Glossary of Common Skin Care and Beauty Terms

With the large volume of skin care and beauty products available on the market, it can be challenging and confusing to understand the various skin care and beauty terms we read on product labels, in magazines, or on the internet. Below are some common skin care and beauty terms and their meaning:

acne: a skin condition consisting of blemishes caused by blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or cysts. This is most likely the result of a buildup of bacteria and oils, as well as keratin proteins in some hair follicles.
antioxidants: defenders against free radicals
collagen: fibrous protein in the dermis (the2nd layer of the skin), that gives the skin its firmness and contributes to the strength of the skin. It causes the skin to be more resilient.
comedogenic: substance that clogs the pores and causes blackheads, whiteheads or other blemishes
dermis: the layer of cells under the epidermis
elastin: a protein found in skin which allows the skin to stretch and return to its original shape
emollient: a product or an ingredient in a product that locks in the moisture that is already in the skin. It helps to slow down the rate of evaporation and makes the skin feel softer
epidermis: the top or outer layer of the skin that sheds and regrows cells constantly thereby regenerating itself. The top layer of dead skin cells is pushed out of the way by living cells that push themselves to the surface of the skin
exfoliant: an ingredient or product that is used to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. An example is a skin care scrub.
free radicals: molecules that are the result of chemical reactions in the body, which affect skin elasticity and firmness
hydrate: restoring the normal level of moisture to the skin
hypoallergenic cosmetics: this describes products that do not contain allergy-causing substances, like fragrance.
melanin: the dark brown or black pigment that helps give skin its color
non-comedogenic: indicates a product that has been shown through clinical studies and tests not to clog pores
pH: a measurement of acidity or alkalinity. A product that is pH balanced is compatible with the skin's own natural pH level and does not contain high/alkaline or low/acidic pH products.
rosacea: a chronic and often progressive skin disease that usually produces redness and acne-like lesions over the nose and cheekbones.
sebum: the natural oil substance that is the skin's natural moisturizer produced by the sebaceous glands.

I hope this list will assist you in understanding some common skin care terms. If there are others you'd like to see covered, please click below and leave your question or comment.