I was thinking about ingredients and which ones seem to be consistent in my routines. I think subconsciously I’m attracted to certain ingredients. There are so many skincare ingredients out there, and each does something slightly different it can be a minefield knowing where to begin.
Looking at my stash, I can confidently say these are the ones that crop up most frequently and hence why they are the skincare ingredients I love in my routines…
Ceramides
Great for supporting a strong skin barrier. I’m attracted to these because they really help my dry skin keep hydrated, and also help me tolerate stronger retinols.
Ceramides are fatty lipids that make up the skins natural skin barrier. They are essential to a healthy, hydrated skin. When used in skincare, they strengthen the skin barrier by acting like the glue that holds skin cells together. They also create a barrier on the skin which helps to prevent water loss, leading to a plumper, firmer, hydrated skin.
Peptides
I can’t even describe my love for peptides. There’s just something about them I’m attracted to 😂 all my routines incorporate them in some form, whether that be via a moisturiser or serum.
Peptides are not an overnight wonder. When you start using them you won’t wake up with gorgeous and changed skin. They’re not like an acid where the result is immediate. They work over long term use.
Peptides are the fundamental building blocks of your skin. They are essentially particles of protein (such as collagen, elastin and keratin) that are named amino acid chains. If you broke these chains of amino acids down, eventually you would be left with short chains of amino acids called peptides.
When you apply peptides topically to the skin, they act as messengers to the skin cells and trigger skin cells to build elastin and collagen. This in turn makes the skin look and act younger. However, this takes time to do, hence why it is not an overnight miracle.
Vitamin C
This is an extremely popular antioxidant that protects against environmental aggressors, brightens the skin and increases the production of collagen and elastin. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t use it!
Usually it’s known by its chemical name, Ascorbic Acid, but there are many more derivatives on the market now (look for the wording ‘ascorb’ in the ingredients list).
Vitamin A/Retinol/Retinoids
The gold standard ingredient in skincare that helps reversing the signs of ageing and oh so effective for reducing breakouts. Vitamin A can be hard to tolerate at first (it can make your skin dry, red, peel, sore, angry) and you often find yourself thinking ‘is this worth it?’ but it really is once your skin gets used to it. I notice such a difference in my skin when I consistently use it.
The benefits of Vitamin A is astounding – it stimulates cell renewal, helping to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce breakouts, reduces pigmentation and evens the skin tone.
I’m not like most people when it comes to Vitamin A who aim for using every single night. I much prefer a 2-3 nights a week method. This keeps my skin from getting overly irritated, and allows me to use calming, barrier repairing ingredients other nights of the week to keep my skin healthy.
Polyhydroxy Acids (PHA)
These are probably the gentlest form of exfoliating acid out there. They tend to me a lot more hydrating than an Alpha Hydroxy Acid or Beta Hydroxy Acid, making them perfect for my skin type which is dry. I like these for daily use to remove build up of dead skin cells.
PHA’s are a humectant, meaning they attract water. Their molecule size means they only work on the surface layer of the skin.
Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid
Not an ingredient through choice, but mainly because it seems to be in everything these days.
Hyaluronic Acid helps to retain moisture in the skin, whilst Niacinamide is good for barrier repair, reducing visibility of pores, regulating sebum production and is brightening on the skin – a good all rounder really.
Products Featured 📸
Murad Hydro-Dynamic Moisturiser (review here)
Kate Somerville Total Repair Cream & Resurfacing Overnight Peel (overview here)
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF30
No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
Trinny London BFF Eye Serum & BFF Destress
Verso Nourishing Cream
Elizabeth Arden Super Start Skin Renewal Booster
What skincare ingredients are consistent in your routines?
