Hey there my lovelies,
Welcome back to my Blog!
It has been a few weeks since I got a guest blog post but I just received this one and of course, I had to share it with you guys. I love working with other Bloggers/Content Writers to feature them in my little world here! I love working with different people as that they bring with them totally different kinds of topics that are still relevant to my niche’ but from their perspective 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this post and I truly hope you do too!
AUTHOR BIO
Author Name: Penelope Martinez
Bio: Penelope Martinez is a content marketing professional for Garnier, a skincare brand that aims to help women uncover their beauty through all-natural skincare. She’s a beauty aficionado and an advocate of sustainability. In her spare time, Penelope enjoys travelling, listening to music, spending time with friends, and discovering new skills.
Until the next guest blog post,
PS. Should you wish to be featured as a guest blogger you are more than welcome to email me on c_abela75@yahoo.co.uk.
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Your Complete Guide To Understanding Skin Care Ingredients
When buying a skincare product, do you read the ingredients first before heading to the checkout counter? If no, now is a good time to start checking out the back label. We know the ingredients, and their scientific names can be pretty confusing. However, knowing what’s in your moisturizer or serum can help you make the most out of your beauty routine.
It can be tempting to use a product recommended by a friend or a beauty influencer, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all regimen to solve everyone’s skincare problems. There may be an ingredient that works for them that may not work for you.
So, we’ve created a guide to understanding some skincare essential terms and ingredients to help you wade through all the jargon.
1. Acids can be good for you
It seems that the word “acid” does not belong in any skincare product. It becomes even more daunting when paired with other unfamiliar terms. However, there’s nothing to worry about since acids in skincare products are often derived from natural sources. Their primary purpose is to exfoliate dead skin cells and reveal brighter and smoother skin.
Here are two groups of acids that are good for you.
- Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)
Alpha Hydroxy Acids are gentle exfoliants derived from sugarcane, milk, and fruits. It removes dead skin cells, which can result in a more fresh and vibrant glow. These acids can also lessen blemishes and dark spots and reduce the appearance of scars and dry-looking skin.
The following ingredients are types of AHAs that you can find in your skincare basics, such as toners, cleansers, moisturizers, or serums.
- Lactic Acid – for sensitive skin
- Glycolic Acid – for normal, oily, or combination skin types
- Malic Acid – for acne-prone skin
- Mandelic Acid – also for acne-prone skin
- Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA)
Beta Hydroxy Acids can help clear away common acne culprits such as oil build-up and blackheads. salicylic acid, a common BHA, can be found in many acne creams, washes, and peels. It is known to penetrate deeply into hair follicle openings.
As a result, it dissolves sticky sebum and removes dead skin cells. This exfoliant also smoothes fine lines and improves the texture of damaged skin.
2. Ingredients at the top of the list have the highest concentration
The FDA requires that ingredients for skincare products “must be declared in descending order of predominance.” It means that the first few components in the list have the highest concentrations. For example, if you see an ingredient appear first in the list of a beauty product, you know it’s rich in that element. These two are common ingredients that you’ll see at the top of the back label.
- Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring substance found in young skin, connective joint fluid, and other tissues of humans and animals. Beauty products with this component aim to treat wrinkles and bring back the firmness in the skin.
Since it is a humectant, it attracts water molecules and allows the skin to absorb moisture. It provides optimal hydration since one HA molecule binds up to a thousand times its weight in water.
- Glycerin
Glycerin, one of the commonly used humectants, is best for individuals with oily skin. It cleanses and moisturizes without adding more oil that could clog the pores. It also traps moisture and slows down aging by improving skin function.
3. Unfamiliar ingredients that are hard to pronounce aren’t that scary
Avoid missing out on the benefits of a great skincare product just because it has scary-sounding ingredients. Botanicals on the list are usually written using their Latin names to follow the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) guidelines. So the innocent peppermint, for example, becomes the feisty Mentha Piperita.
Here are more examples of ingredients that may seem alien to you but have excellent benefits for your skin.
- Euterpe Oleracea Extract
This ingredient, more popularly known as Acai, is a berry of a South American origin. The Acai extract used in some skin products contains powerful antioxidants that protect the skins against environmental and free radical damage. It also promotes regeneration of the skin and moisture retention.
- Ananas Sativus Extract
This botanical ingredient is the core and stem of a well-loved tropical fruit, the pineapple. This nutrient-packed fruit has Bromelain and natural acids that provide mild exfoliation. On the other hand, Its amino acid and fruit sugar content soothe and moisturize the skin.
4. It’s good to double-check scientific names
Sometimes, we shudder at the thought of reading chemicals and “codes” in skincare products. It may seem that they are harmful, but don’t worry, most of them are safe. As mentioned above, the INCI system requires manufacturers to declare their ingredients using their scientific names. This global designation provides a common understanding for consumers and the beauty industry all over the world.
Some detective work would help ease your doubts, so whip out your phone and do a quick check before checking out at the counter. Searching for Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, for example, will show you that it’s a peptide that suppresses the body’s acute inflammatory response and also stimulates collagen production.
Here is another sinister-sounding chemical that is actually a hero for your skin.
- Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
You can heave a sigh of relief because this seemingly intimidating ingredient is, in fact, the ever-reliable Vitamin C! As you know, this nutrient is packed with amazing benefits—it evens skin discoloration and revitalizes dull skin. It also triggers collagen production and wards off wrinkles.
Your Beauty Routine Starts with the Label
Reading the label of your skincare product before buying or using them may take a few minutes off your time, but being on the safe side is always worth it. Educating ourselves about the products we want to use on our skin is our responsibility as consumers.
Some ingredient names may sound like something you need to avoid, but in reality, they can provide you with a world of benefits. You need to dive a bit deeper to see how they can nourish your skin. Knowing what’s good for you and what’s not will help bring out that happy and healthy glow.
DIVA INSIDE 
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