Product Knowledge

Question 1

What are Cosmeceuticals?

Answer 1

• Products that intended to improve the skin’s health and appearance
• Performance ingredients that may cause biochemical reactions physiological effects in the skin

Question 2

What kind of ingredient is Vitamin C?

Answer 2

Cosmeceutical

Question 3

What types of ingredients may cause biochemical reactions physiological effects in the skin?

Answer 3

Cosmeceuticals

Question 4

What are performance ingredients?

Answer 4

Ingredients that “do the work” like cleansing, moisturizing, or otherwise treating the skin.

Ex: hydroxy acid in anti-aging exfoliating products
Ex: tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide in acne treatments

Question 5

What category do tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide fall under?

Answer 5

performance ingredients

Question 6

What are Functional ingredients?

Answer 6

• Ingredients that make up the formula of the product
• Majority of the product
• Can be used to help the product spread, provide texture, color, consistency, or as a preservative

Question 7

What category makes up the majority of skincare ingredients?

Answer 7

Functional ingredients

Question 8

What’s the most frequently used cosmetic ingredient?

Answer 8

Water

Question 9

What is an Emollient?

Answer 9

• Serve to help a product slip on the skin
• Fatty materials derived from oils or fat used to lubricate and moisturize the skin. Meant to cover the skin’s surface to prevent dehydration and replenish oil

Question 10

What’s an Occulsive?

Answer 10

a type of emollient that prevents dehydration. They seal the skin so water can’t escape and prevents TEWL (trans epidermal water loss)

Question 11

What is TEWL?

Answer 11

trans epidermal water loss

Question 12

What ingredients are considered emollients?

Answer 12

Oils, Fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, silicones

Question 13

What is Comedogenicity?

Answer 13

the tendency of an ingredient to cause or worsen buildup in the follicle

Question 14

Describe Fatty Acids & give examples

Answer 14

• Lubricating Ingredients
• Give a product a soft firm texture
• Sources are plant and animal fats
• Examples: Oleic Acid (Omega 9), Stearic Acid, Caprylic Acid

Question 15

Where is Oleic Acid (Omega 9) found?

Answer 15

in avocado oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil

Question 16

What is Stearic Acid, and what does it do?

Answer 16

Fatty Acid. 18 part synthetic compound. Often in bar soaps. Allows water to combine with debris and rinse away

Question 17

What Caprylic Acid used for and where is it found?

Answer 17

obtained from the milk of various mammals (primary marine). Used mostly for its antimicrobial effects

Question 18

Describe Fatty Alcohols & give examples

Answer 18

Fatty acids that have been exposed to hydrogen
Not drying
Cetyl Alcohol (Cetearyl), Lauryl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol

Question 19

What are Lauryl and Stearyl alcohols typically used for?

Answer 19

thickening agents

Question 20

Describe Fatty Esters

Answer 20

Fatty acids and fatty alcohols combine to create fatty esters. They lubricate like oil without greasiness or heaviness. Ingredient names typically end in “-ate”.

Question 21

What is Octyl Palmitate and how is it used?

Answer 21

Fatty Ester derived from palm oil. Often used as a replacement for silicone. Provides a “dry slip” feel to products

Question 22

What is Isopropyl Palmitate and how is it used?

Answer 22

Fatty Ester. binder ingredient used to help products condition the skin. Can also support product consistency

Question 23

What is Stearate and how is it used?

Answer 23

Fatty ester commonly used in makeup products. Helps keep ingredients from separating over time

Question 24

Describe Silicones and their uses

Answer 24

• Create a “breathable barrier” on the skin
• Non Comedogenic, light occlusives that leave a soft, silky feel on the skin
• Added to makeup as a waterproofing action
• Made from natural ingredients, but go through a lot of processing in order to create these different properties

Question 25

What is Dimethicone and how is it used?

Answer 25

Silicone antifoaming agent used in products support to the skin’s barrier in fighting TEWL

Question 26

What is Cyclomethicone and how is it used?

Answer 26

Silicone conditioning agent used in makeup products to provide a protective barrier to the skin. Supports a temporary plumping effect

Question 27

What is Phenyl Trimethicone and how is it used?

Answer 27

Silicone antifoaming agent that allows for spreadability of a product

Question 28

What are Surfactants?

Answer 28

• Reduce the surface tension between the skin and the product
• Increase spreadability of cosmetic products
• Separate dirt and oil

Question 29

What is the most extensive category of cosmetic chemicals

Answer 29

Surfactants