Chapter 5: You Against the World! – The Science Behind Skin and Skincare Products

In order to understand the science of skin care, it's important that the cosmetic scientist has a basic understanding of skin itself. In this chapter we look at the structure of skin and find out how it works and the best ways to maintain healthy-looking skin. The process of ageing is explored and why our skin goes through the changes it does through a lifetime. The role played by the microbiological community that lives on and in human skin is also discussed, along with ways skincare products can potentially influence this important symbiotic relationship. We move on to the skincare products themselves and discuss how they work to improve the appearance of skin and consider the best ways of achieving effective moisturization. The practicalities of how to make a cosmetic emulsion product stable by choosing the correct emulsifier blend and how to make if feel amazing when applied to the skin are all discussed. Finally, we look at the different types of skincare available, why skincare regimes work and why we need different products for different parts of the body.