Confused about the best skincare ingredients for your routine? There are plenty of myths out there about skincare and beauty ingredients! We clear them up and point you towards the best ones for targeting different skin concerns.

Skincare Ingredient Myths

Natural skincare ingredients are always safe

Just because an ingredient is natural or a product is classified as organic skincare doesn’t mean it won’t ever cause an adverse side effect.

It’s possible to have an allergic reaction or increased sensitivity to a natural ingredient.

Essential oils, in particular, can be extremely strong and are known to cause adverse reactions for some skin types.

Whether you’re using a natural ingredient or not, always patch test a new product on a small area of your neck before applying it to your face or body.

Preservatives are bad for your skin and health

Skincare products which contain water or water-based ingredients must have a preservative (natural or synthetic) for the formulation to remain stable and be safe for use.

While it’s true many ‘traditional’ preservatives have been found to pose adverse health effects, not all preservative ingredients are harmful.

Benzyl alcohol, Phenoxyethanol (PE), and Caprylyl glycol are a few examples of safer alternatives to traditional preservatives.

Read our article Preservatives In Skincare to understand more about harmful vs healthy preservative ingredients.

The more Vitamin C you apply, the better!

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is one of the best skincare ingredients out there to simultaneously target a range of skin concerns.

However, it’s advisable to take a ‘less is more’ approach to including it in your skincare routine.

If the product you’re using has a high concentration of L-Ascorbic Acid you’ll likely experience irritating side effects. The percentage of LAA in a product can range anywhere from 3% - 20%. We recommend easing into using Vitamin C at a percentage of 3% Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (a highly stable, derivative of Vitamin C) which is also a pregnancy safe percentage.

Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is another common form of Vitamin C you’ll find in topical formulations.

Face oils make oily skin worse

Not true. Using the right face oils for your skin type can help improve the appearance of an oily, shiny face and regulate sebum production.

Using a facial oil creates an occlusive layer to seal in moisture for all skin types, even oily ones. Without moisture, the sebaceous glands are prompted to produce more oil in an attempt to correct the dryness.

In addition to helping skin stay hydrated and plump, certain face oils can also offer anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits to target redness and sensitivity.

Jojoba, acai, rosehip, and almond oil are some of the most beneficial for oily skin.

Mineral sunscreen ingredients aren’t as effective as chemical sunscreen ingredients

Chemical sunscreen ingredients work by absorbing UVA and UVB rays to prevent them from damaging the skin. Natural mineral sunscreen ingredients - titanium dioxide and zinc oxide - reflect the rays, rather than absorb them, to prevent damage.

Both of these natural active ingredients provide excellent broad-spectrum protection and offer the same protective benefits as chemical ingredients.

Natural makeup ingredients aren’t long-wearing

Natural ingredient makeup has come a long way since the days you only found it on the bottom shelves of ‘alternative health’ stores!

Now, many makeup brands formulated with natural cosmetic ingredients are just as long lasting as ‘traditional’ formulations.

Mineral makeup, in particular, not only offers your skin long last wear but a range of additional benefits to actually improve your complexion while you wear it.

The texture of mineral makeup allows skin to breathe and be nourished with minerals including silica, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for skin conditioning and natural broad spectrum sun protection.

Explore our range of vegan mineral foundation, powder, and BB cream. 

Best Skincare Ingredients For Common Concerns 

Our handy list below outlines some of the most effective ingredients to target common skin concerns. Let’s clear up any confusion about what ingredients you need in your routine!

Best skincare ingredients for acne-prone and oily skin

These ingredients are helpful in the treatment of different types of acne, from blackheads and pimples to cysts and nodules.

Glycolic Acid: Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that assists in helping regulate oil flow and delivers exfoliating activity for clearer pores.

Bentonite and kaolin clay: Bentonite and Kaolin clay help soak up extra oil. Bentonite is known for its ability to draw out toxins and impurities from the skin while kaolin clay has more mild absorption properties. Kaolin is well suited to more sensitive skin.

Retinoids (Vitamin A): Retinoids are naturally occurring forms of Vitamin A and can help prevent pores from clogging to target breakouts.

Read our Guide To Getting Rid Of Acne

Best skincare ingredients for hyperpigmentation and dull skin

Hyperpigmentation can be a tricky skin concern to treat. A few of ingredients you’ll want to use in your routine to help target dark patches include:

Vitamin C: Helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots by inhibiting melanin production. Encourages a more even, radiant complexion.

Kakadu Plum: Kakadu Plum is believed to be the world’s most potent source of natural Vitamin C making it an excellent ingredient to help diminish the appearance of dark spots.

Bearberry Leaf extract: Works by reducing melanin production making it an excellent plant-based skin lightening agent.

Liquorice: Used for brightening, liquorice is also high in anti-inflammatories – making it great for post-inflammatory pigmentation and redness/scarring after breakouts.

Learn more about dealing with hyperpigmentation and reviving dull skin.

Best skincare ingredients for ageing skin

Dealing with fine lines, sagging skin, and a dull complexion? The best ingredients to target ageing concerns include:

Hyaluronic acid: Deeply hydrates, keeping skin plump and minimises fine lines.

Vitamin A: Revered for its anti-ageing benefits, Vitamin A can cause the dermis to thicken for firmer skin and brighten skin.

Alpha and Beta Hydroxy acids: Can remove dead skin cells and are effective in minimising fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin C: Minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, brightens and smooths for an even skin tone.

Omega Fatty Acids: Assist in delivering positive changes in skin hydration, scaling, and roughness.

Peptides: Can improve collagen levels, smooth fine lines, and minimise the appearance of pores.

Learn more about how to care for ageing skin

Best skincare ingredients for dry skin

Ingredients with occlusive, emollient, and humectant properties play vital roles in treating the causes of dry skin.

Occlusives: Occlusive ingredients help trap moisture by forming a seal over the skin. Examples of occlusive ingredients include jojoba oil, lanolin, olive oil, and argan oil.

Emollients: These ingredients smooth and soften dry, rough skin. A few examples include shea butter, cocoa butter, essential fatty acids like those found in rosehip oil, and squalene.

Humectants - Can pull moisture to the skin’s surface from the air and the deeper layers of skin. Hyaluronic acid boasts superior humectant properties.

Learn more about what causes dry skin and how to treat it.