Your skin is the largest organ your body has. Tasked with protecting your insides from bacteria, viruses and other harmful things that can affect your body, it is important to keep your skin healthy. This is why skin care should be a high priority as part of your daily hygiene routine. When looking at skin care products, there are several ingredients that you will commonly see listed on the product's labels.
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene is a chemical that is naturally found in carrots, peppers and lettuce, but can be extracted for use in skin care products. Beta-carotene can be converted into retinol (a retinoid similar to vitamin A), which is an antioxidant that can help reverse the effects of excessive unprotected sun exposure (photoaging), as well as other signs of aging.
Camellia Sinensis
Camellia sinensis is the chemical found in tea leaves, and is often extracted to be used in antioxidant skin care products. According to the George Mateljan Foundation, it is used primarily for combating the effects of aging on the skin such as collagen and elastin loss.
Cucumber Extract
Cucumber extract is obtained from the pulp of cucumbers and is used in beauty products to help tighten the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent and treat puffy or irritated areas of the skin.
Glycerine
Glycerine is one of the most popular ingredients in skin care products; it is used as a humectant, which draws moisture from the air and trap it within the outer layer of skin, called the stratum corneum. This helps prevent moisture loss from your skin.
Panthenol
Panthenol is also popularly found in skin care products and is used as a moisturizer. Derived from rice husks, panthenol has the ability to be absorbed deep into the skin where it is converted into a moisturizing complex B vitamin called pantothenic acid.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is beta hydroxy acid also commonly found in skin care products, especially those market towards acne sufferers. Derived from the bark of a willow tree, salicylic acid helps improve the skin's abilities to shed dead skin cells (exfoliate). This prevents hair follicles from becoming clogged, which can help prevent outbreaks of acne.
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