Ingredient Lab
6 hydrating K-beauty ingredients to add to your winter skincare routine
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A facial cleanser is the foundation of a good skincare routine—investing in the wrong kind can hamper you from optimising the benefits of your regimen. A good cleanser is meant to remove all the impurities while being extremely gentle on the skin and not stripping your skin of its natural oils. In other words, you shouldn’t experience that Sahara Desert, bone-dry feeling after a cleanse. That is not the route to healthy, glowing skin.
This begs the question—what should one look for in their face cleansers? The best facial cleanser has all the right ingredients that treat, hydrate and protect the skin, depending on your skin type and concerns.
Here are seven of the must-have skincare ingredients to look for in your face cleanser.
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A hero ingredient for those with acne-prone or congested skin, beta hydroxy acid dives deep into your pores, exfoliates them and helps unclog any impurities or bacteria that are causing your breakouts. This is one of the best ingredients to have in your cleanser, especially when you have active pimples, as its anti-inflammatory properties aid in soothing any redness and inflammation on and around the acne too.
Hyaluronic acid makes for the perfect go-to for those looking to amp up their skin’s hydration levels. More often than not harsh facial cleansers can strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture. Hyaluronic acid, being a humectant, draws moisture from the environment into the layers of the skin and locks it all in. This keeps skin hydrated, moist and nourished, all through the day. Hyaluronic acid facial cleansers are apt for those with sensitive or dry skin.
A multitasking ingredient that does it all—niacinamide is great for all the oily skin people out there. This skincare ingredient helps control sebum production, in turn reducing the appearance of large pores and tackling acne. It also improves overall skin tone by brightening it and fading away any pigmentation or dark spots. It even helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, keeping it more protected from external deterrents.
Vitamin C hosts a plethora of antioxidant properties that help even out and brighten your complexion while fading away damage like hyperpigmentation or sunspots. It helps boost collagen production, keeping the skin plump, radiant and wrinkle-free. Vitamin C, however, is rather potent and therefore, those with sensitive or dry skin should reach out to it a few times a week and not daily.
The ultimate game-changer for strong skin, ceramides are the health boosters every skin type needs. First things first, this ingredient can help strengthen the skin barrier—this keeps in the good and locks out the bad. It is an excellent hydrator and can even prevent any sort of moisture loss, resulting in more youthful and plump skin. It makes your skin soft and smooth, leaving it with a nourished glow.
If you want your cleanser to double up as a gentle daily exfoliator, then an AHA will be your best bet. Alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic or lactic acid help chemically exfoliate the skin and remove any sort of dead skin cell or other impurity buildup on your skin. It is strong enough to slough away the gunk but gentle enough to be a perfect fit for sensitive skin types too.
Another ingredient that finds itself in many face cleansers, colloidal oatmeal is definitely an underrated one. Harnessing the power of oats, an age-old natural skincare go-to, colloidal oatmeal contains immense skin-loving properties. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, it helps soothe and calm the skin down and can even help treat irritation. It is one of the best ingredients in a cleanser also because it moisturises the skin and even balances out your skin’s pH levels.
A hero ingredient for those with acne-prone or congested skin, beta hydroxy acid dives deep into your pores, exfoliates them and helps unclog any impurities or bacteria that are causing your breakouts. This is one of the best ingredients to have in your cleanser, especially when you have active pimples, as its anti-inflammatory properties aid in soothing any redness and inflammation on and around the acne too.
Hyaluronic acid makes for the perfect go-to for those looking to amp up their skin’s hydration levels. More often than not harsh facial cleansers can strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture. Hyaluronic acid, being a humectant, draws moisture from the environment into the layers of the skin and locks it all in. This keeps skin hydrated, moist and nourished, all through the day. Hyaluronic acid facial cleansers are apt for those with sensitive or dry skin.
A multitasking ingredient that does it all—niacinamide is great for all the oily skin people out there. This skincare ingredient helps control sebum production, in turn reducing the appearance of large pores and tackling acne. It also improves overall skin tone by brightening it and fading away any pigmentation or dark spots. It even helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, keeping it more protected from external deterrents.
Vitamin C hosts a plethora of antioxidant properties that help even out and brighten your complexion while fading away damage like hyperpigmentation or sunspots. It helps boost collagen production, keeping the skin plump, radiant and wrinkle-free. Vitamin C, however, is rather potent and therefore, those with sensitive or dry skin should reach out to it a few times a week and not daily.
The ultimate game-changer for strong skin, ceramides are the health boosters every skin type needs. First things first, this ingredient can help strengthen the skin barrier—this keeps in the good and locks out the bad. It is an excellent hydrator and can even prevent any sort of moisture loss, resulting in more youthful and plump skin. It makes your skin soft and smooth, leaving it with a nourished glow.
If you want your cleanser to double up as a gentle daily exfoliator, then an AHA will be your best bet. Alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic or lactic acid help chemically exfoliate the skin and remove any sort of dead skin cell or other impurity buildup on your skin. It is strong enough to slough away the gunk but gentle enough to be a perfect fit for sensitive skin types too.
Another ingredient that finds itself in many face cleansers, colloidal oatmeal is definitely an underrated one. Harnessing the power of oats, an age-old natural skincare go-to, colloidal oatmeal contains immense skin-loving properties. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, it helps soothe and calm the skin down and can even help treat irritation. It is one of the best ingredients in a cleanser also because it moisturises the skin and even balances out your skin’s pH levels.
A hero ingredient for those with acne-prone or congested skin, beta hydroxy acid dives deep into your pores, exfoliates them and helps unclog any impurities or bacteria that are causing your breakouts. This is one of the best ingredients to have in your cleanser, especially when you have active pimples, as its anti-inflammatory properties aid in soothing any redness and inflammation on and around the acne too.
Hyaluronic acid makes for the perfect go-to for those looking to amp up their skin’s hydration levels. More often than not harsh facial cleansers can strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture. Hyaluronic acid, being a humectant, draws moisture from the environment into the layers of the skin and locks it all in. This keeps skin hydrated, moist and nourished, all through the day. Hyaluronic acid facial cleansers are apt for those with sensitive or dry skin.
A multitasking ingredient that does it all—niacinamide is great for all the oily skin people out there. This skincare ingredient helps control sebum production, in turn reducing the appearance of large pores and tackling acne. It also improves overall skin tone by brightening it and fading away any pigmentation or dark spots. It even helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, keeping it more protected from external deterrents.
Vitamin C hosts a plethora of antioxidant properties that help even out and brighten your complexion while fading away damage like hyperpigmentation or sunspots. It helps boost collagen production, keeping the skin plump, radiant and wrinkle-free. Vitamin C, however, is rather potent and therefore, those with sensitive or dry skin should reach out to it a few times a week and not daily.
The ultimate game-changer for strong skin, ceramides are the health boosters every skin type needs. First things first, this ingredient can help strengthen the skin barrier—this keeps in the good and locks out the bad. It is an excellent hydrator and can even prevent any sort of moisture loss, resulting in more youthful and plump skin. It makes your skin soft and smooth, leaving it with a nourished glow.
If you want your cleanser to double up as a gentle daily exfoliator, then an AHA will be your best bet. Alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic or lactic acid help chemically exfoliate the skin and remove any sort of dead skin cell or other impurity buildup on your skin. It is strong enough to slough away the gunk but gentle enough to be a perfect fit for sensitive skin types too.
Another ingredient that finds itself in many face cleansers, colloidal oatmeal is definitely an underrated one. Harnessing the power of oats, an age-old natural skincare go-to, colloidal oatmeal contains immense skin-loving properties. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, it helps soothe and calm the skin down and can even help treat irritation. It is one of the best ingredients in a cleanser also because it moisturises the skin and even balances out your skin’s pH levels.
