Second Week at the Beauty Camp

Sometimes, life becomes so hectic that you have to shift your priorities. I had so many presentations and exams during the last two weeks that I couldn’t find time to blog! Now that my exams are over and I have a rest time of more than two weeks, I am back to blogging and I am continuing the beauty camp thingy…

Well…the second week According to Dr. Loretta is all about knowing the ingredients in our various cream and learning purpose of various ingredients. I would list the important ingredient which she has given in her book, the tricks to read labels and some tips of their usage. Here you go…

Tricks of the Label-Reading Trade

Trick #1: As a rule of thumb, if an ingredient is one of the last five in the list of the product label, then you won’t be getting enough of the ingredient to make a difference in your skin. The exceptions are Retinoids; they will always be less than 1%, and always appear last on the list.

Trick #2: Learn to know the common preservatives in skin-care products. ( by law, skin-care products must contain preservatives) Among the common preservatives in skin-care products:
--Caprylyl Glycol
--Citric Acid
--Diazolidinyl Urea
--DMDM hydantoin
--Parabens
--Pentylene Glycol
--Sorbic Acid

Trick #3: The internet is a valuable resource for tracking down information on uses and effectiveness of a particular ingredient.

Trick #4: For shopping trips and explorations, you may want to buy: Milady’s Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary, by Natalie Michalun. Noth are available in paperback and handy.

Favorite Ingredients:

The ingredients which have an asterisk(*) before a particular name is a must-have thing. You may want to include it in your daily regimen.

Algae Peptides:
(Brand name: Apt; INCI name: water, Butylene glycol, ahnfeltia, concinna extract)

Peptides in skin-care are quite a rage. It can penetrate the epidermis to reach the skin layer. IT helps in rapid, visible changes- tightening and appearance of firming.

Aloe Vera: it is effective in soothing and reducing inflammation, healing wounds; it exfoliates the skin, and acts as a natural calming agent.

*Alpha Hydroxy acid: is the chemical description of a group of ingredients that includes glycolic, lactic and malic acid. Glycolic acid is a very popular anti-aging ingredient. It acts as an exfoliant, gives a glow to skin.
*Antioxidants: It also prevents aging and skin cancer as a result of sun exposure, pollution or smoking.
Bentonite: Also known as American white clay, it can absorb oil and tighten skin.
Benzoyl Peroxide: Tried and tested acne treatment
Camphor: tightening ingredient and is wonderful for short-term use.
Chamomile: this flower imparts a calming effect
*Glycerin
Hyaluronic Acid: its an effective moisturizing agent without any potential for irritation.
*Hydroquinone: is a chemical that prevents skin cells from making new pigment. It’s a very effective bleaching agent- the best in any fade preparation – and works well on age spots, brown dots. IT also works well on under-eye circles.
Papaya: dissolves dead cells from skin’s surface
Peptides: for tighter, firmer skin
Retinoids: are vitamin A derivatives that act as antioxidant, antipigment, and exfoliant agents.

Hmmph…that was a long list! I think I am done with this book now. It’s more of an ingredient and their advantages than anything else…Now that we know the basic ingredients found in our face creams, let’s move on!

Tomorrow, I would write tips from another book on beauty and I am finding it much more interesting and useful than this one…

Till then…