Actives

What Are Skincare Actives?

A skincare active is an ingredient designed to address a particular skin concern. So if a product is marketed as “anti-aging,” the active ingredient is going to be something that specifically targets aging. However, not every product will have skincare active—and this doesn’t mean that it’s not worth using.

You’ve also likely seen the “inactive ingredient” list. These ingredients are also necessary; they just haven’t been proven to treat a specific condition. Which is why they’re not listed as actives.

So what else should you know about the actives, and how should you use them?

How to Use Skincare Actives?

Not all skincare actives are beneficial for every skin type. Knowing your skin type is essential to determine which actives are going to support your most gorgeous skin!

Knowing how to use the actives is crucial as well. Not all of them are meant to be used together, such as when layering products.

Let’s look at a potential morning & evening routine for your products with skincare actives. It’s because some ingredients are meant to be used only in the morning or only at night.

Skincare Actives For An ‘AM’ Routine

First, go ahead and cleanse & tone YOUR skin. Face washes can contain skincare actives such as acne-fighting ingredients or soothing toners with vitamin C or hyaluronic acid.
Next, apply your vitamin C serum. You can use this both morning and night. But it’s vital in the morning to help protect against sun damage throughout the day.
Then, apply moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. These ingredients could be present in eye creams and serums as well!
Finally, apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 to help protect against photoaging and skin cancer.

Skincare Actives For A ‘PM’ Routine

Gently rewash your face. Try to avoid harsh cleansers that can strip skin’s natural oil, also called sebum.
YOU can use vitamin C again. And, if you’re using any skincare products with AHAs, you can layer these with vitamin C. But remember to do this only at nighttime. In the morning, stick with vitamin C only.
Use any moisturizers, balms, eye creams, or serums with hyaluronic acid & niacinamide.
Finally, use any products containing retinol. Retinol can be very effective for anti-aging. But it can also cause sensitive skin in the sunlight and should only be used at night.

Also, retinol can be mildly irritating for some people. So, use niacinamide, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, and can help reduce irritation.

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Actives

What Are Skincare Actives?

How to Use Skincare Actives?

Skincare Actives For An ‘AM’ Routine

Skincare Actives For A ‘PM’ Routine

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