so is complicated and ambitious, but we at N-essentials assure you that it is not. We are here to assist you in finding the high-quality ingredients you will need to make the best skin care products.
Once you’re ready to learn more about it, read through below.
ACIDS AS SKINCARE INGREDIENTS
Acids in skincare products are the key ingredients designed to deliver their proposed benefits that are then intended to address a skin concern. These are used in any skincare product including natural formulas. However, depending on the type of product you'll be using, their strengths may differ. Acids are, in essence, what makes a skincare product effective.
Also, acids are used for a handful of reason. They are a common ingredient added in exfoliants, moisturiser, PH balancers, and even preservatives. They can benefit those who may have the most typical skin care problems, such as comedones, uneven skin tone, appearance of acne scars, or rough texture.
Adding acid to your product can seem daunting, but when used in the right amounts, it is one of the most effective ingredients available in skincare.
Below are some acid ingredients that are safe to use in your products and should be included in your skincare regime:
ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants are vitamins and minerals which produce cosmetic benefits. Antioxidant-infused skin care formulations help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, increase natural exfoliation and improve the skin's natural hydration. It is also the most important factor in determining how good a skincare product is.
If you want your skin to appear fresh and glowing, there are several ways that antioxidants can definitely help:
MOISTURISERS
Emollients, humectants, and occlusive are the three types of moisturisers used in the most effective skincare products for hydration. The distinction between these three is highlighted in this section.
EMOLLIENTS
Emollients derived from natural sources are one of the most commonly used functional and conditioning ingredients in cosmetics and body care applications (e.g ointments, creams or lotions). They may also be used as a moisturising agent or active ingredient in other formulations.
Emollients act as a lubricating agent in products. They help protect skin against chapping, cracking, and alleviate roughness that were due to dryness. The majority of emollients have outstanding spreadability, they allowthe skin to appear satiny, glassy, and non-greasy.
Natural based emollients may be categorised as oils or butter depending on their consistency, and are obtained from either animals or plants:
As mentioned, emollients help soften and smooth your skin, however, the amount of oil they contain will determine how effective they are as an occlusive agent. The more oil an emollient contains, the better it will be at retaining the skin’s moisture.
Additionally, emollients are beneficial to most skin types, except for those with naturally oily skin. Emollients, particularly oil-rich products, can be too heavy so they can potentially clog pores and cause skin breakouts. In this case, we recommend that you use small or moderate quantities at first.
HUMECTANTS
Humectants are “hygroscopic” substances which mean they possess the ability to attract moisture or water to the skin’s surface. As a result, the skin's natural capacity to hydrate would be enhanced.
Humectants are a perfect way to replenish and hydrate skin’s dryness without adding more oil. They are also perfect for boosting moisture levels in dry skin.
OCCLUSIVE
An occlusive is another type of moisturising agent. It provides a protective seal on the skin’s surface and prevents skin’s natural moisture from escaping.
However, occlusive ingredients can make skin feel heavy and greasy and so it would be best to combine them with lighter-feeling ingredients when making moisturising skincare items.
In conclusion, emollients help smooth the skin, occlusive lock the moisture in and avoid water loss, while humectants draw moisture to the skin’s surface. Emollient and occlusive properties are found in certain humectants, although not all emollients and occlusives are humectants. This is why, depending on skin condition and problems, the best moisturisers contain a mixture of two or all three combined.
NATURAL EMULSIFIERS
An emulsifier is a type of surfactant. Since water and oil do not combine, an additional agent (emulsifier) is added to produce a homogenous mixture that holds the two apart. Water and oil can remain separate if no emulsifier is added.
Emulsifiers are divided into two categories: Oil-in-water (o/w) emulsifiers are used mostly in moisturising products to hold oil drops packed in water, (e.g. body lotions, day creams). Water-in-oil (w/o) emulsifiers keep water drops packed in oil and are used for a fatty feel, (e.g night & sun protection creams).
Oil-based serums, facial oils (mixture of oils), body butter (mixture of butter, waxes, and oils), balms, and even certain toners are examples of products that don't use emulsifiers. If a substance is labelled as a cream or a lotion, it almost certainly contains an emulsifier.
Even though synthetic emulsifiers are widely used in consumer skincare products, natural emulsifiers are available and may be used to produce homemade lotions and creams instead. Such as the following:
NATURAL PRESERVATIVES
Preservatives are commonly used in cosmetics and beauty products. Especially if the product is made up of water. Lotions, creams, shampoos, and lipstick are examples of these products. Preservatives are important since it provides an environment that makes it impossible for bacteria to propagate while also killing microorganisms and water-borne bacteria.
A preservative thus protects products from spoiling prematurely during formulation, shipping, storage, or consumer use, as well as degradation caused by exposure to the elements.
However, water-free (anhydrous) products such as balms or oil-based serums and products with a very high or low pH such as castile soap and bar soap, don't usually need a preservative.
We recommend that you opt for natural preservatives instead. These compounds may be a safe and effective alternative to parabens and other notorious synthetic preservatives:
Insufficient preservation will put your health at risk. Contaminants are not only unpleasant to smell, but they are also unpleasant to look at. If applied to dry, fissured, or broken skin, they may be pathogenic and require medical attention which you wouldn’t want to happen.
If a certain formulation contains water with no preservatives, this should be considered a red flag. If the product is water-based, a preservative is a must, along with an emulsifier of course.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are the volatile essences of plants that give off distinct, lingering scents. Flowers, bark, branches, leaves, roots, and occasionally fruits of any plant are extracted to produce such.
An Essential oilis well-known due to its versatility and a vast array of benefits. You can add or blend it with other essential oils or carrier oils and incorporate them into soaps, lotions, moisturisers, etc. Once it is formulated or diluted properly, it can be used topically or aromatically.
- Neroli Essential Oil
- Cypress Oil
- Bergamot Essential Oil
- Rosemary Essential Oil
- Frankincense Essential Oil
- Geranium Essential Oil
- Sandalwood Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Clary Sage Essential Oil
Essential oils contain potential allergens, though they are not sensitising to most people.
If you're going to use essential oils topically on your skin for the first time, we highly recommend that you do a patch test beforehand just to make sure you're not allergic.
A patch test consists of applying a small amount of diluted essential oil to your skin, such as your forearm. Before applying to a wider area of skin, wait 24 hours to see if you have an allergic reaction.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Since you have now learned which ingredients are safe and most efficient in making the best skin care products, it is now important to know where to store them and also, how to safely use them.
The purchase of high-quality skincare items is a long-term investment. The ingredients can quickly degrade if you store them incorrectly, making them ineffective. Furthermore, once the items are opened, they are exposed to dirt and microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and moulds that can be contained in the air, on the skin, and applicators and brushes.
If possible, choose pump or spray valves that dispense your formula without having to open the product jar. If you can't use a pump or spray because of the product's viscosity, consider adding a drop dispenser or a spatula to help get the product out of its packaging and reduce the risk of contamination.
You also need to follow usage recommendations. Many cosmetic ingredients must be used according to the manufacturer's directions, and some of them can cause dermal sensitisation if used improperly. Essential oils and natural preservatives are among the ingredients that can cause sensitisation in some people, so it's important to adhere to the manufacturer's or supplier's recommended use limits when making cosmetics.
Finally, we recommend that you use a digital scale instead to weigh all of your ingredients, including liquids and solids. The most reliable approach is to calculate by weight, which will help you to achieve the right balance of ingredients in your formulation.
TAKEAWAY
Choosing what ingredients to use is vital and intricate, be it in cosmetic applications or otherwise, (body care, household, etc.). Each ingredient has a rich composition and various properties that can serve several functions at the same time. With that said, the materials you use will surely affect everything; from the efficacy, consistency and smell of the product. It also requires far more than one or two great ingredients to thrive and help your skin to appear younger-looking.
The possibilities are indeed endless. This allows you to customise your products and still achieve the results you desire without the need for expensive brands.
Once you are ready to take it to the next level, head over to our blog section to read more of our recipes or tips that you can easily follow.
WHERE TO FIND PREMIUM SKINCARE INGREDIENTS ONLINE IN AUSTRALIA
N-essentials Australia brings you a wide variety of pure, raw and natural ingredients that you can easily purchase online in bulk quantities at a wholesale price. You can head over to our online store and easily browse through each ingredient we have. We can ascertain that we are fully committed to providing the finest skincare and body care ingredients that are intended for various applications.
You may also reach out to us for more packaging choices. Should you have questions or clarifications, our friendly staff are always ready take care of your concerns. You may contact us directly at info@n-essentials.com.au