Ingredients Dictionary: Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is one of the top 50 chemicals produced worldwide. It is a white, opaque and naturally-occuring mineral found in two main forms: rutile and anatase. Both forms contain pure titanium dioxide that is bound to impurities. Titanium dioxide is chemically processed to remove these impurities, leaving the pure, white pigment available for use. [...]

Ingredients Dictionary: Salicylic Acid (aka Beta Hydroxy Acid)

Salicylic acid is also referred to as Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA). There are a variety of AHAs (see Ingredients Dictionary: Alpha Hydroxy Acid), but only one BHA – salicylic acid.
It is a multifunctional ingredient that addresses many of the systemic causes of blemishes. For decades dermatologists have been prescribing salicylic acid as an exceedingly effective [...]

Ingredients Dictionary: Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)

AHAs are derived from various plant sources or from milk. However, 99% of the AHAs included in cosmetics are synthetic. In low concentrations (less than 3%) AHAs work as water-binding agents. At concentrations over 4% and in a base with an acid pH of 3 to 4, these can exfoliate skin cells by breaking down [...]

Introducing The Ingredients Dictionary

From now on, I shall be adding a short section called The Ingredients Dictionary. I have been using beauty products for many years, and it was only until very recently that I started to actually notice the ingredients list in the products. I had no idea which does what! And to think I’ve been putting [...]