Face and Body Products Ingredients

It can be daunting reading cosmetic labels and seeing a long chemical sounding names. An initial reaction may be that the ingredients are synthetic or possibly harmful, however this is not always the case. 

At BrightEssence all ingredients are listed on the website and on the product label, and you can learn more about the individual ingredients below.

Ingredients

Allantoin
Allantoin helps boost healing by increasing skin cell turnover. It is moisturising, soothing, anti-irritating, and stimulates healthy tissue production. 

Allantoin is a naturally occurring compound that helps protect the skin. Your own body makes allantoin, and it is also derived from plants like comfrey, however most allantoin used in cosmetics is synthetically produced

Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Behentrimonium methosulfate is a synthetic compound derived from rapeseed oil. It is considered safe for use in skincare and haircare products and is not a sulfate despite its name.

Behentrimonium methosulfate is the primary active ingredient in BTMS-50, which is a cationic (positively charged) emulsifier that binds water and oil together. It gives products the most luxurious, wonderful skin feel and leaves hair feeling stunning.

Aqua (Water)
Water plays an important role in creating emulsions for face and body creams. Moisturisers made only from oil can be greasy and heavy - water lightens the product, helps disperse ingredients, and adds hydration to the skin. 

Products containing water (or water-based products like hydrosols) need an emulsifier to combine the water and oils, and they also require a preservative because water provides an environment for bacteria and yeasts to grown.

Avocado butter
Avocado butter is listed as Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil (and) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil on cosmetic labels.

Avocado butter is moisturising, it softens rough, dry skin, and it exhibits low comedogenicity on the skin. The biodegradable and plant-derived butter is created from blending avocado fruit oil and hydrogenated vegetable oils to produce an off-white butter which has excellent penetrating qualities. 

Avocado oil (Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil)
Avocado oil is a beautiful, rich emollient that is recommended for dry and sensitive skin. It is a liquid monounsaturated carrier oil typically pressed from the flesh of the avocado. 

Avocado oil contains beta carotene, protein, lecithin, fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and E, which helps moisturise and protect your skin from damaging UV rays and also increase collagen metabolism. 

Calendula 
Calendula is a plant with vibrant yellow or orange flowers. The flowers are used in extractions or to infuse carrier oils. Calendula flowers have anti-inflammatory and soothing properties and may assist wound healing.

Cetearyl Alcohol
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture cetyl and stearyl fatty alcohols. It stabilises emulsions, enhances viscosity, add body and thickness to lotions. It is considered natural and generally derived from palm or coconut oils.

Cetyl Alcohol
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol, usually derived from palm or coconut oils, which is used as an emollient, emulsifier, and thickener to give body to lotions and body butters, as well as improving slip. 

Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a liquid surfactant made from coconut oil. It helps improve foam and stabilise lather. It is an effective cleanser and suitable for sensitive skin. 

Glycerin
Glycerin can be derived from animal or vegetable sources or as a by-product of biodiesel production - BrightEssence only uses pure vegetable glycerine. It is a sugar alcohol which is used as a humectant, which draws moisture to the skin.

Gluconolactone
Gluconolactone, also known as D-Glucono-1,5-lactone, is a mild acid derived from gluconic acid, which in turn comes from the natural fermentation of glucose found in corn and other plant sources.

It has chelating properties which help keeps products stable and effective for longer and skin conditioning properties that draw moisture to the skin, helping keep it soft and supple.

It is used in the broad-spectrum preservative Geogard Ultra.

Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate & Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate (and) Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables is a natural lightweight emollient derived from olives. It is natural vegetable alternative to silicones like Cyclomethicone D5. It is used to lighten up oils (reduce greasiness) and increase slip.

Hydrosols (Floral Waters) 
Hydrosols are a by-product from the distillation process for essential oils - plant matter is distilled with water and steam and the distillate is then simply separated into an oil fraction - the essential oil, and a water fraction - the hydrosol. 

Rose hydrosol is cooling, soothing and calming, and adds a lovely fragrance to the cream.

Jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil)
Jojoba oil penetrates the skin easily and closely mimics the makeup of the sebum our own skin produces, making it a wonderful moisturiser by helping seal in moisture. 

Mango butter (Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter)
Mango butter is butter pressed from the mango seeds. It provides non-greasy deep hydration. It is non-comedogenic, that is, it does doesn’t contain compounds that are known to irritate skin, even sensitive skin.  

Panthenol (Provitamin B5)
When D-panthenol (also known as Provitamin B5) is absorbed by the skin it is rapidly converted into D-pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5), and the skin can benefit from its amazing properties.

Panthenol acts as a moisturiser by drawing water from deeper layers of the skin into the upper layers of the skin. It helps with softness and elasticity, and is anti-inflammatory. It stimulates skin re-generation and boosts healing.

PEG-20 Stearate
PEG-20 Stearate is a soft-waxy solid used in cosmetics as an emulsifier, cleanser, and moisturiser. 

PEG Stearates are esters of polyethylene glycol and stearic acid. The 20 stands for the average number of ethylene oxide monomers in the polyethylene chain. It is a synthetic product but has been approved as safe for use in cosmetics.

Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil (and) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
* See Avocado Butter

Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is included in cosmetic preservatives for its anti-microbial benefits, especially as an anti-fungal. It is included in Geogard Ultra preservative.

Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid, which is a naturally occurring compound that can be found in foods like cranberries. When sodium benzoate is dissolved in water, a portion of it converts to benzoic acid—the active, anti-microbial form of the ingredient. 

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) is a very mild surfactant made from coconut fatty acids that produces a gentle lather. It is fully biodegradable and effective in hard water. It is gentle and suitable for babies, sensitive skin, and facial cleansers. 

Sorbitol
Similar to glycerine, sorbitol is a sugar alcohol and is commonly used in cosmetics as a thickener and as a humectant.

Stearic Acid
Stearic acid is a fatty acid from plant oils that is used to emulsify, thicken, and harden lotions, salves, body butters, and more.  It penetrates the skin, providing emollient, skin-softening properties.

Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant and beneficial skincare ingredient. It is primarily used to extend the shelf life of products by preventing the oxidations of oils and delaying the onset of rancidity.