Skincare can be very confusing, there are so many different products out on the shelves with different ingredients of scientific names and it can be hard to know which ones are good for your skin and which ones to avoid. Working in the beauty industry as a beauty therapist, I have learnt over the years which skincare ingredients are most beneficial to your skin and now it’s time to share them. 

Hyaluronic Acid  

Hyaluronic Acid is the key ingredient to smooth and hydrated skin, our own skin cells can actually produce hyaluronic acid to maintain the skins moisture level but because of ageing and other environmental effects, the levels can dip a bit. Hyaluronic acid is essential at maintaining the skin’s hydration because it is a humectant, which means it retains and preserves moisture, keeping the skin hydrated. Hyaluronic Acid can hold 1000x its weight in water. This ingredient doesn’t strip the skin or cause any downtime when applied so it’s an ingredient that most skin types will benefit from.  

Vitamin C  

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that neutralises free radicals which can cause a number of problems to the skin like premature ageing. Because vitamin C has antioxidant properties, it helps the skins natural regeneration process, meaning it repairs damaged skin cells to reveal healthier-looking skin. Vitamin C also helps to protect the skin from UV damage making it the perfect ingredient to have in moisturisers and it can inhibit the skins melanin production which causes dark spots and hyperpigmentation, using a vitamin C cream can help to stop these dark spots from forming and even out your skin tone. With vitamin c being so potent, those with sensitive skin should be more cautious, maybe by using it less often or a lower percentage.  

Titanium Dioxide & Zinc Dioxide  

Titanium Dioxide is a naturally sourced ingredient that is used in sun creams to protect the skin from UV rays. This ingredient also protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays and it also has no risk to sensitivity which is why this ingredient is in a lot of different sun creams. Titanium Dioxide is considered a gentle ingredient as is perfect for people who have sensitive and redness-prone skin who need protecting from the sun, this ingredient can also be used around the eyes. Zinc Oxide is an ingredient that is very similar to Titanium Dioxide as it is a gentle ingredient that is added to a lot of sun creams. Zinc Dioxide can also provide broad protection from UV damage and protects the skin from inflammation.  

Salicylic Acid  

Salicylic acid is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid, an exfoliating agent that is oil-soluble). BHA’s are considered the gold standard for blemish-prone skin prevention. Salicylic acid is oil soluble which means that it can penetrate the skin easily and can soften and dissolve keratin which clogs the pores, this helps to diminish the appearance of breakouts and helps to prevent future breakouts. This ingredient is also great at being anti-inflammatory which calms the skin and reduces redness. 

Glycolic Acid  

Glycolic acid is one of the best ingredients for chemically exfoliating the face and this ingredient is also an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid, a group of natural and synthetic ingredients that if they are formulated properly can exfoliate the uppermost layer of the skin). Glycolic acid is known as the gold standard ingredient. This ingredient can penetrate the top layers of the skin to reveal the better-looking skin underneath. It also has the natural ability to hydrate the skin by teaching it to hold in moisture better, making this a great ingredient for dry and also acne-prone skin types. 

Researching ingredients is one of my favourite things to do and knowing what ingredients work for your skin can also help your skincare journey thrive.

This may take a bit of trial and error to discover what works best for you, but it is worth it in the long run.