This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
Whether you’re just starting a skincare routine or are looking to add new products to your roster. You can easily find yourself overwhelmed by the number of skin care products available to you.
There are so many tips and skincare secrets out there that it can be very difficult to know where to begin.
Knowing what specific ingredients to look for can make it a lot easier and help you through making your decisions.
1. Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is effective because it holds its weight a thousand times in water and is always a great addition to any skincare routine. This helps retain moisture in the skin and prevents the moisture from evaporating into the air.
It’s a great moisturizing agent for all skin types. A good hyaluronic acid serum is great for any skincare routine, especially in the drier months.
2. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)
Products that include AHAs(glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids) have become very popular in the skincare industry over recent years.
Although primarily used for exfoliation, the great benefits of AHAs are, promoting collagen and blood flow, correcting discoloration and age spots, preventing acne breakouts, brightening your complexion, and increasing product absorption.
Creams, lotions, and serums with Alpha-hydroxy acids can help reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and irregular pigmentation and have also been known to reduce enlarged pores.
3. Ceramides
Ceramides are long-chain lipids and are essentially the glue that holds our skin cells together to keep our skin barrier intact and healthy. A healthy skin barrier helps seal in moisture and seal out harmful elements.
Although the body produces ceramides, levels in the skin decline with age.
Ceramides have multiple benefits for skin health, they; maintain the skin barrier, boost hydration, rejuvenate aging skin, and prevent UV skin damage.
4. Retinol
Retinol is a powerful antioxidant derived from Vitamin A and can be found in many anti-aging products.
It has multiple benefits; it improves acne and acne scarring, patchy and irregular pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, skin texture, skin tone, and color. As well as your skin’s hydration levels promote cell renewal and boost collagen production.
It is recommended to introduce retinol to your routine slowly, to build up your skin’s tolerance to it. It may cause sensitivity so make sure to follow up with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
5. Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals and environmental stressors, repairs UV damage, prevents premature aging, reduces hyperpigmentation, and helps to even out skin tone, stimulates the synthesis of collagen, minimizes fine lines, scars and wrinkles.
Initial use of Vitamin C-containing creams may cause stinging or redness, but these side effects go away with continued use.
6. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an oil-soluble antioxidant, there are many forms of Vitamin E. Unless you have oily, acne-prone, or sensitive skin, Vitamin E can provide your skin with multiple benefits.
Vitamin E creams can hydrate and heal the skin and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Paired with Vitamin C, both ingredients work even better, so aim to find products with both these ingredients.
7. Niacinimide
Niacinimide has multiple benefits, from moisturizing to repairing the skin’s barrier.
Also known as Vitamin B3 it boosts keratin, provides protection from environmental stressors, helps keep skin firm and healthy, may help retain moisture, and stops skin flushing.
If you have sensitive skin, experts suggest choosing products with a lower concentration of under 5%.
8. Beta-hydroxy acids (salicylic acid)
Salicylic acid removes dead skin and may improve the texture and color of sun-damaged skin. It penetrates oil-laden hair follicle openings and helps prevent acne.
In many cases, salicylic acid can be less irritating to the skin than products that contain AHAs. But provide similar improvements in skin texture and color.
9. Alpha Arbutin
Alpha Arbutin is a skin brighter, and gentler than hydroquinone and a safer way to treat uneven skin tone, melasma, and hyperpigmentation with little to no irritation.
It can be used to treat pigmentation when combined with kojic acid or Vitamin C.
10. Dimethicone
The silicone-based ingredient is the second most common ingredient in moisturizers. If you deal with dry skin, this ingredient can be very beneficial, especially in winter.
This ingredient can help with scar tissue and makes your skin feel soft.
11. Glycerin
A major skin care ingredient found in moisturizers and lotions. It is a humectant found naturally in the skin and acts as a moisturizing agent to establish hydration and prevents dryness.
Glycerin’s skin-replenishing and skin-restoring properties make it the best humectant among others such as hyaluronic acid and AHAs.
12. Polyhydroxy acids
Polyhydroxy acids are a type of hydroxy acid just like AHAs and BHAs but is the gentlest of the three by far.
PHA helps shed dead skin cells, reduce hyperpigmentation and reverse sun damage to promote an even-toned and radiant complexion.
PHAs are great for almost all skin types as they don’t dry up the skin. Experts recommend using PHAs in combination with hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
Leave a Reply