Nature's Chemistry: Skin Care

Nature’s Chemistry: Skin Care

Basics of Skin Care Products

  • Skin care products include a wide range of compounds such as moisturisers, cleansers, exfoliators, and sunscreen.
  • The design and choice of ingredients in skin care products aim to support the health of the skin and address specific skin concerns, such as dryness, oiliness or ageing.

Moisturisers

  • Moisturisers primarily function to hydrate the skin and prevent excessive drying.
  • They work by reducing evaporation of water from the skin and increasing the water content in the skin.
  • Key ingredients in moisturisers include humectants that attract water (e.g., glycerine) and emollients that soften and smooth the skin (e.g., lipids and oils).

Cleansers

  • Cleansers are designed to remove dirt, oil and makeup from the skin.
  • Similar to soaps and detergents, cleansers contain surfactants that have a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail, allowing them to remove dirt and oil from the skin.

Exfoliators

  • Exfoliators are used to remove dead skin cells from the skin surface, promoting a more youthful and healthy complexion.
  • Chemical exfoliants work by breaking the bonds between skin cells, allowing them to be removed more easily.
  • Common chemical exfoliants include alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHAs, BHAs).

Sunscreen

  • Sunscreen is a critical component of skin care as it defends the skin against the damaging effects of sun exposure.
  • It contains filter ingredients that absorb, reflect or scatter the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB rays).
  • Organic filters, such as oxybenzone, absorb UV radiation and convert it into heat, while inorganic filters, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, reflect UV rays.

Impact of pH on Skin Care

  • The surface of the skin, also known as the acid mantle, typically has a pH around 5.5, which is important for keeping the skin barrier healthy.
  • Skin care products should be formulated in a way to not disturb the natural pH balance of the skin, as this can lead to skin problems like dryness, irritation and acne.

Safety and Regulations of Skin Care Products

  • All skin care products should undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are safe for use and do not cause harmful effects.
  • Products should be free from harmful substances such as heavy metals, allergens and microbial contaminants.
  • Furthermore, claims made on skin care products must be legally compliant and should be supported with sufficient scientific evidence.

This topic intertwines chemistry with everyday life decisions, honing the understanding of chemical compounds, reactions and safety evaluations, bringing chemistry out of the theoretical space and into practical, everyday applications.