SKIN CARE INGREDIENTS DICTIONARY
AERATED SILICA
Why add Aerated Silica to your skin care routine?
Known as airlicium, this synthetically-derived ingredient can absorb up to 15x its weight in oil to help mattify skin complexion.
Featured in: Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50
ALGAE EXTRACTS
Why add Algae Extracts to your skin care routine?
Algae refer to a simple group of aquatic organisms capable of conducting photosynthesis. In skincare, some algae extracts have been shown to act as emollients and soothing agents capable of delivering a variety of nutrients to skin.
Featured in: Daily Moisture
ALPHA TOCOPHEROL
Why add Alpha Tocopherol to your skin care routine?
The most abundant, pure form of vitamin E, this powerful antioxidant can be derived synthetically or sourced naturally from a variety of foods including vegetable oils. Alpha tocopheral plays an important role in neutralizing free radicals, moisturizing skin, and improving the appearance of visible skin aging.
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ARTEMIA SALINA
Why add Artemia Salina to your skin care routine?
This plankton extract helps boost skin’s natural defenses and resistance to UV- and heat-induced stress.
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BAICALIN
Why add Baicalin to your skin care routine?
A flavonoid antioxidant derived from the roots of the baical skullcap plant, baicalin is a potent antioxidant with skin calming properties, shown to help protect skin from environmental aggressors.
Featured in: Resveratrol B E
BLUEBERRY EXTRACT
Why add Blueberry Extract to your skin care routine?
A naturally derived antioxidant, blueberry extract helps fortify skin’s matrix and prevent the appearance of wrinkles and laxity.
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CERAMIDES
Why add Ceramides to your skin care routine?
Ceramides are waxy, lipid molecules naturally present in the stratum corneum that play a key role in skin lipid barrier function. When applied topically, ceramides work synergistically to help increase skin hydration and promote optimal barrier function. SkinCeuticals ceramides are formulated synthetically to be bioidentical to skin’s natural ceramides.
Featured in: Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
CITRIC ACID
Why add Citric Acid to your skin care routine?
Found naturally in citrus fruits, this alpha-hydroxy acid helps promote cell turnover to exfoliate and smooth skin. It can also act as a preservative in formulations to protect stability.
Featured in: Blemish + Age Defense
CUCUMBER EXTRACT
Why add Cucumber Extract to your skin care routine?
Naturally found in cucumbers, this non-sensitizing extract has high quantities of vitamin C and amino acids which are known to help nourish, hydrate, and soothe skin.
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DIOIC ACID
Why add Dioic Acid to your skin care routine?
Naturally found in various animals and vegetable fats and oils, dioic acid helps reduce excess sebum while diminishing P.acnes bacteria. This ingredient has also been shown to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone. SkinCeuticals only uses vegetable-derived dioic acid in its formulations.
Featured in: Blemish + Age Defense
DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE
Why add Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate to your skin care routine?
Dipotassium glycyrrhizate (licorice root extract) is the principal component of licorice root. This potent ingredient is recognized for its ability to help even out skin tone and it has been shown to help preserve hyaluronic acid content in skin.
Featured in: Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier (H.A.)
ELLAGIC ACID
Why add Ellagic Acid to your skin care routine?
A naturally occurring polyphenol antioxidant found in fruits and berries that has been shown to help improve the look of skin discoloration.
Featured in: Advanced Pigment Corrector
FATTY ACID
Why add Fatty Acid to your skin care routine?
Naturally found in a variety of animal and vegetable sources including fish, seeds, and nuts, fatty acids aid in the structural integrity of skin lipids to optimize its overall lipid balance. SkinCeuticals only uses vegetable sources of fatty acids in its formulations.
Featured in: Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
FERULIC ACID
Why add Ferulic Acid to your skin care routine?
A powerful antioxidant found in the cell walls of plants such as wheat, rice, peanuts, oranges and apples, ferulic acid neutralizes free radicals and complements the antioxidant benefits of vitamins C and E for visible anti-aging benefits.
Featured in:
Phloretin CF®
GLYCERIN
Why add Glycerin to your skin care routine?
Synthetically derived or found naturally in the lipids of animals and vegetables, this powerful humectant possesses water-binding properties that help deliver intense hydration. SkinCeuticals only uses vegetable-derived sources of glycerin in its formulations.
Featured in: Metacell Renewal B3
GLYCOLIC ACID
Why add Glycolic Acid to your skin care routine?
Derived synthetically or found naturally in sugar cane, beetroot, grapes and other fruit, this alpha-hydroxy acid helps facilitate skin’s natural exfoliation and minimizes the build-up of dead skin cells to improve the appearance of the skin’s tone and texture.
Featured in:
Purifying Cleanser
HYALURONIC ACID
Why add Hyaluronic Acid to your skin care routine?
A natural humectant capable of holding 1,000 times its own weight in water. Hyaluronic acid is the body’s natural hydrator, making it an excellent moisturizer when applied topically.
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HYDROXYETHYL UREA
Why add Hydroxyethyl Urea to your skin care routine?
Derived synthetically, this humectant helps replenish and maintain skin’s moisture levels. In addition to its powerful hydrating ability, it also helps promote cell turnover.
Featured in: Retexturing Activator
HYDROXYETHYLPIPERAZINE ETHANE SULFONIC ACID
Why add Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid to your skin care routine?
Recognized for its exfoliating properties, this aminosulfonic acid derivative works enzymatically to help break the bonds that bind dead cells to the skin’s surface for even exfoliation.
Featured in: Retexturing Activator
HYDROXYPHENOXY PROPIONIC ACID
Why add Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid to your skin care routine?
A non-toxic derivative of hydroquinone that helps fade the appearance of discoloration and improve uneven skin tone.
Featured in: Advanced Pigment Corrector
IMPREGNATED BIOCELLULOSE FIBERS
Why add Impregnated Biocellulose Fibers to your skin care routine?
A fine network of highly absorbent biofibers are impregnated with water to provide immediate cooling relief to skin.
Featured in: Biocellulose Restorative Masque
KOMBUCHA
Why add Kombucha to your skin care routine?
A byproduct of the tea fermentation process, this naturally derived ingredient is known to help promote smooth, radiant skin.
Featured in: Retexturing Activator
L-ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Why add L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) to your skin care routine?
Synthetically derived or found naturally in citrus fruits, l-ascorbic acid is lauded for its superior antioxidant benefits. This highly potent form of pure vitamin C helps neutralize free radicals and helps protect against oxidative stress while providing visible anti-aging benefits.
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LHA (CAPROLOYL SALICYLIC ACID)
Why add Lha (Caproloyl Salicylic Acid) to your skin care routine?
A derivative of salicylic acid, this lipo-hydroxy acid helps promote cell turnover via targeted exfoliation. It has also been shown to decongest pores and refine the skin’s surface.
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NATURAL CHOLESTEROL
Why add Natural Cholesterol to your skin care routine?
Cholesterol is naturally found in the body and one of the predominant lipids found in skin. In topical skincare formulations, this ingredient is known to accelerate barrier recovery in aging skin. SkinCeuticals natural cholesterol is derived from a purified isolation of wool wax.
Featured in: Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Why add Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to your skin care routine?
Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin found naturally in yeast, meat, fish, milk, eggs, green vegetables, beans, and cereal grains. Topical application of niacinamide has been shown to strengthen skin’s moisture barrier and reduce the appearance of discoloration and blotchiness.
Featured in: Metacell Renewal B3
OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT
Why add Olive Leaf Extract to your skin care routine?
Derived from olive leaves, this emollient plant extract is rich in antioxidants including oleuropeine and hydroxytyrosol. Its moisturizing properties make it beneficial for dry skin types.
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OPTICAL DIFFUSERS
Why add Optical Diffusers to your skin care routine?
Designed to reflect and redirect light, optical diffusers help spread light evenly across a surface. In skincare, optical diffusers disperse light to help minimize the appearance of skin imperfections or uneven tone around the eyes.
Featured in: A.G.E. Eye Complex
PHLORETIN
Why add Phloretin to your skin care routine?
Derived from apples and the root bark of fruit trees including pear and grapefruit, this antioxidant neutralizes damaging free radicals and improves uneven skin tone.
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PHYTOSPHINGOSINE
Why add Phytosphingosine to your skin care routine?
This ceramide derivative helps facilitate skin’s natural barrier repair process.
Featured in: A.G.E. Interrupter
PROXYLANE™
Why add Proxylane™ to your skin care routine?
Derived from beech wood through an environmentally-efficient process, this patented molecule helps support skin’s matrix and restores water to skin. Proxylane is easily biodegradable, non-bioaccumulatable, and non-eco-toxic.
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PURPLE RICE EXTRACT
Why add Purple Rice Extract to your skin care routine?
Derived from the seed of oryza sativa linne, a type of rice originating in China, this extract helps preserve hyaluronic acid content in skin.
Featured in: Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier (H.A.)
RESVERATROL
Why add Resveratrol to your skin care routine?
Known as the longevity molecule, resveratrol is sourced from grape skin, blueberries, raspberries, and various plants including knotweed. It has been recognized for its powerful antioxidant and anti-aging properties which include strengthening skin’s natural antioxidant defense system to help neutralize free radicals.
Featured in: Resveratrol B E
RETINOL
Why add Retinol to your skin care routine?
A form of vitamin A (retinoic acid) that is clinically proven to help improve the appearance of aging skin. Retinol is shown to help improve uneven skin tone, promote cell turnover, and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
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SALICYLIC ACID
Why add Salicylic Acid to your skin care routine?
Often used as a key ingredient in topical acne products, this beta-hydroxy acid is extracted from the bark of willow trees. Salicylic acid exfoliates skin, refines pores, and reduces the formation of acne when used at an appropriate concentration.
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THYME EXTRACT
Why add Thyme Extract to your skin care routine?
Found naturally in the leaves and flower of the thyme plant, this botanical extract is high in thymol, known for its anti-septic and skin soothing benefits.
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TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Why add Titanium Dioxide to your skin care routine?
Titanium dioxide is a natural mineral used as a mineral UV filter. This key sunscreen ingredient forms a barrier on skin to reflect and help protect against UVA and UVB rays.
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TRANSLUCENT COLOR SPHERES
Why add Translucent Color Spheres to your skin care routine?
Comprised of iron oxide spheres, this color-infused technology enhances natural skin tone and boosts radiance while providing a universal tint for most skin tones.
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TRI-PEPTIDE
Why add Tri-Peptide to your skin care routine?
Peptides are compounds consisting of two or more linked amino acids (natural proteins). The number of amino acids that make up a peptide determine whether it is a di-peptide (2 peptides), tri-peptide (3 peptides), or more. In topical skincare formulations, some peptides are shown to help provide anti-aging benefits.
Featured in: Metacell Renewal B3
VITAMIN B5
Why add Vitamin B5 to your skin care routine?
Also known as pantothenic acid and found naturally in salmon, avocados, sunflower seeds, broccoli, and more, this essential nutrient helps promote the skin barrier’s natural repair process. SkinCeuticals only uses vegetable-derived sources of vitamin B5 in its formulations.
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ZINC OXIDE (Z-COTE®)
Why add Zinc Oxide (Z-Cote®) to your skin care routine?
Zinc oxide is a natural mineral used as a UV filter. This key sunscreen ingredient forms a barrier on skin to reflect and help protect against UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide demonstrates strong protection across the UVA spectrum and its distribution characteristics help provide an even spread without a whitening effect.
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