For today, I will be going through the ingredients used in one of the most common moisturisers in the UK that is great for sensitive skin. I, having oily skin have used this a lot of times and I really love it. On the website, this is what it says about the Kind to Skin Protecting Light Moisturiser with SPF 15.
Our Protecting Light Moisturiser with SPF 15 moisturises skin for up to 12 hours. Dermatologically tested, non-comodegenic and hypoallergenic. No artificial colour, perfume or harsh chemicals that can upset your skin. Perfect for sensitive skin.
Aqua
Water as first ingredient is always a good sign. This means water has the most percentage of composition of the moisturiser.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
It is an oily liquid that works as a UVB sunscreen filter. It’s always used in combination with other sunscreen agents to further enhance the SPF and to solubilize other solid UV filters.
Glycerin
It is a humectant. Glycerin is a skin-replenishing and skin-restoring ingredient, meaning it is a substance found naturally in skin, it helps to establish normal balance and hydration. It’s one of the many substances in skin that helps maintain a healthy look and feel, defending against dryness and working to maintain skin’s moisture level. Essentially, glycerin is a master at hydration, and works best when combined with other replenishing and emollient ingredients.
Stearic Acid
This is used as an emulsifier. It is also used as an emollient.
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
This is the global gold standard of UVA protection and is the most used UVA sunscreen in the world. The problem with it, though, is that it is not photostable and degrades in the sunlight.
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
This is another chemical sunscreen agent that gives strong protection in the UVB. Its special property is that unlike most sunscreen agents, it is not oil but water soluble, so it is ideal to create light, oily skin compatible formulas.
Glycol Stearate
This is another emollient and emulsifier.
Octocrylene
Globally-approved sunscreen agent that protects skin from the UVB range of sunlight. It also helps stabilize the UVA sunscreen active, avobenzone. Like all synthetic sunscreen actives, octocrylene can be sensitizing for some people.
PEG-100 Stearate
It’s often paired with glyceryl stearate – the two together form a super effective emulsifier duo that’s salt and acid tolerant and works over a wide pH range.
Dimethicone
Now this guy, I see a lot in a lot of skincare product. This is the most common silicone used in cosmetics. It forms a permeable barrier that works to prevent moisture loss and impart a wonderfully silky feel. Dimethicone is considered safe as used in cosmetic products.
Allantoin
This ingredient is an effective skin-soothing and skin-conditioning agent that allows the skin to hold more moisture. It also helps to heal scarring and remove dead skin, making skin smoother and softer.
BHT(Butylated Hydroxy Toluene)
This ingredient is used as a preservative. The amount of BHT used in cosmetic products is typically 0.01-0.1%, and does not pose a risk to skin, nor does it penetrate skin far enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Bisabolol
Soothing agent typically extracted from chamomile, but also derived synthetically. It is a powerful remedy for very sensitive and easily inflamed or irritated skin.
Caprylyl Glycol
This ingredient acts as a humectant to help the skin to retain water and to remain moisturized, leaving a supple and healthy skin-feel. At the same time, it also boosts the effectiveness of other preservatives, such as the nowadays super commonly used phenoxyethanol.
Carbomer
This ingredient only helps to thicken products in order to control product viscosity. It also improves particle dispersion within a formula and it is safe on the skin when used in smaller proportions.
Cetyl Alcohol
A so-called fatty (the good, non-drying kind of) alcohol that does all kinds of things in a skincare product: it makes your skin feel smooth and nice (emollient), helps to thicken up products and also helps water and oil to blend (emulsifier).
Disodium EDTA
Super common little helper ingredient that helps products to remain nice and stable for a longer time. It is used as a chelating agent in cosmetic products, meaning it prevents ingredients in a formula from binding with trace elements (mainly minerals) that can be present in water. Studies have found that sodium EDTA, as used in cosmetic formulations is safe.
Glyceryl Stearate
A super common, waxy, white, solid that helps water and oil to mix together, gives body to creams and leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. It creates a barrier at the skin’s surface that slows water loss and gives the skin a soft and smooth appearance.
Panthenol
Alcohol form of the B vitamin pantothenic acid. Panthenol is used in skincare products as a humectant because of its ability to attract and hold moisture. Sometimes called pro-vitamin B5, panthenol mixes readily with many different types of ingredients, making it a versatile ingredient to be used in formulas because it improves the look and feel of skin.
Phenoxyethanol
It’s pretty much the current IT-preservative. It’s safe and gentle, but even more importantly, it’s not a feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason paraben. It’s not something new: it was introduced around 1950 and today it can be used up to 1% worldwide. It can be found in nature – in green tea – but the version used in cosmetics is synthetic.
Potassium Carbonate
It’s a mineral ingredient to regulate the pH.
Potassium Hydroxide
It’s a very alkaline stuff that helps to set the pH of the cosmetic formula to be just right.
Sodium Hydroxide
This is another ingredient used in small amounts to adjust the pH of the product and make it just right.
Stearamide AMP
This is another ingredient that helps to thicken products in order to control product viscosity.
Tocopheryl Acetate
This is a more stable form of vitamin E used in cosmetics to condition skin. It also prevents skin damage caused by UV radiation, prevents oxidation of surface lipids, and reduces the visible appearance of wrinkles.
Xanthan Gum
It’s one of the most commonly used thickeners and emulsion stabilizers. If the product is too runny, a little xanthan gum will make it more gel-like.
In conclusion, this product uses a lot of UV protection ingredients, which is one of the benefits of this moisturiser. The great thing about Kind to Skin Protecting Light Moisturiser with SPF 15 is that even with all these ingredients, it is great and safe for sensitive skin. Literally all skin types can use this moisturiser.
Bibie