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Active Ingredients in Skincare For a Healthy & Radiant Skin

Active Ingredients in Skincare For a Healthy & Radiant Skin
There is no doubt that we’re shifting from traditional CTM skincare routines. As beauty consumers, we want to know more about the skincare products than just claims. For instance, if a moisturiser promises to be hydrating, we want to know what goes in it and if it will make our skin soft & supple. That’s when active ingredients in skincare come into play. These active skin care ingredients are naturally derived constituents of your skincare products that are scientifically proven to work on a cellular level to hydrate, brighten, repair, or rejuvenate your skin.

While a 20% concentration of a certain ingredient may be good for your skin, you might need 2% of another. Confusing, isn’t it? The only way out of this is to be aware of such active ingredients in skincare to get the right products for your skin. That’s why we are listing a comprehensive guide on active skin ingredients.

What are Active Ingredients in Skincare?

Simply put, active ingredients in a skincare product are designed to address the skin concern they are meant to target. Skincare actives are the supercharged beauty ingredients that make a skincare product effective because it is backed by scientific analysis. That’s why you’ll likely find actives in products with an intended purpose and solve specific skincare concerns like sun damage, acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation.

These active ingredients in skincare work together with oil or water-based inactives to provide the much-needed nutrients to the skin.

List of Active Ingredients in Skincare

Hydroxy Acid

This includes alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid and lactic acid and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid. Since AHAs aid in exfoliating the skin’s surface, they are used in anti-ageing products to battle fine lines and uneven skin tone and reduce pigmentation. AHAs also help address acne, brightening skin tone and improving skin texture.

A) Suitable for Skin Types
Such active ingredients in skincare are suitable for
  • Oily Skin
  • Combination Skin
  • Dry or ageing skin
  • Sensitive Skin

Note:- In case of sensitive skin, we’d recommend starting with a low-strength AHA.

Also read: Guide to Soccer Skincare for Chafing Prevention

B) When To Use This Kind of Actives in Skincare
Include AHAs-based active ingredients in skincare products in your nighttime routine before applying your serum or moisturiser. Avoid using retinol-based products with it.

C) How to Use This Kind of Active in Skincare
As exfoliating agents, try an AHAs-based toner or cleanser for best results. You can also use active ingredients BHAs like salicylic acid as a leave-on-toner for deeper penetration, effectively clearing breakouts and blemishes.

Retinoids

This include retinol, retinyl palmitate, and prescription-strength retinoids like tretinoin (Retin-A). These are a derivative of Vitamin A and a fairly superior anti-ageing ingredient thanks to their ability to repair skin damage and minimise signs of ageing. They are known for their anti-aging properties, as they can stimulate collagen production and promote skin cell turnover.

A) Suitable ingredients for Skin Types
Such kinds of active ingredients in skincare are suitable for
  • Oily Skin
  • Combination Skin
  • Dry or ageing skin
  • Sensitive Skin
Note:- Fair or sensitive skin types need to be extra cautious about the use of retinoids.

B) When To Use This Kind of Active in Skincare
Ingredients such as retinoids should only be used in your night routine as the final step after moisturiser. Moreover, don’t forget to use sunscreen (30 SPF or higher), as retinoids make your skin sensitive to UV rays.

C) How to Use This Kind of Active in Skincare
Concentrations as low as 0.01% have been proven effective for daily use. If you use a Retinol product for the first time, don’t exceed 0.03%. This active skincare ingredient must be used as a serum or cream.

Hyaluronic Acid

Because of hyaluronic acid’s intense moisturising and hydrating properties, it is one of the most commonly used active ingredients in anti-ageing products. Retaining skin moisture improves the skin’s resilience to restore volume and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It complements the other active ingredients in skincare, thus helping the overall improvement of skin.

A) Suitable for Skin Types
Such an active ingredient in skincare is suitable for
  • Oily Skin
  • Combination Skin
  • Dry or ageing skin
  • Sensitive Skin
B) When to Use This Active in Skincare
Such active ingredients in skincare can be used for both AM and PM routines. It works well with other active ingredients, such as Vitamin C or Glycolic acid.

C) How to Use this Type of Active in Skincare
It is a key ingredient in serums and moisturisers. For deeper perforation into the skin, using a serum with Hyaluronic Acid (1-2%) is more effective.

Vitamin C

Commonly used as ascorbic acid. The efficacy of this active ingredient in skincare has been known for many years. Skincare products promising to give a radiant, bright and youthful glow contain vitamin C. Its antioxidant properties protect the skin from UV rays and pollution. It also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, which further promotes the healing of skin and reduces the signs of ageing, fine lines and breakouts.

A) Suitable for Skin Types
Such an active ingredient in skincare is suitable for:
  • Oily Skin
  • Combination Skin
  • Dry or ageing skin
  • Sensitive Skin
Note:- Sensitive and dry skin types may have irritation & itchiness. That’s why a patch test is recommended.

B) When to Use this kind of Actives in Skincare
Such active ingredients should be part of your AM routine and must always be followed up with SPF. Avoid using AHAs and BHAs in the same routine as Vitamin C.

C) How to Use This Kind of Active in Skincare
To maximise Vitamin C's benefits, use it in the serum form. Vitamin C serums (5-20%) are widely available and easy to use.

Peptides

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can have various benefits, including stimulating collagen production, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and rebuilding and repairing damaged cells. What else do they do? They prevent acne-causing bacteria from clogging the pores and support the skin’s barrier from dirt and pollution. These advanced benefits make it a go-to active ingredient in every moisturiser, including those with sensitive, dry and acne-prone skin.

A) Suitable for Skin Types
Such an active ingredient in skincare is suitable for:
  • Oily Skin
  • Combination Skin
  • Dry or ageing skin
  • Acne-prone Skin
Note:- Using peptides-based skincare products can lead to inflammation, rashes and itchiness for sensitive skin types.

B) When to Use This Kind of Active in Skincare
For the desired results, apply peptide products to your skin twice daily – once in the morning and once at night.

C) How to Use This Kind of Active in Skincare
Serums and moisturisers instead of cleansers must be used to try skincare products with peptides. The longer you give peptides to work on your skin, the more beneficial it would be for the skin.

One thing that is quite obvious in all these pointers is understanding your skin type, following Vitamin-based actives before AHAs or BHAs, using the product in a concentration, taking a patch test, and including SPF protection in your skincare is what you’ll need to choose the right active ingredients in skincare. We hope this particular information will help you solve the skincare in a more informed manner.