The Skincare Ingredients That Changed My Life | By Hrithika Sathish

Mini storytime you didn’t ask for: I started to notice my skin breaking out on my cheeks and chin after I turned 18. I never really had an issue with my skin before so I would just do a simple CTM routine but I realised I needed to give some extra love as I grew older.
That’s when I did a ton of research and discovered “Active Ingredients.” Actives, as they call it, are natural ingredients that have been scientifically proven to change the structure of your skin at a cellular level. Each active ingredient targets a certain skin problem. Here are a few that worked fabulously for me. FYI, I have oily skin that is prone to hormonal breakouts.

Note: If you have sensitive skin or are new to skincare we highly recommend consulting with a dermat before experimenting with actives.

1. Niacinamide
   Niacinamide was the first active skincare ingredient I ever tried. It’s an active form of Vitamin B3 that has the ability to improve your skin barrier function. It’s super important to take care of your skin barrier especially if you plan to use other actives. Skincare works better on skin that has a good skin barrier. When your skin barrier is compromised, you’re risking acne, irritation, dryness and a whole other set of skin issues. Niacinamide is also my all-time favourite ingredient because of its versatility. I personally love the Suganda White Lotus Moisturiser, it has truly transformed my skin and I can't imagine a routine without Niacinamide in it.
   
   
2. Hyaluronic Acid
   A dry skin saviour, Hyaluronic Acid is sometimes dubbed as the safest ingredient to use because its main function is to attract moisture from the atmosphere and lock it into your skin. But we all know by now that moisture and hydration are essential to any skin type. Sometimes my skin can get dehydrated, signalling my already oily skin to produce more oil. Hyaluronic Acid is the perfect ingredient to combat this and it has helped keep my oily skin at bay. If you’re wanting to use HA make sure to use it on damp skin and lock it in with a moisturiser to get the most out of this ingredient.  My favourite Hyaluronic Acid Serums at the moment are L’Oreal Revitalist 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid and Suganda Hyaluronic Acid.
   
   
3. Salicylic Acid
   Salicylic Acid is a form of BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acid) that chemically exfoliates your skin. While that might sound super dangerous, it’s usually a GREAT ingredient for oily skin. Oily skin has the tendency to form whiteheads, blackheads, clogged pores and acne. Salicylic Acid gradually exfoliates all the dead skin on the surface of your skin helping you prevent them. If you have problematic or sensitive skin please be extremely cautionary when introducing salicylic acid into your routine and don’t forget to double up on the SPF during the daytime. My favourite Salicylic Acid Serum has to be the Suganda BHA Serum.