- Acne
An inflammatory skin condition that causes clogging of the pores and oil glands in the face, arms, back and chest. Also known as pimples.
- Age-Minimising
- Describes products that help reduce or minimise the signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles, dull complexion and dry skin. Also known as "anti-aging" products.
- Ageing Skin
- Skin characterised by visible fine lines, wrinkles and discolouration. Aging skin is usually dry due to loss of natural moisture but can still be normal or oily.
- Astringent
- A toner product used after cleansing the skin to help control surface oils and normalise the skin’s pH level to provide defense against bacteria.
- Benefit
- An attribute that helps a product deliver a specific desired outcome. For example, a foundation with a moisturising benefit helps skin retain moisture, while a lipcolour with a long-wearing benefit stays on lips for hours.
- Benzyol Peroxide
- An antibacterial ingredient commonly used in acne treatments.
- Blemish
- An inflamed pore, whitehead or blackhead that can make skin appear irritated and uneven.
- Bronzers
- A type of face or face and body product that's specially tinted to deliver the natural bronze look of a tan without sun exposure. Can be used for highlighting or an all over glow.
- Cleanser
- A product used daily to remove oil and debris.
- Clumping
- Excessive or uneven mascara application resulting in lashes that look stuck together, heavy and gloppy.
- Collagen
- A substance naturally contained in body tissues, which can be injected into areas of the skin, like lips or cheeks, to create plumpness and/or firmness.
- Combination Skin
- A skin type that has characteristics of oily, dry and/or normal skin. Persons with combination skin usually have an oily T-zone with enlarged pores and normal-to-dry cheeks.
- Complexion
- The hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face.
- Coverage
- The extent to which a product covers the skin. Also refers to how dense or opaque the product appears when applied on the skin or lips.
- Defined Eyelashes
- Precise, evenly separated lashes.
- Dry Skin
- Skin characterised by no oily areas and susceptibility to flaking. Skin is tight and drawn. Complexion is dull. Pores are small.
- Elasticity
The degree of flexibility or tightness in the skin.Reflects the ability of youthful skin to keep its shape.
- Emollient
- A combination of fats and oils that form a protective barrier over skin to lock in moisture.
- Exfoliate
- To remove dead, top layers of skin in order to reveal fresh, newer layers of skin.
- Finish
- Refers to the textural effect or appearance makeup gives your skin or lips after application. Depending on the product type, a finish can be matte, natural, radiant, shine, satin, cream, shimmer, pearl or glitter.
- Firming
- Describes product that improves skin tone and resiliency to help create the appearance of younger-looking skin.
- Form
- A product’s shape, structure or method of delivery. Liquid, cream, powder and stick are examples of form.
- Glitter
- A high-sparkle finish characterised by visible light reflective material.
- Hydrate
- To add moisture to the skin.
- Hypoallergenic
- Any product formulated to minimise allergic reactions when applied to skin.
- Irritant
- An ingredient that causes an undesirable short-term result, such as redness and/or swelling, to the skin.
- Long-Wearing
- Describes products designed to stay on skin for extended periods of time.
- Matte
- A shine- and shimmer-free finish.
- Mineral Make-up
- A new innovative make-up formula that generally contains no preservatives, talc, fragrances, filters or oils so that coverage is non-irritating, breathable and pores are not clogged.
- Moisturiser
- A product that will lock moisture in or add moisture to the skin.
- Natural
- A finish that simulates the appearance of fresh, healthy, glowing skin.
- Normal Skin
- Skin characterised by no apparent signs of oily or dry areas, normal pore size and very few fine lines or wrinkles.
- Oily Skin
- Skin characterised by the appearance of shine on the skin and no dry areas. Persons with oily skin generally have enlarged pores.
- Pearl
- An iridescent, lustrous finish; also known as "shimmer" when referring to lipcolour.
- PH
- Refers to the percentage of hydrogen and is used to measure acidity levels in cosmetic preparations and in the skin. The higher the skin’s pH value, the more susceptible the skin becomes to bacterial growth and infections.
- Pore
- The small opening of the sebaceous glands in the skin. Large pores are caused by genetics and age.
- Radiant
- A naturally glowing or shimmery finish. Light-reflecting elements often help achieve this type of finish.
- Retinol
- An acid derived from Vitamin A and often found in milk, eggs and liver. Retinol is used in cosmetics to give skin a more youthful appearance by accelerating skin turnover and temporarily increasing collagen production.
- Salicylic Acid
- A pharmaceutical treatment that helps dissolve layers of dead skin and prevent follicle clogging. Often used in acne treatment products.
- Satin
- A soft, shiny, moist-looking finish. Also known as a "cream" finish.
- Sensitive Skin
- A skin type that is susceptible to irritants and is often red and blotchy. This type of skin can be prone to allergic reactions to beauty products and is usually sensitive to the sun, wind and cold weather.
- Shimmer
- A subdued, reflective glistening finish; also known as “pearl” when referring to lipcolour.
- Shine
- A glowing, light-reflecting finish. Typically gives a wet and/or dimensional look.
- Shine-free
- An oil-absorbing, matte finish.
- SPF
- Acronym for Sun Protection Factor. A higher SPF means more protection from the sun. Measured in multiples of the skin’s natural protection. SPF 15 is equal to 15 times the skin’s natural sun defense. Generally, SPF 15 is considered the minimum recommended sun protection.
- Toner
- A product used on skin after cleansing to help return skin to its natural pH level. Removes any remaining traces of dirt or debris.
- T-Zone
- The area across the center of the forehead and along the nose where most of the oil glands on the face are located.
- Wiper
- A plastic insert located at the top of a mascara tube that regulates the amount of mascara deposited onto the brush. Can also be found in other liquid-based products such as liquid concealer, foundation, lipcolour or lip gloss.