If you’ve been ‘active’ on Instagram or have some kind of skincare routine going in your life, you must have come across the term ‘actives.’ Or you might have heard about different actives in the form of their names like AHAs, BHAs, Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid & so on. Bhaskara Seth, Co-founder of Neemli Naturals, tells you all about it.
WHAT REALLY ARE ACTIVES?
In short, an ‘active’ in skincare is an ingredient that helps in addressing specific concerns. If you are using a product like a serum or a cleanser that claims to work on acne, for example, it is likely to have an active ingredient like salicylic acid or azelaic acid that is usually proven to work by way of research and scientific studies.
Some of the most common actives that are a part of a large number of skincare products include the following:
• For aging skin: Retinoid or Vitamin A, Vitamin C
• For pigmentation and dark spots: AHAs, Vitamin C, Tranexamic Acid, Alpha Arbutin, Niacinamide
• For oily, acne-prone skin: Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Azelaic Acid
• For dry and dehydrated skin: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E
DO YOU REALLY NEED SKINCARE ACTIVES?
With our skin being exposed to a variety of environmental aggressors coupled with the natural process of aging, we all battle different skin concerns. When used safely and effectively, actives can truly make a big difference in improving different concerns from dryness and dark spots to pimples and pigmentation.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN USING ACTIVES
– Understand and prioritize your skin concerns first. Research and familiarize yourself with different actives that address these specific concerns.
– If you’re new to actives, start with using one product that targets your concern, do a patch test and then use 2-3 times a week, gradually building up to daily use.
– Look for formulations that work for your skin and have the right % of active ingredients for them to be truly effective.
– A general rule is using vitamin-based actives like Vitamin C during the day and AHA and BHAs like salicylic acid at night.
– Always remember to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen during the day when using products with actives since your skin can be more sensitive in case of exfoliating ingredients.
– It’s not advisable to use more than 3 actives in your skincare routine at a time – this may cause irritation and you won’t know which actives are actually working for your skin. If you want to include more actives in your routine, it may be a good idea to use products that combine actives. For example, the Neemli Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C serum combines two active ingredients to give you brightened, plump and youthful-looking skin.
Actives are a great way to keep your skin in shape. After some research and responsible experimentation, your skin will tell you all about the actives it’s loving.
