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

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

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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 stimulates blood circulation

Caffeine

Caffeine 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.

Calendula flower

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

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is one of the cleanest ingredients with no reported toxicity, it is safe enough to be food grade. Capric Triglyceride naturally occurs in palm kernel or coconut oil. It is a mixed ester composed of caprylic and capric fatty acids attached to glycerin. Caprylic/capric triglyceride is a natural skin replenishing emollient that creates a barrier on the skin’s surface, which helps to reduce skin dryness by decreasing the loss of moisture. [1] It can make greasy ingredients leave a non-greasy finish. A gentle ingredient. Caprylic/capric triglyceride creates a barrier on the skin’s surface to reduce moisture loss and address dryness.

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 Asiatica 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. [2]

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.

Ceramide-2

Ceramide-2 is one of the ceramides that hold the lipid barrier which protects the skin. We are born with enough ceramides but lose them with age or sometimes with overly harsh facial washing. Ceramide-2 is used for its’ ability to moisturize and hold moisture in the skin.

Ceramide-3

Ceramide-3 is an excellent moisturizing agent, highly useful as a buffer for potent actives. Trihydroxypalmitamidohydroxypropyl Myristyl Ether, AKA  Ceramide-3, keeps skin hydrated without being greasy. Ceramide-3 enhances the smooth product finish while repairing the skin barrier. Ceramide-3 keeps skin hydrated without being greasy.

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.

Chaga

Chaga mushroom is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. It is a natural adaptogen traditionally used in folk and medicine. It provides environmental and stress-protection to the skin, including oxidative stress. [3] It is packed with dismutase and zinc.  Zinc eases acne and reduces inflammation and irritation. [4]

Chamomile flower

Chamomile

Chamomile is an antioxidant with potent skin-soothing action. [5]

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.

Cloudberries

Cloudberry

Cloudberries are a rare nordic berry rich in Polyphenol extracts, Omegas 3 and 6, and Vitamin E and C. [6] Cloudberry has four times the Vitamin C of an orange. It builds collagen, fights off attacks on collagen, reduces wrinkles and hydrates. It is well suited for sensitive skin or even skin conditions like eczema.

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

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.

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.

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.

Cream Tartar

Cream Tartar is a natural remedy for adult acne.

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.

Cucumber

Cucumber

Cucumber is soothing and reduces swelling. And it feels wonderful on tired peepers. Cucumber has a high water content that hydrates the skin. It also contains skin-friendly vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, manganese and vitamin A. Vitamin K reduces dark circles by reducing tiny blood vessels that may leak and cause a blue, brown or purple tone to the undereye.

Curcuminoids 

The active agent in Turmeric. 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.

 

 

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REFERENCES

1. Food and Chemical Toxicology, January 2000, issue 1, pages 79-96
2. 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
3. Panossian, Alexander, and Georg Wikman. “Effects of Adaptogens on the Central NervousSystem and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress-Protective Activity.” Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 3,1 188-224. 19 Jan. 2010, doi:10.3390/ph3010188
4. Gupta, Mrinal et al. “Zinc therapy in dermatology: a review.” Dermatology research and practice vol. 2014 (2014): 709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152
5. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, January 2009, pages 36-40
6. Thiem B (2003). “Rubus chamaemorusL. – a boreal plant rich in biologically active metabolites: a review”. Biological Letters. 40 (1): 3–13.