From Ampoules to zinc we simplify modern make-up jargon for the average woman
HOW is your cosmetic vocabulary?
Do you know your jojoba beads from your polyhydroxy acids?
The average woman spends £482.51 a year on beauty products but the truth is most of us do not know what ingredients we are putting on our face.
The amount of products available is overwhelming.
ISABEL DEIBE decodes the hottest beauty buzzwords to help keep you up to speed.
Ampoules
Sister product of serums but with higher concentration of active ingredients.
They are tiny glass vials with droppers to ensure you do not use more than needed.
Pop on before serum or moisturiser at night to wake up with fresh, plumped skin.
L’Oreal Paris revitalift filler replumping ampoules, 7 x 1.3ml, £13.95 (down from £19.99), feelunique.com.
Balms
Luxuriously melting into the skin, cleansing balms are the newest way to remove your make-up.
Gentle enough for all skin types, they also hydrate skin while they clean.
Balms are a great alternative to liquid and jelly make-up removers for jet-setters.
Clinique Take the Day Off cleansing balm 125ml, £24, feelunique.com.
Cannabidol oil
Better known as CBD, this antioxidant and anti-inflammatory eases breakouts and redness, plus signs of ageing.
It comes from the cannabis plant and is a great – and legal – soother for sensitive skin.
CBD salve 300mg, £28.99, greengoddesswellness.com.
Dermaplaning
Try this if skin looks dull, make-up does not sit right or pores are clogged.
Dead cells and peach fuzz are scraped off skin with a scalpel for smooth, clean look.
A half-hour treatment costs at least £45 from a number of aestheticians.
Vitamin E
Your ticket to protection against environmental aggressors such as smoke, pollution and weather. Not only does it keep you safe, it also provides a deep hydration.
You will still need to apply SPF to prevent damaging UV rays. Skin Power 10 VE serum, £12, Asos.com.
Free radicals
We hear the words “free radicals” all the time in the beauty world, so let’s explain.
They are dangerous molecules created by pollution, sunlight and smoking, and they cause the skin to visibly age.
You will need products that protect you from this and include antioxidants to balance out unstable free radicals.
NIOD Survival 20, £24, escentual.com.
Gycolic acid
Physical exfoliators out, liquid exfoliators in. Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin to reveal a bright and fresh complexion. Pixi Glow tonic (£18, cultbeauty.co.uk) is a classic.
Apply with a cotton pad once or twice a week to achieve a “lit from within” look.
Hyaluronic acid
Whatever your skin type, you’ll want to bathe in this acid. It can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water, so track down products containing it if you’ve got dry skin.
La Roche-Posay Hydraphase UV Intense Moisturiser Rich, £17, Boots.
Ice
Kate Moss swears by dunking her face in a sink of ice water every morning to reduce puffiness.
Or try wrapping an ice cube in kitchen roll and massaging the skin.
You can even rub ice on your face after applying a serum or mask to pull it deeper into your pores.
Jojoba beads
These natural and bio-degradable wonders gently buff away dead skin without irritating the surface.
Even those with irritable skin should try this treatment.
Pai Kukui & Jojoba Bead skin brightening exfoliator (£28, John Lewis).
Kaolin
Kaolin is a natural type of pink clay that acts like a magnet for toxins and impurities.
Pop on a kaolin mask to draw out all the nasties and excess oil and leave your skin mattified and clear.
Sand & Sky Australian pink clay mask, £39.95, Beauty Bay.
Lanolin
It sounds a little gross but lanolin is a wax that comes from the glands of sheep.
The likes of Rihanna and Victoria Beckham swear by it. It’s moisturising and great for protecting and soothing the skin.
Used in cult product Weleda skin food (£7.95, Holland and Barrett), it’s also great as a highlighter.
Mesotherapy
Loved by TV and radio presenter Maya Jama, Mesotherapy is a quick procedure that uses tiny needles to inject a cocktail of vitamins, minerals and amino acids into your skin.
It can cost between £50 and £200 but you’ll love your new glow.
Non-comedegenic
Acne-prone or oily-skin girls, this one’s for you.
Thick and heavy products can often build up in your skin, but non-comedegenic means that the product won’t clog your pores and cause breakouts and irritation.
Cetaphil Daily Defence moisturiser SPF50+, £8.59 (down from £12.99), Superdrug.
Oil
You don’t have to be a genius to work out what an oil is, but Pixi has just launched a line of Instagrammable bottles, that cleanse, brighten, soothe and illuminate.
RoseQuartz soothing oil (£24, PixiBeauty.co.uk) is packed with vitamins and antioxidants to soothe, hydrate and brighten your face and body.
Polyhydroxy acids
Gentle liquid exfoliant is great for dry, sensitive skin – working softly and slowly.
Watch Glossier Solution (£19, Glossier.com) work its magic, breaking up coagulated dead cells to give tighter pores, fewer breakouts and a glowing complexion.
Quinoa
This supermarket superfood is packed with vitamins that will repair, brighten, soothe and exfoliate skin.
Quinoa is also great at slowing the ageing process, keeping your skin looking strong and full of youth.
Revolution Skincare quinoa night peeling serum, £5.25 (down from £8), Superdrug.
Retinol
Retinol has taken over the beauty world in the last year, particularly for its anti-ageing properties.
Retinol capsules are claimed to be 76 per cent more effective at reducing wrinkles and lines than “unencapsulated” retinol. Try using these each night before your moisturiser.
Elizabeth Arden retinol ceramide night serum capsules X 30, £33.60, John Lewis.
Sticks
From skincare to shampoo and make-up, sticks are big news.
They’re no better for skin but are easier for carrying and for those with little time on their hands.
This one is great after a sweaty workout.
Simple Daily Detox Charcoal cleansing stick, £9.99, Boots.
Thermal water
Long used to battle arthritis and burns, but now trendy in the skincare world. Spritz this anti-inflammatory, hydrater on to your face.
La Roche Posay thermal spring water spray, 150ml, £2.33, escentual.com.
Under-eye patches
The skin around your eyes is much thinner and prone to creasing.
Pop an under-eye mask on in the morning to combat dark circles and wrinkles.
Milk Makeup cooling water eye patches, £20.50, Cult Beauty.
Vegan
Even non-vegans are switching to cruelty-free skincare products that steer clear of animals.
Vegan products like this cleanser are packed with superfoods, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to leave you with a radiant and balanced complexion.
Elemis Superfood facial wash, £24.99, Feelunique.com.
Waterless beauty
The beauty industry is a huge strain on water supplies and many brands are starting to respond to the issue.
Water is the top ingredient in many products, and sheet masks are notoriously bad for wasting water.
Why not try a water-free sheet mask, such as the Starskin Lifting Lace sculpting face mask (£11.50, Lookfantastic.com).
Xanthrophyll
Better known as lutein, xanthophyll is a chemical found in leafy greens.
The antioxidant protects the skin against free radicals, improves moisture retention and helps with anti-ageing.
Eat a handful of spinach or kale a day and you’re good to go.
Yarrow
Used throughout history to heal wounds and stop infections, yarrow is a plant that combats breakouts, calms inflammation and reduces scarring.
Oily and acne-prone skincare fans love it.
Yarrow & Comfrey moisturiser, £22, Neal’s Yard Remedies.
most read in fabulous
Zinc
The metal doesn’t just belong on the periodic table – it is great on your skin too.
In small doses, zinc can regulate sebum production to reduce breakouts.
The Ordinary niacinamide 10% + zinc 1%, £5, cultbeauty.co.uk.