3 Ingredients that help promote that youthful glow

Have you ever looked at the dewy, glossy skin of celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Sean Combs and Bonang Matheba and wondered how on earth they walk around looking like airbrushed versions of reality? A lot of it obviously has to do with great genes and healthy lifestyles, but there are also certain skincare ingredients that can put the dew back on the rose, so to speak. 

We checked with Jani Visser, a holistic skincare therapist from Lyftaal Beauty Spa in Paarl, to find out which ingredients in skincare formulations can help to promote that youthful glow. Jani, who is a passionate proponent of a sustainable approach to beauty and skincare, recommended that we look for the following ingredients: 

Vitamin C

“Vitamin C is a well-known ingredient of which the importance cannot be overstated,” says Jani. “It's important to realise that you get different forms of a given ingredient. The oil-soluble derivative of Vitamin C is called Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and is ten times more active than other variants because it can penetrate through the cell wall into the cell, which makes it much more potent than water-soluble variants that are only active around the cell. Vitamin C promotes a youthful glow because it assists in collagen production, plumping out the skin, reducing fine lines, and evening out skin tone. It also prevents light peroxidation, which is a visible sign of ageing.”

Vitamin B3

“Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that helps to stimulate circulation,” explains Jani. “When skin has that dull, sluggish look, Vitamin B3 wakes it up by stimulating circulation, almost giving it a 'flush'. It also helps to reduce pigmentation and increases the hydration of the skin. All of this contributes to a more glowing appearance.”

Green tea extract

Green tea extract has a specific component called EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) that is found in unfermented tea leaves. It prevents lipid peroxidation, i.e. oxidative degradation of lipids. “What happens in laymen's terms, is that free radicals 'steal' lipids from the cell membrane, which causes ageing,” says Jani. “As such, EGCG prevents cell damage and therefore ageing. In fact, this compound is so powerful that it can actually resuscitate damaged cells. It's also anti-inflammatory, and the less inflamed your skin is, the more radiant it will be.”

IMAGE CREDIT: shutterstock.com