9 Chemical/Ingredients used in Skincare products

1. Parabens

Parabens are an affordable and common type of preservative used in many different skincare products to keep the product fresh. They also stop the product from harboring harmful bacteria.

Parabens resist the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other micro-organisms in skincare products, particularly in warm and humid conditions. Parabens are natural organic compounds, with worries over their association with health issues.

Skincare and cosmetic companies are facing high pressure from consumers and health practitioners who want them to reduce or eliminate parabens from their merchandise.

Alternatives to parabens are likely phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, benzoic acid, and benzyl alcohol.

2. Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol found at the EU can attain a concentration of up to 1.0 percent in all merchandise categories. The SCCS9 lately re-confirmed it is safe to be used and no regulatory uncertainty is recognized at mid to long term. The optimum pH should between 4 and 9 and, such as the parabens, it has the advantage of being inexpensive. The main disadvantage is that it's incompatible with the majority of non-ionic surfactants.

Sodium benzoate

You can view it :

• 2.5% in rinse-off products

• 1.7% in oral hygiene products

• 0.5% in leave-on goods

• 0.06percent and above is effective against yeasts and molds

This fixing, together with potassium sorbate, are affordable and is plentiful in nature.

3. Benzyl alcohol

Benzyl alcohol is another option. Active against gram+ bacteria from 25 ppm, it is usually combined with lactic acid to better combat yeasts and molds.

Benzyl alcohol is usually used at up to 1.0% and acetic acid (anhydrous) around 0.6%. This combination is safest in a pH of between 5 and 3. Incompatibility is reduced except with the non-ionic surfactants and this mix can be mined out of nature.

Look out for ingredient names which end with"-paraben","methyl-","ethyl-".

4. Formaldehyde

In its pure form, formaldehyde is a gas. It can not use as a cosmetic component, and usually requires water and then used as formalin. Other components that gradually release formaldehyde might also be inserted into skincare products.

Formaldehyde functions as an anti-bacterial preservative to reduce the development of bacteria in the product. A minimum quantity of formaldehyde is harmless. Formaldehyde is naturally present at low levels in many things, including plants, food, and smoke. In low levels, it may be safely and lawfully utilized in skincare products.

Nowadays, the cosmetic market is rather using formaldehyde releasers which are a time-release form of formaldehyde since they're more economically viable. They can cause irritation to the skin.

Employing a single product comprising a formaldehyde-releasing preservative may not pose a health risk, but that item may not be the sole source of exposure. Many products we use on a daily basis contain these ingredients.

5. Sodium lauryl sulphate/ sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)

This is a versatile component, and it is made up of non-volatile alcohols. Skincare products contain this ingredient due to their surfactant character, and its various uses include skin-conditioning brokers, solvents synthetic detergent, emulsifier, and an anionic surface-active agent.

SLS is the component that turns out a squirt body wash into a smooth lather. The purpose of this chemical is essential to makes bubbles. This usually means it traps dirt making it easy to rinse off. This creates a rich lather when giving off a clean and fresh atmosphere when used.

6. Petrolatum

It's one of the typical ingredients for dry skin, such as around the eyes.

While refined petrolatum is approved for human usage, petrolatum is actually a potentially dangerous skincare product. There are dangers of contamination when using this ingredient. This is a result of the significant number of cheap imitations and mass productions, resulting in adverse results.

Moisturizing items like lip balms and moisturizers contain petrolatum. But they do not have moisturizing properties. On the contrary, it creates a barrier that keeps moisture. At precisely the same time, it also prevents the absorption of external moisture. This causes the skin to glow and eventually dry out.

Petrolatum-based goods are fast-acting, providing quick but temporary results. This fixing gives the temporary illusion that the skin is soft and hydrated.

7. Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone cream is usually well tolerated. Some users may experience minor and temporary skin irritations including mild itching or stinging and reddening of the skin (irritant contact dermatitis). If these do not subside, stop using the cream.

Side effects that should warrant stopping the cream and seeking medical advice immediately include severe burning, itching, crusting, or swelling of treated areas (possible allergic Contact dermatitis) and any unusual skin discoloration.

8. Triclosan

Trichlorocarbanilide (Triclocarban) is an active ingredient that finds extensive application in personal care and hygiene products manufacturing industry all over the globe. Triclocarban is an active ingredient in personal cleansing products like:

• deodorant soaps

• deodorants

• detergents

• cleansing lotions, and last but not least

• wet wipes.

It is also the primary ingredient in all bar soaps manufactured all over the globe. It is the go-to active ingredient for all consumer base anti-microbial products that help in reducing the number of microbes in one’s skin when compared to that of normal cleansing products. In short, Triclocarban is the perfect ingredient that helps in arresting the transmission of disease-causing microbial life between people and objects.

9. Octenidine dihydrochloride

Octenidine dihydrochloride (octenidine) was introduced for skin, mucous membrane, and wound antisepsis more than 20 years ago. Until now, a wealth of knowledge has been gained, including in vitro and animal studies on efficacy, tolerance, safety, and clinical experience both from case reports and prospective controlled trials. Nowadays, octenidine is an established antiseptic in a large field of applications and represents an alternative to older substances such as chlorhexidine, polyvidone-iodine, or triclosan.