The skincare ingredients most recommended by experts

If you’re wanting to blitz pigmentation, you’ll want proven melanin-minimising ingredients like niacinimide and vitamin C. Are wrinkles a concern? Then retinol is your friend. We chatted to medical aesthetic therapist and founder of Pulse Dermatology and Laser, Amy Bowie, about some of the most popular and potent ingredients and why you might want them in your artillery. 

Vitamin A

There are several forms of vitamin A including retinyl palmitate and retinyl acetate. Bowie’s favourite, however, is retinol, the most effective you can get without a prescription. It encourages the creation of new collagen, smooths wrinkles and minimises pigmentation, but can irritate sensitive skins and cause sun sensitivity. Bowie’s advice? “Introduce a retinol product slowly, applying it on alternate nights until you can tolerate using it every evening.”

Niacinamide

Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide has the ability to minimise the appearance of pigmentation. “It’s great for all skin types and has a wonderful anti-inflammatory property”, says Bowie. 

Vitamin C 

“Topical vitamin C is a must have for anyone looking to brighten and encourage the growth of more collagen”, says Bowie. “It can be used daily under your SPF and will help it combat the harmful effects of UV rays.”

AHAs

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid and lactic acid are naturally occurring acids that can exfoliate your skin. “Just make sure you use them in the evening as they can make your skin more sensitive to light”, warns Bowie. 

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA). While AHAs can exfoliate the surface of your skin, BHA can penetrate into your pores to help keep them clean and clear. “It has wonderful anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties making it ideal for anyone struggling with blackheads or acne”, says Bowie. 

Sunscreen 

Anti-ageing ingredients are like vitamins, you need several of them for healthy skin, but the one you should never be without is sunscreen. “You should wear a minimum of SPF 50+ every single day, even when it’s cloudy. Make sure it’s a broad spectrum SPF, meaning it covers both UVA and UVB rays”, she warns. 

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