We come across so many innovations and processes every day that we often forget to understand how the world around us actually works. Why does an aeroplane fly, what exactly distinguishes a Swiss watch movement or how does a cream care for our skin?
We at Kluuf would like to lead by example and use this blog to explain to you the components and functionality of a face cream. In this context, the face cream is synonymous with other skin care products such as body lotion and after shave. Even though there are differences between men's skin and women's skin, the basic functioning of the skin is the same. So this article really is for everyone.
Understanding the skin and it's needs
Before we look at how a face creams work, it is important to understand the structure and functions of the skin.
The skin is the largest organ in the human body and serves as a barrier between the inside and the external environment.
Our skin is made up of three layers:
- the epidermis (upper skin),
- the dermis (leather skin)
- and the subcutis.
The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and serves as a protective barrier against external factors such as UV radiation, pollution and pathogens.
The dermis lies beneath the epidermis and contains hair follicles, sweat glands and blood vessels.
The subcutis is the lowest layer and contains fat cells and connective tissue.
The most important functions of the skin include regulating body temperature, protecting against environmental stresses and preventing water loss. This makes the skin prone to various skin problems such as dryness, acne, wrinkles and sun damage. This is where skincare comes in.
Facial creams are formulated to target skin problems and provide the skin with essential nutrients. They deliver active ingredients that penetrate the skin barrier and reach the deeper layers of the skin. By nourishing and protecting the skin, face creams can improve the overall health and appearance of the skin.
Understanding the functioning of creams
Face creams are emulsions (= a mixture of liquids that normally do not mix) consisting of a water phase and a fat phase.
A water phase contains ingredients that dissolve in water, while a fat phase contains ingredients that dissolve in oil. The water phase and the fat phase are combined with the help of an emulsifier that holds them together.
The water phase of facial creams usually consists of water, humectants and other water-soluble ingredients. Moisturisers such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid and urea (= end product of protein metabolism) help to bind and retain moisture in the skin to prevent dry skin or even dehydration. Other water-soluble ingredients such as vitamins and minerals additionally provide the skin with nutrients and protect it.
The fat phase of face creams usually consists of oils, waxes or other oil-soluble ingredients. Emollients such as vegetable oils help to make the skin surface soft and supple and improve the texture and appearance. Occlusive substances (= sealing substances) such as lanolin and beeswax form a protective layer on the skin surface that prevents water loss and improves hydration.
Excursus: Our skin regularly loses moisture, for example when the protective layer of the skin is impaired. The loss of moisture is known among experts as TEWL (transepidermal water loss).
In addition to the water and fat phases, facial creams also contain active ingredients that work in the skin, i.e. that provide a special benefit.
Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E or Q10 protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to premature skin ageing and skin cancer (all about free radicals and antioxidants here).
Peptides such as palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and copper peptides help stimulate collagen production, improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles.
Because active ingredients initiate and support process within the skin, some consumers can experience slight redness on the application areas, especially when the skin is not at its best.
Kluuf places great importance on the fact that all products contain active ingredients that are specifically tailored to the skin in order to be able to care for men's skin in a targeted manner. We not only pay attention to the composition, but also to the right amount. A brief overview of the active ingredients in our skin care products:
| Ingredient 1 | Ingredient 2 | Ingredient 3 | |
| face cream | Niacinamide | Panthenol | Hyaluronic Acid |
| body lotion | Spilanthol | Panthenol | Sheabutter |
| after shave | Niacinamide | Peptides | Aloe Vera |
| cleanser | Active Charcoal |
Irish Moss | Aloe Vera |
Learn all about the functions and ingredients of our products in our blog "your skin".
Skincare Myths
aThere are many myths about face creams, their effectiveness and composition. Here we debunk some of these misconceptions:
Myth I: Expensive face creams are always better.
When it comes to face creams, price does not always equate to quality. Some expensive face creams do contain high-quality ingredients, but there are also many cheaper versions that can be just as effective or even more effective. It is important to pay attention to the ingredients, their concentration and benefits and not just the price tag or marketing.
There are now many helpful tools to help you understand the effectiveness and sustainability of skincare products. These include INCI decoder, Codecheck or Yuka.
Myth II: You should only use face cream at night.
It is important to use face cream both in the morning and at night to continuously moisturise and care for the skin. Just as facial cleansing should take place in the morning and evening. During the day, face creams can provide a barrier against environmental factors such as UV rays and pollution, while at night they can repair and regenerate the skin. However, there are special active ingredients in some skincare products, such as retinol, which should only be used at night because sunlight affects the active ingredient.
Myth III: Face creams are all the same.
Different face creams contain different ingredients, and even formulas that appear similar at first glance may have fundamentally different active ingredient concentrations and manufacturing. We recommend choosing your skin care products based on criteria such as active ingredients and sustainability. This way you will find a product that meets your skin's needs and at the same time aligns with your personal preferences in terms of sustainability and other criteria.
At Kluuf, all products are vegan certified, only use ingredients that are classified as clean according to our internal sustainability agenda, and only advertise claims that have already been validated in ingredient testing by our suppliers.
Finding the right face cream
With the ever-increasing choice, it can quickly feel overwhelming to find the right face cream or body lotion for your skin.
A good starting point is to determine for yourself your expectations of the skincare product you are looking for are. We recommend using the following criteria as a guide:
- Which skin type should be cared for? Dry, oily or combination skin?
- Are there any skin problems? Are there acne, cracked skin, fine lines that are undesirable?
- What do you want your skin care to do? Moisturise, strengthen the skin barrier, reduce signs of ageing?
- Are special criteria such as clean ingredients, regional production or sustainable packaging important?
- Are there any existing allergies or intolerances to ingredients (INCIs) that should be avoided?
- What do I want to spend on skincare? This is not just about how much money you are willing to spend on a skin care product, but rather how much care you would like to receive for a certain amount of money. An orientation guide for this is the base price that sellers in Germany are obliged to indicate. The base price tells you how much 100ml or 1l of a product costs, so you can easily compare a 25ml cream for 20€ (base price 80€/100ml) with a 100ml face cream for 48€ (base price 48€/100ml).
As mentioned earlier, the marketing around a face cream can overshadow many factors such as ingredients and sustainability. Therefore, when looking for new products, it is important to focus on the essentials and ignore the irrelevant factors.
Using your new skiincare correctly
Once the new face cream has been found, it is important to ensure that it is applied correctly.
The application of skin care may seem simple and is in fact uncomplicated, but there are a few tips that can help you get the most out of your skin care product:
- Cleanse the face and hands before applying the face cream. This removes impurities and ensures that only the active ingredients of the skin care product are absorbed.
- Apply gentle pressure when massaging in the face cream and other skin care products and avoid pulling the skin.
- When massaging in the face cream, we also stimulate the blood circulation in the skin. This automatically helps with cell renewal.
- Use the right amount. When it comes to skin care, a lot does not necessarily help a lot, as in the worst case scenario the pores of the skin could become clogged. You should also not be too frugal. For Kluuf's face cream, we recommend using about three pumps for the whole face.
- Finally, give the cream a little time to absorb and work. We all have busy lives, but a face cream or body lotion needs time to take full effect.
Conclusion
A cream is a mixture that usually consists of a fat and a water phase and supports our skin within the epidermis, dermis and subcutis.
Facial creams contain various active ingredients such as niacinamides and panthenol that support, protect and nourish our skin.
Skin care products differ not only in terms of ingredients but also in terms of efficacy, tolerability, sustainability, cost factor and other factors. When choosing the right skin care product, it is important to focus on the needs of your own skin rather than on marketing.
Kluuf's skin care products for men focus on effectiveness, sustainability and uncomplicated application. This way, our consumers know that they are doing something good for their skin with every application. At the same time, every purchase supports social projects in Africa.
Kluuf's face cream - buy here
Kluuf's body lotion - buy here
Kluuf's cleanser - buy here
Kluuf's after shave - buy here
