In a recent article I described some of the common ingredients that consumers should avoid when looking for a face cream for sensitive skin. Specifically, I discussed Babassu, which are a natural wax that serves a moisturizing and nourishing emollient in skin care products, and Phytessence Wakame, which is an extract from Japanese sea kelp that inhibits the activity of hyaluronidase, an enzyme that contributes to the breakdown of hyaluronic acid in the skin. Both ingredients are beneficial in preventing excessive facial sweating. However, the active ingredients of this formula cannot make a difference if the skin’s surface is already dry.
Shea Butter and vitamin E also help in alleviating night pain, but only Shea butter has the unique ability to reduce night swelling and redness. The unique antioxidant activity of shea butter is another feature of this amazing ingredient that makes it suitable for all skin types. It is the saponins present in the shea butter that give it this amazing effect. This ingredient is not only highly beneficial for treating acne, eczema and wrinkles but is also excellent for antiaging by promoting elasticity and strength. It helps in maintaining moisture balance on the skin by preventing water loss from the epidermis.
Some of the commonly used ingredients in face moisturizers for sensitive skin are natural Vitamin E, fragrance, essential oils and preservatives. Common fragrance ingredients are petrolatum, synthetic fragrances, parabens and mineral oils. Natural essential oils include almond oil, avocado oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil and sweet almond oil. In order to retain moisture in your skin, preservatives like sodium benzoate and parabens must be avoided. Active ingredients that you should look for in facial moisturizers for sensitive skin are antioxidants such as vitamin A and vitamin E and glycolic acid.
Most companies use synthetic derivatives of natural ingredients. These are called phthalates and they are the most common cause of allergic reactions. The synthetic variants are even more problematic, because they are derived from the petro-chemicals used to create plastic. It is your job as a skincare consumer to be aware of the potential dangerous chemicals that are in contact with the skin and also in the products you choose to use.
Some companies have gone so far as to include harmful ingredients in their anti-aging night creams. These parabens are man-made preservatives, which have been found to be potentially carcinogenic in high doses. It has also been discovered that many of these chemicals act synergistically, meaning they increase each other’s effects by weakening the body’s ability to fight off disease and illness. When used in excessive amounts, parabens can interfere with estrogen’s regulation in the body and increase the risk of breast cancer. So, you can see why using night creams containing parabens is not a good idea.
The second thing you should look for when shopping for a nighttime cream is a good moisturizer. It doesn’t matter what other ingredients the product contains if it doesn’t contain the right ingredients to help your skin heal and stay healthy. A good moisturizer will help smooth away any dryness, but it also has to have ingredients that will prevent your skin from becoming too dry in the first place. For a good nighttime cream, the best ingredients to look for are avocado oil, Babassu palm wax, vitamin E, active Manuka honey, grape seed oil, Maracuja passion fruit extract, Phytessence Wakame kelp extract and others.
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