Best Skincare Ingredients and Products for Your Skin Concerns and Skin Problems
When I hit puberty, like most teens, my skin was plagued with acne. My parents took pity on me and brought me to a dermatologist. This was officially the start of my skincare journey.
Now that I’m in my 30s, I’ve had my fair share of skin problems and concerns. From having seborrheic dermatitis — to wanting bright, glowing and perfect skin on my wedding day — to now wanting to up my anti aging regimen.
Throughout these changes, I’ve learned a lot about skincare through research and of course, consulting with dermatologists. Below is a list of the best skincare ingredients and products that most experts agree on to help address different skin concerns and skin problems.
For Oily Skin
Salicylic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide
It may seem counter intuitive, but if you have oily skin, don’t try to dry out your skin. Dryness will trigger your skin to produce even more oil. As WebMD puts it, “your body knows that the oil protects your skin. Your skin may respond by producing even more oil to replace what was lost”.
So it would be better to use products with ingredients that help dissolve oil without drying out your skin. Experts recommend using products with salicylic acid to cleanse your face. It gently cleanses your face without stripping off its natural moisture. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce acne breakouts.
Murad Acne Control Calrifying Cleanser with 1.5% salicylic acid from ulta.com
As already mentioned, even if you have oily skin, you still have to moisturize. Just choose a lightweight and efficient moisturizer. Something packed with effective ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Hyaluronic acid attracts and retains moisture while niacinamide helps to soothe and calm the skin.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide from ulta.com
For Dark Spots and Acne Scars
Vitamin C
“Vitamin C serums are legendary for a reason: they really work”, says Allure in their article entitled Why Vitamin C is One of the Most Effective Skincare Ingredients. They move on to say, “uneven skin tone, rough texture, fine lines, acne scars, general dullness — you can name about just any common complexion concern and there’s a good chance that Vitamin C (and the skincare products it’s featured in) is a recommended treatment.
Vitamin C helps inhibit melanin production. Melanin is a natural skin pigment that determines the color of your hair, skin and eyes. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin will be. As Vitamin C has properties that can help inhibit melanin production, it can help fade dark spots and prevent hyper pigmentation.
A holy grail Vitamin C serum especially in the Korean skincare world is the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Drop. This is now a staple in my morning skincare routine after enjoying its benefits for years.
Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Drop from ulta.com
For Dry Skin and Textured Skin
Hyaluronic Acid, AHAs and BHAs
Hyaluronic Acid naturally occurs in our skin. It helps attract and hold in water to help our skin stay healthy and hydrated. Adding products containing this holy grail ingredient in your skincare routine can really help combat dry skin.
If you want to really focus on reaping the benefits of hyaluronic acid, try The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum. The Ordinary prides itself with effective, science based and targeted products at really affordable prices. Their hyaluronic acid serum is no exception.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum from ulta.com
When you have dry skin, it’s so tempting to exfoliate away those patches of dry skin. While everyone should exfoliate their skin, it’s extra important for those who have dry skin to use exfoliating products that won’t dry their skin further.
The Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is formulated with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) that are known to exfoliate skin and unclog pores. It also contains virgin marula oil and niacinamide to help hydrate and moisturize the skin. Perfect for those who suffer from dry skin!
Drunk Elephant Sukari Babyfacial from ulta.com
For Redness
Chamomile
Redness is tricky as it may be caused by so many different factors. It may be caused by rosacea, eczema, contact dermatitis and many more. So from the get-go, consult a dermatologist.
But at the very least, make sure to use skincare products that are gentle. Keep your skincare routine clean and simple so as not to exacerbate the situation and cause further irritation. Soothing ingredients like chamomile can also help calm down red, irritated skin.
Dr. Joshua Zeichner a dermatologist interviewed by New York Magazine recommends the Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser. This cleanser “contains feverfew, a calming ingredient associated with chamomile, which has been clinically proven to reduce redness and irritation”. In addition to this, it’s fragrance free and hypoallergenic.
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser from amazon.com
For Blackheads
Lactic Acid
Blackheads are mainly caused by pores clogged with oil, dry skin and other impurities and when these get exposed to air, they oxidize and turn black. So the key to preventing blackheads is not to pick on them or to suck them out, but to try to keep your pores clean. As explained by Dr. Anjali Mahto from London’s Cadogan Clinic who was interviewed by Cosmopolitan, “blackheads will always naturally reform every 20 to 40 days”.
So to help keep your pores clean and free from oil and impurities, regularly (but gently) exfoliate. Chemical exfoliants like lactic acid can help dissolve dead skin cells and unblock clogged pores.
In addition to lactic acid, The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA serum is formulated with hyaluronic acid. This helps ensure that your skin remains hydrated and moisturized.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA serum from ulta.com
For Dull Skin
Vitamin C
When it comes to brightening up dull skin, Vitamin C is one of the best ingredients to look for. As Healthline explains, “ Vitamin C can help fade pigmentation and smooth the skin’s surface to reduce dullness. This gives skin a youthful glow”.
One of the well known Vitamin C serums that is loved by many is the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum. It has 15% L-Ascorbic Acid which is the recommended form of Vitamin C by most skin experts.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum from amazon.com
Another cult favorite with a similar formulation as SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day serum.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum from ulta.com
For Anti Aging
Retinol
When it comes to anti aging, nothing beats retinols. Hollywood dermatologist, Dr. Lancer who was interviewed by Cosmopolitan says, “Retinol is lauded for its medically and scientifically-proven ability to speed up the skin’s cell cycle”.
Most beginners are scared to start on retinols. Due to its potency, one can experience some mild irritation and flaking at the start. But the key is to take it nice and slow. Start with a lower concentration and less frequency of application (start with once or twice a week) and increase gradually as your skin gets used to the effects.
A good product to start with is The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalene.
The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalene from ulta.com
Once you feel like you’re getting used to the effects of retinol on your skin, you can try to progress to another cult favorite — the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream. This retinol cream is formulated with 1.0% vegan retinol.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream from ulta.com
For Acne
Sulfur and Salicylic Acid
When it comes to treating acne, salicylic acid and sulfur are two of the most recommended ingredients to look for.
As stated in an article by Insider, “Salicylic acid works by getting rid of dead skin cells that clog pores”. Clogged pores is one of the causes of having acne.
On the other hand, “sulfur helps decrease the redness and size of pimples. A 2009 review was also published in Clinical, Cosmetic and and Investigational Dermatology stating that sulfur is an effective and antibacterial agent for acne and is also suitable for sensitive skin”.
The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is trusted by many when it comes to acne spot treatment. It contains both salicylic acid and sulfur so it’ll sure help to dry up your pimples fast. A lot even testify that it got rid of their pimples overnight!
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion from ulta.com
As for my personal favorite for acne spot treatment, I go for By Wishtrend’s Sulfur 3% Clean Gel. It’s main ingredient, Collodial Sulfur, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties to help calm down existing pimples and clean pores from bacteria.
By Wishtrend Sulfur 3% Clean Gel from amazon.com
