Magic Ingredients in Skincare

You always hear about ingredients, what skin concerns they are good for. But we don’t always jump into why certain ingredients are good for skin, we just know that they work. But the only way we can correct the things that are happening in our skin and improve them, is to understand what’s going on under the microscope.

Peptides are naturally occurring in the skin. They are amino acids that make up proteins in the skin. Collagen is made of 3 peptide chains. Collagen is a big one I’m hearing lately. People have been taking collagen internally as well a lot lately and there is a ton of hype about it. But finding skin care with peptides will help naturally boost collagen as well. Collagen as a molecule is too large to be absorbed by the skin. Therefore, applying peptides topically will help strengthen your skin and keep it soft and bouncy with minimal wrinkles. Peptides also make elastin. Using skincare packed with peptides will help fight signs of aging, improved skin barrier function, and help inflammation. Some peptides are antibacterial as well and can help fight and prevent against future breakouts.

Antioxidants are ingredients that help fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals and environmental aggressors.

Free radicals are unstable molecules. "They are missing an electron and frantically searching for another; they bond to other atoms or molecules to become whole and healthy again," explains Polly Roderick, the global senior brand manager at INIKA Organic.

This can lead to inflammation, breakdown of collagen and elastin, a damaged skin barrier and uneven skin tone. Antioxidants help by scavenging for free radicals. Antioxidants to look for in skin care are Vitamin C which will help stimulate collagen and help fight hyperpigmentation. Niacinamide is another antioxidant in skin care which fights against breakouts and targets inflammation and improves redness. Resveratrol is another amazing antioxidant that isn’t talked about enough. It is considered to be “the longevity molecule” and essentially help repair and restore the skin.

Humectants are water loving ingredients that hold moisture and bond it to the skin. Essentially they are like water magnets. When thinking about humectants I like to think of a cotton ball. Its light but you can add so much water to it and it can hold much more water than it’s weight. Humectants work the same way. These ingredients are about hydration. Ingredients to look for are hyaluronic acid. We talk about this one all the time! AHA’s can also be humectants in the way that they help get rid of dead skin cells which allows the skin to retain more moisture. Glycerin is another one which is common in soaps, shampoo and conditioners. Humectants can be found in all skin care ingredients but you will find them a lot in serums and moisturizers!

Also remember, using a blend of different skin care ingredients can help you target multiple concerns at once which means you get the most from your skin care routine!