Activity 1.3 - Exploring the ingredients of and their role in cosmetic creams

Learning Aims:

    Student are expected to

    • Search for information from different sources.
    • Cooperate within groups where each member will explain the role and structure of skin or the role of different ingredients in cosmetic creams, to their group members, ask questions when needed from group members.
    • Understand the composition of cosmetic creams and the role of different ingredients in the mixture.
      Materials:

      The ingredients of cosmetics, the purpose of the ingredients and their function; you can also download the whole catalogue, where the classification of the ingredients, the most famous representatives and their effect can be found.

      The list of most common ingredients of home-made cosmetics, their purpose, properties, where to get them and where they are used, is given on this web-site.
      Suggestions for use:

      In this activity, students will investigate the composition of cosmetic creams and the role of different ingredients in the mixture.

      Within the group, topics are divided so that each group member will look for information about the topic from the Internet, recommended literature and/or from the materials given by the teacher (e.g. Appendix 1). Afterwards, each group member should be able to present their topic to the others.

      Topics:

        I. The structure and functions of skin.

          The main ingredients of cream (role and/or effect on skin):

            II. Oils and fats (natural and synthetic), waxes
            III. Emulsifiers, humectants
            IV. Preservatives, antioxidants
            V. Other substances (nutritive, exfoliative, bleaching, anti-inflammatory, anti-wrinkle etc. ingredients, odours (essential oils)
            Possible questions:
              • What are the main functions of skin?
              • What is the role of different ingredients in a cosmetic cream?