Apricot-kernel oil
apricot-kernel oil/ (ap-ri-kot kur-nl oil)/ n./ 1. Oil extracted from the inedible kernels of the apricot pit; / n./ 2. Rich in vitamins A and E, apricot kernel oil also boasts high levels of essential fatty acids that help skin maintain moisture levels without leaving it greasy, e.g. “Dry skin is the pits—slather on some apricot-kernel oil for hydration and a natural, healthy glow.”
Try it: L’Occitane Shea Butter Body Lotion, $30, usa.loccitane.com
Ingredients Deciphered: Caviar
CAVIAR/(kav-ee-ahr)/n./ 1. Eggs of a large fish, especially sturgeon, typically served as hors d’oeuvres at highbrow get-togethers; /n./ 2. Rich in mineral and vitamin content (B1, 2, and 6 as well as A, E, and D), caviar lifts and adds glow to aging skin; e.g., “A taste for caviar could be the result of maturing skin as well as a maturing palate; roe extract has been shown to help reverse the ill-effects of gravity while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.”
Try it: La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Body Cream, $375, www.nordstrom.com
ASTAXANTHIN/(az-tax-ahn-thin)/n./ 1. An antioxidant extracted from marine microalgae in the hot lava fields of Hawaii; /n./ 2. Five hundred times more effective than vitamin E, astaxanthin protects and heals skin affected by sun damage and irritation caused by chemical peels and other harsh facial treatments, e.g., “No need to clear your social calendar after your next medi-spa appointment. Regular application of an astaxanthin-based serum will make post-op public appearances completely painless.”
Try it: Esenté Red Volcanic Seaweed Complex, $68, www.esente.com.
BLACK CUMIN/(blah-ek kuh-min)/n./ 1. A plant native to the Mediterranean region and cultivated in North Africa and Asia for its black aromatic seeds; /n./ 2. Also called nigella oil, black cumin oil is rich in essential fatty acids and is frequently used in skin and scalp treatments for its protective, regenerative, stimulating, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, e.g., “Black cumin oil belongs in your bathroom, not in your curry, as it packs an emollient punch that adds luster to skin and hair.”
MALACHITE/ (mal-uh-kahyt)/ n./ 1.A semi-precious green stone;/ n./ 2. Billed as a powerful antioxidant, malachite’s high levels of copper also give it the reported ability to increase collagen and elastin levels in the skin, e.g., “Turquoise and jade might keep you in fashion, but only malachite will keep your skin radiant—and your friends green with envy.”
Try it: Banana Republic Malachite Body Cream, $28, www.bananarepublic.com
ARGAN OIL/(are-gan oil)/n./ 1. The extraction from the pulp and seed of nuts from the argan tree, found in Morocco and Algeria; /n./ 2. Typically harvested by women’s cooperatives and high in vitamin E content, argan oil has exceptional moisturizing properties and has been proven to have age-defying and skin-healing capabilities, e.g., “Do something good for your skin—and your sisters in agribusiness—and seek out products rich in argan oil.”
Try it: Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Skin Salve with Fairly-Traded Argan Oil, $25, www.kiehls.com
PUMPKIN/(puhmp-kin)/n./1. A squashlike fruit ranging in size, shape, color, and appearance originating in North America;/n./ 2. Packed with active enzymes and the anti-aging power of vitamin A, pumpkin can help speed up the skin’s cell-renewal process while providing gentle and effective exfoliation, e.g., “Turn that jack-o’-lantern trick into an easy, skin-pleasing treat, and let pumpkin help you carve out a more radiant complexion.”
Try it: Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel, $44, www.sephora.com