Part 2 - Ingredient Glossary for Natural and Organic Products

Today we will talk about more ingredients that are often found in natural and organic skin care products.  See Part 1 from last week. 

Camomile Essential Oil (German) & Extract: From camomile flowers and containing azulene (see Azulene), this is a natural skin healer, calmer, and anti-inflammatory agent.  Also used to brighten highlights in hair and soothe scalp.

Cocoa Butter:  A rich emollient from the bean of the cocoa plan.  Forms an effective moisture barrier to protect an soften dry, chapped and calloused skin.  Also traditionally used as a massage balm to guard against stretch marks

Coconut Oil:  From coconut kernels, this emollient protects skin from dryness; locks in moisture to keep skin hydrated.

Collagen:  A protein derived from plants or found in connective tissue.  Collagen is a highly effective skin moisturizer, working to hold water into the skin and therefore preventing dryness and increasing elasticity and suppleness.  Repairs damaged hair by building strength to hair shaft.

Colloidal Oatmeal:  A smooth, very fine oatmeal that is proven to soothe chapped, irritated and itchy skin.

Comfrey Extract:  From the roots of the comfrey plant and containing allantoin, the active ingredient that is naturally soothing, healing and anti-bacterial.

Cornflower extract:  This french meadow blossom is traditionally used to calm and beautify skin.

Cypress Essential Oil:  An excellent aromatherapeutic skin toner.

Dead Sea Salts:  These legendary mineral-rich salts from the Dead Sea work wonders to purify, tone and hydrate skin, calm inflammation and soothe tired muscles.

Elder Flower Extract:  A hardworking skin moisturizer from the elder tree.

Eucalyptus Oil:  Extracted from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree, this oil is cooling, uplifting, and antiseptic.

Evening Primrose Oil:  a fountain of youth moisturizer, containing gamma-linoleic acid, rejuvenates and renews skin.

Geranium Essential Oil:  Cleanses skin, tones, calms inflammations and offers a balancing aromatherapeutic effect.

Ginseng Extract:  From the ancient Asian root; a natural skin revitalizer and toner.

Glycerin:  Derived from vegetable fatty acids; an excellent humectant that attracts moisture into the skin to soften, condition, hydrate and moisturize.

Glycolic Acid:  A very effective alpha hydroxy moisturizer from sugar cane extract.  Acts to dissolve and gently exfoliate dead skin cells, leaving a renewed smoothness, glowing complexion and fresh tone.

Grapefruit Seed Extract:  A natural preservative that works most effectively in conjunction with other preservatives.

Green Tea Extract:  Green tea, containing poly phenols, highly effective anti-oxidants that naturally slow skin's aging process and fight harmful environmental effects on the skin; is also proven to reduce inflammation and soothe skin.

Honey:  From the nectar of flowers;  this vitamin-rich nourisher is an excellent humectant to hydrate skin.

Hybrid Safflower Oil:  From the seeds of the safflower plant, this high-oleic oil is emollient-rich, holds essential moisture into skin, and is exceptionally shelf stable.

Hydrolyzed Elastin:  Protein found in connective tissue (see Collegen).

Hydrolyzed Keratin:  This human hair protein found is substantive and strengthening to the hair shaft.

Jojoba Oil:  From the bean of a desert shrub, this oil closely resembles the skin's natural moisturizers, therby making it especially effective.  Excellent lubricant for the skin and hair.

Lavender Essential Oil:  Beautiful, aromatic and effective, this amazing botanical offers not only a lovely fresh, floral scent, but is also therapeutic as it both clams and uplifts the spirit, while soothing and balancing the skin.

Linden Blossom:  A traditional French elixir.  Gently tones and soothes.  Extracted from the leaves of the Linden tree.

Check out our next article for part 3 in this series.  More natural and organic ingredients to come.