Skincare Actives 101

Oftentimes, we find ourselves in a pickle when we read the ingredient labels on the skincare products. In general, an active is basically that contains an active ingredient in it. It is an ingredient that targets the exact concern your skin has. For example, you might have heard that if you have dry skin, Hyaluronic Acid is something you should use. So hyaluronic acid here, is the active ingredient in a particular skincare product. There are a lot of famous actives that you might be hearing about here and there as they are all over the place, like AHAs, BHAs, Niacinamide, Vitamin C, et cetera, are just a few science-backed ingredients that are bound to do wonders for your skin. Let us have a look at them. 1. Hyaluronic Acid This scary-sounding acid is already present inside your body and is actually magical for your thirsty-little faces. It is a sugar molecule occurring naturally in our bodies (skin, joints and eyes). Its purpose is to keep your skin hydrated naturally and lubricate the joints. Hyaluronic acid can also be known as the moisture magnet for your skin. It has the capacity to retain water and help regulate your skin’s moisture levels, keeping your skin balanced and hydrated. Secondly, hyaluronic acid works to improve skin resilience. rnVW Recommends: Over Dermis Skin Story Hyaluronic Acid Serum This is the perfect serum jelly your skin needs to get an instant burst of hydration for plump, healthy looking skin. rnWhen to use: Suitable to use in both AM and PM skincare routines. rnWhat skin type should use Hyaluronic acid: Good news! People with all skin types can use this magical ingredient and include it in their skin care regimes religiously! Works wonders for people with dry skin. rnActives that can be layered with: -Niacinamide -Vitamin C -Retinol -Salicylic Acid 2. Niacinamide/Vitamin B3 It is one form of Vitamin-B3 which is an essential ingredient that has much to do with body health than skincare in general as it fights against kidney, liver, and organ failure that might happen due to the toxins that we induce through our skincare products. When we introduce Niacinamide in our beauty routine, it helps in providing firmness and smoothness to the skin as it unclogs all the facial pores. The bottom line, it is a powerhouse of antioxidants that our body needs every day to fight all the signs of aging and prevent all early signs such as fine lines, spots, and wrinkles, and under eye bags. VW Recommends:rnMinimalist 5% Niacinamide & 1% HA Face Serum A nourishing & hydrating daily serum that repairs & soothes sensitive skin. Ideal for people with dry, sensitive skin & those who find Niacinamide 10% a little strong.rnWhen to use: Suitable to use in both AM and PM skincare routines. rnWhat skin type should use Niacinamide: All skin types can use Niacinamide (the optimum percent would be 4-5% for beginners). rnActives that can be layered with: -Hyaluronic Acid -Retinol -Older research shows that Vitamin C doesn't go well with Niacinamide, but since Vitamin C is already present in your skin, it has less chances of reacting. The bottom line is, every skin type has its own structure and it depends on your skin type whether these actives layered together suit you. 3. Vitamin C Vitamin C is one of the best when it comes to enhancing the skin. It brightens the skin and gives it a lighter radiance, and tends to remove or neutralize free-living radicals on the body. It removes dead skin cells and regenerates cell production as well as boosts collagen. rnVW Recommends: Myoho Pure By Priyanka Vitamin C Serum With a total strength of 15% Vitamin C (5% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate & 10% L ascorbic acid) - this one is a powerful serum that shows remarkable improvements in your skin like dullness, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, sun damage & sagging skin. When to use: Preferably AM, but you can also use it at both times. rnWhat skin type should use Vitamin C: All skin types can use Vitamin C. rnActives that can be layered with: -Hyaluronic Acid -Retinol 4. Retinol/Vitamin A Talk of the town and a hot topic in the skincare industry, Retinol has made its way from being an unknown ingredient to one of the most demanded ingredients in skincare products today. Vitamin A is essential for normal skin cell development because it helps in the collagen breakdown. It is also known for increasing the skin elasticity, improving water locking function, along with its anti-inflammatory properties. Retinol is highly induced with Vitamin A and its properties and is mainly known for its anti-ageing characteristics. rnVW Recommends: Deconstruct Retinol & Peptide Serum with 0.2% Retinol & 1% Peptide The anti-aging distinctive duo of Retinol and Peptides works effectively on skin collagen production and fights various signs of aging. Retinol slows down the skin’s aging process and fights fine lines and wrinkles, whereas peptides act as a facilitating collagen producing agent which firms the skin. When to use: Preferably PM, but you can also use it at both times. rnWhat skin type should use Retinol: All skin types can use Retinol but it should be started using above the age of 25 years. rnActives that can be layered with: -Hyaluronic Acid -Niacinamide -Ceramides 5. AHAs and BHAs AHA or Alpha Hydroxy Acids help us in removing all the dead skin cells off the layer of the skin. They are water-soluble acids and are suitable for dry skin. List of acids comprising the AHAs are: -Glycolic Acid -Lactic Acid -Mandelic Acid, etc rnVW Recommends:rnAuli Milky Way - Anti-Ageing Exfoliating Serum (Lactic Acid) This lactic acid treatment that rapidly exfoliates and boosts naturally youthful glow, while visibly reducing the look of lines, wrinkles and dark spots. rnWhen to use: Preferably PM. rnWhat skin type should use AHAs: Dry skin type. rnActives that can be layered with: -Hyaluronic Acid -BHAs rnBHAs or Beta Hydroxy Acids are specialized to cure acne and pimples and curing breakouts. They go deep inside the layers of your skin to get rid of all the excess sebum and impurities. They are oil-based and are suitable for oily skin. List of acids comprising the BHA’s are: -Salicylic Acid -Citric Acid -Tropic Acid, etc rnVW Recommends:rnJuicy Chemistry Naturally Activated BHA Clarifying Serum This naturally activated serum is formulated to unclog pores, exfoliate dead skin, control breakouts, combat hyperpigmentation and repair damaged skin. When to use: Preferably PM. rnWhat skin type should use AHAs: Oily and acne-prone skin type. rnActives that can be layered with: -Hyaluronic Acid -AHAs