About our products: Glossary of terms
Astringents
Agents that dry up excess oil on the skin, tightening it temporarily.
Usually used in products for oily skin or in skin toners.
Botanicals
Plants used for therapeutic or cosmetic function. Includes medicinal
or culinary herbs and spices. Used in fresh, dried or extracted
form. All of Mukti Botanicals preparations contain certified organic
herbal extracts.
Dermabrasives
Are agents that exfoliate or buff the top layer of the skin removing
all dead skin cells, grime and impurities.
Emollients
Emollients serve two functions: they prevent dryness and protect
the skin acting as a barrier and healing agent, as well as soothing
and softening the skin. They reduce roughness, cracking and irritation
and may assist with retarding fine wrinkles. Water is the best emollient
but evaporated too quickly to be effective unless used in conjunction
with oils in an emulsion. Natural emollients nourish the skin. They
are metabolised by the skin’s own enzymes and are readily
absorbed, biodegradable and of edible quality.
Emulsifiers
Are agents that create emulsions. Their role is to hold two dissimilar
ingredients together that don’t normally homogenise. This
can occur as a physical action such as vigorous mixing or a physical
substance like waxes or soaps. Natural emulsifiers are obtained
from nuts, berries and leaves. Emulsifiers assist with prolonging
the shelf life of a product by keeping the oil and water components
combined.
Humectants
Attract water from the air and hold it within a substance slowly
releasing moisture into the skin and protecting against dryness
when used in controlled amounts. Natural humectants are naturally
derived from vegetable oils.
Surfactants
Are surface-active agents that are used in all foaming products
they are capable of emulsifying oils and holding dirt in a suspension
so that they can be rinsed away with water. Surfactants are used
in cosmetic preparations to allow lotions and cosmetic liquids to
spread out quickly and evenly on the skin. A serious implication
with anionic (negatively charged) surfactants is that they may be
contaminated with NDELA, a potent carcinogen. The levels at which
they are absorbed into the body is much greater than eating nitrate
contaminated foods such as bacon, ham etc.
Thickeners
Are ingredients used to add body or to stabilise emulsions and other
cosmetics. They include waxes, gums, clays, some foaming agents,
starches and mineral compounds.