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It seems as though every year new and upcoming ingredients usher last year’s to the curb. While many ingredients you hear of are simply fads (think witch hazel and topical collagen), there are some buzz-worthy ingredients that have earned their acclaim.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the most potent topical antioxidant on the market. With a range of benefits from collagen boosting to brightening, and protecting skin from free radicals, vitamin C is a powerhouse.
While there are quite a few vitamin C formulations, the most promising are L-ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbyl phosphate. The former is quite potent, proven through many scientific studies to offer the most benefits. However, it can be sensitizing. The latter is a more stable formulation, but may not be as powerful as L-ascorbic acid.
Which should you try? If you’re sensitive or prone to irritation, opt for sodium ascorbyl phosphate. If you’re looking for more immediate and enhanced results, try L-ascorbic acid!
Hyaluronic Acid
This one’s been on the market for years, but just recently gained popularity with the public. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occuring substance within our bodies. It works by retaining water, resulting in plumped and hydrated skin.
Because of the plumping effect, many products with hyaluronic acid are advertised as anti-aging. And while the ingredient certainly reduces signs of aging, it does not make wrinkles disappear completely. Since the ingredient is also quite hydrating, it increases skin’s elasticity, which is another anti-aging benefit.
Have you heard of TEWL (transepidermal water loss)? It’s essentially the measurement for how much water loss your skin barrier experiences. Hyaluronic acid ensures water doesn’t escape your skin, preventing TEWL. Simply, this buzz-worthy ingredient comes with an array of benefits and can be found in many products, including the gentle moisturizer, Rosa.
Lavender Oil
While commonly used for diffusers and essential oil blends, lavender oil is a multi-functional ingredient. With benefits from reducing acne and inflammation to wound healing, the oil has become a revered skincare ingredient.
When it comes to acne, oils can feel intimidating… Especially if you tend to get pimples from oily skin. But the truth may surprise you! There are many non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging) oils that can reduce breakouts. For example, lavender oil is antibacterial, preventing the bacteria that causes acne and inflammation, which results in a pimple.
Adding an oil to oily skin seems counterintuitive, but wait! When you use an oil on oily skin, it signals to your skin (after a month or so of consistent usage), that your skin doesn’t need to produce so much oil. The end result? Less oily skin! Just give your skin time to adjust.
Calendula Extract
If your skin is in need of soothing, look no further. With historical roots dating back to the 1200s, calendula has taken the skincare world by storm! Also known as poor man’s saffron, calendula reduces acne, irritation, and inflammation, and is loaded with antioxidants.
A jack of all trades, calendula extract is not new to the skincare scene, but over the last few years it’s gained recognition. Usually advertised for sensitive skin, calendula is one of the most soothing ingredients you can find. In fact, people with eczema, breakouts, rosacea, and rashes favor the extract since it reduces a common symptom—inflammation.
How? Through the flower’s potent dose of flavonoids, triterpenoids, and saponins. These naturally occurring substances prevent your body’s release of histamines (allergic reaction, like inflammation), which can contribute to the skin conditions listed above. If you’re interested in trying calendula extract, the fan-favorite Honeybutter is a soothing starting place.
Burdock Root Extract
Related to dandelions, burdock root has been cultivated for food and medicine for millennia. The nutrient-dense profile of the root offers a lineup of benefits, such as preventing signs of aging, fighting acne-causing bacteria, and reducing inflammation in many skin conditions.
On top of all that, burdock root is a powerful antioxidant, rivaling vitamin C. By reducing free radical damage (think of how pollution, dirt, and smoke dull your skin), the extract maintains a healthy skin barrier, preventing signs of aging. If you’re prone to dullness, dryness, or random irritation, you’re in need of antioxidants!
A small word of caution, if you’re allergic to ragweed, you’ll want to skip this buzz-worthy ingredient, since it may cause sensitivity or a reaction.