Sorry in advance if you ever go shopping with me, because I spend more time reading labels than actually shopping. These days, when I’m looking for new skincare to add to my haul, I’m extra nosey. It’s kinda what happens when your TikTok For You page is 90 per cent #skintok content.
My saves are chock full of ingredient explanations, product recommendations and trending skincare ingredient breakdowns. I can't get enough of 'em.
While my friends are getting served corn boy content, I’m deep into slugging tutorials and using my screen-time on blackhead extraction videos.
I think it’s important to know what we’re putting on our faces, and I’ve got the deets on 5 particular trending skincare ingredients you need to know right now.
So when you’re doing your very own skincare research, you'll know exactly what to look out for (and what benefits they can be adding to your routine).
Listen: We talk about how lip balms are possibly one of the most underrated tools in our beauty kit on this episode of You Beauty. Get your ears around it! Post continues below.
Glycerin (she’s giving moisture)
Usually, I despise the word moist, but it’s a must-mention when we’re talking about glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant, which means it can reserve moisture and reduce the loss of water in the skin. When I’m on the hunt for the perfect lip balm, I make sure that glycerin is high on the ingredient list.
Flip over a tube of Blistex Five-Way Lip Protection (SPF 20), and you’ll find glycerin within their signature formulation that defends against 5 of nature’s harshest elements: wind, dryness, cold, heat and sun. Glycerin’s job here is to lock in moisture, which in turn helps to keep your lips looking smooth, dewy and plump. The fantastic thing about this particular lip care product is that it has an SPF 20 broad spectrum medium sunscreen to protect your lips from the sun's harsh rays — an absolute necessity for all seasons in the Aussie climate.
What to look for on ingredient labels: Glycerin, Glycerol or Glycerine.
Snail mucin (she’s giving skin elasticity)
Yes, it’s slimy, but in the best way possible. Snail mucin is... snail excretion. Not to be confused with the juice that trails behind snails when they move — trust me, if it were, it would not be going anywhere near my face!
Snail mucin is a powerhouse ingredient found in several trending K-Beauty products right now. It moisturises, boosts hydration, improves skin elasticity and repairs the skin giving it a healthy glow. Definitely worth the slime. Suppose your skin routine contains products with active ingredients like vitamin C, retinol or glycolic acid. In that case, snail mucin will be your new friend as it ensures your skin barrier is always protected.
What to look for on ingredient labels: SSF or Snail secretion filtrate.
Calendula oil (she’s giving healing)
Calendula oil comes from calendula flowers, which are super pretty botanicals most recognised by their marigold coloured leaves. Calendula oil has the power to calm down inflammation, redness or sensitivity in the skin.
When it comes to lip care, Calendula oil helps soothe chapped lips. It’s an oil that works wonderfully alongside other soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients like wheat germ oil, which moisturises heat-stressed lips, and candelilla, which creates a wind barrier. You’ll find this gorgeous trifecta — calendula oil, what germ oil and candelilla — also in Blistex’s Five-Way Lip Protection formulation.
What to look for on ingredient labels: Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Calendula Extract, Marigold Extract, Tocopherol.
Hyaluronic acid (she’s giving hydration)
It’s an acid, but not in the way you’d think. It’s something that our skin actually naturally produces. So why would we actually need more of it in a beauty product, you ask? It’s because daily environmental aggressors like air pollution and sunlight take a toll and mess up those naturally occurring levels of ours.
Hyaluronic acid has similarities to glycerin in that it’s a humectant, but because it’s already found in our skin, it makes it perfect for all skin types. Even oily/combination skin. If you have oily skin, using hyaluronic acid regulates and balances your skin to reduce excess oil production. If you've got dry skin, it’s like delivering a refreshing and hydrating dose of water to your skin — leaving it quenched, plump and radiant.
What to look for on ingredient labels: Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronan, or Glycosaminoglycan.
Retinol (she's giving cell turnover)
Retinol is a type of retinoid that derives from vitamin A, so it carries antioxidant properties.
Retinol has always been the rave in the skincare community for women who want to reduce signs of ageing, as it helps accelerate the rate of cell turnover. But, popularly, women in their twenties and thirties are reaching for products with retinol to treat acne, skin texture, hyperpigmentation and even skin tone.
With retinol, you want to slowly incorporate it into your skincare to avoid irritation or peeling. Also, it’s important to boost your skin's hydration with hydrating cleansers, hyaluronic acid serums, and ultra-moisturising lotions. Avoid anything that strips your skin of needed moisture. Retinol also increases your sun sensitivity, so wearing SPF (including on your lips!) is a must.
What to look for on ingredient labels: Retinol, Retinoid, Tretinoin, Retinoic Acid.
Try Blistex Five-Way Lip Protection, your personal defender against nature’s harshest elements of wind, dry, cold, heat or sun. Shop now from Chemist Warehouse, Woolworths and more.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Reapply frequently. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun.
Feature Image: Supplied/Getty.
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