Glycerin

Also known as glycerol, glycerin is a natural compound produced from a vegetable oil and other products or synthesized from propylene alcohol. Glycerin is a beauty care chemical that is added to many skin care products because it is well tolerated by the body and gives skin a healthy, natural appearance. Glycerin’s benefits are far-reaching, and its medicinal properties not only make the skin appear healthy, but actually improves the skin’s overall health.

If you have ever suffered psoriasis, you know the itching, flaking skin associated with this disorder is irritating, embarrassing, and painful. Psoriasis occurs because the outermost layers of epidermal cells are shed before they mature, causing thick, scaly patches that flake away with the slightest touch. According to research, applying glycerin to psoriasis signals the cells within the psoriasis patches to mature normally, which gives the skin a more even appearance without the blemishes associated with psoriasis.

Being a humectant, glycerin attracts moisture to the epidermis. When this beauty care chemical is applied to the surface of the skin, glycerin seals in moisture to maintain water homeostasis within the body’s cells. Not only is the skin sealed, glycerin also increases the thickness of the corneocytes, or the outermost layer of skin, relieving extremely dry skin and forming a stronger protective barrier between the body and the external environment. Glycerin also assists in soothing and curing bruised or swollen skin. The softness noted with glycerin use is due to the degradation of the corneodesmosomes that link together skin cells. When these links are broken, cells are shed in a more uniform fashion, which leaves the skin more smooth and even.

Given these examples, it’s no wonder glycerin is used in mouthwash, toothpaste, bar soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, hair care products, and shower gels. If you have not already tried glycerin, now is the ultimate time to benefit from this beauty care chemical’s myriad of uses.

For additional information on glycerine, or other beauty care chemicals, contact the professionals at Bell Chem today.

Oils

Many people are turning to oils to complement their current beauty care regimen, and for good reason. Oils are natural, easy to use, and give superior results. Depending on your needs, a range of oil-based beauty care chemicals is undoubtedly available for you. Eucalyptus oil, for instance, is an ingredient in perfumes, fragrances, and lotions. Garlic oil treats acne. Coconut oil has become a leading oil for hair and skin treatments; argan oil works as an overnight deep conditioner for your hair; and tea tree oil has gained recognition as somewhat of a panacea.

Below are five oil-based beauty care chemicals and a few of their many properties and uses.

1. Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil is an antifungal. It removes residue on the scalp and frees clogged pores. Hair follicles are stimulated by eucalyptus oil, giving you stronger, thicker, shinier, and healthier hair. Mix eucalyptus oil with vinegar and water to relieve your itchy scalp. Eucalyptus oil kills staphylococcus bacteria, which causes halitosis and other oral problems. Use this oil as a mouthwash to freshen and clean your mouth.

2. Garlic Oil: Garlic seems an odd answer to athlete’s foot, but garlic oil is an antifungal and anti-inflammatory. Use garlic oil to treat acne, cold sores, and psoriasis as well.

3. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a wonder at removing makeup, including waterproof mascara, leaving the skin clean and moisturized. Used as a body moisturizer, coconut oil expedites wound healing, increases hydration, and reduces water loss in extremely dry skin. Lips also benefit from coconut oil as a balm. Other uses include as a shaving cream, to soothe dry and cracked hands, as a highlighter over makeup, and as an excellent deep conditioner since it penetrates hair follicles and prevents loss of protein.

4. Argan Oil: Argan oil works as a deep conditioner and overnight hair treatment to leave hair soft and full. On your skin, argan oil is a superb moisturizer and counters the effects of acne. Use on wet skin as a body lotion to leave your skin silky without feeling greasy. On the cuticles, argan oil enhances the health and appearance of fingernails and the nail bed.

5. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is an astringent mouthwash that combats halitosis while invigorating the gums. On the face, tea tree oil works as a makeup remover, exfoliator, acne prevention and curative, and toner.

These oils and a variety of others are changing the way we treat our skin. Try one or more today to improve the appearance of your skin, nails, and hair. If you’re looking for a reliable  beauty care chemical supplier, look no further than Bell Chem. For additional information, contact us today.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Somewhere, lurking in the depths of your medicine cabinet, you probably own a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. This innocuous little bottle, generally referred to as “rubbing alcohol,” is commonly used as a quick disinfectant and antiseptic. However, its uses extend far beyond these; in fact, the cosmetics and personal care industries utilize its abilities in hundreds--if not thousands--of products, including eye and skin makeup, bath products, lotions, aftershave, deodorant, hair products, and health care products.

Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, has several characteristics chemists find work well in makeup and health care merchandise. One of these properties is its ability to dissolve other substances and increase liquidity--quite helpful with heavier ingredients that may tend to clump together. Added to liquid soaps, it reduces the tendency to produce foam when the container is shaken. Isopropyl alcohol cools and soothes irritated skin, and removes oil from the skin’s surface--and, as mentioned previously, this miraculous product is also an antiseptic.

Many acne medications contain isopropyl alcohol because it removes oil, dries the skin, and kills acne-causing bacteria on and beneath the epidermis. When used with tea tree oil or clove oil, isopropyl alcohol has the ability to deter acne while replenishing your skin’s moisture. Clinicians use isopropyl alcohol to cleanse a patient’s ears before they are pierced, then the patient uses the same product to clean their earrings, which helps to prevent infection. As a rubefacient, any abrasion is easily treated with isopropyl alcohol to relieve pain. If your fingernail polish is cracked and you are unable to find your nail polish remover, isopropyl alcohol will remove the polish without any difficulty.

Many hair products contain small amounts of isopropanol because of its previously mentioned ability to liquefy heavy elements. It also increases the absorption rate of chemicals at the hair’s follicle, which is a benefit when using a hair coloring treatment, for instance. Hairsprays regularly contain isopropyl alcohol because it dries quickly without the use of heat. Imagine applying hairspray and using a hair dryer to expedite its hold and you will understand yet another benefit of isopropanol.

For additional information on isopropyl alcohol, or other beauty care chemicals, contact the professionals at Bell Chem today.