Ingredients
Decoding ingredient lists can be tricky. In Q for Skin's products, every single ingredient is carefully selected and serves its purpose. Below you will find an overview of all the ingredients we use, along with a brief description of their origin and effect. We use internationally standardized INCI names (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient), so you can easily identify each ingredient.
We always prioritise what is safe and secure for BOTH the skin and the environment. Drying cleansing agents, strong perfumes, mineral oil, PEG oils, sulfates, and parabens are not found in Q for Skin's products.
A
ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE
INCI: Ascorbyl phosphate*
Vitamin C
*= vegetable origin
ARGININE
INCI: Arginine*
Natural moisturiser that helps your skin retain moisture.
*= Natural modified
AQUA
Pure water that moisturises and acts as a base
B
BETAINE
INCI: Betaine*
Added as a humectant in products for the skin as well as the hair, as it can absorb and release water. Betaine is extracted from molasses (sugarcane juice).
*= vegetable origin
BUTYROSPERUM PARKII BUTTER EXTRACT
INCI: Shea Butter Extract*
Shea butter – Comes from the shea tree and has a softening effect on the skin as well as protecting the skin from dehydration.
*= vegetable origin
C
CAPRYLIC / CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE
INCI: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride*
Fat derived from coconut. Softens the skin.
*= vegetable origin
COCOGLYCERIDES
INCI: Cocoglycerides*
Emulsifier used to stabilize O/W (oil-in-water) emulsions. It leaves a light feel on the skin, making it soft, silky, and smooth.
*= vegetable origin
CETEARYL OLIVATE
INCI: Cetearyl Olivate*
Vegetable emulsifier from olive oil, added to combine ingredients and provide a good consistency.
*= vegetable origin
CETEARYL ALCOHOL
INCI: Cetearyl alcohol*
Vegetable emulsifier, added to help ingredients combine and to provide good consistency. Derived from coconut fat.
*= vegetable origin
COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE
INCI: Cocamidopropyl betaine*
Cleansing agent from coconut oil. Mild and easily biodegradable.
*= vegetable origin
COCOS NUCIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT
INCI: Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract*
Coconut oil, gives a smooth feel to the skin.
*= vegetable origin
C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE
INCI: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate*
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is available in different versions, both natural and non-natural. The one we have in our product is Matrixyl 3000 OS, which is readily biodegradable, ensured, and has no classification for aquatic hazard.
*= vegetable origin
C18-36 ACID GLYCOL ESTER
INCI: C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester*
Emollients
*= vegetable origin
C18-36 ACID TRIGLYCERIDE
INCI: C18-36 Acid Triglyceride*
Emollients
*= vegetable origin
G
GLYCERIN
INCI: Glycerine*
Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is naturally found in the skin and effectively moisturises it.
*= plant-derived
GLYCERYL STEARATE EN
INCI: Glyceryl Stearate SE*
Vegetable emulsifier, extracted from coconut oil and rapeseed oil combined with glycerin. Added to bind ingredients together and create a good consistency.
*= plant-derived
GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE
INCI: Glyceryl Caprylate*
Softening agent from coconut.
*= vegetable origin
GLUCONOLACTONE
INCI: Gluconolactone*
Moisturising and barrier-strengthening, making this ingredient optimal for dry and sensitive skin.
H
HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID
INCI: Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid*
Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in our skin and has the ability to bind moisture. Hyaluronic acid also increases skin elasticity and helps to fill in wrinkles, making them less visible.
*= vegetable origin
HYDROXYPROPYL GUARHYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
INCI: Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
This ingredient is naturally vegetable and comes from the Guar bean, so it is not a heavy chemical ingredient. It is a cationic ingredient, meaning a positively charged ion that binds to the hair where it is negatively charged, making it smooth and easier to comb. It sits on the outside of the hair and does not penetrate the skin, so its ability to release harmful substances is not very relevant when used on hair.
The process is not comparable to the use of ethylene oxide/ethoxylation, but it is correct that the chemical manufacturing process for Hydroxypropyl and Hydroxypropyltrimonium can differ and from some manufacturers may not be as pure, so we ensure that we only use a Cosmos Ecocert certified Guar.
HUMULUS LUPULUS STROBILE
INCI: Humulus Lupulus Strobile*
Hops - added to reduce hyperpigmentation and age spots.
*= plant-derived
HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OIL
INCI: Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil*
Sunflower oil
*= vegetable origin
L
LACTOBACILLUS FERMENT
INCI: Lactobacillus Ferment
The probiotic that is added does not consist of live bacteria but an enzyme mix from probiotics and is produced through fermentation.
LACTIC ACID
INCI: Lactic Acid*
Lactic acid, stabilizes pH value, extracted from sugar beets. Not a dairy product.
*= vegetable origin
M
MALTODEXTRIN
INCI: Maltodextrin*
In cosmetics, maltodextrin has a number of functions, including as an absorbent, binder, stabilizer, film former, and skin softener.
O
OLEA EUROPAEA FRUIT OIL
INCI: Olea Europaea Fruit Oil*
Olive oil - softening, nourishing and protective.
*= plant-derived
P
PANTHENOL
INCI: Panthenol*
Provitamin B5
*= vegetable origin
PENTYLENE GLYCOL
INCI: Pentylene Glycol*
PERFUME
INCI: Perfume
We have chosen to develop our own natural fragrance instead of using essential oils, to which many people are sensitive. We have therefore developed our own signature scent, composed of various plant-derived fragrance substances.
*= plant-based origin
PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1
INCI: Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1*
Matrixyl 3000
Micro-collagen consisting of selected peptides linked together in laboratories (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7). These peptides are natural and stimulate both collagen and hyaluronic acid, and studies have shown them to be more effective than traditional vitamin A in counteracting wrinkles and fine lines. The ingredients have nothing to do with palm oil.
R
RIBES NIGRUM SEED OIL
INCI: Black Currant Seed Oil*
Blackcurrant seed oil. Rich in Omega-3 and GLA (Omega-6).
*= vegetable origin
ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT
INCI: Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract*
Rosemary extract, acts as a natural antioxidant in fats and oils.
*= vegetable origin
S
SHEA BUTTER ETHYL ESTERS
INCI: Shea Butter Ethyl Esters*
Shea butter – Softens and nourishes the skin.
*= vegetable origin
SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE
INCI: Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate*
Vegetable emulsifier. Added to help substances combine and provide good consistency.
SORBITAN OLIVATE
INCI: Sorbitan Olivate*
Vegetable emulsifier from olive oil, added to make substances combine and to provide a good consistency.
*= vegetable origin
SODIUM GLUCONATE
INCI: Sodium Gluconate*
Sodium gluconate is a sodium salt of gluconic acid. It is commonly used as a chelating agent and pH adjuster in skincare and haircare products.
*= Natural modified (Biofermentation)
SORBITAN LAURATE
INCI: Sorbitan Laurate*
Vegetable emulsifier, added to combine ingredients and to provide good consistency.
SODIUM CHLORIDE
INCI: Sodium Chloride*
Stabiliser/Viscosity Controlling
SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED OIL
INCI: Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil*
Jojoba oil, extracted by pressing the seeds of the jojoba plant. Softens, protects, binds moisture and makes the skin velvety soft.
*= vegetable origin
SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE
INCI: Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate*
An antioxidant that can have a smoothing effect and lighten pigmentation spots. Increases durability.
*= plant-based origin
T
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
INCI: Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant that increases shelf life.
Origin: nature-identical/synthetic
TOCOPHEROL
INCI: Tocopherol*
Antioxidant that increases shelf life.
*= vegetable origin
V
VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA SEED OIL
INCI: Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil*
Lingonberry seed oil
*= vegetable origin
X
XANTHAN GUM
INCI: Xanthan Gum*
Natural thickener.
*= vegetable origin