For those battling with acne breakouts and hyperpigmentation that never seem to go away, don’t lose hope as we unveil the answer to your skin care woes.
Ingredient Spotlight: Acne-fighting Actives
Recently, acne-fighting actives have taken the beauty world by storm. Users have raved about the efficacy of these active ingredients in banishing their breakouts once and for all. To help you understand which are the best acne-fighting actives, a detailed breakdown is listed below.
BHAs (aka Salicylic Acid)
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) are one of the most potent ingredients in combating acne. Due to its lipid-soluble nature, BHAs are miscible with our epidermal lipid layer which means it can penetrate deeply within the skin.
This allows BHAs to gently exfoliate the outermost skin layers, removing surface wounds like pimples and blemishes.
In addition, BHAs promote collagen synthesis to aid in new cell development, thereby regenerating new skin tissues which fades acne scars. Furthermore, research has shown that BHAs like salicylic acid are effective at reducing sebum production in acne patients. This prevents excess sebum from mixing with dirt and bacteria to form clogged pores, thus avoiding future breakouts.
With powerful acne-fighting and prevention abilities, it is no wonder that BHAs have become much loved by acne users.
AHAs (e.g. Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid)
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) differ from BHAs due to its water-soluble nature. Its efficacy in reducing the severity and frequency of breakouts has been proven by this study of using glycolic acid to treat acne. The participants saw major improvement in their acne wounds with the added benefit of a brighter, younger-looking skin.
As such, AHAs are a must-have in your beauty arsenal when it comes to warding off acne pigmentation issues.
Vitamin C
This ingredient has recently been in the spotlight due to its ultra-efficient ability in fading blemishes and brightening one’s skin. It is vital for healthy collagen production in the skin to synthesize new tissues. Further complemented with an impressive anti-inflammatory ability, it can quicken healing of acne wounds to diminish hyperpigmentation swiftly.
However, vitamin C can be relatively unstable once exposed to the elements.
To ensure maximum effectiveness of this ingredient, make sure the product is enclosed in the right packaging. Go for air-tight and opaque packaging that keeps out air and sunlight to prevent destabilization of this sensitive formulation.
The Golden Rule to Layering Actives
It is essential to layer these actives correctly to reap the best results. This is because these active ingredients are super-concentrated blends with differing pH levels that can alter your skin’s cellular structure.
To maximize skin care benefits, always layer your actives from the lowest to the highest pH. So the order would go like this: Vitamin C >> BHA >> AHA. However, it’s best to limit to one or two actives in a single session to minimize skin irritation. Also, do remember to apply a sunscreen after your vitamin C and AHA to prevent photosensitivity.
Felicia Ler 