Cleanser, toner, moisturizer, serum, day cream, night cream, eye cream, and so on and so forth…. the list of products in everyday skincare routine is never-ending. Just when you think you have got it all figured out and know what products you need for your skin, there comes a new skincare trend!! And let’s not forget the options! Should I go for a chemical peel or exfoliator? Eye cream or eye balm? Jade roller or gau sha? Confusing, right?!!
Skincare and choosing the right skincare products can be confusing even for beauty connoisseurs. But just like your pair of basic denim and white shirt are essentials no matter how many trends come and go, there are a few ingredients in skincare that are a must-have in everyday routine.
Whether you are someone who likes to hop on to the latest skincare trend or someone who likes to keep it simple, these skincare ingredients are a must-have for glowing, healthy, and moisturized skin.
Top 5 Must-Have Skincare Ingredients
1. Vitamin C
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, Vitamin C is one ingredient that is like a holy grail when it comes to skincare! An amazing antioxidant that is a must-have for every skin type. Vitamin C helps boost collagen, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduces inflammation, hydrates, and helps brighten the skin naturally.
While your oranges and berries are loaded with Vitamin C, sometimes just eating them is not enough. The topical application of vitamin C sends the nutrients directly to skin cells to increase collagen production. Vitamin C is also known to help reduce pigmentation and melasma.
It is best recommended to go for dermatologist-recommended Vitamin C serums to include this skincare must-have in your everyday routine. You can also check if your existing products have Vitamin C in them by looking for ingredients like ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.
2. Retinol
This is one ingredient that is probably the most debated one when it comes to skincare but it is also the one that has shown the most amazing results. Retinol is a powerful ingredient when it comes to fighting early signs of aging. You would find retinol in almost every anti-aging product on the market and that is because it works!
Other than working its magic on fine lines and wrinkles, retinol is known to help reduce pigmentation, acne scarring, as well as skin texture. It acts as an exfoliator at the cellular level to leave behind smoother and brighter skin. Retinol is often present in skincare products in different forms and you can check for ingredient names like retinyl esters, retinal aldehyde, and tretinoin.
3. Hydraulic Acid
Hydraulic Acid is one of the most commonly used and also by far the most popular ingredients when it comes to skincare. It is also referred to as gold for skincare! That should tell you how amazing this ingredient can be!
Widely known as a humectant, hydraulic acid, hydrates and moisturizes the skin like no other ingredient. While our body naturally produces hydraulic acid but like every good thing, as we age the production slows down and that’s what leads to dry, dull and dehydrated skin. Hydraulic acid when applied topically hydrates the skin 10x times as it attracts water molecules and keeps the skin hydrated for a long time. It makes the skin look instantly plump and smoother.
4. Glycolic Acid
An amazing exfoliator, glycolic acid is an AHA that is known to reverse the damage caused by harmful UV rays and even aging. This amazing ingredient comes from natural sources such as sugarcane, sugar beets, and pineapple and works wonders when used in the everyday skincare routine. It works to exfoliate the outermost layer of the skin to help reduce discoloration, fine lines, dull skin, pigmentation, scarring, and wrinkles.
5. Niacinamide
Niacinamide is also known as Vitamin B3 and is a wonder ingredient for sensitive and acne-prone ingredients. It helps build keratin, a protein that is vital to keep skin healthy and firm. Niacinamide helps build the skin barrier and protect against sun damage, improves elasticity, reduces hyperpigmentation, and helps the skin stay hydrated for long by preventing evaporation. This is another ingredient that is popular in anti-aging skin care products because of its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It is even known to help brighten the complexion.
6. Vitamin E
Another powerful antioxidant, Vitamin E, helps protect your skin cells from damage and even helps repair the skin’s moisture barrier. An excellent moisturizer, Vitamin E helps soften the skin, helps reduce under-eye dark circles, reduces sun damage, and helps hydrate the skin. When used in combination with Vitamin C and sunscreen, it can do wonders for your skin.
7. Ceramides
Our skin basically needs a shield to protect it from external damage. While a good-quality sunscreen does a pretty good job at it, your skin needs some extra protection as well to build and repair it from within. Ceramides are an amazing ingredient that helps improve the skin cells to help fight against basic skin problems like dryness, dull skin, and pigmentation. They are basically fats or lipids found in skin cells however with age their production is reduced and you need to use them topically to help your skin maintain its elasticity.
Ceramides are known to create a barrier that helps prevent moisture from leaving your skin and keep it supple, hydrated, and moisturized for longer.
