Top 5 Ingredients to Look for in Your Skin Care Products
When putting together a skin care regimen, it can often feel like you're playing cosmetic chemist in your bathroom. To simplify things, we turned to product formulation and skin care experts to break down the most popular ingredients on store shelves.
Azelaic acid is an anti-inflammatory that helps hydrate, reduce redness, fade hyperpigmentation and balance skin tone. It also helps exfoliate and unclog pores.
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid is one of the smallest alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) available, meaning it can penetrate deep into the skin layers. It can also stimulate cell renewal and collagen production, helping to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, brighten dull skin and boost hydration levels. It is a gentle exfoliant that can be used for all skin types, and it is a great alternative to physical scrubs, which can cause damage over time.
Like all AHAs, glycolic acid breaks down the intercellular glue that holds dead skin cells together. This allows them to slough off more easily, leaving behind a smoother, clearer complexion. This is particularly helpful for those with oily or combination skin because it helps to slough away the excess sebum and proteins that lead to clogged pores and breakouts. It also prevents mild hyperpigmentation, such as sun spots and melasma dark marks.
Another of the many advantages of glycolic acid is that it can be added to a formulation at lower concentrations than other AHAs, making it suitable for sensitive skin. However, it can still deliver a strong performance, and it is especially beneficial for those with ageing skin as it accelerates the natural process of cell turnover to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
While it is a powerful ingredient, glycolic acid can be slightly harsher than other AHAs, so it's important to introduce it into your skincare routine slowly and gradually. Typically, you will start with cleansers and toners that contain low concentrations of glycolic acid before moving on to serums and creams. Look for formulations combined with hydrating ingredients, soothing ingredients and/or antioxidants to help prevent irritation.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that promotes your skin's natural exfoliation process. Derived from the bark of willow trees or lab-created, it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. According to dermatologists Dr. Marnie Nusbaum, MD and Dr. Naissan O. Wesley, MD, it is a known acne-fighting ingredient. It can also be found in anti-ageing formulas because of its ability to penetrate deeply into your skin, breaking down the cellular "glue" that holds dead cells together.
Unlike alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) that are water-soluble and act on the skin's surface, salicylic acid is oil-soluble and penetrates deeper into your pores to unclog them. It's also keratolytic, which dissolves the protein bonds holding dead skin cells together, so they're easily sloughed away. This is a great benefit for those with rough, bumpy skin (keratosis pilaris) and those dealing with oily or acne-prone skin since it prevents the buildup of dead cells and reduces sebum production. Check for Skin Care Promo Codes to save on salicylic acid products.
You'll often find this ingredient in cleansers, serums, and moisturizers specifically designed for acne-prone skin, rough or bumpy skin, and those with oily skin. This is because the gentle exfoliation and sebum-regulating benefits make it a good choice for those who struggle with these conditions. Still, it's a smart addition to your routine regardless of skin type. Just be sure to use it sparingly, as too much can cause your skin to become irritated. And if you're going to use it, always make sure you moisturize afterwards. Glycerin, another skincare ingredient worth a look, is an effective humectant that hydrates the skin to establish hydration and prevent dryness. It also helps balance your skin's pH levels and binds moisture to the skin, making it ideal for sensitive skin.
Lactic Acid
Like its alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) "big brother" glycolic acid, lactic acid is making a name for itself as one of the most powerful exfoliators around. It can perk up dull complexions, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, minimize the appearance of pores, fade dark spots, even out skin tone and texture and dissolve pore-clogging oils. It's also a great hydrator and can help boost the performance of other skincare ingredients, such as vitamin C and retinoids when used in conjunction.
While lactic acid has long lived in the shadow of its glycolic acid big sister, the star ingredient is becoming more and more common in over-the-counter products. Often found at concentrations of 5-10%, it's considered a gentler form of AHA and is well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive. It can be found in plant-derived forms, such as kojic acid or sugar beets, and synthetically produced in the lab. As a bonus, lactic acid is also vegan-friendly and can be found in cleansers, exfoliators, peels, serums and moisturizers.
A natural anti-inflammatory, lactic acid can help keep pores clear and breakouts at bay by decreasing sebum production. It can also help unclog blackheads and blemishes, allowing for more effective spot treatments. It's also very hydrating and can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.
If you're incorporating lactic acid into your routine, wear an SPF 30 or higher when going outside, as it can leave your skin extra vulnerable to sun damage. It's best to start with a lower-strength product and gradually work up to the recommended percentage, as it can dry in high concentrations. Check for Healthy Life Promo Codes to save on suitable skincare products.
Glycerin
Glycerin is one of the best-kept secrets in skincare – and it's jam-packed with amazing benefits. A powerful humectant, this skin-restoring ingredient helps prevent the evaporation of water from the top layers of your skin and locks in moisture. It's also lightweight, non-comedogenic (which means it won't clog your pores), and gentle enough for all skin types, especially acne-prone and sensitive skin, explains Dr. Zeichner.
In case you're not familiar, glycerin, or glycerol, is a colourless, oily liquid that can be derived from various sources, including animal fats, petroleum, and plant oils like soybean, palm, or coconut. It's the main component of triglycerides and is found in most lipid-rich plants and animals.
As a beauty product ingredient, glycerin is important as "a humectant," says Dr. Rabach. Humectants act like sponges, absorbing and holding onto the moisture in the air and deeper layers of your skin. Paired with other hydrating ingredients, like botanical oils and emollients, glycerin can be an extra-powerful ingredient that softens the look of your skin and leaves it feeling hydrated, comfortable, and healthy.
Glycerin can also help fortify your skin's barrier, improving your complexion's overall look and feel and protecting against dryness and irritation. It's also great for sensitive skin, as glycerin is non-comedogenic and doesn't promote the production of excess sebum.
If you're looking for a glycerin-rich product to add to your routine, look no further than our All Over Coupon Fleur & Bee 5-Step Deluxe Set! This nourishing collection is rich in glycerin and other amazing ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil to keep your skin hydrated and looking smooth and healthy.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid, also known as HA, gets a lot of buzz in the skincare world thanks to its ability to attract and hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The super-hydrating ingredient is a great addition to any skincare routine and is often found in hydrating serums, moisturizers and even sheet masks. It's a natural ingredient found in the extracellular matrix (the gel-like material that surrounds skin cells) and is one of the reasons why hydrated skin looks plump and youthful.
While it's suitable for most skin types, Morris says hyaluronic acid is particularly beneficial for those with drier and more mature complexions. "As we grow older, the lipid barrier of our skin slows down, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, and drier skin," she claims. "Hyaluronic acid can help fortify the lipid barrier and help keep it strong."
Because of its stability, you'll often find hyaluronic acid paired with other ingredients in skincare products. A popular option is sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid and has a smaller molecular size, so it can penetrate the skin's layers more easily.
You'll also find hyaluronic acid teamed up with vitamin B5, a water-soluble antioxidant that helps protect against free radical damage and helps boost the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid. The formulas for these products tend to be lightweight and absorb quickly, which makes them perfect for everyday use as part of your morning or evening routine.
Conclusion
When choosing skin care products, paying attention to the ingredients is important. The top 5 ingredients to look for are hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, and glycolic acid. These ingredients can help improve skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and brighten overall complexion. Always read labels and choose products that best suit your skin type and concerns.
