The Women's Alley

Arbutin is a naturally occurring compound found in many plants such as barberry, mulberry, pomegranate, cranberry, and wheat. It is the derivative of hydroquinone without irritation and burning that normally comes with hydroquinone. Benefits of Arbutin: Cons of using Arbutin: Different types of Arbutin: 1. Alpha arbutin: this is a more potent form of arbutin. It is water-soluble and has antioxidant properties. It can help with pigmentation and is safe for all skin types and skin colors. 2. Beta arbutin: this is also another form of arbutin and can address the problems of pigmentation, but alpha arbutin is shown to be more effective than beta arbutin. 3. Deoxyarbutin: deoxyarbutin is…

Astaxanthin is an underrated ingredient that not many companies use mainly because pure astaxanthin is very expensive and it is tedious to manufacture. It is derived from the microalgae called Haematococcus Pluvialis. Benefits of using Astaxanthin: Antioxidant: an in-vitro study found that astaxanthin can help with UV-induced skin damage by preventing melanin formation. It increased skin elasticity, reduced fine lines and wrinkles, improved the moisture level in the skin. Helps with wound healing. Helps with fine lines and wrinkles: one study showed astaxanthin showed improvements in reducing wrinkles, skin elasticity, and skin texture. Astaxanthin can be taken as a supplement or used topically. (consult a doctor if you want to…

Urea is one of the most underrated ingredients in the skincare industry and It has a lot of benefits that you won’t find much in many ingredients. Let’s look more into this ingredient. Benefits of using Urea: Urea is used in prescriptions and OTC products to increase the penetration of active ingredients. It does this by removing the dead skin cells on the top of the skin and allowing the actives to pass through. Who all can use Urea? Urea is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin and skin of color. It mainly used to treat dry skin, dehydrated skin, calluses, and cracked heels. It’s suitable for hyperkeratotic…

Dioic acid is derived from the bio-fermentation of oleic acid, which naturally occurs in animal and vegetable oils, and fats. One study showed that 1% dioic acid cream was effective as a 2% hydroquinone cream, but with less irritation. What are the benefits of Dioic Acid? Who can use Dioic Acid? Dioic acid is suitable for all skin types. It has shown to be tolerated with minimal irritation, but still do make sure to conduct a patch test. Dioic acid is used as an alternate to azelaic acid (20% concentration can be irritating) with effective results at lower concentrations (it has a low potential for irritation). What skincare ingredients can…

Peptides are short chains of amino acids. They help to maintain skin structure such as collagen, elastin, affect inflammation, pigmentation, etc. Some examples of amino acids are arginine, histidine, methionine, lysine, proline, leucine, glycine, alanine, glutamine, etc. There are different types of peptides in the markets and they are made by different companies. They are not the same peptides. Types of Peptides and their functions: Matricins peptides or signaling peptides: These peptides trigger signaling that modulates dermal extracellular melanogenesis. This means that these peptides can stimulate the production of collagen and can reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It can also reduce pigmentation, increase skin elasticity, and makes the skin smooth…

Liposomes are nanocarriers in cosmetics. They are spherical vesicles composed of phospholipids with a core that can be used as a delivery vehicle for actives. Why are liposomes used in cosmetics? The skin barrier is the largest organ in our body and it can prevent a lot of external pollutants, even skincare ingredients to penetrate into the skin. Liposomes can transport these ingredients to the deeper layers of the skin. Different types of nanocarriers in cosmetics: Liposomes Nanospheres Nanoemulsion Cubosomes Nanosilver and Nanogold Dendrimers Hydrogels, etc. Nanotechnology in liposomes: Nanotechnology can increase stability, efficacy, control release, target specific areas, and transport active ingredients. Advantages of Liposomes: Increase stability and efficacy…

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring substance in our skin. It is also naturally found in wheat, barley, and rye. It is one of the most underrated ingredients in the skincare industry. Benefits of using Azelaic acid: Cons of using Azelaic acid: Derivatives of azelaic acid: Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate or Azeclair: azeclair is a derivative of azelaic acid. Who can use it? Azelaic acid is suitable for oily, acne-prone skin, and sensitive skin (rosacea). It is also used for the treatment of acne, melasma, and hyperpigmentation in pregnant women. Azelaic acid is gentle and non-irritating but can lead to irritation in super-sensitive skin and skin of color. Make sure to…