L'Oreal Men Expert Moisturiser: Under the Cap [Part 5]

July 29, 2019 230 Comments

Most people use some form of moisturiser, or are familiar with what it “does” i.e. moisturise the skin.

➔ But why should I bother moisturising my skin?

The composition of your skin’s outer layer – the stratum corneum – is affected by environmental factors, age, and even genetics. As you get older, your skin becomes more dry and less plump. Moisturising can help slow that process down. If you shave often or your face is otherwise irritated, your moisturiser can soothe or calm the skin as well.

➔ Aren’t moisturisers all the same?

There are actually 3 general types of moisturisers: oils, emulsions, or gel-based.

Oils	Lipids or botanical extracts mixed together with no presence of water.
Emulsions	Blend of water and oil, typically with a more milky/lotion like consistency. The term technically also includes more thick creams like foot creams. *In the K-beauty world, emulsion is a term used to describe a specific ratio that’s more light/water-based.
Gel-based	Typically have no oils, but rather ingredients suspended in alcohol and water.

We can’t emphasize enough how much we think oils have changed our lives (smoother, more nourished and balanced skin). But during very hot summer days, some people prefer a more lightweight moisturiser. 

This week, we’re diving into the ingredients of a commonly used one by L’Oreal Men Expert.

L'Oreal Men Expert Birch Sap Moisturiser

Ingredient	Function	Notes
Aqua	Water	Helps make the moisturiser more lightweight and thin
Dimethicone	Silicone that increases spreadability	Forms barrier over skin – some find it irritating/acne-causing because it can clog pores. It’s a controversial ingredient in ‘natural’ skincare.
Glycerin	Moisturiser and Humectant
Zea Mays Starch / Corn Starch	Skin conditioning or viscosity increasing agent
Isohexadecane	Gives silky feeling	Component of petroleum
Sorbitan Stearate	Emulsifier – also thickens	Enables water and oil to mix
Pentylene Glycol	Humectant (hydrates the skin by preventing moisture loss)	Could be an allergen
Mentha Piperita Extract	Peppermint extract, refreshing and astringent
C13-14 Isoparaffin	Emollient and thickening agent	Mixture of mineral oils derived from petroleum
Stearyl Alcohol	Softens skin, thickens formulation
Mannose	Humectant and skin conditioning	Sugar that helps skin retain moisture.
Poloxamer 338	Emulsifier
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate	Emulsion stabiliser and thickener
Disodium EDTA		Enhances the skin’s absorption of other ingredients.
Sucrose Cocoate	Emollient	Made from sugar beets and coconut oil. Increases creaminess of creams/lotions.
Caprylyl Glycol	Skin conditioning agent	Has antimicrobial efficacy.
Citric Acid	pH balancer
Laureth-7	Emulsifier
T-Butyl Alcohol	Perfuming	Known to cause some irritation. Used for perfuming – has a camphor-life odor.
Betula Alba Juice	Birch extract – used for antioxidant and stringent properties
Butylene Glycol	Emulsifier
Butryospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract	Skin conditioning
BHT	Preservative	Butylated hydroxytoluene, comes from Toluene (a type of crude oil). Some countries require health warnings to be listed when BHT or BHA (a chemical cousin) is used in food products. May cause endocrine disruption and dermatitis.
Tocopherol	Vitamin E – skin conditioning
Potassium Sorbate	Preservative
Sodium Benzoate	Preservative	To prevent products from growing mould and bacteria. Restricted usage in some countries.
Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Citral, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal	Fragrance components	When in quantities of .01% or greater, these fragrance components need to be listed out separately because the IFRA (International Fragrance Association) deems them to be allergens.
Benzyl Alcohol	Preservative	To prevent products from growing mould and bacteria
Parfum / Fragrance	Scent	Parfum is an all-encompassing term that can include 30-50 (or more) synthetic ingredients to add fragrance. Some people find it irritating on the skin

We’ve got 1 post left in our 6 part ‘Under the Cap’ series. Let us know if you’d like us to cover anything else in the comment below!

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