Advanced Skin Care: You Need to Know This!

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It’s difficult to make it through a day without seeing an advertisement for skin care. The number of products lining store shelves can be very overwhelming! As consumers, we often find ourselves caught in a web of persuasive marketing claims and enticing packaging, wondering what truly works for our unique skin needs.

Now that I am almost 50, I do not want to resort to any medical procedures which have potential side effects and risks. Therefore, I have found how to use skin care products with ingredients that help me look younger. I call it “advanced skin care.” Today’s blog post walks you through the most important ingredients in advanced skin care. With this knowledge you can make more informed decisions about the products you use. And ensure that your choices align with your skin goals as well as contribute to your long-term health.

Advanced Skin Care

It wasn’t until I had an allergic reaction to an eye cream in 2012 that I realized the importance of reading and understanding the ingredients in skin care products. Frankly, back then I didn’t know how, and I found the EWG Skin Deep database confusing. In the end, I resorted to skin care products with ingredients I could pronounce and eat. Such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and shea butter. To save money, my mom bought a big jar of shea butter on Amazon and used it on her face. In a few weeks, she reported that her face felt like a dish scrubber. I also concluded that using only the simple ingredients gave me dull, dry skin.

Fortunately, numerous companies incorporate ingredients in their products that not only provide moisturization but also contribute to a more youthful appearance. In this article, we will explore these components, enabling you to identify and harness their benefits. On top of that, I will share what non-toxic products I use for my advanced skin care routine whose active as well as inactive ingredients are healthy and safe.

I Read Labels For You opinion on the active ingredients in advanced skin care.

What Are “Actives” In Skin Care

To begin with, skin care products include active ingredients (or “actives”) as well as inactive ingredients. The latter include binding agents, fillers, emulsifiers, stabilizers, preservatives, texture enhancers, and fragrances. As for the “actives,” they are powerful ingredients in advanced skincare that improve the skin’s condition and include the following:

alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)
hyaluronic acid
vitamin B3
vitamin C
bakuchiol
peptides, and
UV ray filters.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid

To begin with, dermatologists have been using alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) for years. Especially with the treatment of UV-induced skin damage. Subsequently, AHAs are especially popular in facial peels to help treat acne, scars, melasma, hyperpigmentation, roughness, age spots, and wrinkles.

You may have also seen AHAs on ingredient labels, listed in such forms as “glycolic acid,” “citric acid,” “malic acid,” “tartaric acid,” and “lactic acid.” These are naturally occurring organic acids present in many foods and milk sugars. The current literature concludes that as long as low concentrations are used, AHAs can help with UV skin damage (source).

On the other hand, the use of high concentrations of AHAs can irritate and harm the skin. Thus, it is important to use products with a safe amount of AHAs by sourcing from companies you can trust.

As for me, I use facial toner and an exfoliator with AHAs as they are a great way to incorporate AHAs into your skincare routine.

Facial Toner

I have been using this Crunchi Clarilight Facial Essence toner with AHA daily for several years. Thankfully, Crunchi carefully formulated it with lower concentrations of AHAs as well as several other beneficial ingredients.

As a result, I find it gentle, non-drying, and maximizing the benefits of the advanced skin care products that I use next in my skin care routine. (Use the ADVOCATE10 discount code for 10% off on the 1st order of $50+.)

Facial Exfoliator

Although Clarilight Facial Essence toner provides a small degree of exfoliation, a more comprehensive skin care routine includes a facial exfoliator like Crunchi I AM Polished (ADVOCATE10).

I love the fact that this polish has a 10% blend of glycolic, lactic, and fruit acids to safely remove dead skin cells. Also, this product is a must for anybody with dry skin or enlarged pores. What’s more, I can’t see my pores anymore after using this amazing exfoliator. It gently rejuvenates my skin and makes it radiant.

To learn how I use these products in my normal skin care routine, see my blog post Non-Toxic Anti-Aging Beauty Routine Guide. Not only that, but also I explain why these work well for dry skin in my Best Tips For Skin Care Routine For Dry Skin blog post.

Hyaluronic Acid

While this ingredient has the word “acid” in its name, it is not a true acid. In fact, hyaluronic acid is a natural part of your skin. And plays a critical role in keeping your skin hydrated and stable. More specifically, hyaluronic acid holds collagen and elastin in a proper configuration. As we age, hyaluronic acid becomes less present. Which can lead to the presence of skin fine lines and wrinkles (source).

Interestingly, hyaluronic acid is used in a wide variety of beauty products. Because it has the incredible ability to hold approximately 1,000 times its weight of water! Thus, you will even find it used in medical treatments such as wound healing (source). Furthermore, hyaluronic acid has proven to be effective at reducing wrinkles, and many other facial rejuvenating outcomes, making it an important component of an anti-aging protocol (source).

Fortunately, I have found some truly clean skin care products that use hyaluronic acid and are suitable for all skin types: facial serums, facial cream, and eye cream.

Facial Serums

For starters, my favorite serum of all time that contains hyaluronic acid is Crunchi Goldenlight Multi-Peptide Facial Serum. If I had to recommend any serum, this would be it! (Use the ADVOCATE10 discount code for 10% off on the 1st order of $50+.)

That said, Pure Haven Hyaluronic Acid Serum is excellent, too, and is made with healing organic botanical extracts.

It is important to know that hyaluronic acid serums should be applied to damp skin. By doing so, you feed the hyaluronic acid water to replenish your skin.

Facial Cream And Eye Cream

From my point of view, a moisturizer, face, or eye cream would not be complete without hyaluronic acid. My two recommendations are the products I use every single day.

In my opinion, the most hydrating facial cream on the market today is Crunchi Daylight Facial Cream (ADVOCATE10).

Similarly, the Crunchi Powerlight Eye Cream harnesses moisture while also using niacinamide (vitamin B3) to improve the appearance of the undereye circles – more on that next! (ADVOCATE10)

Vitamin B3

Also known as “nicotinamide,” vitamin B3 performs several functions for your skin once it is absorbed.

First, it helps minimize large or stretched-out pores to their natural size (source). This is particularly useful as sun-damaged skin produces more sebum, enlarging pores (source and source).

Second, nicotinamide improves and brightens uneven skin tone (source). This is because it helps reduce inflammation as well as the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation (source and source).

Third, nicotinamide is known for its ability to help moisturize the skin and prevent dehydration (source).

On top of that, it works seamlessly, and safely with many other active ingredients making it a powerhouse ingredient to add to advanced skin care products.

Products With Vitamin B3

The two products I have mentioned above – Crunchi Facial Serum and Crunchi Eye Cream – contain vitamin B3 (ADVOCATE10).

Furthermore, Blissoma Correcting Serum that I use to heal blemishes contains a 4% concentration of nicotinamide. As well as 20 other non-toxic active ingredients.

Finally, my favorite Vitamin C Serum (ADVOCATE10 for 10% off) contains nicotinamide as a primary ingredient as well. If you are wondering when to use vitamin C, that’s next!

Vitamin C

We have discussed remarkable active ingredients so far, but don’t forget about vitamin C! Vitamin C is critical for the skin, and when applied topically does an incredible job of preserving it as well.

In addition, stable vitamin C works overtime to protect against free radicals and UV radiation, caused by environmental factors, by defending collagen and reducing inflammation and hyperpigmentation (source and source).

However, not all vitamin C lotions and serums are made with stable vitamin C. For more on this subject, please refer to my blog post What Is A Vitamin C Serum, where I discuss several types of vitamin C. An important takeaway, though, is that we want a vitamin C serum that will remain stable on the skin for a long time (also known as “slow release”). This is because our skin faces UV radiation all da.y. Which typically depletes our skin’s outer layers of essential vitamin C. However, when you use a quality slow-release vitamin C serum (along with SPF), it provides an incredible protective barrier throughout the day (source).

Notably, vitamin C can also reverse some skin damage, like sunspots or dark aging spots. However, it is also important that the vitamin C product you select does not contain sodium benzoate. Normally, sodium benzoate is an acceptable preservative in skin care. However, in the presence of vitamin C, it may form carcinogenic benzene (read more here).

Products With Vitamin C

I chose to use Crunchi I AM Bright Vitamin C Serum and have found it helped me say goodbye to the spots on my hands that I have had for years! (ADVOCATE10 discount code for 10% off on the 1st order of $50+.)

Unsurprisingly, Crunchi utilizes a stable vitamin C in many of its skin care products, beyond just the I AM Bright Vitamin C Serum. Thus, their Powerlight Eye Cream, Daylight Advanced Facial Cream, and Crunchi Nightlight Advanced Facial Cream include vitamin C as well as many other active ingredients (ADVOCATE10).

Bakuchiol

Even though many people use vitamin A (retinol) in their anti-aging products, I strongly prefer bakuchiol instead. To be clear, many studies conclude that retinoids help treat sun-damaged skin and skin diseases. Which makes them popular ingredients in so many creams and serums (source and source). However, you must consider the drawbacks of retinol.

First, retinol can cause considerable irritation, or even burning of the skin (source). Second, it should not be used before exposure to UV light. Furthermore, this study found that mice who underwent a vitamin A application and then sunlight exposure ended up developing an increase in tumors. Therefore, if you do use clean retinol, please only do so at night!

Alternatively, bakuchiol is very effective at treating photoaged skin. And it doesn’t have the same dermal safety issues as vitamin A. For example, this study compared bakuchiol to retinol and found that despite bakuchiol having no structural resemblance to retinoids, it performed very similarly. Moreover, a skin care product containing bakuchiol was applied topically for 12 weeks in a clinical study. And the results confirmed that bakuchiol is an effective and safer retinol substitute. Specifically, the individuals in the study showed a significant improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, photo damage, pigmentation, elasticity, and firmness, all without the undesirable effects of retinol (source).

Next, this double-blind study found that bakuchiol and retinol statistically performed the same in terms of their ability to reduce wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. In fact, a notable takeaway was that retinol users documented more facial skin scaling and stinging (source).

Advanced Skincare With Bakuchiol

Thankfully, because bakuchiol seems to have no irritation and UV exposure concerns, I can use it at any time of the day. Bakuchiol is in all three of the Crunchi creams I recommend: the Daylight Advanced Facial Cream, the Nightlight Advanced Facial Cream, and the Powerlight Eye Cream (ADVOCATE10 discount code for 10% off on the 1st order of $50+).

Have you noticed how many active skincare ingredients are in these powerhouse creams? And we aren’t even done yet!

Peptides

To begin, peptides are an incredibly important tool in an anti-aging beauty routine. Did you know that peptides are the building blocks of collagen in the skin? As we age, our skin structure begins to break down as we lose collagen. Subsequently, the skin develops wrinkles and other signs of aging. Conversely, the use of peptides can help fortify the skin and make it look smoother and fuller.

Moreover, there are several types of peptides, each with important roles to play, which I discuss in my blog post Non-Toxic Anti-Aging Beauty Routine. For instance, it is important to note that some peptides are safe, and some are not so much. For example, neurotransmitter-affecting peptides are Botox-like and may cause negative long-term effects on memory (source).

Alternatively, there are peptides that boost collagen production and reduce collagen protein breakdown.

Skincare Products With Peptides

My holy grail Crunchi Goldenlight Multi-Peptide Facial Serum has made it to the top of my list because it contains a 15% multi-peptide complex that was clinically proven to lift, sculpt, and firm skin.

And to minimize crow’s feet, fine lines, and wrinkles, I use Crunchi Powerlight Eye Cream that also uses bio-positive peptides in addition to its lineup of other incredible active ingredients. I encourage you to take a look at the ingredient lists of these products. I know you will be impressed! (Use the ADVOCATE10 discount code for 10% off on the 1st order of $50+ on all Crunchi products.)

UV Rays Protection

Evidently, there are powerful actives to treat signs of aging. However, it is important to be proactive and prevent UV damage in the first place. Because UV radiation can promote the growth of tumors, skin cancer, and skin disorders (source).

Furthermore, the SPF rating on sunscreens only measures its ability to protect you from UVB rays. UVB rays are short-wave rays that primarily reach the outer layer of our skin, but UVA rays should not be overlooked. UVA rays are longer rays that reach deeper skin layers (source). Hence, despite claims of being “broad spectrum” on sunscreen labels, you have to know your active UV ray-filtering ingredients to be sure you are protected.

Importantly, not all active sunscreen ingredients are effective at protecting against both UVA and UVB, and some ingredients degrade in sunlight exposure (source). As you may know, there are two main categories of sunscreens – mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens. Mineral sunscreens are designed to sit on top of the skin and reflect UV radiation, whereas traditional chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays (source). To learn more about active sunscreen ingredients, please read my Guide To The Safest Baby Sunscreen And Sunscreen For Kids.

At present, evidence points to the fact that mineral sunscreens (that stay on your skin) are the safest option (source and source). As a matter of fact, the FDA even published a guide, noting that the two mineral sunscreen ingredients were the only active ingredients they could promote as safe and that more information is needed for the remaining options (source).

Sunscreens With Mineral UV Filters

For several reasons, but most notably its ability to effectively protect against both UVA and UVB radiation, I recommend non-nano zinc oxide. This baby and kids sunscreen post explains my sunscreen choices for the body, but my top choices for the face include Crunchi Sunlight (ADVOCATE10 discount code for 10% off on the 1st order of $50+), Pure Haven Face Sunscreen, and Blissoma Moisturizer with SPF. Rest assured, I have personally tried and enjoyed each of these!

I Read Labels For You opinion on how to use advanced skincare with active ingredients.

How To Use Actives In Skin Care

When using actives in skin care, it is important to ensure that they complement one another and make them more powerful together. That said, if you have sensitive skin, it is often best to start with one product at a time and introduce new products slowly. In my case, I love Crunchi products because they work seamlessly together and do not have any user-safety concerns.

To let you know, Crunchi offers a series of skincare product sets that work together for various skin issues. I can say emphatically that these sets contain powerful advanced skincare actives and can save you money when you buy them bundled. For instance, the Youth-Activating Complete Skincare Routine contains most of the products discussed today, plus a $58 bundle savings! (Use ADVOCATE10 for 10% off on the 1st order of $50+.)

Further, for those with acne concerns, there are other ingredients, such as salicylic acid, that can be beneficial to you.

Please see my acne skin care recommendations.

Along with that, I believe it is important to remind you that if you choose to use a retinol product, only use it at night. I would encourage you to try a bakuchiol product so you can get the full benefits of this active ingredient at any time of the day. In addition, for products with hyaluronic acid or vitamin C, please apply them to damp skin to seal or hold moisture.

As a product manufacturer advisor for ingredient safety, I am confident that if you follow these tips, you will find an effective and safe skincare routine. Please keep in mind that for some products, like exfoliators, you will notice a difference quickly as they deal with the top layer of the skin. Whereas for active ingredients in skincare that work at repairing damaged skin, it may take several weeks or longer. This is to be expected and is completely normal.

Summary Of Advanced Skin Care

Evidence Shows That Skin Care Products That Contain Advanced Anti-Aging Active Ingredients Can Work Together To Produce Safe And Significant Results.

Today, we reviewed the power of some active ingredients in advanced skincare as well as the non-toxic skincare products you can find these ingredients in. Check out the list of advance skin care products below (on all Crunchi products, please use the ADVOCATE10 discount code for 10% off on the 1st order of $50+):

The active ingredients we have looked into include:

AHAs (natural acids, safe and effective in low concentrations for acne, sun-damaged and wrinkled skin)
hyaluronic acid (moisturizing and cell stabilizing ingredient)
vitamin B3, aka “nicotinamide” (minimizes large pores, brightens uneven skin tone, reduces inflammation, and improves hydration)
vitamin C (treats sun-damaged skin and hyperpigmentation)
bakuchiol (treats sun-damaged skin and hyperpigmentation)
peptides (responsible for building and fortifying skin cells and boosting collagen production)
UV-ray mineral filter, namely non-nano zinc oxide (reflects UV rays and protects the skin from UV ray damage).

In conclusion, I can attest that my skin care routine has been very effective for me, even as I approach 50, and I am extremely pleased with the results. To see my complete skincare routine, check out my Non-Toxic Anti-Aging Beauty Routine Guide with additional product options.

Be sure to browse the I Read Labels For You blog for tons of useful information and visit the shop section of my website for numerous products vetted for safety that you can use on your body and at home.

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