Active Ingredients

Often found in skincare products to aid in the reduction of wrinkles as well as to soften facial lines and improve the overall look and feel of the skin. They are also used by dermatologists as chemical peels but beauty products contain lower concentrations. Read more about AHAs in the Cosmiko Blog HERE.

Arbutin can reduce the degree of skin darkening after sun exposure by blocking the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme that helps with melanin production, it can prevent dark spots or even help fade them, leading to a brightening effect on the skin and more even complexion. While other skin brightening agents can dry and irritate the skin, arbutin is less irritating as arbutin’s active component is released slowly.

Medical grade Azelaic Acid (Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate) improves skin brightness by inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase, one of the main causes of pigmentation. Regular use can result in skin that is up to six times brighter after just 21 days.

Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate has a significant lightening effect on the skin and helps fight against photoageing and prevent skin damage caused by UV radiation.

Boost skin cell activity for younger looking skin with CoQ10. It stimulates collagen production. Collagen is the protein that decreases as we age, leading to wrinkles and leathery skin. Helping you make more collagen, CoQ10 is a skin saving essential. Young skin has ample amounts of CoQ10 and so has lots of energy – energy needed to repair damage and make sure the skin cells are healthy. It protects against photo-aging – that means premature aging due to over exposing the skin to the sun.

Derived from cane sugar Glycolic acid is an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid). It is able to penetrate skin deeply and easily, making it the most effective for treating fine lines, acne, blackheads, dullness, oiliness etc., Chemical peels use a high percentage of this acid and can be very effective if done safely and properly.

Able to penetrate the skin’s upper layers to improve and benefit the skin when applied topically. Hyaluronic acid is a major component of skin, where it benefits tissue repair and protection. When applied in an HA cream or serum, hyaluronic acid forms an air permeable layer and penetrates into the dermis, thus boosting the elasticity and hydration of the skin. The protective barrier on the skin locks in moisture, which gives the skin a youthful appearance. One of the most skin damaging elements are UVB rays from the sun. Hyaluronic acid benefits the skin as it protects the skin from UVB rays (and the scavenging reactive oxygen species they generate), which can cause sunspots.

Kojic Acid Inhibits the production of melanin in the skin by blocking UV-activation of tyrosinase. This means it can help lighten existing sunspots and photodamage, fade the dark marks left from acne scarring or after a pimple, and even improve melasma. Kojic acid can help counteract skin-damaging free radicals caused by exposure to things such as UV damage and pollution. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.

A strong Alpha-Hydroxy Acid and has excellent exfoliant properties.  It can also increase the synthesis of lipids and ceramides, fortifying the skin barrier function and reducing water loss.  Lactic acid is correlated to increased hyaluronic acid and collagen synthesis, resulting in skin that is more hydrated, softer and firmer, and with fewer fine lines and wrinkles.

Collagen plays a crucial role in ensuring skin’s elasticity, mechanical resistance and tissue regeneration. Collagen production falls with age and by around 45 it may have fallen by up to 30%. Marine Collagen is a natural source of type 1 collagen which is easily assimilated by the body and is rich in glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, the main constituents of skin. Our Marine Collagen is derived from saltwater algae including Laminaria and Padina so it suitable for vegans.

Matrixyl™ 3000 is a popular anti-ageing compound that contains two matrikines, Pal-GHK and Pal-GQPR that are used by the skin to regulate cell activity. These important chemical messengers stimulate reconstruction and repair, helping to restore and maintain the skin’s youthful appearance. Can be added to creams, lotions and serums.

Imparts long lasting moisturisation and increases the strength of the hair shaft, whilst maintaining its natural smoothness and shine. Panthenol also prevents hair damage caused by overheating or over drying the hair and scalp. It conditions hair without build-up and reduces damage from split ends. Panthenol deeply hydrates the skin, helping to prevent the skin’s moisture loss whilst improving skin’s elasticity and softness, which helps to slow down and reduce the signs of aging. It helps to firm and tone the skin through the production of acetylcholine.

PHAs (Poly-hydroxy acids) such as gluconolactone acid and lactobionic acid work on the surface of the skin due to their larger molecule size, making them ideal for virtually all skin types, especially if you’ve experienced sensitivity in the past with AHA or BHA based products. They work by exfoliating dead skin cells on the surface, resulting in a more even skin tone and texture, and also help skin-care ingredients penetrate deeper into the layers of your skin, thus boosting their efficacy, combating glycation which weakens collagen and elastin in your skin.

Retinyl Palmitate is a Vitamin A derivative that is great at unclogging pores, boosting collagen levels to reduce fine lines and speeding up cell renewal to even out discoloration and smooth the skin. Our Retinyl Palmitate is a compound formed from Retinol and Palmitic Acid.

Salicylic Acid is derived from willow bark and is a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that has powerful acne-fighting properties and is excellent at treating oily and blemished skin. It works on many levels of the skin. The structure of salicylic acid is what makes it so hard-working as it’s more oil-soluble than most other Beta Hydroxy Acids. This means it can penetrate deeper down into pores to un-stick the glue that binds dead skin cells together, for a really deep clean.

Research shows that plant stem cells can slow skin aging by defending against extrinsic stress, keeping skin looking youthful. They are also antioxidant, protectant, antimicrobial and enhance cellular metabolism, improving radical skin stability and boosting collagen production.

A ingredient proven to fade the look of different types of skin discolorations. Research has shown the effectiveness of this ingredient for issues like melasma. Nearly 96% of study participants who used tranexamic acid saw noticeable improvement after 12 weeks of daily use when coupled with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which is essential to prevent discoloration.

Also known as nicotinamide or niacinamide, this is a water-soluble from of niacin. It is essential in a balanced diet and is contained in many foodstuffs. In our skincare products the effect is soothing and anti-inflammatory, it relieves redness as in rosacea, dry or irritated skin, supports cell growth and improves skin moisturisation and reduces transepidermal water loss.

Fights free-radicals and helps the skin produce collagen naturally resulting in tighter, firmer and less saggy skin. Helps tackle acne scars and provides more protection from the sun by thickening the dermis layer.

A popular antioxidant that protects and repairs skin. Antioxidants are agents that neutralize the oxidant effect of free radicals, which are molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.