Skin Care Consumer Education © Unilever Australasia 2002

Contents

History 1

Skin Facts 1

The skin 2

Skin Types 2

Cleansers 3

Moisturisers 3
H ISTORY SKIN FACTS
Product Focus 3 Until modern time, skin care was largely Did you know?
based on home made concoctions with
Skin Care little scientific basis or proof of efficacy. The skin on an average adult covers
Products 4
In the Victorian era, preparations that 1.8 metres.
promised lasting health and beauty were
Pond’s
Institute 4 sold for high prices. Scientists began Skin weighs approximately 3kgs in
work to establish a skin cream that pro- women and 5kgs in men.
Additional vided what it promised and In 1846 Mr.
Reading 4 Pond perfected a method of distilling an The general life cycle of a skin cell, that
extract of witchhazel shrub that became is from formation to the shedding of the
the basis of the world famous Pond’s dead cell, is approximately 30 days.
Cold Cream. In 1959 Mr. Chesebrough
succeeded in refining petroleum jelly and
called it Vaseline, a combination of the
German word for water and the Greek
word for olive oil.
For the first time in history, good quality
skin care products, both cosmetic and
therapeutic, were commercially manufac-
tured and sold at prices women could
afford.
 Understanding Skin
The skin is designed to protect
our internal organs, regulate body
temperature, absorb nutrients,
receive stimuli such as pain and 2.
eliminate wastes.
It is comprised of three sections.
1. The epidermis is the outer-
most section of the skin. It is
comprised of six defined lay-
ers which go through a regen-
erative process approxi-
mately every 30 days. As one
cell renews and divides, an-
other cell, full of keratin, is
pushed towards the surface.
Keratin is a structural protein 3.
which as the cell dies forms a
protective layer. Surrounding
the cells are the lipids (fats)
that are responsible for the
health of the skin and many
of its permeable characteris-
tics. The skin will only allow
substances of a lipid soluble
nature, rather than water
soluble substances, to per-
meate. The natural protective
layer of the epidermis is
called the acid mantle. It
serves to prevent moisture
The structure of skin, showing the epidermis, dermis and fatty tissue which
separates them from the body wall.
loss, lubricate the skin’s sur-
face and protect the skin
from bacteria.
The dense second section of
the skin is called the dermis.
The dermis is made up of
connective tissue. Collagen is
the main connective tissue
fibre, but elastin fibres are
also present. Together they
provide strength and support,
much like that of a mattress.
The dermis is responsible for
most of the structural
strength of the skin.
The third, most underlying,
section of the skin is called
the hypodermis. The hypoder-
mis is sometimes called sub-
cutaneous tissue fat and con-
sists of loose connective tis-
sue with collagen and elastin
fibres. Approximately half of
the body’s stored fat is in the
hypodermis. Fat in the hypo-
dermis functions as padding
and insulation, and is respon-
sible for some of the struc-
tural differences between
men and women.
Page 2
Skin Types
A skin care routine should comple-
ment the particular skin type
based on the skin’s oil activity.
Oily skin comes from over active
sebaceous glands. The advantage
of oily skin is that fewer wrinkles
develop and the skin stays looking
younger longer. Oily skins benefit
from using light lotions and soft
foaming or water rinseable clean-
ers. Non-alcohol toners should be
used after cleansing. An exfoliating
cream or scrub should be used on
a regular basis to help avoid block-
ages.
Dry skin tends to flake and has a
matt texture with little or no shine.
It is the result of dehydration – the
sebaceous gl ands are sluggish, or
the skin has been over-exposed to
sun or wind. This type of skin rarely
suffers from spots and pores are
hardly visible. Dry skin will benefit
from lubricating cleansers and
creams.
Normal skin will appear fine tex-
tured, smooth, rarely develop spots
and will retain its youthful quality
well. Normal skin will respond well
to cream cleansers or water rinse-
able and soft foam cleansers.
Cream moisturisers or light lotions
are suitable, depending on whether
the skin has a tendency to be dry
or oily.
Combination skin usually has a T-
shaped panel of oiliness down the
centre with dry areas on cheeks
and towards the hairline. Combina-
tion skins will benefit from water
rinseable and soft foaming cleans-
ers and light lotions. It may also
need a more lubricating cream on
the outer areas. To clean and re-
new the appearance of the T-zone
those with combination skin could
try the Pond’s Clear Solutions
range.
 Focus On...
Cleansers Moisturisers
Cleansers can be divided into
three main groups
1. Surfactant based
2. Emulsion based
3. Solvent based
Surfactant based cleansers take
the form of facial wash foams,
facial wash lotions or mousses.
The composition of products in
this class such as Pond’s
Cleanser and Toner in One
usually include:
Primary Surfactant
Co-Surfactant(s)
Polyols
Structurants
Preservatives
Perfume, colour extracts
Water
Emulsion based cleansers
remove make-up by the action of
oil and surfactant. Traditionally,
the oil level and make-up removal
properties of emulsion based
cleansers has been high but the
rinseability low. They required
removal by wiping rather than
washing. Modern rinseable
cleansing creams and gels such
as Pond’s Cleansing Gel provide
good make-up removal and
rinseability.
Solvent based cleaners, such as
Pond’s Cleansing and Make-up
Removal Towelettes, work by dis-
solving dirt.
Toners are refreshing aqueous
solutions or alcohol based solu-
tions. They are used as a secon-
dary cleanser to remove all traces
of wipe off cleansers. An example
is Pond’s Alcohol Free Toner.
When the skin is in good
condition (and under favourable
environmental conditions) the
water which is lost through the
skin is replaced by the diffusion
of water from lower in the epider-
mis. If the free water content of
the epidermis falls too low the
skin becomes dry and rough with
resultant scaling and cracking.
Moisturisers improve and main-
tain skin condition by reducing
water loss.
The main ingredients of moistur-
isers are:
• Emulsifiers
• Thickeners /structurants
• Active ingredients to give
benefit e.g. sunscreens, AHA’s
or ceramide.
• Water
• Oils and waxes
• Emollients
• Preservatives
• Benefit ingredients such as
vitamins, perfumes and herbal
extracts.
Oils and waxes, humectants,
water and emollients are some of
the moisturising and skin
conditioning ingredients found in
emulsions. The emulsions are
formed by mixing oil and water
phases in the presence of an
emulsifier.
Page 3
Product
Focus
P O N D’ S H Y R D O
NOURISHING D A Y CREAM
Day creams are more of a defence
shield while night creams replenish
the skin’s moisture while you are
re-laxed and more receptive.
Pond’s Hydro-Nourishing
Moisturising Cream is an essential
moisture replacement for your skin.
It is designed to restore and
replenish your skin’s natural mois-
ture balance and leave your skin
soft, supple and revitalised.
It is a pH neutral product, suitable
for all skin types, particularly dry
skin. It is dermatologically tested
and protects the skin from the
drying effects of the environment.
Yet , it is light and easily absorbed
by the skin for radiant, healthy
looking skin. Used daily it helps
prevent the build-up of rough dry
skin.
Pond’s Hydro-Nourishing
Moisurising cream contains
vitamins A,C, E and B5, sunflower
seed oil, a natural skin enzyme
known to enhance desquamation
processes in skin, emollients,
mousturisers, skin conditioners,
mineral oil, petrolatum, glycerin
and is enriched with dermatologist
recommended moisturising
ingredients.
 Skin Care Consumer Education Page 4

SKIN CARE FURTHER

PRODUCTS R EADING
The skin can be adversely affected by If you need additional information on skin
daily wear such as frequent washing, care consider seeking some of the
extreme weather conditions (such as following references at your library.
wind), ageing, UV damage and internal (The list is not comprehensive.)
influences. It is important to look after
HAYNES, Alison. Facefacts : a guide to
skin on a daily basis.
cosmetics, skin and hair care.
Marrickville. Choice Books, 1996.
♦ A cleanser should remove dirt and This book from the Australian Consumers’
make-up without stripping the skin Association is designed for the lay person.
Unilever
Australasia
of its natural protective layer. It includes chapters which explain the skin
offers an Info- and its various layers, how the skin ages,
line service to ♦ A moisturiser should help to main- skin and the sun, and how moisturisers
consumers. tain the skin’s natural pH balance, work. It also includes a glossary of
If you need improve skin condition and supple- ingredients and discusses how cosmetics
advice on what ness and prevent moisture loss. are regulated in Australasia.
product is right
for your skin ♦ A treatment should help the skin If you seek a specialist technical text
type please achieve maximum water retention. consider the following;
contact the WILKINSON, J.B. & MOORE, R.J. Harry’s
service on its Cosmeticology 7th ed. London, Godwin,
toll free 1982. This text would be most suited to
tertiary level interests.
number.
Australian P OND’S
If your interest is in the retail market,
consumers call
1800061 027 INSTITUTE consider retail journal which discuss the
New Zealand industry, such as Retail World.
Consumers call The Pond’s Institute is a global
0800108 806. organisation committed to advancing There are a number of specialist
Our visit our the knowledge, understanding and cosmetic/skin care journals which discuss
website treatment of skin. The Pond’s Institute specific technical aspects of the industry.
www. These may be of interest if you need to
is based in Connecticut, USA and
consumerlink. focus on a particular aspect of skin care.
comprises a consumer research and
unilever.com For example the following article reviews
advice centre, a research centre and an marine ingredients such as seaweed in
information centre. skin care products.
Research is carried out to better under- BARETTO, D.W. ‘sea change in skin
stand skin care needs and to develop regeneration’ Soap Perfumery and
the latest technology to meet these Cosmetics Vol. 72, May 1999 pp. 30-32.
needs.