GLOSSARY
New Terms added regularly!
A
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Amphoteric surfactants have both a positive and a negative charge.
The variable charge on the molecules allows for a multitude of applications and uses.
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Anionic surfactants are the most common. They are negatively charged surfactant ions.
They are good at removing dirt and oil and they produce nice amounts of foam but can be irritating.
B
C
d
e
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There are two types of emollients.
Occlusives are ingredients that create a barrier on the skin to soften and smooth, trapping moisture and are less likely to wash off.
Humectants draw moisture and binds it to the skin.
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Emulsifiers are used in cosmetics to blend substances that don't normally mix like oil and water into a cohesive substance that won't separate.
F
G
H
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A humectant is an ingredient in cosmetic formulations that draws water and binds it to the skin increasing moisture.
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I
J
K
L
M
n
O
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An occlusive is an ingredient that creates a barrier on the skin to soften and smooth, trapping moisture and is less likely to wash off.
P
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Preservatives are used in formulations to prevent the growth of molds, yeasts, and bacteria. They can be all natural or synthetic.
Q
R
s
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A solubiliser is an ingredient that helps disperse small amount of oil into water based ingredients.
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Stabilizers are ingredients that help improve the performance of other ingredients such as active ingredients, emulsifiers, and preservatives. They can help improve the performance of emulsifiers to stop a formulation from separating.
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Surfactants are used in cosmetic formulations to create cleansing, foaming, thickening, emulsifying, and solubilizing actions.
They are chemical compounds that decrease the surface tension between two liquids and are compatible with oil and water.
Surfactants can be classified according to their charge. They contain ions with combinations of water loving heads and water repelling tails.
They can be amphoteric, anionic, nonionic, cationic.
The compatibility and effectiveness of one surfactant with another depends on the charge.