QV selects only scientifically-tested ingredients – it’s how the name has become synonymous with quality and innovation. Explore some of the favourite ingredients below to learn about their key benefits and where you’ll find them in our QV range.
Dimethicone
A silicone that helps to protect the skin by forming a water-repellent barrier against water soluble irritants.
Benefits
Helps protect skin: Its thick, viscous nature, makes for an excellent barrier on the skin to help prevent chaffing, nappy rash and other forms of skin irritation caused by friction and exposure to water-soluble irritants.
Occlusive and moisturising: The ability of Dimethicone to form a barrier on the skin also makes it effective for use as an occlusive. Occlusives help prevent moisture in the skin from evaporating.
Products that contain Dimethicone
Glycerin
A humectant, helping to draw and hold water to the skin to maintain hydration.
Benefits
Excellent skin moisturiser and conditioner: Moisturisers containing glycerin can produce long-lasting moisturisation by minimising water loss.
Helps protect against irritation: 10% Glycerine in a topical emulsion can help prevent the irritation and dehydration effects of washing the skin, including when Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is used as the detergent.
Helps to retain moisture in the skin: At high humidity, Glycerine acts as a humectant, while at low humidity it acts as a skin moisturiser and conditioner by inhibiting lipid phase transition.
Products that contain Glycerin
Lactic Acid
A mild exfoliant that helps to remove dead, outer skin while improving skin moisture.
Benefits
Increases skin exfoliation: Lactic Acid has been shown to increase skin exfoliation in conjunction with its skin renewal activity. It has been hypothesized that this is the result of the dissolution of the protein linkages between the skin cells. Once the cells are detached from the body of the skin they are sloughed off.
Decreases the formation of dry skin: AHAs in general increase plasticization and decrease the formation of dry, flaky scales on the skin’s surface.
Moisturising: AHAs have been shown to reduce transepidermal water loss improving the water content of the skin. AHAs have also been found to improve skin texture, improve skin brightness, improve firmness and decrease wrinkling.
Products that contain Lactic Acid
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Otherwise known as Nicotinamide or Vitamin B3, helps maintain normal skin barrier function and reduce sensitivity, as well as moisturising dry skin.
Benefits
Helps maintain normal skin barrier function and reduces skin sensitivity: Topical application of 2% Nicotinamide has shown to improve the barrier properties of the skin and reduce skin sensitivity.
Helps to moisturise dry skin: The topical application of 2% Nicotinamide is shown to significantly reduce transepidermal water loss.
Helps to improve the appearance of skin tone and texture: Topical application of 5% Nicotinamide was shown to improve the appearance of aged and photodamaged skin and a reduction in hyperpigmentation.
Products that contain Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Panthenol
Also known as Pro Vitamin B5, helps to improve skin hydration and reduce water-loss to maintain softness and elasticity.
Benefits
Penetrating: When Panthenol is applied to our skin, it results in a conversion to Pantothenic Acid. This acid penetrates into the epidermis, because it is readily absorbed by the skin.
Protecting: Penetrates the stratum corneum to promote lipid synthesis and improves the barrier function of the skin. Panthenol helps relieve systemic itching, whilst also helping to soothe dry and irritated skin.
Hydrating: Pantothenic Acid works as a humectant, by attracting the moisture via absorption and retaining that moisture deep within the skin.
Products that contain Panthenol
Paraffinum Liquidum
An emollient that helps to reduce moisture loss from the outermost layer of the skin to maintain hydration.
Benefits
Safe for prolonged use: Critical analysis of studies into the toxicity of mineral oils such as Paraffinum Liquidum has shown that it is safe for prolonged use.
Rarely causes allergic reactions: Allergic reactions to Paraffinum Liquidum are infrequent considering its widespread use in topical products.
Non-comedogenic: Highly refined and purified mineral oils, such as Paraffinum Liquidum found in cosmetic and skincare products are non-comedogenic (does not clog pores).
Highly efficacious moisturising ingredient: Paraffinum liquidum keeps the skin moist and supple by providing a protective film and controlling the passage of water into and out of the skin.
Products that contain Paraffinum Liquidum
Petrolatum
A highly effective emollient, used to promote both short- and long-term skin rehydration.
Benefits
Contributes to skin barrier properties: It penetrates the uppermost stratum corneum layers, passing into the intercellular phase. Rather than integrating with the natural intercellular layer, it is distributed throughout the stratum corneum as a separate phase, thus contributing to the skin’s natural barrier properties.
Reduces transepidermal water loss: The application of petroleum jelly to the skin in vivo can immediately reduce transepidermal water loss by 40-50%.
Low irritancy rating: Widely recognised as being innocuous and non-allergenic. Only rarely are sensitisation reactions reported and petrolatum presents few, if any, safety or toxicological problems.
Products that contain Petrolatum
Squalane
Naturally-occurring component of the skins oil (sebum), this emollient works as a vehicle to help carry other substances or ingredients across the skin.
Benefits
Non-irritant: Usage levels range from 0.1% to greater than 50% and is a safe cosmetic ingredient as used in current practices and concentrations.
Moisturising: Commonly used in topical preparations as an emollient, lubricant and humectant.
Products that contain Squalane
Titanium Dioxide
Physical UV blocker that reflects, scatters and absorbs ulta-violet radiation to enhance sun protection.
Benefits
Photoprotection: Physical UV blocker with a high refractive index, which reflects and scatters ultra-violet radiation, visible light and infrared radiation to help provide photoprotection.
Products that contain Titanium Dioxide
Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
A fast-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that helps to repair, protect and smoothe sensitive skin.
Benefits
Helps repair, protect and smoothe skin: Vitamin E has been found to help protect from UV-induced erythema and roughness, improve the appearance of age spots, increase elasticity and skin barrier function, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Anti-pruritic: Topical Vitamin E has also been found to reduce irritation related itch.
Antioxidant: Vitamin E has been shown to be beneficial in preventing UV-induced free radical formation, protecting endogenous epidermal antioxidants and preventing lipid peroxidation. In addition, studies have shown that Vitamin E can reduce UVB induced erythema, and wrinkling.
Products that contain Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Zinc Oxide
Helps to form a protective barrier on the skin and soothe skin irritation.
Benefits
Helps protect skin: Zinc oxide form a protective barrier on the skin and helps mitigate the effects of bacteria and other irritants on the skin.
Helps soothe skin irritation: Zinc oxide is also used to help prevent dry flaky skin. The antibacterial properties make it a common ingredient in antiseptic ointments to help relieve itchiness, and to help protect irritated skin.
Products that contain Zinc Oxide
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