When it comes to cosmetics, there are 3 skin care ingredients considered essential to great skin. Ask most skin care professionals and you’ll likely get consensus. It’s easy to get confused by marketing and side-tracked by trendy new ingredients, but if you want to make the most of your skin care dollars and simplify your routine, consider adding these 3 skin care ingredients to your daily line-up.
1. Sunscreen
It’s boring, I know. But, applying sunscreen every day is one of the smartest and most cost effective strategies you can employ in maintaining healthy and youthful skin. The sun and its UV rays are responsible for more than 80% of skin aging. Wearing sunscreen daily along with practicing smart sun habits (wearing hats, seeking shade, covering up and staying out of the sun during its peak hours) makes very good sense.
Sunscreen should be worn every day, year round, even in deepest, darkest winter. The sun’s UVA rays, which are prevalent through the seasons, can penetrate through clouds and windows leading to skin aging. Choose between two types of sunscreens – physical or chemical. Physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin and deflect UV rays while chemical sunscreens are absorbed by the skin’s top layer and work to absorb UV energy and render it harmless.
Both types of sunscreens are effective as long as you know what to look for:
- Seek out products labelled as ‘broad spectrum’.
- With physical sunscreens, make sure your formulation contains zinc oxide as it is the only physical blocker that covers the full UV spectrum.
- For chemical screens, ensure that you are protected against both UVA and UVB rays and that the ingredients are photo-stable, meaning that they won’t degrade upon exposure to sunlight.
2. Retinoids
Derivatives of Vitamin A, retinoids are considered the gold standard when it comes to repairing sun-damaged and aging skin. They also stimulate the production of healthy, new skin cells. Retinoids are useful in fading age spots, reducing the appearance of fine lines and managing acne.
When it comes to choosing one that is best for you, you can choose from one that is prescription strength or an over-the-counter option. Retinol, retinyl palmitate and retinaldehyde are the most popular OTC options.
I’m a big fan of retinaldehyde because it is just one step away from converting to retinoic acid, the form of Vitamin A active at skin cells. It is also the gentlest form, which means that most individuals can tolerate it. Retinoids are light sensitive so they should be used at night. Apothekari A is for Anti-Aging boasts retinaldehyde, niacinamide and other ingredients to soothe irritation, minimize the appearance of fine lines and deliver brighter, firmer skin.
3. Antioxidants
Antioxidants help to thwart the visible effects of daily environmental assault caused by free radicals, which are released by exposure to sunlight, pollution and other environmental stressors. Free radicals are unstable molecules which can cause a cascade of cell damage, leading to inflammation and cell injury. Antioxidants fight back by helping to slow down this process.
Antioxidants benefit skin during the day and at night, but are essential as part of your morning routine. You can choose from a range of antioxidants including Vitamins C and E, alpha lipoic acid, green tea and coenzyme Q10. When it comes to antioxidants, the more the merrier! Check out our Bespoke Vitamin C Serum, available in two concentrations and formulated with Vitamin C, green tea extract plus additional antioxidants along with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to protect and moisturize.
Sunscreen, retinoids and antioxidants form the Holy trifecta when it comes to skin care. Are these 3 skin care ingredients included in your regimen?
