What ingredients are in your cosmetics?

Cosmetic products contain various ingredients with different benefits. It can sometimes be challenging to make sense of them all. A good habit to adopt is to read the list of ingredients carefully to ensure that they meet your needs. It also helps to avoid using products containing the same ingredients. Learn more about the ingredients most often used in beauty products and their benefits.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in your skin cells. It is highly moisturizing and it helps maintain water on your skin's surface and prevents it from evaporating.  As you age, hyaluronic acid production declines, leading to wrinkles as your skin dries out. When used in a cosmetic product, you can compensate for this loss of hyaluronic acid and stimulate its production, providing hydration and an anti-aging effect by reducing the appearance of wrinkles. The filtering effect of hyaluronic acid also restores the skin's suppleness and softness. 

It has been reported that some people may suffer from irritation when using products containing hyaluronic acid, particularly those with rosacea.

Ceramides

Often paired with hyaluronic acid, ceramides also help maintain skin hydration. They help retain water and improve the skin barrier.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is an ingredient extracted from willow bark. This ingredient has antiseptic, exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties. Its exfoliating action helps renew skin cells. It removes both impurities and dead skin cells, reducing the production and lifespan of pimples. New skin cells can then regenerate. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the redness of your skin and pimples. It also minimizes irritation caused by pimples. Some dermatologists recommend salicylic acid to treat acne for these and other reasons. It can also be used as a preservative in certain products. This ingredient prevents the production of micro-organisms in cosmetic products that could cause specific health problems.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging ingredient when used in cosmetics. It helps reduce environmental irritation, such as free radicals caused by the sun's rays, above all through its antioxidant properties. As a result, you can prevent premature aging of your skin. Vitamin C is effective against redness and pigmentation spots, homogenizing your skin tone and complexion. It also stimulates collagen production, restoring your skin's firmness and elasticity. This elasticity prevents the appearance of wrinkles. Vitamin C gives your skin a radiant glow. It combats signs of stress and fatigue, giving your skin a fresher, more rested appearance. It also provides a dose of vitamin energy for your face. All these benefits make vitamin C a popular ingredient in anti-aging skin care.

Vitamin A (retinol)

Retinol is a form of vitamin A. It is mainly used for acne and anti-aging skin care. It stimulates cell renewal, giving the skin a youthful, radiant appearance. It also makes skin firmer and more elastic by increasing collagen production, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps even out skin tone and reduces pigmentation spots. This ingredient is found in anti-aging cosmetics. Care must be taken, however, when using products containing retinol. It can irritate the skin when first used. Using it gradually (for example, 1 day out of 3 at first) is recommended. You should also wear sunscreen, as retinol makes the skin more sensitive to the sun and its rays. Be sure to read the precautions when using beauty products containing retinol.

AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, etc.)

These acids are used to minimize redness and pigmentation spots. They are also used to reduce fine lines and exfoliate the skin. As these acids can make the skin more sensitive to the harmful effects of the sun, it is important to use sunscreen.

Feel free to ask your beauty consultant for help finding the right products to incorporate into your daily routine. Either way, always test a new ingredient before using it on your skin.