Beauty Buzzwords You Need To Know!

It’s been said before, and we’ll say it again. The beauty world can be a little overwhelming, and with its constant developments and new products, keeping up with it can be hard. So we’ve created a beauty buzzwords list, so you know what they all mean and what they can do for your skin. And we’ll be sure to keep you updated as new things come on the market, too. You can see this as your handy dictionary for beauty buzzwords, so you always know what great products you can try (and sometimes, the ones you should avoid).

Retinol

Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and is great for reducing fine lines and wrinkles and even pigmentation. It works by helping encourage a higher cell turnover, so your skin renews itself regularly, keeping it youthful and plump.

Use it in the evenings though, as it makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight directly after. And always wear sun screen.

Antioxidant

Antioxidants are naturally in our skin to help fight off what we call free radicals (essentially anything that can harm our skin, from pollution to UV rays). To prevent them damaging our skin cells, antioxidants halt their destructive process, but not always enough as we still have to wear sun screen to fight strong UV rays. But you can use antioxidants in your skin care to help protect your dermal layer against free radicals and prevent premature aging.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is also known as vitamin B3 and nicotinic acid, and it offers multiple benefits for aging skin, such as shrinking large pores, wrinkles and dullness, as well as uneven skin tone.

Stem Cells

Stem Cells are made up of both growth factors and proteins which boost the production of collagen and elastin, essential in keeping your skin plump and youthful. By using Stem Cells in your skin care you will ensure your skin is tightened, hydrated and the dermal layers of your skin are thicker and more resilient. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is great when used in skincare as it will give your skin a natural glow. It works as an antioxidant (as mentioned before) so it will help protect your skin from free radicals. It will also help even out your skin tone and improve hydration levels too.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids/AHAs

Acids in skincare are the really confusing ones as there are so many. Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs are the most common and beneficial. They're natural acids which come from acidic fruits, such as lemons and oranges. They work to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and make your skin feel much smoother and plump.

Collagen

What exactly is collagen? Collagen is a naturally occurring protein which is one of the essential components for your skin and keeps it plump and youthful. It’s the slow decrease in collagen as we grow older that causes our skin to age. Using Stem Cells can help boost your collagen levels. 

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba Oil is full of antioxidants which help regenerate the skin cells, meaning it will cause your skin to look more youthful. It can also be used all over the body instead of your regular moisturizer.

Hyaluronic Acid

Another acid which you’ll probably see on a lot of product packaging. This is a super hydrating acid, as it manages to work deep into the skin’s layers to improve both hydration and elasticity. Recommend for those with dry, but acne-prone skin. 

Coenzyme Q10/CoQ10

Q10 is a powerful antioxidant which keeps your skin firm whilst protecting your skin from free radicals. It can also be ingested as things like whole grains and oily fish contain it too.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid helps remove dead skin cells from the skin, on both the surface and from the deeper levels. This means it can help certain skin problems such as zits, blackheads and oiliness. It’s very powerful, so best applying a small amount, and in the PM. It can be used along with physical exfoliation or just on it's own.

The Bottom Line 

The science developments in skincare have come a long way in the past few years, so as things continue to pop up in the beauty world we’ll continue to help explain to you what they mean. It's really important that you understand the products that are on your bathroom shelf, so you can avoid doing any harm and make sure you're supporting your skin in the best way possible, so you can prevent any premature aging. Let us know if there are any beauty buzzwords out there you'd like explaining!