Although there are tons of anti-aging skincare ingredients in the market and more coming each day, only three ingredients remain on the top for many years. They are vitamin A, vitamin B3, and vitamin C, easy to remember. These three antiaging skincare ingredients are standing out for a good reason. They work! If you haven’t included them in your skincare routine, it is time to consider them.

Contents:

1. Vitamin A skin benefits
2. Vitamin B3 skin benefits
3. Vitamin C skin benefits

Vitamin A

— The Queen of Antiaging Ingredients

Several forms of vitamin A are used in antiaging skincare, but they are not at the same level of strength. The one is standing out among all other forms of vitamin A is Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR). It is a retinoic acid ester. Although HPR is more potent than other forms of vitamin A, it is super gentle and skin-friendly. For all of those who have tried retinol or retinal, you probably have experienced vitamin A dermatitis. The skin irritation caused by vitamin A is almost unavoidable HPR is developed is different.

For those who want to stay away from synthetic ingredients and avoid skin irritation, you can now choose a perfect alternative, bakuchiol. There are two reasons that bakuchiol is the ideal alternative for retinol and retinal. 

First of all, bakuchiol provides similar anti-aging skin benefits at a similar strength level as retinol, but it doesn’t have skin irritation side effects. That is because bakuchiol is not a vitamin A. It works in its unique way to produce similar results. 

Secondly, it is a broad-spectrum antioxidant. It means that bakuchiol scavenges multiple forms of free radicals (ROS) to provide much better skin protection against damages caused by adverse environmental factors; 

Besides, your skin can get extra benefits from its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to its remarkable stability, it also provides you reliable skin benefits throughout the whole course of use.

HPR (Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate):

Skin Benefits of HPR

1. Boost synthesis of collagen and matrix substances in the skin to keep the skin supple and firm; to reduce the fine lines and wrinkles; to minimize enlarged pores.
2. Promote skin hydration by increasing the quantity of aquaporin in skin cells
3. Normalize melanocytes ( cells that make pigment) activities to fade the skin discoloration/pigmentation
4. Normalize sebum production
5. Normalize skin exfoliating process to keep the skin fresh, radiant, and smooth
6. It is suited for all skin types, especially the skin that has already shown some signs of photoaging. 
7. Best use for night skincare routine
8. Because it is the derivative of retinoic acid, the acne/acne-prone skin can also benefit from it.
   

Caution:  Always consult your healthcare provider before using skincare products containing vitamin A when you are pregnant or prepare for pregnancy or with some health issues, you need to consult your healthcare provider for advice before using vitamin A containing skincare products.

Skin Benefits of Bakuchiol

Bakuchiol is extracted from an edible plant. Studies show that bakuchiol produces similar antiaging skin benefits to that retinol does. It doesn’t have skin irritation and causing photosensitivity problems like retinol. It is suited for all skin types and can be used during the day. Its broad-spectrum antioxidant property is equally impressive and hard to get.

1. Retinol-like antiaging skin benefits and results without skin irritation. Such as boost synthesis of collagen and matrix substances in the skin to keep the skin supple, firm and reduce the fine lines and wrinkles.
2. To minimize enlarged pores through exfoliation and promote collagen synthesis.
3. A potent broad-spectrum antioxidant property makes bakuchiol a powerful skin protection agent against photodamages.
4. Improve skin hydration by encouraging water retention
5. Improve skin pigmentation problems, brightens, and evens the skin tone.
6. Soothes and calms the skin.
7. Bakuchiol is very stable in the formulas. It can deliver steady and reliable results from the beginning to the end of use.
8. It is suited for all skin types and all age groups to prevent and protect the skin and slow down the skin aging process.
9. Suitable for day skincare routine

Vitamin B — Vitamin B3 (niacinamide)

Vitamin B3 is also called niacinamide or nicotinamide. I really have trouble categorizing it because of its incredible skincare benefits in many aspects. Niacinamide is a gentle, effective, and safe anti-aging skincare ingredient. It reverses the signs of aging at the molecular level. in the photoaged skin. But it doesn’t stop there. It is one of the most studied skincare ingredients. It’s skin benefits are scientifically proven and well documented. What exactly are they?

Skin benefits of vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)

Although the underline mechanism of niacinamide antiaging property is not entirely clear, the positive antiaging results have been proven through multiple clinical studies, so have the other skin benefits.

1. Antiaging skin benefits: Niacinamide can effectively reduce the fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen synthesis and dermal/epidermal protein production, reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and promoting epidermal health
2. Barrier support properties: Niacinamide can promote barrier lipid production to strengthen the barrier function. This property is very important for maintaining proper skin water content by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). It is especially important for dry and/or problematic skin.
3. Increase the thickness of the skin: By promoting both epidermal and dermal health, normalize sebum production, and boosting mitochondria activities.
4. Skin Radiance: Niacinamide gives the skin soft, smooth, and radiant texture and gives the skin that youthful appearance by speed up skin turnover rate.
5. Improves skin pigmentation concerns: Lightens and evens the skin tone and reduces skin pigmentation: Niacinamide is a melanin transportation inhibitor in melanocytes. It can reduce the melanin availability for skin cells, ultimately even and lighten the skin.
6. Anti-inflammatory properties: Niacinamide is a skin calming ingredients. It helps to reduce skin inflammation by reducing the production of various inflammatory cytokines. It is widely used as a cosmeceutical ingredient for problematic skins.

Skin Benefits of Vitamin C

The original form of vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid (LAA). It is the only form that skin can use directly. Unfortunately, LAA is notorious for its instability and poor skin penetration. It can be easily oxidized and lost its bioactivity when water and light are present. The products containing L-ascorbic acid most likely lose their vitamin C power shortly after opening. The molecule of LAA is highly charged, which makes LAA difficult to penetrate the skin.

The increased concentration of LAA and lowered the pH value in a formula can certainly improve LAA’s penetration rate, it can also increase the risk of having an adverse skin reaction. For the reasons mentioned above, several vitamin C derivatives are created to overcome the weakness of LAA.

The one I like the most is ethyl ascorbic acid. It has the smallest molecule weight among all other vitamin C derivatives. It is stable than its original form (L-ascorbic acid) and has virtually no skin irritation. Due to its superb skin penetration property, it travels much deeper comparing with L-ascorbic acid. So it provides better antiaging skin benefits.

What can vitamin C do for the skin?

1. Slow down the skin aging process to keep the skin in a healthy and youthful condition. We all need that, don’t we?
2. Improve signs of aging, such as wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots. 
3. Fade skin pigmentation, even the skin tone
4. Brighten and lighten for flawless skin
5. Exfoliate the skin, speed up skin turnover rate
6. Promotes a soft and smooth skin texture
7. Speed up skin repair and healing process

Have you taken the advantages of these 3 remarkable antiaging skin ingredients yet?