Skincare is an addiction for most of us. The more we indulge in skincare, the more we get obsessed with it. But to those who are new to skincare, it can be a little overwhelming. Seeing multiple skincare products with unique skincare ingredients, comparing different skincare products, and deciding which ones to buy is a tough choice. It’s pretty confusing to read terms like skincare with active ingredients, serums, or non-comedogenic while you compare skincare products.
We are here today to solve all your confusion regarding active ingredients in skincare. We will delve deeper to know what are skincare actives, how they work to make your skin better and how they help you to enhance the beauty of your skin.
What Are Skincare Actives?
First things first, we need to know what skincare activities are. In simpler words, active ingredients in skincare products are those that play major part in addressing your specific skin concerns like acne, dark spots, blemishes, fine lines, wrinkles, freckles or skin plumpness or hydration issues. These active ingredients in skincare products play a more functional role in skincare like they are the most active ingredients to make a noticeable difference in your skin.
For instance, when you see an active skincare product which claims to hydrate your skin, the active ingredient in that specific product will actually make it possible.
Most Popular Active Ingredients in Skincare
Now we hope you have understood what are active skincare ingredients, let’s have a look at some of the most effective active ingredients and see how they work:
Retinoids: A common example of Retinoid is Retinol which is an excellent ingredient to bring anti-aging benefits to your skin. It makes your skin smoother and younger by reducing wrinkles and fine lines. It plays an important role in collagen production.
Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic Acid do wonders for dry and dead skin. It instantly hydrates dry and rough skin making it more plump, and radiant.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is known widely for its brightening properties. It evens out your skin tone, prevents blemishes and hyperpigmentation and gives you an overall bright complexion.
Salicylic Acid: An excellent active ingredient for acne-prone skin. It helps in clearing clogged pores and makes skin clearer. It also prevents acne breakouts.
Niacinamide: Niacinamide is the most useful skincare active ingredient as it significantly enhances skin quality by improving your skin barrier and makes it even tone.
How Many Actives Should be a Part of Your Daily Skincare Routine?
Now you know the exact role of active skincare ingredients, you can be obsessed with multiple skincare products and tend to overuse them. But the saying “excess of anything is bad” goes right in that scenario as well. Overuse of skin products can lead to multiple skin problems and harm your skin barrier as well. So, when you start building up a skincare routine, it’s always recommended to start slow.
Remember this rule: less is more when applying skincare.
Some active skincare ingredients like retinol or different acids are very powerful, and they can cause more harm than good if not used properly. It’s wise to introduce your skin to one new product each month and give it its due time to work. Do not rush to see results instantly.
What is Meant by the Term Functional Ingredient?
Definitely, active ingredients are the most important ones but some functional ingredients also make the skincare products more appealing, and adds fragrance and texture to them.
Some of them are Active Ingredients:
Emulsifiers: Emulsifiers help blend oil and water in a product to give it a smoother consistency.
Preservatives: Preservatives are a must to increase the product’s shelf life and make it safer to use.
Thickeners: Thickeners are added to give a richer and creamier touch to the product.
Examples of Non-Comedogenic ingredients:
The term Non-Comedogenic is used widely on skincare labels. But what exactly does that mean? Non-comedogenic means that a certain product won’t clog your pores and keep them clear. It’s the most important thing to look for if you have oily and acne-prone skin.
A few common Non-Comedogenic actives are Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, and Hyaluronic Acid. They are light on your skin and do not risk clogging pores. On the other hand, some heavy night creams and certain skin oils work well for your skin but leave clogged pores behind, so it’s not a good idea to leave such creams on your skin for too long. Instead, look for products that are labeled as Non-Comedogenic to prevent breakouts.
What is an Activating Serum?
Activating Serums are created keeping a higher concentration of active skincare ingredients. Such serums are exclusively designed to activate your skin’s healing and boosting, like collagen production, removal of dead skin cells and accelerating new cells in your skin.
There are many serums consisting high concentration of retinols, hyaluronic acid to solve your skin problems quickly and leaving you with a smoother and more glowing skin.
Final thoughts!
Getting to know better about skincare actives can definitely be a game-changer. If you understand better what suits you and how does it work for your skin, half of your problem is solved. It is a wise idea to understand your skin problems first, and then address them accordingly.
Choosing the right skin products according to the issues your skin is facing is the best decision to make. Whether you are looking for skin hydration, skin brightening or glowing, there’s always an active skincare ingredient to do it right for you. Remember to start slow and be consistent as overnight results are just fake. Best of luck for your skincare journey.
