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Beauty Glossary-S

Sage:
Sage is an astringent stimulating herb, good for circulation to skin tissues. It holds an estrogen-like active ingredient with tautening effects on aging skin.
  
Salicylic Acid:
An antiseptic that has a strong ingredient that helps dissolve top layers of dead skin, used in acne treatment products.
  
Scrub:
A cleanser with an additional ingredient that exfoliates the dead layer of skin.
  
Sebaceous Glands:
Glands in the skin that make oil to keep skin smooth and soft. If they make too much oil, your pores can find blocked, and you can get bumps and red spots called pimples.
  
Sebum:
Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It is one of the main causes for acne.
  
Selenium:
An oral, plant-derived preparation meant for its antifungal properties.
  
Serum:
A concentrated treatment generally used after cleansing.
  
Shea Butter:
The fat derived from the nut of the shea tree and also an excellent emollient for use in creams, lotions. Alleviates dry skin.
  
Shiatsu:
A Japanese way of massage that uses acupressure.
  
Silicone:
Ingredients used in moisturizers that form a barrier to help slow down moisture from evaporating.
  
Soy:
Liquid originating from the soybean.
  
SPF:
The acronym for "sun protection factor"; the numbers following the SPF is a subjective guide for increased sun protection. A higher SPF means more protection from the sun. For instance, SPF 15 will allow somebody to be in the sun about 15 times longer than without any sunscreen.
  
Sun Screen:
It is any substance applied to the skin which screens or protects it from the sun.
  
Sunblock:
A physical sunscreen or a barrier in opposition to the sun's ultraviolet rays. It is available in creams or ointments.
  
Sunscreen:
A substance that helps protects the skin from the sun's harmful rays. It can be a lotion or oil that helps protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation, premature aging, and skin cancer.
  
Superoxide Dismutase:
A naturally occurring enzyme that can look after the skin from free radicals, which can reason skin damage.
  
Surfactant:
A purification ingredient that allows water to rinse the skin clean.
  
Surfactants:
Active agent that allows oil to mix up with water.