Unit 2(e) - Fragances And Skincare Flashcards
What are essential oils?
Concentrated extracts of the volatile aroma compounds from plants
What are some properties of essential oils?
Mixtures of organic compounds
Non-water soluble
Where are essential oils used?
Perfumes, cosmetic products, flavourings, cleaning products
Where are essential oils derived from?
Any part of the raw plant material
What is the formula of isoprene?
C5H8, or 2-methylbuta-1,3-diene
What is isoprene?
Base unit of terpenes
What are terpenes?
Terpenes are key components in most essential oils
Give fruit and floral flavours and aromas
Unsaturated compounds formed from isoprene units
What two types of terpenes can be formed from isoprene?
Linear terpenes
Cyclic terpenes
Are terpenes soluble in water?
No
How are essential oils extracted?
Steam distillation
What process produces the compounds responsible from the distinctive aroma of spices, like cinnamon and ginger?
Oxidation of terpenes
What are terpenoids?
Oxidised terpenes
What is photochemistry?
The study of the role of light in chemical reactions
What frequency of the electromagnetic spectrum is present in sunlight (apart from visible light)?
UV (ultraviolet)
What are the three types of UV radiation?
UVA, UBV, and UVC. UVA has the lowest energy, and UVC has the highest
What happens as a result of overexposure to UV radiation?
Sunburn (skin cells damaged by the absorption of energy from UV rays)
Photoaging of the skin
What does sunblock do?
It reflects/scatters light so that it doesn’t reach the skin. Reflective particles include zinc oxide or titanium oxide
What does sun screen do?
It filters the light from the sun so less of it reaches the deeper layers of the skin
What does SPF stand for?
Sun Protection Factor
What does SPF mean?
It determines how long you can stay in the sun for before getting sunburn. Eg - if you can stay in the sun for 10 mins, SPF 10 sun screen allows you to stay in the sun 10x longer - so 100 mins
What is a free radical?
A highly reactive species containing an unpaired electron
How are free radicals written in equations?
A dot placed right of the atomic symbol
What are the three stages of a free radical chain reaction?
Initiation
Propagation
Termination
What is the initiation stage of a free radical chain reaction?
Reactions which result in a net increase in the number of free radicals
What is the propagation stage of a free radical chain reaction?
Reactions in which the total number of free radical remains the same
What is the termination stage of a free radical reaction?
Reactions which result in a net decrease in the number of free radicals
What are free radical scavengers?
A vitamin, mineral or enzyme that is able to stabilise free radicals
What are free radical scavengers often referred to as?
Antioxidants
What do antioxidants do?
Inhibit the oxidation of other molecules by oxidising themselves
How do antioxidants terminate free radical chain reactions?
By removing free radical intermediates by oxidising themselves
What is the purpose of antioxidants as a preservative in foods?
Increase shelf life of food
What is the purpose of antioxidants as a preservative in cosmetics?
Helps prevent wrinkles
What is the purpose of antioxidants added to rubber?
Prevents degradation of rubber
What is melatonin?
A potent free radical scavenger described as a broad-spectrum antioxidant, preventing oxidative damage of cells, tissues, organs and organisms
What is vitamin E?
A fat soluble antioxidant that stops the production of reactive oxygen species formed when fats undergo oxidation
