Glossary - L'Oréal Paris

Active Defence System (ADS): L'Oréal Paris patented ingredient in Men Expert products.
Blackheads: Also known as open comedones, they look like small dark or greyish dots. Blackheads are caused by excess oil that has accumulated in the sebaceous gland ducts in your skin.
Glycolic Acid: An alpha hydroxy acid used for its exfoliation properties.
Hydra-Novil: Visible Radiance Cleansing Milk is enriched with Hydra-Novil™. The formula hydrates skin, leaving it looking rested.
IsoBacter: Pure Zone Tightening and Clarifying Lotion contains Iso Bacter technology. The lotion cleanses the skin and helps protect against the appearance of imperfections.
Lipids: Lipids are the fatty matter present in living beings. They can be in a solid form, like a wax or a liquid form like an oil.
Micro-crystals of aluminium oxide: An ingredient used in professional micro-dermabrasions and present in several L'Oréal Paris exfoliants.
Oligo-Proteins: Re-Nourish Toner is enriched with Oligo-Proteins™. The formula gently tones the feel of the skin and removes impurities, gives an instant sensation of softness and comfort, helps prevent dryness and boosts skin radiance.
Pore Target: A patented technology found in Pure Zone.
Pro-Retinol A: Also known as Vitamin A Palmate. An ingredient in selected Revitalift, Visible Lift and Visible Results cosmetic and skincare products.
Sebum: Oil in the skin.
SPF: Sun protection factor.
Vitamin C: An ingredient in selected Age Perfect, Visible results and Men Expert products.

ALLERGIES: Abnormally high sensitivity to certain substances that can lead to an adverse reaction.
BLUSHER: All products used to add colour accents to your cheeks or other parts of the face other than the eyes or lips.
COMPACT POWDER: Compressed powder which is applied with a brush, cotton wool or finger. Compact powder is generally used to touch-up make-up during the day.
COMPLEXION: The general appearance and colour of the skin on your face.
COVERAGE: Concealing of skin imperfections such as blemishes, birthmarks and uneven skin tone.
DERMATOLOGICALLY TESTED: Claims about a cosmetic product where the usage has been clinically studied by a qualified dermatologist in order to confirm its suitability for use on skin. Look for "dermatologically tested" on pack to confirm whether a product is suitable for use on the skin.
EYE LINER: Cosmetic product used to colour the edges of your eyelids directly above or below the eyelash line. Can also make lashes appear thicker.
FOUNDATION: Vital for a perfect look, make-up foundations are cosmetic products which evens your complexion, conceals dark shadows and small imperfections and transforms your face into a blank canvas. It ensures, among other things, that blusher adheres well and eyelids hold make-up. It comes in different forms (creams, liquids, sticks or powder) and offers various levels of coverage.
GLOSS: Shiny, light-reflecting texture for lips.
HYPOALLERGENIC: Products that have been tested to show a reduced risk of allergic reaction.
KHÔL: Mineral powder containing galena (or malachite) and sulphur, used as an eye make-up. Khôl can be black or grey depending on the mixture. It is used in make-up to outline the eye or eyelids.
LIP PENCIL: Cosmetic product to outline and define your lips. A lip pencil can be used to help redefine the shape of your lips by drawing a slightly different outline, to create thicker looking or more even-looking lips for example. Outlining your lips can also make applying lipstick easier.
LONG LASTING MAKE-UP: Cosmetic product with longer-lasting colour and texture compared to some other cosmetics products. Can apply to foundation, lipstick or eye shadow.
LOOSE POWDER: A fine powder which is applied to the face with a puff or a large brush. It is generally applied to foundation and used in the morning.
MASCARA: Make-up product allowing you to colour your eye lashes and make them look longer and thicker. Mascaras are comprised of a tube containing a colorant product in liquid or cream form and a brush which can be straight or curved. The brush is dipped into the tube the applied to the eyes. WATERPROOF mascara is resistant to water, to avoid streaks that can appear following rain or tears.
MATTE FINISH: A subdued, non-shiny finish.
MINERAL MAKE-UP: Mineral make-up can adapt to all skin types and adheres to skin like silk. Mineral make-up is even suitable for sensitive skin.
SATIN FINISH: A smooth, luminous finish which gives skin a soft look.
SELF TAN: Gel or cream which gives your skin a tanned appearance without exposure to the sun. The most commonly used ingredient is Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). Although you can get a tanned effect from self-tanning products, they do NOT offer protection from the sun's rays. The colouration only effects the outer most layers of the skin which will fade naturally in a few days if the application is not repeated daily. To achieve an even, uniform tan, it is best to use a cleansing scrub before each application.
TONALITY: The variation in your skin tone which gives you a unique complexion. Skin has three main tones: golden, neutral or reddish.
TRANSLUCENT: Describes cosmetic products that provide a light coverage allowing you to see the skin clearly.
WATERPROOF: Resistant to water.

COOL TONE: Adds ash or beige highlights to hair.
CORTEX: Middle layer of hair, which contains pigment and gives elasticity to the hair. Hair colour is deposited into the cortex.
CUTICLE: Outermost protective layer of hair. Hair colour opens or raises the cuticle to let the pigments penetrate.
GREY COVERAGE: A measure of a hair colour's ability to cover grey hair. Brands recommended for complete grey coverage are Excellence Crème and Recital Préférence.
HENNA: Derived from the henna plant, a vegetable dye made from its leaves and stems into a powder. Traditionally, it imparts a reddish cast to the hair by coating it. Hair treated with henna cannot be covered with hair colour, since henna coats the outer hair shaft, affecting the penetration of the chemical colorant.
HIGHLIGHTS: Thin or thick strands of hair that are treated with hair colour, lightener or toner.
LEVEL OF COLORING: It's about the level of degrees of colour intensity, from pale to dark. Each colour has a "level" from 1-10, dark to light. A level 10 blonde is 2 levels lighter than a level 8.
LIGHTENING PRODUCT: Reacts with the natural colour pigment in hair, lightening it permanently. Depending on your hair's colour and the application time of the lightening product, you can lighten your hair 4-6 shades.
PERMANENT COLORANT: It is a colorant which works when combined with an oxidant and which does not wash out. It de-colours and re-colours simultaneously thanks to a mix of two products : the colorant product itself (cream or gel) and the oxidant product.
PULL-THROUGH CAP: Often used when highlighting, it's a disposable or rubber cap with small holes through which thin or thick strands of hair can be pulled out and then coloured or bleached.
RED TONE: Adds copper, mahogany or burgundy highlights to hair.
TEMPORARY COLORANT: Coats the hair strand but does not change the natural colour. Can last up to 10 shampoos. Gradually fades.
TONE ON TONE COLOUR: Enhances the natural colour of your hair. Can modify or darken the hair's tonality. It blends with grey hair or covers hair with up to 50% of grey hair and lasts for around 28 washes. Colour gradually fades as a result of washing.
WARM TONE: Adds gold or bronze highlights to hair.

Actirox

Actirox is an ingredient present in L'Oréal Elvive Anti-Dandruff. Our anti-dandruff formulas act from the first wash to reduce visible flakes and help prevent them from re-appearing*.

* With regular use.

AMMONIA

A chemical that opens the hair fibre to allow hair colour to penetrate the cortex of the hair. It is a common ingredient in most permanent hair colour products.

CONDITIONER

A product applied to hair to restore sheen, elasticity and manageability.

Equaderm™

An innovation inspired by the latest in skincare technology, Equaderm™ is combined with a mild cleansing agent in L'Oréal Elvive Anti-Dandruff to help soothe and calm the scalp.

Expansyl

Present in L'Oréal Elvive Non-Stop Volume, Expansyl is a body boosting technology.

Nutrileum

The L’Oréal Laboratories have combined a micro-oil with a smoothing agent to create Nutrileum ® in its Smooth-Intense formula. The formula is instantly adsorbed onto the hair fibre, calming rebellious hair and smoothing out frizz along its entire length. With its anti-frizz action, Smooth-Intense provides long lasting smoothness which resists humidity*. It helps to prevent frizz or waves re-appearing throughout the day.

* Tested in laboratories. Shampoo + conditioner + serum vs. Classic Shampoo

Pearl Protein

An ingredient in L'Oréal Elvive Nutri-Gloss.

Regenium XY

The L'Oréal laboratories have replicated one of the natural substances essential to the hair - Ceramide R and combined it with texturising agent to create Regenium-XY.

Selenium S

Ingredient in Elvive Anti-Dandruff products. Our anti-dandruff formulas with Selenium S effectively reduce visible flakes*. Your scalp is cleansed and rebalanced, leaving hair healthy looking and beautiful.

*With regular use

Vitamins pro-B5, PP and E

Derivatives of Vitamins pro-B5, PP and E are found in the L'Oréal Elvive Multi-Vitamins range.

AEROSOL: A finishing spray with a fine mist application.
CREAM: An opaque styling product, usually thicker than a gel that can also condition hair.
FINISHING SPRAY: Styling spray to finish & hold your style in place.
GEL: Transparent styling product, usually lighter than a cream.
MOUSSE: A foamy, lightweight styling product.
NON-AEROSOL: A finishing spray that is pumped out for application.
RESIDUE / BUILD-UP: A film found on your hair after using an excessive amount of hair product.
SERUM: A serum is a smoothing product designed to help control frizz, keeping it smooth and adding shine.
WAX: Styling product designed to define, design, texturise and add shine to hair. Architect Wax from Studio Line is a water-based wax which allows you to define spikes for a textured effect with shine.