Skincare Ingredients: What to Look Out For and What to Avoid

2/11/2020

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A Guest Article specially written for carismaspa.com by Olive Goliger

There's an oft-cited statistic that often gets thrown around. Maybe you have heard of it, maybe you haven't, but there's little truth to the statement that says 60% of what you put on your skin gets absorbed into the bloodstream.

Yet even if this is the case, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can be careless about what you put on your skin. Even if products mostly just reach the surface, they still have a significant effect on your skin health. This is why you should be careful about the ingredients that the beauty products in your skincare regimen contain.

To help you out, here are some ingredients that you should incorporate into your skincare routine and ones that you should completely avoid:

Ingredients to look out for

Ceramides
If you happen to have an issue with your skin's moisture levels, you'll benefit from using products with ceramides. A Self article notes that ceramides are one type of lipid found in the stratum corneum, and are particularly excellent at sealing in hydration. They help your skin look plumper and they can even manage some signs of aging.

It's also worth noting that there are prescription creams containing ceramides that are specifically formulated to treat eczema, but ceramides are also found in over-the-counter moisturizers and night creams.

Antioxidants
Just like you look for antioxidants in the food you eat, you should also look for antioxidants to put on your skin. Allure notes that they are basically ingredients that protect the skin against environmental stressors like free radicals. It makes sense, then, to make it a point to use products that are rich in antioxidant ingredients to improve your complexion. Case in point, Pretty Me's review of the Asian-favorite Kojic Acid Soap enumerates four powerhouse antioxidant ingredients: Vitamin E, virgin coconut oil, pure coconut oil, and kojic acid. Together, these can give you a brighter, more natural skin tone, deep cleanse and exfoliate your skin, and fade your scars. With continued use of antioxidant-rich products, you can also expect to treat skin ailments like blemishes, freckles, hyperpigmentation, and melasma.

Vitamin C
It's not surprising why Vitamin C is all the rage right now. It has the power to counteract and protect against free
radical damage and can brighten dark spots over time. Plus, as noted in our 'Oranges, our best allies' ; post, vitamin C
can also make you look extra radiant and healthy.

Just be sure that the vitamin C product you're going to use come in airless, opaque packaging, as the ingredient is
sensitive to light and can easily succumb to degradation when exposed to sunlight.

Ingredients to avoid

Parabens
You may have noticed that many skincare products have a paraben-free label. This is because it's a well-known ingredient to avoid due to a research paper that claimed parabens can be found in breast cancer tissue samples.

And while the cosmetic products only use a small concentration, coupled with the fact that EU and FDA regulations mark them as safe to use if they're in the current form, it's still better to be safe than sorry.

Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde has long been classified as a carcinogen, but it's still being used in many beauty products.

The good news is many retailers are beginning to ban products that contain this ingredient. But Byrdie points out that while it's a well-known toxic ingredient , many aren't privy to the fact that there are also other ingredients that release formaldehyde. You should exercise caution when shopping, as it might just be hiding behind another name.

Mineral oil
Mineral oil may be an effective moisturizing agent, but when used on the skin, it can effectively clog your pores. This
is because it's a petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic.

It messes with the skin's ability to fight against toxins, which means that it can also increase the likelihood of acne and other conditions. This ingredient is typically found in creams, lotions, and ointments, so be sure to watch out for it when shopping for products.