The skincare process differs between people, with various considerations based on your skin type. The most common concerns include oily, sensitive, and dry skin. Suppose you are a cosmetic entrepreneur or have an unbridled passion for DIY projects for skincare. In that case, it is essential to identify the appropriate ingredients to be used in custom products.

Through understanding skin fundamentals, you can choose the right combination of ingredients for your lotions, balms, and cosmetics that avoid sensitivities while maximizing the benefits. 

Additionally, there are some highly reactive ingredients to avoid when starting your skincare or cosmetic business. You should work closely with a qualified dermatologist to determine safe concentrations for consumer use. 

The Importance of a Healthy Skin Barrier

As many of us might have learned in 5th grade, your skin is the largest organ in your body, and is compromised of three layers:  the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis.  The epidermis is your body's first line of defense, protecting you from a multiple of factors from bacteria to pollutants.  However, it also bears the brunt of improper skin care.  Using products that are over-drying or potential irritants weakens the skin barrier, ultimately rendering a skincare product useless, or worse having an overall negative effect on your skin. Keeping the a healthy skin barrier or a healthy epidermis is paramount to ensure your not only your skin's health, but it's proper function.

Considering the Skin Types

There are three skin types to consider when planning a new line of skincare products: dry, oily, and sensitive. Each skin type has a different tolerance level toward various ingredients, so you should pay careful attention when creating your formulas. 

While using the wrong product based on skin type might not necessarily result in a nasty side effect, it reduces the product's effectiveness. As a result, customers might not receive the full benefits of your skincare and cosmetic products as advertised. 

For Dry or Dull Skin

When it comes to dull or dry skin, it is integral to include ingredients that provide hydration or moisturizing effects. Also, note that if you add hydrating serums, they need to react with other ingredients to achieve the desired results.

Glycerin is a popular addition for dull skin, serving as a compound that draws water to your skin. Adding the popular hydrating compound to your bath and skincare products for dry skin will give customers a clear idea of what to expect.  

Shea butter is another essential ingredient to add in products catered to dry and cracking skin, as the compound boosts moisture levels as an emollient, providing a nutritious plethora of fatty acids like oleic and steric acid to supplement your natural skin barrier. 

Adding jojoba oil to your product gives customers a revitalizing treatment known for soothing common issues related to dry skin, such as sunburn, through anti-inflammatory functions.  

For Oily Skin

While well-hydrated oily skin might seem like the perfect trait for fuss-free cosmetic and skincare, excess oil production can lead to acne and other dermatological woes. As such, your indie beauty brand or small business should cater to customers with oily skin by offering ingredients that reduce sebum production and control hydration. 

Carnauba wax is a useful ingredient that improves the length of time a product stays on the skin, with softening and emollient features to supplement other compounds for a lasting effect. Kaolin clay remains a popular addition to cosmetic products for oily skin, functioning as an effective adhesion for various products while absorbing excess oil. 

For Sensitive Skin

People with sensitive skin may face dermatological conditions such as contact dermatitis, rosacea, or eczema, which interfere with the skins' natural functions. When it comes to sensitive skin, you need to avoid potent ingredients that might cause more harm than comfort. 

You may consider adding jojoba oil to your products because it functions as an organic moisturizer with soothing effects against breakouts and acne. 

For products targeted at sensitive skin, consider adding shea butter for its potent hydration effect, along with hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic ingredients that go easy on potentially damaged nerve endings on the skin. 

Choosing the Perfect Combination for Skin Type

It is important to encourage customers to seek specialized dermatological advice when in doubt to determine their skin type. You may consider adding the advice as part of your cosmetic or skincare product label to help position the authenticity and professionalism of your brand. 

For DIY cosmetics, considering the most suitable ingredients will improve your confidence for future creations and perhaps propel you toward starting a small business as an entrepreneur. 

What have you noticed about your skin when using different ingredients? What is your favorite skincare ingredient to use? Browse cosmetic and skincare ingredients at TKBtrading.com and share your favorites with us.