Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
Helps reduce redness and is a powerful anti-inflammatory that contains antioxidants to fight the environmental free radicals that damage the DNA of skin cells. A polyphenol (antioxidant) in green tea called Epigallocatechin galate (EGCC) is 200 times more powerful than vitamin E for fighting free radicals, and has been shown to be effectively absorbed via the skin.
Green tea helps inhibit the action of collagenase, which is the enzyme that breaks down collagen; using green tea extract topically promotes collagen health and formation, thereby promoting skin firmness and elasticity. Green tea extract is also an astringent, and also contains Methylxanthines, which stimulate skin microcirculation and help provide healthy skin tone. Green tea extract is photo protective (which means it boosts the skin's natural defenses against UV rays) and reduces erythema (redness of the skin cause by engorged capillaries beneath the skin).
Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract
High in antioxidants, especially bioflavonoids, which have antioxidant properties that are up to 50 times more powerful than vitamin E and 25 times more powerful than vitamin C. Useful for fighting free radicals and for maintaining capillary health, grape seed extract offers powerful protection against the breakdown of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, which together make up much of the cellular matrix and support the capillaries. When capillaries are strong, they stretch to allow red blood cells through tight spaces, and do not let fluids in the blood leak out. When they are weak, blood can pool and create inflammation. Grape seed extract has also been shown to treat edema (swelling) as well.
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
A particularly valuable skin-conditioning agent that has been clinically proven more powerful than vitamins A, C, and E in providing skin microrelief results, since it can "act in oxidative stress" – meaning that it can help correct the cellular imbalance created by damaging free radicals. It also prevents transepidermal water loss, improves skin moisture, and protects skin from free radical damage. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-redness properties and is known to be especially useful for sensitive skin.
Beta Glucan
Sugars extracted from the cell walls of oats and barley, plus bacteria, fungi, yeast, algae and lichens. Beta glucans are applied to the skin for anti-wrinkle purposes, but have a much longer history of use in treating eczema, burns, and wounds, and have been shown to reduce scarring after surgery. Long used as a moisturizer capable of forming a film over the skin, beta glucan is an anti-irritant that stimulates collagen deposition. It also supports the health of macrophages, which are the cells that destroy bacteria, dead or mutated skin cells, environmental toxins, etc. Macrophages exist all over our bodies. Our macrophage cells are damaged over time through exposure to sunlight, soaps and cosmetics, chlorine, and more. When macrophages are brought back to a healthy condition, skin has renewed immunity and can easily remove dead and damaged cells.
Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract
Contains plant pigments called anthocyanosides that have powerful antioxidant properties as well as vitamin C. Together they scavenge free radicals and help skin maintain elasticity with a healthy collagen and elastin matrix. Often used in the treatment of vascular and vision disorders, bilberry extract is known to improve blood circulation.
Ginkgo Biloba Extract
Works as a vasodilator to increase circulation and improve sebaceous secretions (the skin's lubricant produced by our tiny sebaceous glands). It helps improve tissue irrigation and activate cell metabolism by increasing glucose and oxygen uptake by the cells. Ginkgo Biloba is an anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, and a good antioxidant. It stimulates the fibroblasts to produce collagen and helps strengthen "extracellular fibronectin."
Caprylic Capric Triglycerides
Forms a barrier on the skin's surface to protect against moisture loss as well as soothes, softens, and moisturizes skin. It is colorless and odorless and safe for sensitive skin. It goes on smoothly and is rapidly absorbed by the skin and has a light, non-oily texture.
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium Dioxide is used as a physical sun block to help protect sensitive skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays. It is non-irritating and its use is preferred over chemical sunscreens for sensitive skin (which typically reacts to chemical sunscreens – most sunscreens are chemical rather than physical sun block). Since sun exacerbates rosacea, this ingredient is important for rosacea sufferers, especially since most sun blocks only worsen the condition.
Iron Oxides
Photo-protective, acting as a natural sunscreen to protect skin from damaging UV rays. The pigment of iron oxide is known to be suitable for masking the redness of rosacea.
Silybum Marianum (Milk Thistle) Extract
From the plant Silybum marianum, the active ingredient in the extract is called silymarin, and is made up of three bioflavonoids – silybin, silydianin, and silychristine – extracted from the fruit, seeds and leaves of the milk thistle plant. These bioflavonoids have very high antioxidant activity. Milk thistle also smoothes and softens the skin and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Pinus Pinaster Bark (Maritime Pine) Extract
An excellent source of flavonoids, catechins, proanthocyanidins, and phenoloic acids – which all act as powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that work to protect the skin from harmful free radicals while strengthening blood vessel walls and capillaries. It has been used topically to heal wounds and other skin conditions for centuries.
Silica
Forms a barrier on the skins surface to help prevent against moisture loss. It provides a smooth feel to the skin and is known to be a non-irritant, particularly useful for acne or rosacea prone skin. Similarly, silica is used in acne treatment to absorb toxins and impurities from the skin.
Panthenol
A derivative of vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, that is typically plant-derived. Pantothenic acid is a natural substance of all living cells and tissues and is necessary for proper metabolic function and the manufacturing of hormones. Although it is a derivative of vitamin B5, panthenol is considered a pro-vitamin of pantothenic acid and alcohol. Panthenol penetrates into the second layer of skin (the dermis) and can help stabilize the skin's metabolism. Panthenol can aid in evening skin tone by stimulating skin pigment formation. Panthenol penetrates the skin and helps stimulate skin cell renewal and promotes epithelialization, which is the skin's ability to heal over a wound. It is also effective as an anti-inflammatory for skin trauma or allergies.
Sodium Lactate
Acts as a penetration enhancer that alters the skin structure to allow other ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. It is used to supplement the skin's own naturally occurring sodium lactate to provide added moisturization and skin conditioning. Sodium Lactate is a humectant and an exfoliant, and also balances a product's pH balance. It is one part of the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) and helps renew skin cells. It is also used to prevent pigmentation in the skin and often found in skin whitening products. It has antioxidant properties as well.