Welcome to the Colin’s Beauty Pages Cosmetic Ingredient Database.
Actually it isn’t a database. I don’t have the deep pockets of the consumer advocacy groups who put up sophisticated bits of web technology dedicated to scaring people. And I don’t know enough about the ways of the web to compete with them if I did have any money. But I have done a lot of posts about cosmetic ingredients and I thought it would be handy for the people who enjoy that kind of thing to have somewhere where they are all gathered together.
It might be useful if you want to look a particular one up too.
Coal Tar (Not strictly a cosmetic ingredient, but interesting nonetheless)
Glyceryl Stearate (click on this for glyceryl monostearate)
Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Do you have an ingredient that particularly interests you? Let me know. I am afraid the spammers have made the contact form I used to have on here unusable, but I read all comments so just add suggestions there.
Hi
,
I was outraged to find out that the face products that I have been using are not as natural as they make out(Origins). I am now on a search for Good organic face/body products. This is how I can across you. I have found the following website and just wanted the opinion of someone in the know. They are called ‘The Organic Pharmacy’ and their products are fairly expensive so I want to be sure they are ok before purchasing anything. If you have any recommendations I would be grateful.
The particular product I am looking at has the following ingredients: Bilberry (Vaccinum Myrtillus), Rose (Rosa Damascena), Rose Hip (Rosa Canina), Aloe (Aloe Barbedensis), Marigold (Calendula Officinalis), Rose Geranium (Perlagonium Graveolens), Algin, Grapefruit Seed Extract (Citrus Grandis), Sodium Olive Oil Amphoacetate, Aqua (Water), Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin (vegetable), Carageenan, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Vitamin E (Tochopherol), Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate)
Kind Regards
Nicola
Hi Nicola and thanks for taking the time to comment.
I don’t know much about the Organic Pharmacy, though I did pop into their shop in Chelsea once. The staff were very friendly which always makes a good impression. Despite this, now I’ve looked at their website I am afraid I can’t recommend on two counts. First they indulge in an appalling amount of scare mongering on their website. I try to be a bit lenient when small companies resort to a bit of knocking the big guys because I appreciate that they have a tough job on their hands and I realise that the bigger companies hold nearly all the cards. But the Organic Pharmacy have gone completely over the top in their list of what they claim are carcinogens in other people’s products. They also endorse homeopathy which is complete nonsense.
I have to say I am far from convinced that organic skin care products have any particular benefits, though I do like a few particular products. There are a lot of charlatans around who see it as a great way to charge a premium. But if you are attracted by the organic approach there are people who are sincere in what they are doing. I have always found the Soil Association to be a very honest organisation which is straight forward in its intentions and tries to do the right thing. Products that they have accredited are likely to be genuinely organic. Look for their logo on the pack.
The ingredient list you have posted certainly looks very natural but aside from that I don’t have any comments on it.
Hi Colin,
I was recently told by a beautician that castor oil is really good for promoting hair growth and was hoping to find it on your ingredients “database” for some background info. Whilst I’ve read many reviews on the internet about how great it is for hair growth esp. for those looking to grow back overplucked eyebrows and thicken their lashes and how brilliant it is for removing scars/moles etc; I am a little skeptical as I cannot find the science behind how it works and it’s effectiveness(that’s if it does work). I can see it being a good moisturiser for skin & hair but beyond that, is there any truth behind what my beautician was telling me?
Look forward to your response.
Amy
PS Love the blog; have become so much more informed because of it!
I can’t see how it would work. But it does have other uses so I’ll stick that on my things to blog about list.
Colin, can you explain the origins and uses of silicon?
One day there it wasn’t there, the next there were hair serums, then skin mattifiers, then it appeared in hair conditioners, then make-up to help it glide. You have to have frizzy hair and an oily T-zone to realise the difference silicon made.
Now we are sold detoxifying shampoos to remove silicon build-up, and conditioners and styling gunk that proclaim themselves silicon-free. No wonder I’m confused! Is it a good thing or not? And what is its source?
Hello Colin, very imformative blog. can you please tell me where I could get lanolin from to use as a cream on my face and also have you any advice on what to use to fade an age spots ??? thanks
Hi Ellen, you can buy lanolin in most chemists. There is a blog post scheduled on age spots.
Hi Colin,
I just would like to say thank you for sharing and explaining the complexities of these ingredients. I love your site and your easy to understand style.
Hi Colin,
I’m glad that I found your site! Useful, objective, most of all, enjoyable!! Always admire ppl giving advises or comments based on science.
Good job and keep going on ^-^
Hello, Colin,
If I may react to what Judith said above – and ask you for your view please….
Regarding silicones in hair products I understand there are silicones soluble in water and silicones insoluble in water. (And maybe a third group – partly or hardly soluble in water). The insoluble silicones are insoluble in MERE water, meaning a shampoo will wash them away. What build-up? Isn’t this a nonsense (or a marketing claim to sell “clarifying” shampoos?). What is your opinion please? Do I understand it wrong?
Sorry, English is my second language.
Thank you. Very useful webpages you make.
I’d love to see you add Pine Rosin to your database. Thanks!
Post scheduled for the 19th of December Wendi. Thank you for the suggestion.
Hi Colin,
Thank you for writing these posts. I am happily chomping my way through them. Your humour comes through and I am learning at the same time. I’d like to know more about butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). I can’t seem to find much except the scares about toxicity, organs, bioaccumulation, carcinogenic effects.
With Thanks!