DEFINING BEAUTY: Hair & Skin Glossary Terms & Definitions “C” * Style Chicks

Definition guide of skin and hair terms. We define skin & hair terms for effective ingredients that get results. Updated regularly.

C

C (Vitamin, Serum): Vitamin C in food and supplement form supports immune system health and new cell production, including skin and hair. Vitamin C is applied topically for targeted skin-rejuvenation. It is an anti-aging, acne reducing, dark pigmentation fading powerhouse. Vitamin C is a building block for collagen, the support structure of the skin. Vitamin C also fades acne scars and improves sun-damaged skin texture. Best use is applying Vitamin C serum daily and Retinol at night.

C Ester: C Ester is a potent, pure and stable form of Vitamin C that is less acidic than other Vitamin C variants. It does not cause as much irritation and redness as other forms of C. It is the recommended form for an oral C supplement and for skin application. The ingredient label may refer to it as C Ester or Ascorbyl Palmitate.

Caffeine: Caffiene is common in eye and cellulite creams as it reduces puffiness and inflammation. Caffeine has antioxidant properties and slows down photoaging. On the scalp, Caffeine encourages blood flow to nourish follicles and encourage healthy growth. Caffeine can be drying to the skin if it is not paired with adequate moisturizing products.

Calcium: Calcium supplements maintain healthy bones, posture, intracellular signaling, and hormonal secretion.

Calendula Extract: Calendula Extract promotes the regeneration of new tissue and soothes damaged skin.

Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil: Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil smooths rough skin patches and repairs the skin barrier. It also smoothes hair in a conditioner or leave-in serum.

Castor seed oil is a humectant

Castor Seed Oil: Castor Seed Oil reduces inflammation, heals scars and hydrates. Castor Oil thickens thinning hair and acts as a humectant for frizzy hair. Also useful for eyelash growth/conditioning.

Cehami: Cehami is a humectant, filling the skin with moisture. It is an extract from an Australian daisy. It is an effective anti-itch analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and cellular regeneration accelerant. Cehami makes skin look healthier and younger.

Cellulose: Cellulose is found in volumizing shampoos to temporarily plump the texture of hair strands.

Centella Ssiatica extract: Centella asiatica extract is better known as Gotu Kola. Gotu Kola is especially good at improving elasticity and reduce sagging. It boosts antioxidant activity, strengthenings the skin and increases blood circulation. [1]

Centella Asiatica AKA Gota Kola improves skin elasticity for firmer skin

Ceramides: Ceramides are the fatty acids that help to hold cells together and protect the epidermis. Natural ceramides deplete with age or due to excessive stripping of the natural skin oils.

Certified Organic: Certified Organic is when an Organic Certification Body or organization verifies that an ingredient was grown, prepared, processed and packaged without the use of synthetic fertilizers or chemicals.

Chia Seed Oil: Chia Seed Oil feeds hair and skin. It makes hair shiny and strong, and skin smooth. It contains alpha-linolenic acid, an important essential fatty acid, vitamins, and minerals.

Choline: Choline is found in some beauty and pre-natal supplements. Choline helps the body create DNA for nerve signaling, and for detoxification. It’s also used for acetylcholine function, an anti-aging neurotransmitter.

Citrus Stem Cells: Citrus Stem Cells protect skin from oxidative stress and help reverse skin damage.

Cocoa Butter: Cocoa Butter is popular for pre-empting stretch marks. It helps the skin remain resilient and elastic. It is also moisturizing. If you’re using Retinol for stretch mark repair, Cocoa Butter is an excellent pairing as it serves as a buffer against irritation and dryness. Retinol and Cocoa Butter together are effective even on older “white” stretch marks.

Coconut Oil: Coconut Oil‘s moisturizing properties are well-known. It is also anti-inflammatory with mild UV protective properties. Coconut Oil penetrates deeper than other oils. It exfoliates dry flaky skin and reveals smooth skin. It is antibacterial. Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil maintains more of the beneficial aspects of the oil. Coconut oil helps hair retain protein and moisture.

Collagen: Collagen is the protein building blocks of skin, a supporting scaffold structure. Collagen is about 80% of our skin, it gives skin firmness and strength. Over time collagen breaks down, but select ingredients promote new collagen production. Collagen staves off wrinkles, discoloration, dull skin, and facial sagging. More collagen means fewer wrinkles, less sagging, and fewer dark spots or acne scars.

Comedones: Comedones include blackheads, whiteheads, and non-inflamed blemishes. Comedones generally don’t respond well to topical medications alone but AHAs and sonic cleaning devices are often effective.

Comedogenic: An ingredient or product that increases the accumulation of dead cells within the follicles when applied to the skin, causing clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads and acne.

Comedogenicity: Comedogenicity is how likely it is that an ingredient will cause clogged pores, blackheads or whiteheads.

Copper: Copper is available in a supplement and in skin creams and serums. Copper promotes collagen, Elastin and Hyaluronic Acid production. Few skin products build Elastin like copper. Elastin is a necessary part of younger, resilient skin with less sagging. Copper is also used in hair supplements. It increases the size of shrunken hair follicles, stops thinning and premature graying.

Coenzyme Q-10 (COQ10): An antioxidant naturally present in the skin but decreased with sun exposure. COQ10 is common as a topical and supplemental vitamin in skincare to improve skin texture and Elastin production.

Crow’s Feet: An early sign of aging. The fine lines found around the outer corners of the eyes, caused by muscles attached to eye area skin.

Curcuminoids: The active agent in Tumeric. Topically and as a supplement, Curcuminoids make skin glow.

Curly Girl Method: Curly Girl Method is a hair care plan for the special needs of curly hair. It avoids harsh, drying chemicals and products that cause damage to curls, and seeks moisture balancing products to reduce frizz and nourish curls.

Gohil, Kashmira J et al. “Pharmacological Review on Centella asiatica: A Potential Herbal Cure-all.” Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences vol. 72,5 (2010): 546-56. doi:10.4103/0250-474X.78519