My top 3 skincare ingredients

As a skin therapist, I always find it exciting to try out new ingredients, provided they suit my skin type, of course. Fortunately, I have an easy-going skin that doesn’t require too much maintenance. It tends to be a bit dry at times, leaning towards dehydration. That’s why I often look for products that provide hydration and nourishment. In this blog, I’ll share with you three ingredients that I use daily and especially what they can do for your skin.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) Suitable for: acne-prone and rosacea-sensitive skin, dry skin.
Niacinamide is a versatile ingredient that can be combined with other active ingredients. It can contribute positively to many different skin issues. As we age, the number of antioxidants in the skin decreases. Niacinamide is an antioxidant, and we need it to keep the skin resilient and strong against harmful external influences. It’s beneficial to replenish these antioxidants to help the skin resist aging signs.
Niacinamide helps strengthen the (disrupted) skin barrier and retain moisture. A damaged skin barrier struggles to retain moisture, which can trigger irritation such as redness and pimples. By strengthening the skin barrier, redness and irritation can be reduced.
Additionally, niacinamide has a mild exfoliating effect, which helps combat dull skin and fine lines. Finally, niacinamide is also effective against acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties. I prefer a serum containing niacinamide because it typically has a higher concentration.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Suitable for: dehydrated skin
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, with more than half of it found in the skin. Its primary function is to retain moisture in the skin, allowing it to function optimally and keeping it “wrinkle-free,” so to speak. The action of hyaluronic acid can be compared to water being poured over cracked earth. You’ll notice the cracks disappear. Similarly, when the skin retains more moisture, it appears plumper and smoother.
There are serums containing hyaluronic acid that can significantly help your skin. However, if your skin is significantly dehydrated, the best way to give it a boost is through mesotherapy. This treatment, also known as a ‘skin booster treatment,’ involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the deeper layers of the skin using tiny needles. This process hydrates and strengthens your skin from within, reducing the visibility of fine lines.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Suitable for: all skin types, dull skin.
You might think it’s easy to squeeze extra oranges in the morning, hoping your skin will absorb some of it. However, unfortunately, only 1% of this reaches the skin, so we need to apply these vitamins from the outside to nourish the skin.

Vitamin C naturally occurs in our skin. Due to sun exposure, vitamin C breaks down, making the skin less resilient. Products containing vitamin C are therefore popular because they provide the skin with many benefits. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C protect your skin against harmful external influences such as UV radiation and pollution. At higher concentrations, vitamin C also has brightening effects on superficial pigmentation by stimulating collagen production. So, it’s also a good ingredient for evening out the skin tone.


There, those were the ones. If you have any questions about the products I use and enjoy using, feel free to send me a message. Perhaps I can help you further 😉

Love, Fabienne

Are organic skincare products better for your skin?

The ingredients used in cosmetics can be either synthetic or natural. In short, synthetic ingredients are substances made by humans, while natural ingredients are derived from nature. Most natural cosmetics manufacturers share a philosophy that could be described as using the goodness of nature and/or producing with respect for nature. If I believe what I see on the internet, in stores, or on my Instagram feed, people are becoming increasingly aware of the ingredients in the products we apply in our daily skincare routines. Consequently, more and more blogs are emerging that provide advice and tips on how to create a completely healthy lifestyle. But do natural products really work that well? Many of these bloggers believe that natural cosmetics actually contribute to healthier skin, but unfortunately, for more than half of natural ingredients, this has not yet been scientifically proven. In fact, many products are sold with added natural ingredients that you might not want to apply, such as lavender or mint, which can actually be irritating. But that’s not the only concern.

The effectiveness of a good product depends on multiple factors, not just active ingredients. Effectiveness depends on the processing, shelf life, concentration, purity, and stability.

And this processing starts with the extraction of ingredients because an extract from a cucumber or an aloe vera plant doesn’t go directly into a jar. Even if the ingredient comes from nature and is effective, to what extent does a product still fulfill its promise after undergoing several processes before it can be sold? For example, green tea naturally has a brown color. When this ingredient is added to a cream, it can only be added in low concentrations, or else the cream will turn brown. But to be effective, a higher concentration is needed. However, a brown cream is unattractive to most people. Ultimately, natural products often contain synthetic ingredients as well, which are often needed to maintain stability.

But don’t get me wrong, I’m not against natural products. Ingredients that have been proven to have a positive contribution include oatmeal, (manuka) honey, coconut oil, green tea, and soy. If they meet all the above conditions and provided you don’t have pre-existing skin problems, why not? Ultimately, it’s important that products contain ingredients that are safe, whether synthetic or natural. And when you combine the right ingredients from both sides, it’s ultimately about the right composition and stability. So… it all comes down to finding the right balance. 😉

If you want to know how the use of ingredients in cosmetics is legally regulated within Europe, you can check out https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/cosmetics/cosing_en

With love, Fabienne

Sources
bron 1: Nederlandse Cosmetica Vereniging (2019). Natuurlijke Cosmetica. Geraadpleegd op: https://www.ncv-cosmetica.nl/cosmetica/natuurlijke-cosmetica/

https://www.degroenedrogist.nl/nl/service/certificates/

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