Why Study Skin Care Products: Chemistry, Ingredients, and Selection?

Introduction
Skin care therapists should study and have a thorough understanding of skin care products in
order to provide clients with the appropriate treatment and products for maintaining healthy,
beautiful skin. As a skin care therapist, you will need to know what skin care ingredients do,
how they work, and how they are used. The most important step in selecting products is
determining which ingredients are best for an individual's needs and understanding product
formulations for different skin types. In addition to understanding basic chemistry and cosmetic
ingredients, you will need to stay current with new developments in cosmetic chemistry and
advanced ingredients.
Task
You will design a basic skin care line brochure for a specific skin type and/or disorder. You will
use the Internet to research several beneficial high quality ingredients available in today's
market. You will use the research as your pamphlets marketing promotion of your skin care
line.
Process 1
Pick the skin type and/or disorder that you would like your skin care line to benefit and treat.
You will research ten performance ingredients, cosmeceuticals, and essential oils that are
available in todays market to use in the following products: Cleanser, exfoliant, serum, toner,
and moisturizer.
Go online and do some preliminary research. Here are some websites you may find helpful:
www.ams.usda.gov
www.cir-safety.org
www.cosmeticscop.com
www.cosmeticdatabase.org
www.cosmeticsdesign.com
www.fda.gov
www.medscape.com
www.nsf.org
Bring in a list of three facts about each of the ten high quality ingredients you researched that
will be highly beneficial of the skin type and/or disorder you want to treat. You will select at least
four ingredients to further research for your skin care line brochure project.

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Process 2
Use the world wide web to research the following questions about the skin type and/or disorder
you have chosen to treat:
1. What is the skin type and/or disorder you want to treat? Give a summarized description.
2. How do patients have this skin type or get this skin disorder? What are the causes? Is it
hereditary?
3. What are the symptoms associated with the skin type and/or disorder you chose?
4. How common is the skin type and/or disorder in the general population? (US, worldwide,
different ethnicities, etc.)
5. What are the treatments for this skin type and/or disorder? If chose a skin disorder, can it be
cured?
Make sure you keep track of your sources! You must use at least two unique sources, and cite
them using APA format. For information on proper APA formatting, please use:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Process 3
Using the information you have gathered about the skin type and/or disorder you chose to treat
and at least four active ingredients that will be used in the skin care line, put together your
pamphlet. Along with the answers to the skin type and/or disorder questions, include the
following information and the template provided as a guide for the brochures format:

Brand name of the skin care line

Picture of the brand name logo
Picture of the skin type and/or disorder that you would like your skin care line to benefit
Cleanser: list the main active ingredient(s) and two reasons it would benefit the skin type
and/or disorder
Exfoliant: list the main active ingredient(s) and two reasons it would benefit the skin type
and/or disorder
Serum: list the main active ingredient(s) and two reasons it would benefit the skin type and/or
disorder
Toner: list the main active ingredient(s) and two reasons it would benefit the skin type and/or
disorder
Moisturizer: list the main active ingredient(s) and two reasons it would benefit the skin type
and/or disorder
List at least two APA formatted sources
Your Name

Answer all questions completely

Be informational and succinct, like products you currently use on your self, use in the

treatment room, or see on the retail shelf.

Include at least two APA formatted sources
Be neat and colorful

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Name of Evaluator:

Conclusion
You will now evaluate two of your classmates' skin care line brochure by answering the
following questions:
1. What is the brand name of the skin care line?
2. What is the skin type and/or skin disorder that the skin care line is targeted to treat?
3. Was the skin type and/or disorder description clearly stated in the brochure?
4. Look up one of the active ingredients formulated in one of the skin care products is this
ingredient appropriate to use to treat the targeted skin type and/or skin disorder?
5. Give one helpful suggestion or resource that will help improve brochure.

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