The Best Skincare ingredients You Will Love: Glossary of K

Skin & Hair Glossary of ingredients & terms. Defining hair and skin ingredients with meaningful results. Updated regularly.

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K

K (Vitamin)


What is Vitamin K?

Vitamin K is popular in under-eye creams as it is understood to lighten dark circles. Vitamin K is also called Phytonadione.

What are the skincare benefits of topical Vitamin K?

Vitamin K skincare benefits are:

  • It reverses the calcium deposits in elastin fibers. These deposits harden and cause wrinkles.
  • Vitamin K helps with blood coagulation and circulation.

How do I Best Use Vitamin K on my dark undereye circles?

A study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology showed topical Vitamin K works best when paired with:

  • Retinol
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • The topical Vitamin Bs. [1]

Can Vitamin K help your dark under eye circles? Vitamin K works best on dark circles with a blue, purple and dark brown hue.

Learn 5 things you should know about Vitamin K for dark circles

Kale for skin
Kale

Kale

What is kale in skincare?

A dark leafy vegetable.

It is also called Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf.
Kale contains Vitamins A, B, C, and K.

What are the skincare benefits of Kale?

Kale skin benefits are:

  • collagen production
  • tightens pores
  • detoxifies the skin
  • fights free-radical damage

Kakadu Plum

What is kakadu plum in skincare?

Kakadu plums are the highest natural source of vitamin C.

What are kakadu plum skincare benefits?

  • It reduces acne, fades scars, and reduces fine lines.
  • The high vitamin C supports collagen synthesis
  • It provides antioxidant support
  • Kakadu plums are also high in gallic acid and ellagic acid to fight free radicals
  • It hydrates skin

Kaolin Clay

What is kaolin clay in skincare?

Kaolin Clay is a natural clay that absorbs oil and removes impurities.

What are the skincare benefits of Kaolin?

It is ideal for treating oily and acne prone skin.

Keratinocyte

A Keratinocyte is the cell type responsible for keratin formation in the skin.

Kelp Extract

What is kelp extract in skincare?

Kelp is a large, brown seaweed.

What are the skincare benefits of Kelp?

  • Kelp Extract contains minerals that remove skin toxins
  • It lessens redness, inflammation, rosacea
  • it protects against environmental damage.
  • Kelp has powerful anti-aging properties.
  • can unclog pores and clear acne

Keratin

What is keratin?

The structural protein of skin, hair, and nails.
Hair is about 80% Keratin.


Keratosis Pilaris

What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis Pilaris, also known as KP or Chicken Bumps.
Chicken Bumps are hardened keratin plugs that appear like acne.
They are not harmful unless they become infected from scratching.
KP can be unsightly and look like acne or a rash.

How can I best treat Chicken bumps naturally without drugs?

KP responds to Retinols and washing with mild soaps.

This is a useful How-to Guide of how to treat Chicken Bumps

Kernel Oil

What is Kernel Oil?

Kernel Oil comes from the palm tree.

What are the hair benefits of Kernel Oil?

  • Kernel oil deeply conditions the hair
  • it has nourishing vitamins for the scalp

Kojic acid

Konjac Root
Konjac Root 

What is Kojic Acid?

Kojic acid is a chemical made from fungi, fermented soy sauce and rice wine.

What are the skincare benefits of kojic acid?

  • It is a natural skin lightening agent for dark spots due to sun damage.
  • It stops the future production of excess melanin.


Kombucha

What is Kombucha?

A healthy, anti-aging beverage. This natural probiotic drink has topical benefits.

What are the skincare benefits of kombucha?

  • It reduces inflammation
  • It also evens the skin tone
  • Packed with Vitamin Bs, it reduces wrinkles and brightens the skin.


Konjac Root

What is Konjac Root?

Konjac Root contains glucomannan. Glucomannan is similar to the natural hyaluronic found in young skin. It makes skin look and act younger.

What are the skincare benefits of Konjac Root?

  • It penetrates the upper layer of the epidermis and hydrates the surface.
  • Konjac root also contains a slew of skin-friendly vitamins such as A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, and E, plus lipids and fatty acids.
  • It smooths fine wrinkles.
  • It also promotes collagen and elastin production.
kukui nuts

KONJAC ACID GUIDE: how to Best Use Konjac Acid for skincare benefits


Kukui Nut Oil

What is Kukui Nut Oil?

Oil from the kukui nut. Kukui Nut Oil is also known as:

  • Aleurites moluccanus
  • candlenut
  • kukui nut

What are skincare benefits of Kukui Nut oil?

It can penetrate into the deep layers of the skin to promote collagen production.

Best use Guide: Learn how to use Kukui Nut Oil for Collagen Production.

It also is:

  • a dry oil that works like a finishing oil
  • emollient and creates a protective layer.
  • Rich in Omega-3s, it replenishes skin. It contains the skin-refining vitamins A, C, and E.
  • Kukui Nut has great softening and buffering properties
  • It reduces inflammation, treats wounds and burns, and soothes conditions like eczema.

REFERENCES

  1. Mitsuishi, T. , Shimoda, T. , Mitsui, Y. , Kuriyama, Y. and Kawana, S. (2004), The effects of topical application of phytonadione, retinol and vitamins C and E on infraorbital dark circles and wrinkles of the lower eyelids. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3: 73-75. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00070.x