Image Source: L'Oreal

By Shilpa Bhim

Remember when they made you believe there was a magical fountain of youth that would keep your skin looking glowy, plump and fresh forever?

Turns out that was a lie! But there is a secret to actually helping your skin maintain its youthfulness and overall health. It’s all about knowing the best ingredients to use to keep your skin in check.

Now we love to spill the tea on as many skincare secrets as we can - Team Zove is not here to be the gatekeeper! 

So get comfy, and pour yourself an actual cup of tea, while we share the ingredients you need to use for youthful skin.

AHAs AND BHAs

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) are effective exfoliants for your skin and help to stimulate the production of new skin cells.

AHAs work at the surface level of the skin and can help reduce surface lines, roughness, and pigmentation.

BHAs work deeper in the skin and help unclog pores. BHAs work best on acne prone skin - salicylic acid is a common BHA.

CERAMIDES

Ceramides are a type of lipid found naturally in the stratum corneum (the outer layer of the skin). It helps to seal in hydration - keeping your skin hydrated and plump. 

Using skin care products containing ceramides will keep your skin looking fresh and youthful!

VITAMIN A

… aka, retinol! It’s no secret that retinol is a powerhouse anti-ageing ingredient. 

It’s got decades of scientific research and data behind it making it a clinically proven active ingredient. It can help with reducing fine lines and wrinkles and fading brown spots.

A few tips for introducing retinol into your skin care routine:

• Introduce it slowly - retinol is a strong ingredient so you want to give your skin time to adjust. Start out using it once a week, before building up to twice a week. Retinol is recommended for use every other day.

• Be sure to wear SPF the day after using retinol as rein can increase your skin’s sensitivity. We’re big believers in daily SPF anyway, but putting this tip out there in case you didn’t receive the memo.

A tip for those of you with sensitive skin (retinol is not recommended for use on sensitive skin), you could try using bakuchiol. It’s known as the plant based, less irritating, alternative to retinol and is considered to have a similar effect to retinol on the skin. 

It’s important to note that bakuchiol isn’t exactly the same as retinol, and it doesn’t have decades of research behind it yet. Research to date indicates that bakuchiol provides similar benefits to retinol in concentrations of 0.5% - 2%. Watch this space for more!

VITAMIN B3

… aka, Niacinamide. This ingredient can help with brightening dark spots and fighting free radical damage caused by air pollution. It can also help with managing acne. 

Niacinamide helps to renew, restore and strengthen the skin’s surface overall. Oh, and it can be used on all skin types!

VITAMIN C

Yes, we are working through our vitamins in alphabetical order! Vitamin C is a classic when it comes to skin care routines. 

It’s an antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage. Vitamin C also brightens skin tone, reduces the appearance of dark spots and helps to stimulate collagen and elastin.

HYALURONIC ACID

Because hydration is key. 

Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in your body - with half of it being present in your skin. It binds to water to help retain moisture and is a powerful humectant. But as we age, the level of hyaluronic acid in our skin decreases.

Applying hyaluronic acid to the skin helps to draw water molecules into the skin keeping it hydrated and moisturised, and helping the skin to look fuller and more plump.

PEPTIDES

Fun fact - your body makes peptides! They're strings of amino acids that are found in every human cell and are the building blocks of proteins.

Research shows that peptides can have anti-aging properties. So peptides are often used in skincare to boost collagen production which helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines.

SQUALANE

Squalane is an absorbent, lightweight lipid that helps to protect the skin barrier and seal in moisture for soft, smooth and hydrated skin. 

Squalane also contains antioxidants that help fight free radicals - preventing skin damage. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, and can help soothe eczema, rosacea, dermatitis, psoriasis and inflammatory acne.

Need a hand with how to mix or layer these ingredients so they can work their magic on your skin? Check out our guide on mixing and layering skin care products.

In addition to incorporating some or all of these ingredients into your skin care routine, don’t underestimate the power of the basics when it comes to keeping your skin happy, healthy and youthful:

• Get plenty of sleep

• Sleep on a silk pillowcase 

• Stay hydrated - drink at least 8 glasses of water a day

• Eat lots of fruits and veggies because you are what you eat!

• Wear your SPF daily, and stay in the shade as much as possible when you’re outside!

Have more questions about keeping your skin looking youthful? Feel free to reach out to us via Instagram or email us - we love hearing from you!

Shilpa is a freelance beauty and lifestyle writer from Melbourne, Australia. You can keep up with her adventures over at @skb.ontherun and check out her latest articles here.