Are You Missing Out? Skincare Ingredients So Great That Everyone Should Know About Them!

Are you a low-ish maintenance person whose priorities don't lie with beauty care? Do you want to look and feel your best without necessarily spending hours and hours reading up on all the latest skincare ingredients and understanding exactly how they work? You may be stuck buying all the wrong random drugstore products without understanding what they can do for your skin — and you may well be missing out!

Here's a quick look beyond vague "anti-age" or "anti-acne" labels that should help you decide what ingredients to look for next time you are ready to make some purchases to pamper your skin. 

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid, which is naturally present in both skin and connective tissue, is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and eye conditions including cataracts. It's also a hot word in skincare at the moment, and for good reason — this glycosaminoglycan, which isn't actually an acid but a kind of polymer, has magical moisture-retention properties — attracting over a thousand times its weight in water. 

Though commercially-produced forms of hyaluronic acid are typically made from chicken combs or created in a lab, hyaluronic acid's skin-identical properties make it a great ingredient to replenish your lost youth, to super-hydrate your skin, and to repair sun damage. Hyaluronic acid is also said to speed up wound healing, so if you're dealing with acne scars, it is a good choice for you as well. 

Want to check it out? You'll find hyaluronic acid in many moisturizers as well as in specialized serums. The body starts losing hyaluronic acid content as soon as age 18, but you'll benefit most from hyaluronic acid after you turn 40. If you are younger, a moisturizer with a less concentrated dose of the stuff will probably get you the results you're looking for. If you are looking for something far more radical, hyaluronic acid is also used in the best "fillers" out there today, offering more natural-looking and longer-lasting results than Botox. 

READ Do You Really Need An Anti-Aging Cream?

Phytoceramides

Ceramides — typically from animal sources — have been used in cosmetics for years now. They're said to have the ability to seep right through all the layers of your skin, contributing to a plumper, younger, and more hydrated look. Phytoceramides are different, and not quite like anything else you have in your bathroom cabinet for your skin right now. Phytoceramides are, wait for it, consumed in tablet form. Coming from plant sources (hence the "phyto"), they provide hydration, cell repair, a collagen boost and body-identical lipids.

More Amazing Skincare Ingredients You Definitely Need To Know About

Vitamin C

You know all about the benefits of vitamin C from citrus fruits and supplements, but what can a vitamin C serum do for your skin? First and foremost, vitamin C fights those nasty free radicals that contribute to aging and unhealthy-looking skin. By using a vitamin C serum, you can achieve more youthful looking skin, fade signs of sun damage, and eliminate acne scars. Vitamin C works particularly well on those dark circles many of us have under our eyes.

Are you interested in trying a vitamin C serum out for yourself? While vitamin C comes in quite a few different forms, L-ascorbic acid is the most researched of these. Experienced users recommend that you start with lower concentrations to avoid tingling feelings and initial signs of irritation: you are talking about a very acidic substance here, and building your dose up gradually is advised. Because vitamin C is notoriously unstable, make sure to follow the storage instructions: vitamin C does best in cold and dark environments.

Retinoids

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that already have a long track record as a powerful topical acne treatment. More than fighting acne, however, retinoids also do a great deal to keep your skin looking young, making them a rare dual-action skincare product. Retin A — the most well-known brand name — and similar products are prescription-only, and though it isn't hard to get a prescription if you have acne, not all doctors will give one to you if you simply want to fight signs of aging.

Beauty experts know that retinoids are the key to looking young and being acne free at the same time, but you should be aware that retinoids make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Religiously apply sunscreen if you start using any retinoid. Sunscreen, incidentally, is another "magic beauty product" that most of us wrongfully forget about.

Peptides

Skincare can quite a bit too technical for most lay people to truly understand. Peptides are amino-acid building blocks that form the proteins within the skin. Put simply, they play a key role in collagen production, and we all know collagen to be something that keeps skin looking firm, plump, and young. Peptides also reduce inflammation, fight sun damage, and help undo damage caused by exposure to the elements. Found in many moisturizers these days, you will want to look for Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to get all these benefits. 

Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Alpha hydroxy acid is both found in many foods and used in medications that treat fibromyalgia. Lactic acid, a mild form of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) has been used in skincare since the Ancient Egyptians roamed the Earth. Today, however, they're a buzzword in skincare because their use combats signs of aging as well as acne and dry skin.

READ Retin A: The Skincare Workhorse That Fights Acne AND Wrinkles

Alpha hydroxy acid does come with potential side effects. They include irritation, scarring, and pigment changes — so make sure to use a very good broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect yourself, and use your product exactly as instructed.