Topical creams help improve the appearance of skin. Before you head out to buy a lotion to heal, moisturize or slow the effects of aging, you should know some of the more common ingredients found in skin care cosmetics and what they do. And be aware, skin care creams are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Emulsifiers
Emulsifiers are an important ingredient in skin creams. Emulsifiers help bind the water and oils together and also soften skin. Because water and oil naturally separate, an emulsifier is used get these two ingredients to combine into a creamy base.
Emulsifiers can be made from a number of different products--and cosmetic companies are not required to give you that information on the label, reports The Organic Salon, a blog for organic beauty products. The raw materials used to manufacture emulsifiers include pig lard, beeswax, cellulose and algae.
Emollients
You'll see emollients listed on most skin-care labels. Emollients include lanolin, mineral oil and petrolatum. The Mayo Clinic reports, "These ingredients fill in the spaces between the cells in the skin, helping replace lipids and thus smoothing and lubricating rough skin." Emollients can be water or oil based. A water-based skin cream is easier to apply and will not leave behind a residue. The benefits of an oil-based cream are its ability to endure longer.
Aloe
Aloe is a clear gel derived from the thick stalks of the aloe vera plant. It's known for its ability to soothe and moisturize skin. You can use aloe to treat burns, wounds, injuries and could prevent acne scars from forming. The Mayo Clinic reports that promising studies show "topical aloe gel has [immune-system] properties that may improve wound healing and skin inflammation."
Vitamin C
L-asorbic acid is a derivative of vitamin C with antioxidant properties. Though many skin cream manufacturers boast infusing their products with vitamin C, the Cleveland Clinic suggests, "This is the only form of vitamin C that you should look for in your skin care products." Vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid is the only compound that has shown the ability to stimulate collagen. As you age, the collagen in your skin regenerates at a slower pace, which is why sagging and wrinkles appear.
Fragrances
Fragrances, not to be confused with perfumes and cologne, are added to skin-care products to conceal the base odor of the other ingredients. Fragrances come from essential oils, aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents, report the cosmetic scientists at The Beauty Brains. Interestingly, even fragrance-free skin creams have an added fragrance--just not an odor. Because people are most likely to have an allergic reaction to the materials used to create a pleasant odor, manufacturers may use a hypoallergenic, non-odor fragrance to mask the smell of the other ingredients.
Preservatives
Products made with water and oil, which include all skin creams, need to have preservatives to prevent contamination from bacteria, mold and yeast after the product is opened. Preservatives you'll see most often include parabens and urea derivatives.
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