Understanding Astringents for Skincare

What is the main purpose of an astringent in skincare?

A. To deeply cleanse the skin

B. To remove excess oil from the skin

C. To act as a lubricant ingredient

D. To remove heavier makeup

Answer:

The main purpose of an astringent in skincare is to:

B. Remove excess oil from the skin

An astringent is a water-based liquid designed to remove excess oil from the skin and tighten pores, different from soaps and detergents which act as surfactants to cleanse by removing dirt.

Explanation: An astringent is a water-based liquid that helps remove excess oil from the skin. Astringents are often used in skincare to tighten pores and improve skin tone by contracting skin cells. Unlike soaps and detergents, which cleanse the skin by creating emulsions with oils to lift away dirt, astringents function primarily by removing residual oils and constricting the pores. Soaps and detergents contain surfactants that disrupt the attractive intermolecular interactions between molecules in a polar liquid like water, thereby allowing water to more effectively remove dirt, oils, and grime. While soaps remove dirt and microbes through a mechanical process facilitated by their surfactant properties, astringents target excess skin oils specifically and can often include ingredients like alcohol or witch hazel.