How to choose a face cream

What you need to know when choosing a face cream?

First, we pay attention to what type of skin the cream is recommended for. Then we read the annotation. And here a lot of questions arise - what are the components in this box, do your skin need them?

Since ancient times, women have been interested in cosmetics, since at all times there was a desire to stay young and beautiful for a long time. And now this desire has not disappeared. One of the most common cosmetic products is cream.

Cream is an English word and means “cream”.

Water, fats and oils are the basis of ancient creams. But this basis is used in our time. With the addition of various drugs, vitamins, biologically useful substances, modern creams also have medicinal properties.

How to choose a face cream - types of creams
According to their action, cosmetic creams are divided into several groups. For example, nourishing creams, whitening, protective, massage, moisturizing (hydrating), cold creams (cooling) and others.

Before buying a cream, you need to decide what action is necessary for you.

Each type of cream requires a more detailed analysis of its action. Therefore, now we will focus only on the main components that make up the creams for most groups.

So, what are the main ingredients that make up the creams? What can you see in the annotation?

Vegetable and animal fats and oils. For example, coconut oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, sesame oil and others.

Natural waxes. Beeswax. In creams, wax facilitates the formation of an emulsion, imparts plasticity.

Lanolin.
Lanolin is obtained from the liquid after washing sheep's wool. Refined lanolin is used as a feedstock. Thanks to lanolin, the composition of creams and ointments is soft and elastic. Lanolin does not leave a greasy sheen on the skin and is well absorbed, as well as enhances blood circulation and improves metabolism in the skin. The skin becomes velvety and supple. Lanolin is an excellent moisturizer and is also used as an emulsifier. However, for those with sensitive skin, remember that lanolin can cause irritation or even a rash.

Spermaceti. Crystalline mass obtained from the bone oil of the vertebrae of the sperm whale. Spermaceti is used only in combination with oils and fats.

Choose a face cream - natural or synthetic?

Natural products deteriorate quickly, so synthetic fats, oils and waxes based on natural substances are increasingly used. Using them, you can achieve the consistency of the quality of cosmetic products. The stability of the properties of synthetic substances has noticeably replaced natural products.

Mineral oils... Paraffin oil and dense viscous petrolatum, mountain wax (ozokerite), pure paraffin. They cannot be easily absorbed into the skin, but are a good starting material for some types of creams.

Lecithin... Lipids are fat-soluble substances that do not dissolve in water, but in organic solvents. One of them is lecithin, which is used as an emulsifier. The correct dosage of emulsifiers in the manufacture of creams is one of the most important conditions for the quality of a cosmetic product. For example, if there are too many emulsifiers in creams, they are quickly absorbed and quite stable. But for dry skin, such creams cause a feeling of tightness after application. And with prolonged use of such creams, you can provoke the appearance of wrinkles, disrupt the water balance even in normal skin. In case of an overdose of emulsifiers after applying them to the skin, a sticky feeling may also occur.But in modern cosmetics, more and more often new generation emulsifiers are used, which are free of these disadvantages.

Ceramides - lipids, which are found in moisturizers. They prevent moisture loss.

Colloids - glues, starches, cellulose. These are products of plant and animal origin. They are suitable for forming gels, increasing the viscosity of emulsions and solutions.

Elastin and collagen - components that are structural proteins of the skin. It is thanks to them that the skin acquires firmness and elasticity. The skin is 75% of its weight composed of these substances. With age, their mass decreases, elasticity is lost, and wrinkles form on the skin. Using creams containing these ingredients, we will protect the skin from moisture evaporation. This is why subcutaneous collagen injections are sometimes recommended.

Kaolin Is a finely ground clay, a preparation often used in cosmetics. Clay mask tightens pores. All mud masks are composed of one base - kaolin.

Amino acids. The main property due to which amino acids are used in cosmetics is the ability to retain moisture in the stratum corneum of the skin. Of these, for example, tyrosine is an amino acid found in some creams. Tyrosine enhances the production of melanin in the skin. Melanin is a dye that determines the color of our skin. The epidermis contains this type of cells - melanocytes, which produce melanin. It is melanin that protects the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. When you tan, the amount of pigment granules in the skin increases and its color becomes darker. Excessive exposure to the sun leads to burns, as the pigment granules cannot be quickly produced. Without melanin, our skin would literally look pale.

Hyaluronic acid - a substance that is also part of the connective tissue of our skin. It, as it were, forms a film on the surface of the skin, which protects against moisture evaporation.

Fruit acids (alpha hydroxides ANA - Alpha Hydroxy Acids and beta hydroxides - BHA). They cleanse the surface of the skin, accelerate the exfoliation of dead cells, stimulate the processes of cell renewal, or, more simply, take part in the fight against premature aging. Wrinkles are smoothed out, age spots are lightened. The concentration of ANA should not be higher than 4%, otherwise irritation may occur.

Beta hydroxide molecules are larger than alpha hydroxide molecules, they do not penetrate deep into the skin, therefore they do not cause irritation. With the help of fruit acids, skin diseases such as acne, dandruff, eczema can be cured, as well as intense skin pigmentation and first wrinkles.

Glycerol - a moisturizer that extracts water from the air and maintains the normal moisture level of the skin. Glycerin is a good solvent; it is miscible with water in all proportions.

Liposomes. Liposome creams. Liposomes are closed hollow microspheres that are surprisingly similar in structure and properties to a cell of any organism. They carry biologically active substances by interacting with skin cells. Thus, liposomes, easily penetrating into the skin, help it to receive all the most necessary substances. The history of liposomes is not simple, but it began in the 60s of the last century. In Russian cosmetology, the first creams with liposomes were released in 1992. Now every self-respecting cosmetic company produces creams with liposomes.

Vitamins - antioxidants A, C, E. On the question - what are antioxidants, you need to move on to a slightly different topic. But for now we will confine ourselves to the explanation that the vitamins contained in our body, as well as in creams, help to protect and restore damaged cells of the skin, nails and hair.

Vitamin A counteracts collagen breakdown, strengthens the skin.

Vitamin C improves collagen production and protects against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Vitamin E makes the skin smooth, soft, maintains a normal level of moisture, relieves inflammation.

In addition to the above vitamins, others are also used; vitamins of group B, F, K are especially common.

The annotation indicates the names of vitamins in a slightly different way:

A - retinol, retinoic acid, retinal, carotenoids.

B - niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenate, pyridoxine, thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, folic acid, cobalamin.

C - ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate.

E - tocopherol and its derivatives.

F - linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, linolenic acid.

Fragrant substances. Both natural and synthetic raw materials are used as fragrant substances not only in creams, but also in other cosmetic products.

Do you want your skin to be smooth and firm, free of wrinkles or blemishes, and a healthy glow on your cheeks? That is why, before you buy a cream, you need to analyze the list of its components.

One of the main goals of cosmetics is to help the skin to maintain normal moisture and fat levels.