CHOOSING THE BEST SKINCARE INGREDIENTS TO INTEGRATE TOGETHER INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IS A LOT LIKE CRAFTING THE PERFECT RECIPE.
DERMATOLOGIST DR NATASHA COOK EXPLAINS…..
In a world of information overload, often delivered by unqualified people who think they are an expert just because they have skin, it can be hard to work out what you and your skin truly needs, let alone what combinations are going to give you more bang for your time and your buck. So as a dermatologist with a few decades of experience, I want to share with you some of my favourite combinations.
1. VITAMIN C, NIACINAMIDE (B3) AND VITAMIN E
THE ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI -INFLAMMATORY, SKIN BRIGHTENING, PHOTO PROTECTION POWERHOUSE
2. AHAs & BHAs
THE BOMB OF CELL RENEWAL, CELL EXFOLIATION, REJEVENATION AND BREAKING THE BREAK OUT CYCLE
3. SUNSCREEN, NIACINAMIDE (B3) AND IRON OXIDES
THE TRUE BROAD SPECTRUM PROTECTION AGAINST UVA UVB, VISIBLE LIGHT AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
I love to play matchmaker with the perfect ingredients, so you don’t have to! A couple of decades of study and clinical experience under my belt to take the guesswork out of the equation for you. The BEST ingredients, in the right concentrations for real results..
Simple yet highly effective dermatologist-created cosmeceutical skincare that cuts out the guesswork, the BS, and the complicated 10-step routines, giving you results without the clutter or chaos.
So, want to know more about which skincare ingredient combinations are a match made in heaven?
Let’s deep dive and find out why.
1. Vitamin C + Niacinamide (B3) + Vitamin E : The Radiance enhancers
Once erroneously believed to be incompatible together, B3 and vitamin C actually make a great combination. Using niacinamide and vitamin C together can improve skin radiance, even skin tone, reduce free radical damage from UV and pollution, and increase skin elasticity. Together they are more effective at preventing photo damage than using them alone. Adding in vitamin E helps stabilise C , as Vitamin C is notoriously tricky to formulate and is unstable, while Vitamin B3 is super stable making up for any potency loss that can occur with vitamin C over time.
B3 benefits: Strengthens the barrier function, increases ceramides and hydration in your skin, reduces inflammation, protects against sun damage, assists in controlling pigmentation, stabilises sebum output. Plus, it protects the skin’s immune system and DNA.
Vitamin C benefits: It’s a co-factor in collagen production, a potent antioxidant, regulates melanin (pigment) production.
Together these 2 ingredients form a POWERHOUSE antioxidant, anti-inflammatory photo protective brightening serum.
In my popular Concentrated Illuminator, I’ve included 10% vitamin C, a good dose of vitamin E, but have gone one step further and added 10% niacinamide. Then added hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin-plumping peptides and my favourite humectant (moisture binder) glycerin. That’s 6 powerful actives, all in the one serum!
Suitable for ALL SKIN TYPES!
SHOP THE CONCENTRATED ILLUMINATOR NOW
2. AHAs & BHAs: The superstars of cosmeceutical ingredients needed by EVERYONE
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are powerful chemical exfoliants that exfoliate the skin both on the surface, as well as deep into the dermis. While AHAs work on the outer layers fighting uneven skin tone, pigmentation and dullness, BHAs love oil so they penetrate below the skin’s surface deep into the follicles, unclogging pores and preventing excess sebum production.
I never understand why some companies separate this perfect coupling into separate serums. Having one water-loving and one oil-loving active in the one serum means you are working on ALL aspects of the skin, which is made up of both oil and water phases.
They’re especially helpful if you experience regular breakouts and congestion, or acne.
Let alone for complete skin rejuvenation, fading and lifting out pigment, reversing sun damage and dealing with skin ageing and collagen and elastin production (proven in biopsy studies).
Together you’ll find AHAs and BHAs in my Concentrated Clarifier - a serum that’s safe to use everyday - plus the clinical strength treatment Concentrated Micropeel and my Spot Destroyer, which are designed as a weekly at home facial treatment boosting skin radiance.
THE BOMB OF CELL RENEWAL, CELL EXFOLIATION, REJEVENATION AND BREAKING THE BREAK OUT CYCLE
FIND THEM IN: CONCENTRATED CLARIFIER + CONCENTRATED MICROPEEL + SPOT DESTROYER
3. Sunscreen + B3 + Iron oxides: Beyond Broad spectrum protection
While SPF everyday is non-negotiable, when paired with vitamin B3 and iron oxides, you enjoy a host of additional skin-protecting benefits. Whilst sunscreen actives are great at fighting UVA and UVB, they don’t cover invisible light or assist with pollution and environmental protection. That's where adding in iron oxides and B3 have got you covered. Providing more than just UV protection.
Found in my CC+ SPF 30 cream, I’ve combined mineral UV blockers - zinc, which is broad spectrum BUT particularly good at UVA, and titanium dioxide which is the bomb at protecting you against UVB. The addition of niacinamide (B3) and iron oxide duo protects skin from the sun, environmental ageing and infared/free radical damage and visible light. Beyond broad spectrum protection!!!.
FIND IT IN: CONCENTRATED CC+ SPF30
REFERENCES
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921764/
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33210401/