Skin Zen Eye Cream

Description

INGREDIENTS: Distilled water, cetearyl alcohol (and) ceteareth-20, shea butter, sunflower oil, rosehip seed oil, calendula butter, aloe vera, cucumber extract, cucumber extract, panthenol, cornstarch, cetyl esters, tocopherol, gluconolactone (and) sodium benzoate, fragrance, allantoin, bisabolol, EDTA

INGREDIENTS EXPLAINED:

Cetearyl alcohol (and) Ceteareth-20: This is the emulsifier in the formula. An emulsifier is a compound that is able to bind to both polar and nonpolar molecules in a solution. In skincare, an emulsifier is what holds the oil and water phases of the formula together. There are lots of different types of emulsifiers, with different properties. This particular emulsifier is what is known as an ‘oil in water’ emulsifier, because it emulsifies a small oil phase in a larger water phase.

Shea butter: One of my all-time favorite skincare ingredients! This butter is obtained from the karite tree, and it’s also a great source of antioxidants and skin-nourishing fatty acids (stearic and linoleic). It also penetrates skin readily. This is just such a wonderful ingredient for skincare.

Sunflower oil: I love, love, LOVE sunflower seed oil! It’s really great for dry, dehydrated, or otherwise compromised skin because its linoleic acid content helps skin to make its own lipids, including ceramides, which are critical for proper barrier function. Sunflower seed oil also has a natural soothing effect on skin, making it great for reducing skin irritation.

Calendula butter: Calendula, or Marigold, is a plant that was historically referred to as “nature’s first aid” and is known for its traditional uses in treating and dressing minor skin irritations such as cuts and burns. This butter is a enriched with Calendula extract, a soothing, anti-inflammatory active ingredient.

Aloe vera: Aloe vera has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, hydrating, and antioxidant activity with regards to skin. In this formula, it is present as both a moisturizing agent and an anti-inflammatory active.

Cucumber Extract: Anti-inflammatory extract that hydrates, softens, and cools skin.

Panthenol: This ingredient is able to penetrate skin fairly well and has softening and moisturizing properties. It also helps to soothe and protect irritated skin.

Cornstarch: This ingredient acts as a thickener in this formula.

Cetyl esters: This ingredient provides ‘slip’ to the formula, allowing the product to slide more easily across skin. It also acts as a thickener.

Tocopherol: Tocopherol is Vitamin E, and acts as a preservative in this formula, preventing the oxidation of the oils in the product and increasing the shelf life.

Gluconolactone (and) Sodium benzoate: This is the main preservative in this formula. It prevents the growth of bacteria, mold, fungus, yeast, etc.

Fragrance: This is the scent that is added to the product. Fragrance oil manufacturers are not required by law to disclose what compounds are in their fragrance oils. However, some will tell you what is NOT in their fragrance oils, and I base my fragrance oil purchases on this information. I make sure my fragrance oils are free of phthalates and known carcinogens. Because fragrance may be a source of irritation in a product formula, I offer all my products fragrance free as well as scented.

Allantoin: Derived from comfrey, allantoin is a compound that is anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and skin protective.

Bisabolol: Bisabolol is an alcohol purified from the Candeia tree that is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, is skin protective, and helps restore elasticity to skin. It is also a penetration enhancer, which is a compound that opens a pathway into skin cells, allowing other ingredients greater access than they could get in its absence.

EDTA: EDTA is a metal ion chelator. This means that it scours the solution for metal ions, and once it finds them, it binds them very tightly, which makes them no longer a danger. Metal ions are highly reactive molecules that can cause oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA in cells. They are known to cause allergic reactions in skin, and generate inflammation.