Breaking Down Skincare's Trending Words

Have you come across these trending words recently? Wondering what they mean and what they will do for your skin? Well we have broken it down nice and simple so you can make the most educated decision for yourself. 

- Retinol:

Retinol in short is a form of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is a great addition to your skincare if you are looking for the following - anti-ageing, oil reduction, and improving skin texture. Retinol increase collagen deposition in the skin and increases blood flow leading to a reduction in wrinkles. Retinol also reduces your pore size over time, by reducing your pore size it reduces that amount of sebum you produce.

There are some things you NEED to keep in mind and are very important with Retinol use. You must wear SPF daily when using Retinol products (you should be wearing it anyway). Vitamin A can cause non desirable skin reactions if used too often too quickly. Introduce Retinol very slowly into your skincare routine, once a week for a month, twice a week for a month and so on. Over use too quick can cause skin peeling, sensitivity, redness etc. If you are pregnant do not use Vitamin A products. 

The Ordinary Advance Retinoid - 2%; this form of Retinoid avoids the irritation associated with retinoid (including retinol) use while delivering better visible results against signs of ageing. €10.90.

- Glycolic Acid:

Glycolic Acid is an AHA - a group of active compounds. Glycolic Acid is so small that it can penetrate the skin pretty well and get to work on the very deep layers on the skin. Glycolic acid is a great addition to your skincare routine if you are looking for the following - treating fine lines, acne, blackheads, dullness and oiliness.  Glycolic Acid essentially eats away at dead or problem causing skin cells leaving brighter and healthier looking skin. 

There are some things you NEED to keep in mind and are very important with Glycolic Acid use. Again you must wear SPF as Glycolic Acid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Your skin needs time to get used to Glycolic products so approach with care and start off slowly. A product with a high percentage Glycolic Acid can cause redness and irritation in the skin. Do not use Glycolic Acid in conjunction with Vitamin A Products.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution - This 7% toning solution offers mild exfoliation for improved skin radiance and visible clarity. €9.75.

- Salicylic Acid:

Salicylic Acid is a BHA and is one of acne's biggest enemys. Salicylic Acid is used to treat mild to moderate acne and can be found in most acne skincare products at different levels. It is a dehydrating and antibacterial product making it perfect for oily or acne prone skin. It causes shedding of the outer layer of the skin.   

There are some things you NEED to keep in mind and are very important with Salicylic Acid use. Although it is great for temporarily treating acne, with prolonged use it can dry out your skin. As it causes shedding of the outer layer of your skin, it thins your skin so SPF again is ESSENTIAL. 

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% - This 2% treatment solution helps exfoliate the inside walls of pores to fight the appearance of blemishes and for better visible skin clarity with continued use. €6.50.

- Hylauronic Acid:

Hylauronic Acid is a humectant, this means it is water binding. Hylauronic Acid is an amazing addition to your skincare routine if you are looking to hydrate and plump skin. Hylauronic is naturally occurring in the body but as we get older we produce less of it. It binds to water in our skin keeping it hydrated and plump looking. We recommend even oily skin types to use Hylauronic Acid as although your skin is producing oil it may be dehydrated of water. Hylauronic Acid is completely safe and can be used in your skincare routine as you see fit. But please - ALWAYS WEAR SPF during the day!