Beauty Cream Ingredients

Beauty cream ingredients have become much more varied since Galen, the noted physician, came up with a recipe for cold cream in 2nd century ancient Greece. That recipe featured beeswax, water, olive oil and rose petals. Manufacturers of today's beauty creams have hundreds more chemical and plant-based substances at their disposal. Each have different functions. Some of the main categories of beauty cream ingredients are humectants, emollients, antioxidants and preservatives.

Humectants

Contrary to popular belief, it's water, not the oil from skin, that has been depleted in dry skin situations. Humectants, also called water-binding agents, increase the capacity of the skin to hold water and slow evaporation. According to skin care guru Paula Begoun, some humectants commonly used in beauty creams mimic the skin's actual structure. These include glycerin, lecithin, hyaluronic acid, glucose, fructose and sucrose. Humectants don't actually change the structure of the skin, but can temporarily plump up fine lines and wrinkles.

Emollients

Emollients are used to soften and soothe the skin. By filling in the tiny crevices between skin cells and helping to replace natural oils, emollients can help rough, damaged skin become smoother and more supple. Most beauty creams contain at least one lipid-based emollient. According to beauty maven Paula Begoun, there are hundreds of emollients used in beauty cream formulations. Cocoa butter, mineral oil, hemp seed oil and jojoba oil are a few examples of emollients.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are an important and effective addition to many beauty creams. Antioxidants neutralize the skin-aging effects of free radicals that come from sun exposure, pollution, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoke. Antioxidants can also help generate healthy collagen, a fundamental building block of skin and connective tissue. Beauty cream manufacturers may add antioxidants in the form of vitamins, including vitamins A, C and D. They may also add one or more of the many botanical ingredients known to have antioxidant properties, such as acai, green tea, yerba mate and shiitake mushrooms.

Preservatives

Preservatives are a necessary ingredient in beauty creams. You'll find them included in even the most natural or organic formulas. Preservatives sometimes may cause skin irritation or provoke allergic reactions, but leaving them out would lead to far worse health problems. Without preservatives, beauty creams would be vulnerable to bacterial or fungal contamination, especially after the package has been opened. Frequently used preservatives in beauty creams include butylparaben, benzyl alcohol, sorbic acid and benzoic acid.