Oils in cosmetics: what's behind your beauty products?
Written on 23.Apr.13 by Anne-Marie - Updated on 29.Jan.21
What our beauty products are made of
What does cream consist of?
First of all, you're going to say assets... But the active ingredients don't usually make up a large percentage of the formula! The essence of a cream is in fact a mixture of two phases: one aqueous, the other oily (this mixture of phases is called an emulsion).
The "fatty" phase is the essential basis of emulsions, and the quality of cream itself depends on it. However, it is always the active ingredients that take center stage, leaving this major component of formulas in the shadows.
Mineral, esterified, hydrogenated or natural oils - it's all the same!
Quiz: Can you tell me what type of oils are used in your creams? And what is their quality? Where do they come from? Are they authorized for use in conventional or organic cosmetics?
- Rather "pure" vegetable oils, but you're not really sure?
- More like modified vegetable oils? That have been esterified? Hydrogenated???
- Or "mineral" oils, i.e. derived from petroleum? (And yes, you read that right, petroleum derivatives in creams, on our skin, it's possible!)
The verdict? If, like the rest of us, you don't have a bloody clue, that's normal! Given the lack of information on the subject, we're all lost...
Understanding cosmetic oils isn't that simple...
So, in our next few articles, we're going to tell you everything you need to know about cosmetic oils, and which ones are really good for your skin. Then you'll be in a better position to judge the quality of what you're putting on your skin.
Let's lift the taboo and let's talk about it ;)
Would you like to lift the taboo?
Mineral oils in cosmetics
Esterified oils
Hydrogenated oils
Natural vegetable oils