Potions that can work magic on your skin

The older generation may have been raised on a soap and water beauty regime but thanks to a booming beauty market and an endless pursuit of youth, we have a huge range of lotions and potions that work some magic on our polluted, delicate skin.

Sometimes it gets all too confusing trying to select the right cream for your skin. Who on earth knows what hydroquinone or poly-hydroxy acids do? It might all sound like marketing mumbo jumbo, but science never lies.

Always select your creams according to your end goal. Decide what you want your lotions and potions to do and look for products that contain the magic ingredients.

Fighting wretched wrinkles

Look for retinol, which is a vitamin-A derivative. It encourages the production of collagen, which, over time, plumps up the skin and reduces the formation of wrinkles. Use moisturisers containing Retinol twice daily on cleansed skin.

Fine lines will benefit from gentle exfoliating ingredients. Alpha, beta, and poly-hydroxy acids work to remove surface layers of your skin, which will improve its appearance and rub out tiny lines. Use moisturisers twice daily and treatments weekly.

Remove dark spots

Sun damage is the leading cause of dark spots, known as hyper-pigmentation. Some drugs, such as the contraceptive pill, can cause your skin to produce patchy-brown dark spots from the over-production of melanin. The best way to reduce dark spots is to always use a moisturiser with a high-factor sunscreen (15SPF or higher). But there are bleaching products on the market that help reduce them.

Look for hydroquinone and kojic acid, which lighten over-pigmented areas. These ingredients take about two months to work, so be patient when using them.

For luminous skin

Moisturisers containing alpha, beta and poly-hydroxy acids will buff your skin and bring healthier, more radiant skin cells to the surface. Use twice daily.

Many moisturisers and foundations contain light-diffusing particles, which give the illusion of softening the light that is bounced off your skin, providing a soft, luminous effect. This is only temporary, however.

Facial protection from the sun

Whether you are on holiday or in the middle of winter, always select a moisturiser with a high SPF factor.

Look for micronised zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, Parsol 1789 (also known as avobenzone). These three ingredients block both UVA and UVB rays.

Vitamin C has also shown to have a photo-protective effect on the skin.

Eye creams

The skin surrounding your eyes is far more delicate than the rest of your face and demands a bit of extra care. It is important to use a cream that is designed for the eye area. Not only will it reduce reactions in allergic-prone skin but it will also produce great results, like firming or reducing circles and puffiness. Eye creams contain a number of active ingredients, which tighten under-eye skin to reduce puffiness and lighten dark circles. When you are shopping for an eye-cream, here are the ingredients you should be looking for.

Firming ingredients: these include caffeine, alcohol, retinol, alpha-hydroxy acids, copper and vitamin C. Caffeine and alcohol temporarily dehydrate skin, making it appear taut. Retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, copper and vitamin C actually work under the skin to stimulate collagen growth. Because collagen supports the skin from within, stimulating its growth may, over time, firm the skin and smooth lines and wrinkles.

Darkness-inhibiting ingredients: these include vitamin K, kojic acid and hydroquinone. Vitamin K has been shown to inhibit bruising and doctors suspect it helps to counteract dark shadows caused by too much blood flow and minor bruising under eyes. Kojic acid and hydroquinone are skin-lightening agents, often found in bleaching and age-spot creams.

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