The beauty industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world at the moment. With the introduction of new treatments, procedures, machines and more on an almost a daily basis, it can be hard to keep up!
Every beauty course at Galligan College educates students about the ingredients that are used in products. For instance, this can include what ingredients work with each skin type, ingredients that can cause reactions as well as those that can help combat particular skin issues. There is an ingredient/product for everything these days and understanding them is vital to becoming an excellent beauty therapist.
With this in mind we thought we would share this information from Vogue UK about the top skincare ingredients to look out for in 2019.
Niacinamide
This is a new wonder ingredient that has grown in popularity, thanks to its effectiveness at treating acne and breakouts. It does so by reducing oil production, but also has the properties to brighten, hydrate, enhance collagen production, and help reduce hyper pigmentation.
Niacinamide improves your cellular energy, cell turnover, microcirculation, and heals your skin and protects it from environmental damage.
It also has antibacterial properties that prevent infections caused by excess sebum. Niacinamide also unclogs pores, and prevents unwanted hair growth and acne.
Vitamin F
We have heard of all the benefits provided by the various different Vitamins available on the market, especially vitamin C and vitamin A. Well, vitamin F is the new one on the market and is known for its skin barrier strengthening properties.
“Vitamin F is actually not new, but the conversation around it definitely is”, explains Christopher Caires, chief scientist at Perricone MD. “Vitamin F is essentially a combination of different types of omegas which make up the barrier of your skin. The F stands for fat, but no one really likes to call it ‘vitamin fat’ because fat has got a bit of a bad rap. However, fats are critical for great skin, and in skincare, we’re seeing more experts using these really important molecules, often referred to as lipids, which our bodies need for structure and function.”
Without vitamin F the skin’s barrier is compromised and as we get older our barrier starts to become porous. (If you look at the skin’s barrier under a microscope, you’ll see small holes in it.) It can become rough and cracked and that’s because you aren’t getting enough fats. So, applying them topically is so important to restoring that barrier function.
This is important to note if you like to splash out on skincare. If you don’t have a good skin barrier, you’re wasting your time with skincare, because if your skin isn’t functioning properly, all the expensive ingredients you apply on top are less likely to work.
Mandelic Acid
While most of us have already heard about the benefits of salicylic and hyaluronic acid, there’s a new kid on the block in the form of Mandelic Acid.
Mandelic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from bitter almonds, but is far gentler. This acid removes dead skin cells to leave the epidermis renewed – and its larger molecule size means it doesn’t penetrate skin as deeply as other acids, making it ideal for sensitive types.
It works to accelerate cell turnover by dissolving the tiny bonds that hold skin cells together, helping to remove dead skin on the surface that can lead to dull complexions, as well as fine lines.
It also strengthens collagen, reduces melasma by as much as 50% in four weeks (resulting in a more evenly coloured complexion), helps to regulate sebum production and in turn decrease the occurrence of breakouts.
Copper
Copper Peptides give skin that Victoria Secret model radiance. They also act as an anti-inflammatory antioxidant against pollution and stress, making it a great anti-ageing ingredient.
