Hype up your skincare regime

BAFFLED? It’s easy to get daunted by the huge array of new ‘miracle’ skincare ingredients on the market. 

Beauty
Maggie Gibbons

God be with the days when we had one jar of moisturiser, one lipstick, some foundation and a bit of rouge. How simple it all was.
Not anymore! Today, there is such a plethora of products on the market – all of them making huge (mostly unrealistic) promises – we’re constantly being seduced by the promise of the miracle in the jar. You could stand in the beauty aisle of the chemist and lose the will to live.
It can be all so confusing. Some of you know exactly what you want – great! For the rest of us, however, it can be a nightmare. What should the product promise? What ingredients should I look for? Which ones should I avoid? Is price relevant? Questions, questions.
Let’s cut to the chase and look at some common ingredients that may result in some actual improvement in the appearance of your skin.

Sunscreen
I might be stating the obvious, but sunscreen is one of the most powerful tools in fighting wrinkles. Sun-damaged skin has more wrinkles and lines than protected skin. It will also have a number of brown, unsightly age spots (a nightmare to get rid of).
Apart from all this, you run the risk of skin cancer from over exposure. When I was a young one I knew nothing about skin protection and would lie on the beach all day, lathered in oil. Well I’m paying the price now: I recently had a skin cancer on my face; thankfully it was removed by local anaesthetic, so very little scarring, but it was a serious warning. Use your sunscreen.

Hyaluronic acid
You must have been hiding under a rock if you haven’t by now heard of hyaluronic acid.  This literally locks moisture into the skin, giving it a plumper appearance. Super hydrating, it’s now in loads of anti-ageing products, like cleansers, serums and moisturisers. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Collection is a superb range. The Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Concentrated Serum (€12.50) hydrates and moisturises. I recently bought the Hydro Boost gel cream facial moisturiser for (€10.95) online at lookfantastic.ie, but check your local chemist too.

Retinoids
This term is used for vitamin A compounds, such as retinol and retinoic acid. Retinol, that holy grail of skin ingredients, gives a tighter feeling to the skin. Now, it can be very potent, so it’s always advisable to start on a low dose. Check with your pharmacy or dermatologist to find the right strength for you. You’ll find it in serums, moisturisers and eye creams. Be patient, as it can take a while to notice results. I use no-frills Inkey List one, which I got in Goldens in Westport (€11.95). No bells or whistles, but does a great job.

Vitamin C
This super vitamin boosts collagen, which in turn fights to help wrinkles and tackle those age spots. You can find vitamin C in serums and moisturisers. The best one for skin is L-ascorbic, as it has the best stability. For an even more powerful vitamin C formula, look for vitamin C serums that are formulated with ferulic acid – it not only helps to stabilise vitamin C formulas, it’s also a powerful antioxidant.
La Roche Posay Pure Vitamin C is a great all rounder, with 10 percent vitamin C it works on reintroducing skin elasticity – but at €41, it’s not cheap. A better value alternative is The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension (€8.45) with 23 percent Pure Vitamin C.  The Ordinary is another wonderful no-frills range: great products at affordable prices, just without fancy packaging or advertising.

Vitamin E
This is a little powerhouse vitamin. It soothes inflammation and dryness, and calms redness and dry skin and so could be an excellent balm for moisture-deprived, ageing skin. It’s also very gentle. You can apply it directly from a capsule, or look for it in a moisturiser or serum.

Glycolic acid
This is great for sloughing of the dead skin cells. You can find glycolic acid in products like face serums and exfoliators. If your skin feels itchy or irritated during use check in with your chemist.

If any of these ingredients sound like something you’d fancy trying, talk to your local pharmacist, they’re usually a mine of information. And if you’re relatively wrinkle free, then just go for something with hyaluronic acid in it, as it will keep your skin well moisturised. And don’t forget the SPF!

Maggie Gibbons is an Image/Style Consultant based in Louisburgh. She can be contacted at living@mayonews.ie.