While some beauty trends may come and go, there is one thing that will never go out of style — taking care of your skin. Part of taking good care of your skin is figuring out which ingredients provide the most benefits to it and which ones aren’t so great for your skin’s health. The ingredients that will work best for you depend in large part on the type of skin you have.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It helps to protect you from infection and injury. One way to say thanks to your skin for all that it does is by taking good care of it. Perhaps the most significant benefit of having a skincare routine is protecting your skin. Each day, it’s exposed to ultraviolet light, free radicals, dirt and pollutants, all of which can contribute to signs of aging, skin irritation and in some cases, cancer.
Developing a skincare routine that offers protection against ultraviolet rays, cleanses the skin and hydrates and moisturizes it will help to keep your skin looking great and functioning at its best for years to come. Since we are experiencing harmattan, our skins are affected adversely. So let us take a look at 5 ingredients we need to take care of our skin below:
1. Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid (HA), actually occurs naturally in the body in your joints, eyes and skin. When applied to the surface of the skin, HA works as a humectant to help your skin retain moisture. Hyaluronic acid can absorb up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it a major ingredient when it comes to battling dry skin.
2. Glycerine
Glycerine, sometimes also referred to as glycerin or glycerol, is a colourless, odourless liquid that has syrup. It is a naturally occurring substance that can be produced synthetically. Like hyaluronic acid, glycerine acts as a humectant to draw moisture to the skin and is known to be beneficial for those suffering from dry skin. Glycerine helps the skin in many ways — it improves hydration, protects against irritants, boosts skin barrier function and mechanical properties and speeds up wound-healing processes. Glycerine is an excellent cleanser, as it removes dirt and oil without stripping the skin or clogging pores.
3. Castor oil
Castor oil comes from the Ricinus communis plant. It is produced by cold-pressing castor seeds and applying heat. It has many different uses and continues to grow in popularity. The ricinoleic acid in castor oil fights pore-clogging, acne-causing bacteria. Castor oil also has anti-inflammatory properties to help calm the skin and to provide moisturising benefits.
4. Retinoids
Many praise retinoids for their anti-wrinkle properties and for their acne-fighting properties. The retinoid family contains pure retinoic acid, the most potent form, vitamin A (retinol) and other retinol derivatives — the most gentle option out of the three. People have been using retinoids to treat acne since the 1970s, as retinoid use is connected to reduced pore size. As larger pores are connected to increased levels of sebum production, retinoids can help your skin reduce oil production and reduce acne.
5. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, that helps to keep skin cells healthy. Your skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C in the dermis and epidermis, but the concentrations decrease as you get older and as a result of exposure to the sun and pollutants. The antioxidant speeds up collagen and elastin production to keep the skin firm and plump. Vitamin C also fights aging by limiting damage from UV exposure, hydrating the skin and evening out skin tone and texture. Vitamin C breaks down when it’s exposed to air or light, so the serums are packaged in dark bottles to maintain the stability of the primary ingredient. Vitamin C is also known to be a potent ingredient, so it’s best to start with a lower concentration if you’ve never used it before — especially if you have sensitive skin.