This is a meaty blog post, so maybe grab a drink and have a good read through...
I swear I say this every week, but social media can create such a minefield of incorrect skincare product knowledge. For example, before and after images are filtered or influencers promote products that might not necessarily be great, but because they are being paid, they have to say something positive. The ingredients or products are touted to be 'life altering', but in reality they show minimal results.
From retinol to hyaluronic acid, consumers are constantly bombarded with promises of radiant, youthful skin. However, what many people fail to realise is that the key to unlocking the true potential of these active ingredients lies not just in the fact they are in a product, but in how they are formulated, the quality of the ingredients used, and the delivery system employed. (Towards the end of this post I have detailed some trendy ingredients and the best brands IMO to try)
At the heart of my skincare philosophy, my belief is that great results are not achieved through the use of trendy ingredients alone, but through a combination of factors that work together to nourish and transform the skin. Here are the three essential elements that I believe are crucial for achieving optimal skincare results:
1. Formulation:
The formulation of a skincare product is the cornerstone of its efficacy. A well-formulated product is carefully created to deliver active ingredients in optimal concentrations and in a manner that ensures their stability and bioavailability. This means that each ingredient is thoughtfully chosen and combined to work in harmony with the others, maximising their benefits while minimising the risk of irritation or adverse reactions. For example, Nimue Skin Technology not only uses high quality ingredients, but they are formulated in a way so that their products have a pH that is very close to the skin's. This way they can get maximum penetration out of a product without irritating the skin.
When it comes to skincare, it's not just about the individual ingredients, but how they interact with one another. A great formulation considers the synergistic effects of each ingredient, ensuring that they complement and enhance one another's efficacy. Without proper formulation, even the most potent active ingredients may fail to deliver the desired results.
2. High-Quality Ingredients:
The quality of the ingredients used in a skincare product is paramount to its effectiveness. High-quality, pharmaceutical-grade ingredients are sourced from reputable suppliers and undergo rigorous testing to ensure purity, potency, and safety. These ingredients are often more expensive to procure, but their superior quality can make a world of difference in terms of results.
When choosing skincare products, it's essential to look for formulations that prioritise quality over quantity. I know it's tempting to opt for the cheaper alternatives, but products that skimp on quality ingredients are unlikely to deliver the same level of results as their higher-end counterparts. Investing in products formulated with high-quality ingredients is an investment in the health and appearance of your skin.
3. Active Delivery System:
Even the most potent active ingredients are only as effective as their delivery system allows them to be. A well-designed delivery system ensures that active ingredients penetrate the skin's barrier effectively, reaching their target cells and exerting their beneficial effects. Without a proper delivery system, active ingredients may sit on the surface of the skin or fail to penetrate deeply enough to produce noticeable results.
Think of it like trying to bake a cake with just eggs. While eggs are a crucial ingredient in baking, they alone cannot create a delicious and fluffy cake. Similarly, active ingredients like salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid may be hailed for their skincare benefits, but without the right formulation and delivery system, they may fail to deliver the desired results and could even cause dryness or irritation.
I believe that achieving great skincare results requires more than just jumping on the latest ingredient bandwagon. Trendy ingredients will not necessarily show you your desired results if the ingredient is not formulated with others correctly, if it is of poor quality or has no way in getting into the skin.
Here are some 'trendy' ingredients and the best places to start with them...
INGREDIENT: Hyaluronic Acid
FAVOURITE BRAND: Forlle'd
REASON: Forlle'd have created their own patented molecule of HA that is so small it can actually fit in between skin cells - there are very few HA products that can actually do that as HA is such a huge molecule (this is why we have to either inject it into the skin or use needling to enhance the penetration). It's so tiny in fact that the molecule itself can act as a delivery system for other products too!
INTRO PRODUCT: Forlle'd Refining Lotion
INGREDIENT: Retinoid
FAVOURITE BRAND: SkinBetter Science
REASON: SkinBetter Science also have a patented molecule, this one is called AlphaRet. It is a blend of a retinoid and lactic acid to allow a slow release into the skin. This in turn creates minimum irritation and therefore no retinoid reaction occurs like it can with other similar retinoid products. It also can produce the same kind of results that you would get with tretinoin but without the irritation.
INTRO PRODUCT: SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream
INGREDIENT: Alpha Hydroxy Acids
FAVOURITE BRAND: Nimue Skin Technology
REASON: Nimue is one of the best brands on the market when it comes to AHA's. They have over 11 different delivery systems in their range (which by the way is insane! No brands have this many!) They spend the majority of their budget on research and
development which is why their formulations are so impressive and
their results are so instant.
INTRO PRODUCT: Nimue Starter Kit
INGREDIENT: Stem Cells
FAVOURITE BRAND: Calecim
REASON: Calecim contains a patented ingredient called the Calecim Rejuvenating Conditioned Media which has been shown in in-vitro testing to increase epidermal proliferation and cell
turnover, increase collagen and elastin, the production of HA and
also thicken the dermis.
INTRO PRODUCT: Calecim Multi Action Crea
INGREDIENT: Peptides
FAVOURITE BRAND: Meder Beauty
REASON: This brand focuses on medical grade skincare using very high quality peptides (along with other actives) to create wonderful results for people of all ages.
INTRO PRODUCT: Meder Hydra-Fill Beauty Masks
INGREDIENT: Vitamin C
FAVOURITE BRAND: Revision Skincare
REASON: Their patent-pending MelaPATH Technology is combined with 30% pure THD (Tetrahexyldecyl) Ascorbate to create the only vitamin C product designed to combat free radicals before they damage the skin while correcting existing skin damage and promoting optimal skin health
INTRO PRODUCT: Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30%
INGREDIENT: Heparan Sulfate Analog (HSA)
FAVOURITE BRAND: Sentè
REASON: Sentè's patented HSA molecule is designed to treat hyperpigmentation and reduce redness and rosacea. Clinical trials have shown a 71% reduction in dark spots in 16 weeks!
INTRO PRODUCT: Sentè Cysteamine + HSA Pigment & Tone Corrector
Have you noticed how many of these brands are not just medical grade, but actually have patented ingredients that have shown incredible results in clinical trials? This is why formulation, high quality ingredients and delivery systems matter!
Educate yourself about products or ingredients before you purchase a product because it contains an ingredient. What kind of results you will get will depend on the above three factors.
I hope you have found this useful,
Thank you so much for reading,
Emmaline x