The 3 Holy-Grail Ingredients You Should Be Using

Keeping up on the latest skincare trends can be daunting.  Its seems as though every six months a slew of new ingredients are heralded on social media as the latest and greatest for maintaining your skin’s health. It can be hard to know which of these trending ingredients is the real deal and which will fade into oblivion. 

To help simplify the search for truly quality ingredients, we recommend using what we call the ‘holy-grail’ ingredients. We selected these three due to their ability to provide multiple benefits, are easily found in all sorts of skin care products and are great for all skin types, even the most sensitive.  So regardless of what’s popular at the moment, make sure the products in your skin care routine include one or all of these ingredients. 

Bakuchiol

Bakuchiol is a potent natural ingredient sourced from the seeds of a popular herb, known as babchi.  Used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries bakuchiol has recently been ‘discovered’ again as an effective ingredient in facial care products.

Bakuchiol’s superpower is its ability to do what retinol does but without all the trouble and irritation, making it an amazing natural alternative to retinoids.  But that’s not the only thing it can do.  Bakuchiol has a pretty impressive list of benefits for your skin:

• Increases cell turnover – Increasing cell turnover will trigger collagen production, which in turn improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as skin firmness and elasticity. And, unlike retinol, bakuchiol does this without drying or irritating the skin.
• Diminishes acne – Due to its antibacterial properties, bakuchiol treats and helps prevent breakouts. It protects the skin against bacteria to help skin remain clear of acne as it keeps inflammation and redness at bay.
• Improves the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation – Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, bakuchiol helps reduce the development of excess pigmentation. Studies have shown that using .5% of bakuchiol twice a day for 12 weeks significantly decreased pigmentation and provided a more even skin tone.
• Protects skin from free radicals. As an antioxidant, bakuchiol can help protect your skin against environmental assaults and the damage caused by free radicals.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide (a form of Vit. B3) is an incredibly versatile skin care ingredient that has been used by dermatologists for years.  Its broad range of benefits has made it a go to ingredient for every skin type and particularly for dry, sensitive, aging and acne-prone skin. Topically applied niacinamide has been studies for years with multiple studies confirming its wide range of skin care benefits. To date, studies have found that niacinamide may:

• Improve barrier functioning  – This means that when niacinamide is used in moisturizers or serums, it will strengthen the skin’s barrier to help lock in moisture and keep out potential irritants.  And, as a powerful antioxidant, niacinamide protects the skin against environmental damage helps to diminish redness.

• Help address signs of premature aging – Niacinamide is thought to boost one of our skin’s key building blocks – collagen.  By supporting collagen synthesis, the skin will appear more smooth and less lined and wrinkled.  As a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient, niacinamide is great for brightening the skin by helping to reduce the discoloration that appears as skin ages.

• Effective in controlling oil production – According to a report published in 2017 in Dermatologic Therapy, six out of eight studies concluded that topical treatments of niacinamide might be effective in controlling sebum and for reducing acne.  Producing less oil and having fewer blemishes means a smoother, clearer skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

One ingredient that makes the ‘holy-grail’ list every year is hyaluronic acid.  A potent ingredient, hyaluronic acid is used in a  wide variety of skin care products including serums, creams, gels and lotions.  The reason it is so popular is its unparalleled ability to help our skin attract and bind moisture to the skin.  Without proper hydration, skin will feel rough and dry and it eventually appear lined, irritated and dull.  Maintaining the proper moisture balance is critical for healthy skin and for reducing the early signs of aging. Hyaluronic acid has the amazing ability to:

• Hold up to 1,000 times it molecular weight in water.  When topically applied, HA penetrates the skin and binds water to skin cells to ensure your skin retains the proper moisture balance. 

• Act as a moisture sponge – After infusing the top layer of the skin with moisture, hyaluronic acid continues to help skin by acting as a humectant or a moisture sponge for your skin as it continues to draw moisture in from the surrounding environment. 

• Build skin barrier – Locking moisture into the skin’s barrier can help slow down its deterioration.  By enhancing and protecting the barrier layer, the skin is better able to defend itself from environmental damage.  Less damage means a softer, more youthful looking skin.