What Exactly Goes Into Our Products?

We know how important it is to know exactly what’s in your skincare products. At Clever Soap, we have nothing to hide about what we put in and why we do it, in fact, we’re proud of it! So here is some information you might find interesting about the key ingredients used in our products and as always, if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is a finely ground form of oats known for its soothing properties, which is why it’s a key ingredient in our blue skincare range designed for those with dry, sensitive skin. Colloidal oatmeal has great moisturising properties, forming a protective barrier on the skin to help prevent water loss and retain moisture. It also has calming and anti-inflammatory properties [1], making it a great choice for those with irritated skin and it has also been shown to reduce itching.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin required by the body for a number of physiological functions. It can be found in various foods such as fish, milk, meat and eggs.

It has a wide range of beneficial properties when used in skincare. As a moisturizing agent, it helps to improve the skin’s hydration by enhancing the production of ceramides [2]. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory properties [3] and helps to reduce redness and soothe irritated skin. Lastly, niacinamide has been shown to reduce sebum production [4] making it an excellent choice for those with oily and acne-prone skin. Well tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive skin, it’s one of our favourite ingredients at Clever Soap.

Piroctone Olamine

Piroctone olamine is an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial compound found in some skincare products including our green range. Its properties make it useful for controlling the overproduction of Malassezia, sometimes known as pityrosporum, a fungus that can cause dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. To learn more about the fungus Malassezia and how it can affect the skin, read our detailed article on seborrheic dermatitis here.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a popular ingredient found in various cosmetic products, such as our own orange range along with niacinamide. It belongs to a class of drugs known as salicylates and is derived from the bark of the willow tree but can also be found in certain fruits.

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid, a type of exfoliant that is oil-soluble, meaning it can penetrate deep into the pores. It can help to unclog pores and reduce the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads, making it ideal for individuals with oily or acne-prone skin. It also promotes the shedding of dead skin cells to aid in the renewal of new skin cells and has anti-inflammatory properties to reduce redness and swelling.

Sulphur

Sulphur, sometimes spelled sulfur, is a chemical element with the symbol S that can be found in nature in various forms. It’s an essential element for life, being a component of amino acids which are the building blocks of protein.

It has keratolytic, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties and can also help to regulate sebum production [5]. This makes it an excellent choice for those with oily and acne-prone skin and it’s our key ingredient in our yellow range.

References

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20865844/

[2] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Niacinamide-increases-biosynthesis-not-only-of-but-Tanno-Ota/716d89ed533af4097b2f8a864f7a2b05d9b0db54

[3] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Effects-of-Black-Vinegar-and-Niacinamide-on-on-Park-Kim/b07ffefdd56601d7f791f3a4dab8fc80c19f35d5

[4] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Evaluation-of-Sebostatic-Activity-of-Juniperus-Oil-Kozłowska-Kaczmarkiewicz/efc078bb64791ea28d396690eabfd0284e37abb6

[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20626172/