Trending Skincare Ingredients You Need to Know About

What is Bakuchiol?

Despite its clinical sounding name, Bakuchiol is derived from the leaves and seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant.

It’s often described as a gentle alternative to retinol since it has similar properties but is less of an irritant. Working to aid collagen production, plumping up the skin and supplying potent antioxidant action, Bakuchiol is a great support for mature skin.

This turbo-charged ingredient deeply penetrates skin cells, speeding up cell turnover and renewal to target the visible signs of ageing by smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, lessening dark spots or discolouration, improving firmness, refining texture and evening out skin tone. Its impressive list of benefits certainly warrant its anti-ageing tag. Not to mention that Bakuchiol also has a pronounced soothing effect  also making it ideal for sensitivity, blemishes and inflamed or acne prone skin.

What is Retinol?

There’s been a wealth of misinformation about this powerful, active skincare ingredient over the years, but when used correctly and at the right strength for your skin, retinol is completely safe.

So, what is it? Well, retinol is derived from Vitamin A and works by increasing cell turnover. This means that pores are unclogged more quickly, which prevents the build-up of dead skin cells, and in turn stops blemishes from forming. That’s why it’s used in many treatments for acne, spots, and blemishes.

Another significant benefit is that retinol stimulates collagen production, plumping the skin up and meaning that with regular use, the complexion looks smoother with diminished fine lines and wrinkles. Skin cell proliferation also occurs, which thickens the epidermis and increases skin resilience, to combat against signs of sun damage like dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Neck Repair is the ultimate retinol cream for dealing with giveaway ageing neck skin. After all, it’s one of the most neglected areas, typically suffering dryness, sagginess and wrinkles.

Specially formulated with 0.2% pure slow-release Retinol, 2.5% Tripeptide Concentrate and 5.0% Glaucine Complex, this incredibly effective retinol product has been clinically proven to deliver significant improvement in neck skin crepiness, the appearance of horizontal neck lines and neck skin smoothness. If you care about your neck, this one needs to be on your bathroom shelf!

What is Alpha Arbutin?

Alpha Arbutin is a naturally occurring skin-brightening ingredient, derived from bearberries, cranberries and blueberries that works to reduce dark spots and hyperpigmentation in addition to fading scars from breakouts. It’s an on-trend ingredient that works by reducing the skin’s pigment production because it suppresses enzymes that produce melanin.

It’s another great ingredient for sensitive skin because Alpha Arbutin is gentler than other well-known skin brighteners like retinol too. Not to mention that it has powerful antioxidant properties which is why you’ll also find it in anti-ageing products. 

If you’re new to Alpha-Arbutin, we’d highly recommend SkinCeuticals Phyto A + Brightening Treatment. This light gel-creme contains 2% Alpha Arbutin, 3% Azelaic Acid and 5.75% phyto botanical blend to soothe and correct out-of-balance skin to enhance radiance, texture and clarity with regular daily use.

What is SPF?

Sun damage is something that we need to take seriously. Exposure to the sun’s rays damages the DNA in cells. This is especially worrying because cell mutations ultimately can result in life-threatening skin cancer. Not to mention that elastin fibres get damaged, which causes skin to lose its elasticity and look saggy, crepey and wrinkled.

So, it's good news that the world has finally woken up to the fact that SPF is not just for summer holidays. Nope, it absolutely needs to be applied all year round. SPF protects skin from the damaging UV rays that cause sunburn, skin cancer and the visible signs of ageing. 

UV rays can also penetrate our skin through dense clouds and even windows which is why it must be used in winter too.  For the ultimate lightweight moisturising SPF serum, it has to be Dr Barbara Sturm’s “liquid sun umbrella”, otherwise known as Dr. Barbara’s Sturm Sun Drops SPF50.

An intelligent quartet of potent ingredients include glycerine and arginine for intense nourishment and Vitamin E and Cassine Extract to support the regeneration of skin cells. Use it on its own or mix into your daily moisturiser and let this active serum create a sunshield for your skin as well as combat any dryness.