Look Good By Doing Good

In the past few years, the skincare industry has taken the beauty world by storm. From your favourite celebrities showing their tips and tricks in Vogue videos to seeing Olay commercials grace your screen during TV adverts, I think we can all agree that the skincare industry has changed the way we understand health and wellness.

When it comes to products and brands, there are thousands for a consumer to choose from. Whilst some may opt for the 10-step Korean skin regimes, others may want to keep it simple with daily cleansers and moisturisers. In a 163.5 billion dollar industry, it can be easy to feel lost in understanding where to begin and what to choose. This is why it is important as a consumer, to really understand the ingredients you are putting onto your skin, in order to maximize your desired results.

Here are some of the best ingredients in skincare for you to look out for the next time you fill up your online Sephora cart. 

Vitamin C

This is an ingredient that is often marketed across self-care products, yet its benefits are seriously underrated by the consumer. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning that it fights harmful toxins that your skin comes into contact with throughout the day. By using vitamin C, you can help combat the damages these toxins can have on the skin and improve the skin’s overall appearance.

Vitamin C is also amazing for dealing with hyperpigmentation and dark spots, by impeding melanin production and brightening several areas of the skin. Healed acne scars, sunspots, and age spots can all be brightened with the use of Vitamin C. Vitamin C can also help with anti-ageing, as it can reduce the look of wrinkles and promote collagen production.

Retinol

Retinol is widely known as the key anti-ageing product. Retinol is a synthetic vitamin A derivative and was first marketed as a product to help clear acne. Retinols help to unclog pores, increase collagen production, and improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles, texture, and hyperpigmentation. Essentially, retinol turns over skin cells, and as older skin cells shed and newer ones replace them, the skin is left appearing brighter, softer, and more even-toned. 

When introducing retinol into your skincare routine, it is important to start with lower dosages a few nights a week to build up your skin tolerance and avoid nasty reactions. Retinol can also sometimes interfere with other products and increase sensitivity to the sun. Because of this, it is important to do your research on the specific brand you are buying and take on any advice or guidelines for usage they may have. 

AHA’s + BHA’s 

AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acid and BHA stands for beta hydroxy acid. These names may sound daunting, but they can do wonders for your skin! They are both chemical exfoliants that help to shed dead skin cells. This is great for people who suffer from acne or texture, as these ingredients help to renew the skin from the inside out. Great examples of AHA ingredients are lactic acid, glycolic acid, and citric acid. Examples of BHAs are salicylic acid and tropic acid. These ingredients can help in no particular order to fight acne, sunspots, fine lines, wrinkles, and texture irregularities, making them a great cop to add to your skincare routine! 

It is important to consider your skin’s sensitivity to acids, especially when it is your first time. It is recommended to try these ingredients initially with low dosages and then slowly build your tolerance. Instead of picking up the 10% lactic acid serum from the counter straight away, try the 5% lactic acid serum and monitor how your skin responds. We want our skin to receive the best results as efficiently as possible so we can feel as good as possible. And sometimes efficiency takes time!

Hyaluronic Acid 

Suffering from dry, sensitive, or dehydrated skin? This product should be your best friend. Hyaluronic acid already exists naturally in the body, helping to retain moisture in the skin cells. Hyaluronic acid helps to revitalise the skin’s outer layer, leaving it feeling plump and hydrated. It can also help reduce inflammation, smooth out fine lines and improve skin elasticity. This ingredient works well for all skin types and it is a great additive as a serum if you want that extra hydration in your routine!  

SPF

SPF is so important! One of the biggest causes of visible ageing is sun damage. When the skin is overly exposed to UVA rays, it reacts by reducing its collagen levels and losing some of its elasticity. Collagen is a protein that is naturally found in the body. It helps to maintain healthy joints and skin elasticity. As we age, collagen levels in the body begin to lower. By wearing an SPF daily, you can protect yourself from sunburn (which can exist even in darker skin tones!), prevent signs of ageing such as wrinkles and fine lines, and help to even out hyperpigmentation. SPF is such an important skincare staple that everyone should have!