Synopses & Reviews
Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary, third edition, is a multi-purpose resource for cosmetic professionals and consumers alike. Part one puts cosmetics in the context of skin care. It provides an overview of skin physiology. In order to understand how and why a product works it is essential to understand how the skin works. It gives an overview of the complexity of cosmetic chemistry particularly with respect to product penetration, and highlights the current challenges facing cosmetic formulators. In addition, it offers comprehensive discussion of the various skin types and conditions in order to help professionals in their product selection. Lastly, it defines common cosmetic industry terminology used by cosmetic manufacturers, professional estheticians, marketers and the media. The second part is dedicated to helping cosmetic users identify the function and purpose of specific ingredients. It is an alphabetical dictionary that lists and describes not only active principles but all other categories of ingredients that comprise a skin care cosmetic. As scientific knowledge of skin physiology and cosmetic chemistry advances, so do cosmetic products. This volume puts everything in context in an easy to read, easy to understand, user-friendly format.
Review
As a reference book, this book is a treasure. Written for an esthetician by an esthetician, and anyone who works in a salon, spa, or behind the cosmetic counter. This book not only explains in an easy-to-understand style what the ingredients in a skin care product are, but also tells you what they do, how safe they are, and what side effects they might have. The book also explains what the skin functions are, how products penetrate, and the different skin types and conditions. Whenever a student asks me at a lecture or seminar what books I recommend, the first book that comes to mind is Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary, by Natalia Michalun. This book is a must have for all students and estheticians.
Synopsis
The second edition of this thorough reference is an invaluable tool for assessing cosmetic products, addressing both the quality of the product and the effect it has on the skin. Since a product's ultimate purpose is to benefit the skin, it is crucial to have an understanding of how the skin works, how and why a product may or may not penetrate it, and what care individual skin types and conditions may require. It is difficult to discuss product ingredients without correlating product performance to skin function. An expanded section on skin physiology and chemical concepts enables the reader to better understand product performance through a thorough explanation of how chemicals and ingredients interact. The various skin types, conditions, and appropriate ingredients for treatments provide a quick reference to address clients' needs. This enlarged second edition contains over 2,000 ingredients including 200 new and updated entries. Expanded information on antioxidants and their stability, new discussion on aging and sensitive skin, and function of SPF and new sunblock ingredients offering full spectrum sunscreen and sunblock for both UVA and UVB rays has been added.
About the Author
Natalia Michalun was an international dermo-cosmetic expert and educator. She had lectured to medical and esthetics professionals in more than 35 countries, and has been recognized for her in-depth knowledge and ability to share complex skin care concepts clearly and precisely. A graduate in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Natalia has sat on the board of the EU's COLIPA, and the California State Board of Cosmetology. In 1980 she founded the first school for advanced esthetics in Northern California, in addition to having one of the region's largest esthetics salons. Her articles appear in professional magazines throughout the world. M. Varinia Michalun has specialized in international cosmetics marketing and new product development and has lectured on cosmetic ingredients and product use to professionals in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Her experience also includes skin care salon management and esthetics education. She has authored articles for industry magazines, provides expertise to beauty journalists, and is a contributor to Milady's Standard Advanced Esthetics text as well as co-author of The Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary from Milady.
Table of Contents
Part I: The Skin. 1: Skin Physiology. 2: Product Penetration. 3: Skin Types and Skin Conditions. 4: Definition of Terms. Part II: Product Ingredients. Part III: Appendix - Botanical Latin Names.