Acid mantle: A thin, slightly acidic coating on the surface of your skin that protects from bacteria, debris and keeps moisture locked in. Or if we wanna keep it simple - your skin’s barrier.

Actives: When we talk about ‘actives’ in a skin context, we are referring to ingredients within skincare products that work to address the skin concern the product is meant to target. 

Acne: An unwanted skin condition that occurs when pores become blocked or clogged with excess oil, dirt, bacteria or dead skin.

AHAs: Alpha-hydroxy acids are a group of plant and animal-derived acids used in a variety of skincare and anti-aging products including serums, toners and creams.

Amino acids: Also known as aminos (not to be confused with amigos) - compounds that make up protein, which can be found in food, your skin and some skin ingredients

Androgens: Androgens are a group of hormones that contribute to growth and reproduction in both men and women. They are often considered ‘male hormones’ but they are present in both males and females. eg: testosterone and androstenedione.

Antioxidants: Compounds that stop oxidation from occurring. AKA they protect the skin by neutralising free radicals

BHAs: Beta-hydroxy acids are organic oil-soluabloe carboxylic acids that work on skin’s surface and deep inside the pore. The most common BHAs is the acne-busting salycilyc acid.

Bioavailability: The rate and amount of which something can be successfully absorbed by the body

Blackheads: Open bumps (comedones) on the skin that fill with excess oil and dead skin and appear to have a black dot

Collagen: That amazing compound that keeps us looking young. It is the most abundant protein found in the body and is what gives skin it’s strength, structure and elastin.

Comedones: Skin-coloured small bumps that commonly acne if acne is present

Comedogenic: If a substance or ingredient clogs pores it is considered comedogenic 

Cortisol: A slow-releasing stress hormone.

Cosmeceutical: A combo of the words ‘cosmetic’ and ‘pharmaceutical’, relating to skincare products that contain predominately active ingredients.

EFAs: Stands for Essential Fatty Acids, which are a special kind of good fat required for the proper structure and function of every cell in your body. They are also incredibly helpful for skin barrier function and reducing inflammation.

Elastin: The protein that is responsible for skin’s elasticity ensuring that 

Enzyme: A substance that acts as a catalyst in living organisms to bring about specific biochemical reactions in the body.When it comes to skincare, enzymes are used topically as a mild exfoliant to banish dead skins cells.

Free radicals: Unstable atoms or molecules that we do not like because they accerlerate ageing by causing damage to cell structure.

Glow up: What happens when you come into SC for a skin or cosmetic treatment. Used in a sentence: I am going to book my ‘glow up’.

Homeostatis: When the body’s symptoms achieve consistent balance

Humectant: Something that draws in an holds moisture into the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is one of our fave humectant ingredients

Hyperpigmentation: Occurs when melanin is overproduced in thre skin. Examples include sun spots, age spots and acne marks

Hypopigmentation: When a loss of pigmentation occurs in the skin

Lipids: Aka fats that are absolutely essential component of living cells

Lymphatic System: A network of delicate tubes throughout the body that manages fluids in the body and helps us to get rid of toxins

Melanin: A pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes colour. Some people produce more melanin than others which is why we all look different.

Melasma: A large patch formation of pigmentation

Milia: Small, hardened, round, pearly bumps that occur when oil and dead skin cells become trapped in the outer layers of the skin. They are visibly larger than a whitehead and often appear around the eyes

Non-comedogenic: Probably pretty straight forward, but the opposite to comedogenic. If a product is non-comedogenic is doesnt clog pores

OTC: Over the counter

Oxidation: What happens when you leave a cut apple exposed to the air for too long and it goes brown. Basically its the process of something becoming ‘oxidised’ from exposure to oxygen. In a skin context, oxidation causes free radiacal damage

P. acnes: aka propionibacterian acnes (but thats a far too big of a word), which are primarily helpful bacteria that naturally live on the skin. They can cause congestion to become inflamed if they get into the pores

Peptides: Short chains of animo acids. In skincare the send prompts to the skin to create collagen.

Photodamage: Any damage that occurs to the skin due to exposure to UVA and UVB rays. Eg: melasma, pigmentation

Phytonutrients: Plant compounds that can have beneficial effects to humans

Pores: The opening of hair follicles or tiny holes across the surface of your skin

Probiotics: Live microorganisms that allow bacteria to colonise and are intended to have health benefits when consumed or applied to the body.

Progesterone: A hormone that plays the role in pregnacy and the menstrual cycle. It is shown to have an effect on skin density and collagen production.

Pustules: A type of acne that presents assmall bumps on the skin that contain fluid or pus

SC: Our lazy ass way of saying Skin Collective

SC Babe: A smart, sassy and beautiful bombshell who has been clever enough to trust us at Skin Collective with their face

SC Bloke: The male version of an SC babe

Sebaceous gland: The gland responsible for producing oil within your pores

Sebum: The oily secretion that comes from the sebaceous glands

Skinvestment: The act of investing time, energy and money into your skin and achieving your complexion goals

Skinside out: The act of looking after your skin from both within and on the outside

Skinfluenced: The act of being ‘influenced’ to make a skincare purchase, book a treatment or skinvest in your skin.

Triglycerides: A lipid found througout the body that helps make up sebum, squalene and fatty acids

UVA rays: The long length ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun that can cause damage to the skin at a deeper level than UVB rays.

UVB rays: The ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun that are shorter than UVA rays but still cause sunburn to occur

Whitehead: A type of closed acne that forms when dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria become trapped within one of your pores.