19 July 2008
Makeup Ingredients
Did you know that most makeup products today contain the ingredients below. This list was revealed recently by CNN; nine makeup ingredients that you may not have known about:
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (old folks used to call it “shortnin”) - apparently hydrogenated vegetable oil is an amazing skin-softener, emollient, and barrier ingredient. You can find it in most heavy body and foot creams, lip balms, and in some suntan products.
- Sodium Chloride (table salt) - is a common ingredient in body wash, bubble bath, shampoo, facial cleanser, and anything else that foams. These products are made using specific combinations of surface-active agents (surfactants), which usually require salt to reach a usable viscosity.
- Propylene Glycol - is used to moisturize the skin and hair, as a primary ingredient in “self-warming” products (e.g. a lube), and to extract herbal ingredients for greater stability and efficacy than water. It is not toxic or harmful (like its cousin ethylene glycol - antifreeze) but it is also commonly used on the wings of aircraft to prevent the accumulation of ice crystals and excess moisture.
- Oleoresin Capsicum - is the primary component of pepper spray. There might be some capsicum in any product that causes a warming sensation when applied topically (externally) and in many over-the-counter pain and itch creams.
- Urea - is a functional skin-softener and humectant, which means it helps to collect and hold moisture in the skin. Formerly it was extracted from horse urine, but not any more!
- Simethicone - is better known as gas relief drops (Mylicon for example, is a popular brand.) For cosmetic and industrial purposes, the generic name ‘antifoam’ is usually applied. Simethicone is used in cosmetics during the manufacturing process to reduce the surface tension of air or gas bubbles, causing them to collect and rise upward.
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE) - is also known as diatomite, and is one of the two components of dynamite (along with nitroglycerin). DE is a silica-based powder made of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a kind of spherical, hard-shelled algae. In cosmetics, due to its gentle abrasiveness, Diatomaceous Earth is found in natural toothpastes, deodorant, absorbent powders, cuticle cream, and in mild-exfoliation products.
- Plastics - serves as a film-former in hair gel, hairspray, barrier products, and liquid bandages. Used as polyvinyl alcohol and various other forms, plastics are easily incorporated into many skin and hair care products. Plastic keeps your coif in that perfect “Flock of Seagulls” swoop, makes your waterproof mascara waterproof, and suspends those little beads in your eye gel.
- Albumen - also known as egg whites, is used in skin-firming products because they are sticky and gooey, but constrict very efficiently when dried.