Lipids
Ceramides: These are a family of waxy lipid molecules. A ceramide is composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid. Ceramides are lipids that help form the skin’s barrier and help skin retain moisture. Ceramides also help the skin protect against environmental aggressors like irritants, and pollution. Without the proper ratio of ceramides, the skin’s barrier can become compromised, leading to dryness, itching and irritation.
Phospholipids: These are naturally occurring in skin as a way of protecting the dermal layer from external stressors including wind, sun and chemicals by locking in moisture. Phospholipids are a crucial component for keeping the skin hydrated and they restore the barrier function of the skin.
Sphingolipids: The sphingolipids comprise a wide range of complex lipids in which the defining component is a long-chain or sphingoid base, which in living tissues is usually linked to a fatty acid via an amide bond. These are complex, long chain lipids that function as skin-replenishing ingredients and are fatty acid derivatives of sphingosine. Sphingolipids promote multilayer skin communication.
Co-Enzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone): It is an enzymatic co-factor (for a variety of enzymatic processes) and a lipophilic metabolite. It is known as a potent antioxidant either by direct removal of free radicals or indirect by regeneration of vitamin E. Also, it has a major role in controlling cell membrane dynamics, which play an important role in protecting cellular integrity from external pollutants.
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA): It is a naturally occurring fatty acid and an antioxidant. It has anti-inflammatory effect too. It serves vital functions at the cellular level, such as energy production (turns glucose into energy). Alpha lipoic acid increases intracellular glutathione and regenerates ascorbic acid, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. It is an organosulfur compound and is soluble both in water and oil.
Triglycerides: These are oils with excellent hydrating properties.
- Sunflower oil: It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin E which help in promoting skin health. These vitamins act as antioxidants. They help in regenerating damaged skin cells and getting rid of the acne causing bacteria. The oil is light and non-greasy and thus, it gets absorbed in the skin easily without blocking the pores.
- Coconut oil: It helps in reducing inflammation, keeping skin moisturized and elastic. The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil also possess antimicrobial properties that can help treat acne and protect the skin from harmful bacteria.
- Flaxseed oil: It is high in omega-3 fatty acids which is necessary for restoring and maintaining skin health. Due to its high inflammatory index, flaxseed oil helps minimise skin irritation, redness and inflammation of any sort. Another benefit of flaxseed oil is that it moisturises skin, hydrates it from within, and helps to keep the skin smooth. The essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil smoothens skin’s appearance and makes it super soft.
Omegas 3, 6 & 9: These are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) that boost lipid content and aid repair of the skin’s barrier function, protecting delicate skin and increasing hydration to increase softness and elasticity.
Phytosterols: These are plant-derived (e.g. soya) actives with wide-ranging functions including hydration and improved barrier function.
Stearic acid: It is a wax-like fatty acid also known as octadecanoic acid, is an important component of stratum corneum lipids. Stearic acid is also found in cocoa butter, shea butter, and other vegetable fats. stearic acid has been shown to protect skin’s surface against water loss and help shore up skin’s protective barrier. The importance of processing of phospholipid-to-free-fatty-acid for normal stratum corneum acidification and the role of this pathway not only for barrier homeostasis but also for the dual functions of stratum corneum integrity and cohesion have been demonstrated.