The Best Skin Care Ingredients For Healthy Skin Blush & Pearls

Find out how to use the best skin care ingredients on the market to correct your skin care concerns and have healthy, radiant skin!

Unless you’ve been blessed with perfectly smooth, youthful, normal skin (in which case, I hate you) you are most likely dealing with some sort of skin care issue. For me, I have mainly combination skin that is prone to enlarged pores and getting older means that fine lines are starting to creep in and make my skin their new permanent home.

However, if you know what skin issues you want to treat and which skin care ingredients work at reducing those issues, that’s half the skin care battle. Luckily for you, I’m listing all of the best skin care ingredients you need to give you your best skin ever!

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6 Of The Best Skin Care Ingredients To Add To Your Routine

1 . Dehydrated Skin? You Need…Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid/Sodium Hyaluronate: The “acid” in this ingredient title is deceiving.

This ingredient is naturally found in our bodies and has the ability to boost skin’s moisture content, reduce inflammation and reduce moisture loss. It can also speed up skin healing and is able to retain a thousand times its weight in water! Great for all skin types, it helps keep skin plump, hydrated and youthful. I’ll take all of the above please!

Sodium hyaluronate is an ingredient extracted from hyaluronic acid. It has the same benefits, but in a smaller molecular form that absorbs more easily into the skin. Bonus!

Irritation factor – None! Hyaluronic acid is gentle and perfect for any skin type and any product mix.

Some of the products I’ve enjoyed that are rich in hyaluronic acid are the Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin Essence (reviewed here) and Hadalabo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution.

You can shop more hyaluronic acid serums below:

17 Hyaluronic Acid Serums To Plump Your Skin

Browse the best hyaluronic acid serums on the market to plump skin and retain moisture all day long!

2. Bumpy, Congested or Acne-Prone Skin? You Need…Acid Exfoliants

Skin care products with acids in the ingredients are a great way to break down and remove dead skin cells on the surface of the skin that can cause it to look dull or congested. Acids in skin care come in the form of alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids and can be used by all skin types as tolerated.

Which one should you choose? You can read a description of each below:

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs): Glycolic acid, mandelic acid and lactic acid are examples of AHAs, which exfoliate dead skin cells to reveal brighter, smoother, more even skin. AHAs are great for all skin types and are the secret to a healthy glow and the slowing down of the aging process. Examples of AHA chemical exfoliation products are The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and the Pixi Glow Tonic.

Beta-Hydroxy Acids (BHAs): The most common form of BHAs in skin care is salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is great for oily or acne prone skin because it can deep clean the pore lining, which can help prevent or reduce breakouts and blackheads. BHAs can be a bit drying, so keep skin well moisturized.

My fave BHA exfoliants include the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid.

If you’re looking to combine the acid action, Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme contain both AHAs and BHAs, as well as niacinamide.

Irritation Factor – Medium to High: Acids can be irritating to sensitive skin types or skins that aren’t used to using acids. Begin using acid exfoliants once or twice per week in your night time skin care routine and only increase usage if your skin doesn’t get irritated or dry.

Do not use acids with in the same day as you use retinol or vitamin C to reduce potential for irritation.

3. Dark Spots, Acne Scars or Sun Damage? You Need Vitamin C (a.k.a. Ascorbic Acid)

Ascorbic Acid, better known as vitamin C, is an antioxidant that can reduce skin pigmentation and dark spots, as well free radical damage that can degrade skin’s collagen and elastin over time. In other words, it slows down the aging process!

Vitamin C is a must-have skin care ingredient for all skin care types if you are over the age of 25, because of its ability to boost collagen production (which slows down as we age). Collagen helps our skin look plump and firm and is something we need to work on maintaining as skin gets older.

Vitamin C is also great for reducing the appearance of acne scarring and works to brighten skin with continued use.

Irritation Factor – Low to Medium: Vitamin C can irritate some skin types, especially if you haven’t used it before. Start with a lower strength vitamin C product or a vitamin C moisturizer or facial oil that would have less risk of irritation and only use it once or twice per week to see how your skin reacts. Save the higher strength serums or everyday use for when you are sure your skin can handle the dose.

It is normal to experience some slight tingling and a feeling of warmth on the skin when using vitamin C for the first time – this tingling should subside as your skin gets used to the product after several uses.

Some awesome vitamin C serums to try include:

–Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Facial Oil

–Skinceuticals C E Ferulic High Potency Triple Antioxidant Treatment

–The Ordinary 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder (reviewed here)

–Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate Vitamin C Serum (reviewed here)

–Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster (reviewed here)

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4. Large Pores, Acne or Excess Oil? Try Niacinamide (a.k.a. vitamin B3)

Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that works to improve a number of skin issues, such as enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, blemishes, excess oil production, fine lines, wrinkles and dullness. Niacinamide is also great for improving and maintaining a healthy skin barrier, which is essential for radiant skin.

Niacinamide can also be used to buffer the negative side effects of retinol, such as dryness and redness. Found in a number of skin care products, niacinamide can be used by any skin type with low risk of irritation.

Treatment products that contain niacinamide to consider include:

–Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster (reviewed here)

–Paula’s Choice 20% Niacinamide Treatment (reviewed here).

-The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum

-First Aid Beauty Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum

-Peter Thomas Roth – PRO Strength Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment

-The INKEY List – Niacinamide Oil Control Serum (reviewed here)

-Revolution Skincare Blemish and Pore Refining Serum – 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc-No color

Irritation Factor – Low: Niacinamide can be used by all skin types with low risk of irritation. Don’t miss out on this wonder skin care ingredient!

5. Sensitive Or Irritated Skin? Centella Asiatica (Cica) Is A Must!

One of the best skin care ingredients I’ve added into my routine is Centella Asiatica, also referred to as Cica. It’s well used in Asian skin care products and is known to soothe irritated and inflamed skin and also promotes faster skin healing. The “cica” nickname refers to cicatrising, or healing abilities.

Irritation Factor – Low: Cica is a soothing and healing ingredient that is perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive or acne prone skin.

Some products I’ve used and love that contain cica include:

-Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream (amazing for burns – reviewed here)

–Dr. Belmeur Cica Peptite Ampoule and the Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Recovery Cream (both reviewed here)

-La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm

-Bioderma Cicabio Soothing Repairing Cream

6. Fine Lines & Wrinkles? Grab Some Retinol or Bakuchiol

Retinoids, (commonly referred to as retinol, retinyl palmitate or retinaldehyde in over the counter products) have been scientifically proven to reduce the signs of aging, promote cell turnover (production of new skin cells), reduce pore size and promote even, bump-free skin.

Retinol, is highly recommended for people 30+ years old and looking for the fountain of youth, but can also cause redness and dryness until your skin gets used to it. Read my post all about how to safely use retinol here first if you are new to this ingredient!

Retinol is not safe for use during pregnancy.

My favourite retinol is Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment. It gave me smoother, firmer skin fast!

Irritation Factor – Medium to High: Retinol is well known to be irritating to unexperienced retinol users and sensitive skin types. Start with a lower strength retinol serum (0.2-0.5%) and use it once per week to start to determine if you have any negative reactions (e.g. dryness, redness, tightness). Increase usage or strength only as tolerated by your skin.

Some retinol products I enjoyed include:

–Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment (this is a strong one! Reviewed here)

–Paula’s Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment

–The Inkey List Retinol Serum

-Isa Knox Anew Clinical Line Eraser with Retinol (1%)

–Selfless By Hyram Retinol & Rainbow Algae Repair Serum

You can read more about how to use retinol safely here.

Irritation Factor – Low to Medium: Bakuchiol is considered less irritating in comparison to retinol.

You can browse Bakuchiol serums here.

The Best Skin Care Ingredients For Healthy Skin

Looking for smooth, clear and radiant skin? You’ve come to the right place!