Some facial creams, lotions and cleansers contain questionable ingredients that could do more harm than good. Understanding the difference between healthy and unhealthy ingredients in your skin care products can signify the difference between smooth, flawless skin; and rough, imperfection-filled skin. Luckily, learning to identify the ingredients in a skin care product is easy; all you have to do is read the label. Here is a list of some of the important ingredients you want to see on the label, and those you want to avoid:
Ingredients to Love
Retinoid:
Derivatives of vitamin A, retinoids are commonly used in anti-aging lotions and creams because they encourage speedy skin cell turnover and protect the skin from free radicals that can lead to premature aging. Because they increase collagen production and unclog pores, retinoids should be incorporated in your daily skin care routine. However, since retinoids contain a lot vitamin A, it’s important to avoid using too much of a product that contains it because it can cause redness and make your skin sensitive to sunlight
Alpha Hydroxy Acid:
Alpha hydroxy acids, which can be listed as AHAs on skin care labels, are obtained from fruit or milk sugars. They are commonly used in anti-ageing creams because they help dull skin look plumper and brighter. The way this ingredient benefits skin is by encouraging dead skin cells, which accumulate as you age and cause a dull complexion, to simply fall off and reveal fresh skin cells. Glycolic, malic, citric and lactic acid are types of alpha hyrdoxy acids, so you should look for them when shopping for skin care products.
Ceramides:
As we age, our skin becomes drier, which encourages fine lines and wrinkles to appear. Skin can lose moisture due to environmental factors or because of the use of harsh ingredients. If you suffer from facial dryness, look for a moisturizer that contains ceramides. Ceramides are powerful lipid molecules that are used to restore moisture in dry skin. They create a barrier between the environment and your skin, which also protects the skin from environmental pollution.
Peptides:
Wrinkles, facial redness and loss of suppleness are common skin woes, but these problems can be treated with peptides. Peptides are a powerful, skin-healing ingredient that can encourage skin to produce more collagen, which results in younger looking skin. In addition to that, this ingredient can also sooth skin irritation and cause facial redness to die down. Peptides even help skin gain elasticity as well.
Skin Ingredients to Avoid
Parabens: Parabens are a common preservative that are used in all types of products ranging from soap to sunscreen. It’s best to avoid this ingredient because it can lead to facial redness and skin irritation. On top of that, there is evidence that parabens have been linked to hormone disruption, and some doctors have found parabens in breast cancer tissue causing some to believe that there is a link between the use of parabens and breast cancer.
Alcohol:
Alcohol is a very drying, irritating ingredient that’s best avoided. Not only can it cause facial redness and irritate acne, alcohol can strip the skin of sebum causing fine lines and wrinkles to become apparent. This ingredient can also cause bacteria to multiply on the skin, which leads to breakouts and loss of smoothness.
Parfum:
Other than helping a product smell good, parfum has no benefit for the skin. This product, in fact, has been shown to exasperate acne because it irritates the skin follicles and causes redness. This ingredient is also considered carcinogenic, so it’s best to get facial products that are labelled fragrance-free.
Coal tar:
Coal tar is a highly toxic substance that is surprisingly found in numerous skin care products. Not only can this product cause acne in people, it has also been linked to contact dermatitis and severe rashes. On top of that, this ingredient can be absorbed in the bloodstream, which is bad because it’s a known carcinogenic ingredient.
Mineral oil:
This ingredient is one of the worst things to put on your skin. Because mineral oil causes a barrier between the air and your skin, it can cause friction that leads to acne and other types of irritation. Additionally, because it suffocates the epidermis, it has been shown to cause premature aging and affect the production of collagen. The best thing to do is avoid this harmful ingredient. Mineral oil can be found in everything ranging from foundation to, ironically, anti-aging creams.
Taking care of skin isn’t just about cleansing and moisturizing; you need to take the time to investigate the ingredients you are using. Simply swapping harmful products for wholesome ones will make all the difference in your skin. If you’re confused about skin care products, you can always contact your dermatologist for product recommendations.
Jemma Stergiou is Owner and Director of Keturah Day Spa Group, a leading provider of beauty products and spa treatments in Perth, Western Australia. Connect with Jemma on Google+
