Part One. Skin Care Ingredients 101: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, && Vitamin C. A Guide To The Best Products

Okay, but wait, what is Niacinamide? How important is Hyaluronic Acid? && What are the benefits of Vitamin C? Let’s talk skin care ingredients 101.

Part Two covers ceramides, Glycolic Acid, and peptides.

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Skin Care Ingredients 101

Good skin care products and a consistent regimen are invaluable. Think prevention, treatment, and maintenance. watch .

&& a consistent skin care routine is actually the key to your flawless makeup look. watch .

The minimum you should do everyday is cleanse, moisturize, and protect. Since you’re here tho, I know that you’re totally into the whole thing and so .. .

 ❥ When applying your serums do not allow the droppers to touch your face or hands. This prevents bacteria from being introduced into the bottles. 

 ❥ Your neck needs attention, too. This includes sunscreen – it is like really important. read . watch .

 ❥ At the end of your skin care routine, apply whatever excess product is on your hands to your elbows. It is an easy way to take care of an area that is often overlooked and prone to dryness. 

What Are The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic Acid holds water, like 1000 times its weight, and so products with H.A. increase your skin’s ability to hold moisture¹. Without it, your skin becomes dull, dry, and thin. && that leads to wrinkles. Insert: Hyaluronic Acid, which treats these issues and with consistent use will help you achieve soft, smooth, plump skin. 

The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid:

• Improves Moisture Barrier
• Reduces Fine Lines + Wrinkles
• Improves Skin Texture 
• Decreases Skin Fragility 
• Firms + Brightens 

Hyaluronic Acid Face Products

SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier Okay, if you are wanting the best of the best, it is SkinCeuticals. Everything is medical grade with a focus on improving the health of your skin. The H.A. Intensifier works as a skin corrective, which plumps, firms, and takes care of texture.

Lancôme Advanced Génifique This serum is being highlighted for its Hyaluronic Acid content but its ingredients are so good it could be under a number of other sections. If you want a simpler skin care routine, use a cleanser and this. It has ingredients that help with redness, breakouts, and that minimize the signs of aging. && the dropper self-loads when you open the cap so that you always get just the right amount of product.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Products from The Ordinary are so special because you get all the good ingredients at crazy affordable prices. You can literally build your entire skin care regimen for like the same price as one product from some of the other brands mentioned. && the apothecary-like labels make it so easy to shop – it really is like Skin Care Ingredients 101.   

Hyaluronic Acid Lip Products

YouthFull Lip Replenisher This is literally like medicine for your lips. It treats dry lips, plumps, and smooths. && it has a gloss finish so you can wear it with your favorite lippy. Once you use a lip product with Hyaluronic Acid .. . there is no going back. It. Is. That. Good!

Dior Lip Maximizer Serum Use this at night for a little plump and to hold moisture while you sleep. *It has a bit of a white tint, which is why I recommend it for your night routine, but you could totally use it as a lip primer during the day.

Hyaluronic Acid Body Products

Nécessaire The Body Serum Okay, Nécessaire’s body products .. . so good! Read about the hype here. All the best ingredients to treat your skin. Nécessaire uses language like “a treatment” and “a multivitamin” for your body. The focus is about nourishing, strengthening, and protecting. && the packaging – perfect for any aesthetic. After your shower, mix The Body Serum and The Body Lotion for hydration that is actually designed to treat and improve your skin.

What is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide is a B3 vitamin that evens the appearance of your skin tone. It treats hyperpigmentation (dark spots), reduces inflammation (redness), and shrinks your pores². Niacinamide is to skin care what a good blurring powder is to make up.

The Benefits of Niacinamide:

• Treats Dark Spots 
• Reduces Inflammation
• Shrinks Pores
• Increases Keratin
• Smooths Fine Lines

Niacinamide Face Products

IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Cream A moisturizer that does the most – treats, smooths, and firms. It is super hydrating and evens your skin tone. Use this as the last product in your skin care routine to create a moisture barrier that helps “melt” everything together.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc This serum is perfect if your skin is more oily. The Niacinamide blurs blemishes and the Zinc controls excess oil.

Niacinamide Body Products

Nécessaire The Body Wash For the extra boujee chick. Think about Nécessaire’s products as skin care for your body. Start with a cleanser formulated with facial-grade ingredients designed to soften your skin. Then, apply The Body Serum and finish with The Body Lotion.

Nécessaire The Body Lotion Okay, stay with me for a min, if you want a lotion that feels like you do not have on lotion (iykyk), you need The Body Lotion. It is super moisturizing but is not heavy or sticky. Plus, you get all the best skin care ingredients that brighten, strengthen, and firm your body. Um, yes please.

 ❥ Mom Hack: mix The Body Serum with The Body Lotion and apply to your stomach, especially postpartum, the ingredients are perfect for nourishing your momma skin.

What Are The Benefits of Vitamin C Serum? 

Everyone should be using Vitamin C. It is literally an all-in-one product that can prevent, treat, and correct the signs of aging. This is especially helpful for melasma or dark spots³. A high-end Vitamin C product is totally worth the splurge!

The Benefits of Vitamin C:

• Brightens
• Stimulates Collagen Production
• Reduces Environmental Exposure Damage 
• Corrects Hyperpigmentation 
• Treats Fine Lines + Wrinkles

Vitamin C Products

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic This product is amazing because the Vitamin C reduces fine lines and brightens + firms your skin while the Ferulic Acid reduces oxidation and protects against environmental exposures you cannot avoid. Things like the sun, pollution, and exhaust. C E Ferulic is definitely a cult-favorite && totally worth the splurge!

dermalogica Biolumin-C This totally has a citrus scent and look. It is super lightweight and so you need to press it into your skin. Because it also has Lactic Acid, which removes dull skin, this serum really works to brighten and even out texture; i.e., your skin will be smooth.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh This is such a curious product because you mix it { see here } before the very first use so that the ingredients are activated like in real time. It is different and so beneficial because the integrity of its potency is never compromised and so it remains fresh, which is important for Vitamin C products.

Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C This is actually a cream that is designed specifically for the eye area. It decreases the appearance of dark circles and puffiness while smoothing fine lines.  

S H O P

This is perfect for your Beauty Aesthetic board on Pinterest! You should totally consider saving it.

References

1. Smejkalova, D., Huerta-Angeles, G., Ehlova, T., & Dobrouc, D. (2015). Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care. Harry’s 9th Edition, 2, 605-622.

2. Gehring W. (2004). Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 3(2), 88–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x

3. Pullar, J. M., Carr, A. C., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2017). The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients, 9(8), 866. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866