Moisturisers or moisturizers (see spelling differences In the early 18th century, English spelling was not standardized. Differences became noticeable after the publishing of influential dictionaries. Current British English spellings follow, for the most part, those of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language , whereas many American English spellings follow Noah Webster's An American ) are complex mixtures of chemical agents specially designed to make the external layers of the skin The skin is a soft outer covering of an animal, in particular a vertebrate. Other animal coverings such the arthropod exoskeleton or the seashell have different developmental origin, structure and chemical composition. The adjective cutaneous literally means "of the skin" . In mammals, the skin is the largest organ of the integumentary (epidermis The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin, composed of terminally differentiated stratified squamous epithelium, acting as the body's major barrier against an inhospitable environment. It is the thinnest on the eyelids at .05 mm and the thickest on the palms and soles at 1.5 mm (0.059 in). It is ectodermal in origin ) softer and more pliable, by increasing its hydration (water Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. Its molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state, water vapor or steam content) by reducing evaporation. Naturally occurring skin lipids Lipids are a broad group of naturally occurring molecules which includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins , monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The main biological functions of lipids include energy storage, as structural components of cell membranes, and as important signaling molecules and sterols Sterols are an important class of organic molecules. They occur naturally in plants, animals, and fungi, with the most familiar type of animal sterol being cholesterol. Cholesterol is vital to cellular function, and a precursor to fat-soluble vitamins and steroid hormones as well as artificial or natural oils An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and is hydrophobic but soluble in organic solvents. Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are nonpolar substances. The general definition above includes compound classes with, and uses, including vegetable oils, petrochemical oils, and volatile essential oils. All oils can , humectants A humectant is a hygroscopic substance. It is often a molecule with several hydrophilic groups, most often hydroxyl groups, but amines and carboxyl groups, sometimes esterified, can be encountered as well; the affinity to form hydrogen bonds with molecules of water is crucial here , emollients Emollients are substances that soften and soothe the skin. They are used to correct dryness and scaling of the skin. They are a key component in the manufacture of lipstick, lotions, and other cosmetic products , lubricants, etc. may be part of the composition of commercial skin moisturizers. They usually are available as commercial products for cosmetic Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and gels, deodorants, baby products, bath oils, bubble baths, bath and therapeutic uses, but can also be made at home using common pharmacy Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs. The word derives from the Greek φάρμακον , "drug, medicine" (the earliest form of the word is the Mycenaean Greek pa-ma-ko, attested in Linear B syllabic ingredients.
Moisturizers prevent and treat dry skin, protect sensitive skin, improve skin tone and texture, and mask imperfections.[1]
Risks of moisturizers
Two factors have to be considered when assessing the safety of a moisturizer:
The safety of the ingredients it contains. There are on-line databases like Skin Deep where consumers can get information about individual cosmetic ingredients.[2]
The risk of bacterial contamination.
A recent study discovered that the application of certain moisturizers increases the incidence of skin cancer in mice.[3] Four popular moisturizers were tested, providing the same result. It is not yet known if the same applies to humans. A fifth moisturizer, specially prepared without mineral oil Mineral oil or liquid petroleum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based products from crude oil. It is a transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes and cyclic paraffins, related to petroleum jelly (also known as "white petrolatum"). It has a density of around 0.8 g/cm3 and sodium lauryl sulphate , had no such effect.[4]
Some people are sensitive or allergic to certain products, and this can cause outbreaks.
There is a risk of moisturizers being contaminated with bacteria that can cause disease.
See also
Corneotherapy combination of moisturizer and similar for improving skin disorders
References
^ Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/moisturizers/SN00042
^ http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
^ http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/jid2008241a.html
^ http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2008/08/link_between_skin_cancer_and_m.html
Cosmetics Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and gels, deodorants, baby products, bath oils, bubble baths, bath
Products
Lips
Lip gloss Lip gloss is a product used primarily to give lips a mildly glossy lustre and sometimes subtle color. It is distributed as a liquid or a soft solid . It can be completely clear, translucent, or various shades of opacity, including frosted, glittered, glassy, and metallic finishes · Lip liner Lip liner is a cosmetic product. It is intended to fill uneven areas on the outer edges of the lips after applying lipstick, therefore giving a smooth shape. The product is usually sold in a retractable tube or pencil form. As an additional effect the lipliner prevents the lipstick applied thereafter from bleeding · Lip plumper Lip plumper is a cosmetics product used to make lips appear fuller. In appearance, it ranges from translucent to opaque and tinted. A lip plumper can be formulated to be worn alone as a lip gloss. Sheerer versions can be applied under lipstick · Lipstick Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments, oils, waxes, and emollients that applies color and texture to the lips. There are many varieties of lipstick. As with most other types of makeup, lipstick is typically, but not exclusively, worn by women. It is usually not worn until adolescence or adulthood
Face
Concealer A concealer or colour corrector is a type of makeup used to mask pimples, dark circles and other small blemishes visible on the skin. Concealers usually do a good job of hiding blemishes by blending the imprefection into the surrounding skin tone. This product is mainly used by women, but use among men is increasing · Foundation Foundation is a flesh-toned cosmetic applied to the face to create an even, uniform colour to the complexion, and, sometimes, to change the natural skintone. Foundation applied to the body is generally referred to as body paint · Face powder Face powder is a cosmetic powder applied to the face to set a foundation after application. It can also be reapplied throughout the day to minimize shininess caused by oily skin. There is translucent sheer powder, and there is pigmented powder. Certain types of pigmented facial powders are meant be worn alone with no base foundation. Powder tones · Rouge Rouge , also called blush, is a cosmetic typically used by women to redden the cheeks so as to provide a more youthful appearance, and to emphasise the cheekbones · Bindi A bindi is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia (particularly India, Bangladesh) and Southeast Asia. Traditionally it is a dot of red colour applied in the center of the forehead close to the eyebrows, but it can also consist of a sign or piece of jewelry worn at this location · Thanaka Thanaka is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of Myanmar (formerly Burma) seen commonly applied to the face and sometimes the arms of women and girls and to a lesser extent men and boys. The use of thanaka has also spread to neighboring countries including Thailand · Tilaka In Hinduism, the tilaka or tilak is a mark worn on the forehead and other parts of the body, not to be confused with a bindi. Tilaka may be worn on a daily basis or for special religious occasions only, depending on different customs · Cleanser A cleanser is a facial care product that is used to remove make-up, dead skin cells, oil, dirt and other types of pollutants from the skin of the face. This helps to unclog pores and prevent skin conditions such as acne -Toner In cosmetics, toner refers to a lotion or wash designed to cleanse the skin and shrink pores, usually used on the face. Some people dispute whether toner is actually necessary, and prefer to use plain water instead. Toners can be applied to the skin in different ways: -Moisturizer
Eyes
Eye liner Eye liner is a cosmetic used to define the eyes. It is applied around the contours of the eye to create a variety of aesthetic illusions. Although primarily aimed at females, it has broadened its appeal to the male market, known commonly by the portmanteau guyliner · Eye shadow Eye shadow is a cosmetic that is applied on the eyelids and under the eyebrows. It is commonly used to make the wearer's eyes stand out or look more attractive · Kohl Kohl is a mixture of soot and other ingredients used predominantly by women in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa and South Asia to darken the eyelids and as mascara for the eyelashes. It is also sometimes spelled kol, kehal or kohal in the Arab world, and is known as surma or kajal in South Asia · Mascara Mascara is a cosmetic used to darken, colour, thicken, lengthen, or define eyelashes. Mascara comes in three forms: liquid, cake, and cream. It also comes in many formulas, tints, and colours. Mascara is available in tubes with wand applicators. Ingredients in mascara include water, wax thickeners, film-formers, and preservatives. Mascara brushes
Other
Shampoo Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair. The goal is to remove the unwanted build-up without stripping out so much as to make hair unmanageable -Conditioner Hair conditioner is a hair care product that alters the texture and appearance of human hair -Styling cream Hair gel is a hairstyling product that is used to stiffen hair into a particular hairstyle. The results it produces are usually similar to, but stronger than, those of hair spray, and weaker than those of hair glue or hair wax · Nail polish Nail polish is a lacquer applied to toenails and fingernails for appearance, but also as nail protection. Polishing afterward without adding another chemical layer is called nail buffing · Anti-aging cream Anti-aging creams are predominantly moisturiser based cosmeceutical skin care products marketed with the promise of making the consumer look younger by reducing visible wrinkles, expression lines, blemishes, pigmentation changes, discolourations and other environmentally related conditions of the skin · Body powder Body powder is the generic name for alternatives to talcum powder. It is usually made from a combination of tapioca flour, rice flour, cornstarch, kaolin, arrowroot powder, and/or orrisroot powder, but other powders may be used · Cold cream Cold cream is an emulsion of water and certain fats, usually including beeswax and various scent agents, designed to smooth skin and remove makeup. The name derives from the cooling feeling that the cream leaves on the skin. Variations of the product have been used for nearly two-thousand years · Sindoor Sindoor is a red powder , which is traditionally applied at the beginning or completely along the parting-line of a woman’s hair (also called mang) or as a dot on the forehead. Sindoor is the mark of a married woman in Hinduism. Single women wear the dot in different colors ("bindi" in Hindi) but do not apply sindoor in their mang
Ingredients Cosmetics ingredients come from a variety of sources but, unlike the ingredients of food, are often not considered by most consumers. Cosmetics often use vibrant colours that are derived from some unexpected sources, ranging from crushed insects to rust. Many new techniques have allowed manufacturers to synthesise such colours and the use of
International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, abbreviated INCI, is a system of names for waxes, oils, pigments, chemicals, and other ingredients of soaps, cosmetics, and the like, based on scientific names and other Latin and English words · List of ingredients These INCI names often differ greatly from systematic chemical nomenclature or from more common trivial names
Related topics
Cosmetic advertising Cosmetic advertising is the promotion of cosmetics and beauty products by the cosmetics industry through a variety of media. The advertising campaigns are usually aimed at women wishing to improve their appearance, commonly to increase physical attractiveness and reduce the signs of ageing · Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor (or sometimes beauty shop) is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons and spas · Spa The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are especially widespread in Europe and Japan. Day spas are · Cosmetology Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty including hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and electrology · History of cosmetics The first archaeological evidence of cosmetics usage is found in Ancient Egypt around 4000 BC.[citation needed] The Ancient Greeks and Romans also used cosmetics.[citation needed] The Romans and Ancient Egyptians, not realizing their dangerous properties, used cosmetics containing mercury and white lead.[citation needed] Fragrances, particularly
Treatments
Cosmetic surgery Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. While famous for aesthetic surgery, plastic surgery also includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery, and the treatment of burns. The word "plastic" derives from the Greek plastikos meaning to mould or · Botox Botulinum toxin is a protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and is known to be highly neurotoxic. When introduced intravenously in monkeys, type A of the toxin exhibits an LD50 of 40-56 ng, type C1 around 32 ng, type D 3200 ng, and type E 88 ng, rendering the above types some of the most powerful neurotoxins known. Despite the · Facial · Bleaching Skin lightening or whitening is a controversial topic as it is closely intertwined with the detrimental effects on health, identity, self image, racial supremacy and colonial mentality. There is evidence to suggest that some types of skin-whitening products use active ingredients which can be harmful · Manicure · Pedicure · Hair removal (Waxing -Threading ) · Hair styling
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