Discover the Skincare Ingredients to Give You Glowing Skin

Add these skincare heroes to your beauty line-up and revel in the Wonder of Skin this winter.

Because our skin changes day to day, month to month and season to season, being able to adapt your regimen depending on your concerns is key. Understanding the ingredients on the label of your favourite products is the first step towards building a tailored skincare routine. So whether you’re targeting visible signs of ageing or combating dullness, dehydration, oiliness or shine, these are the hero ingredients to have on your radar.

Often described as being like a tall glass of water for thirsty skin, hyaluronic acid (HA) is the ultimate hydrator. With the ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, HA works by attracting and maintaining moisture in the skin. Serums and creams containing HA quickly increase the skin’s moisture level, leaving you with a plump and glowing complexion. Beauty experts recommend using a mist or essence before layering HA products to supercharge their efficacy. 

Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum and Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate are intensely hydrating topical formulas. Powered by small molecules that are able to deeply penetrate the skin, these products promise to do the heavy lifting and leave you hydrated for longer. For targeted eye care, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix cushions, nourishes and hydrates delicate skin around the eye, helping to reduce puffiness, as well as the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

An unsung hero of many skincare routines, niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that helps build proteins, reduce inflammation and protect against environmental damage. Loved by many skincare devotees, niacinamide can help manage acne, rosacea, pigmentation issues and wrinkles.

When combined with hyaluronic acid, like in Ultraceutical’s Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum, niacinamide affords barrier protection to boost tired, stressed or dehydrated skin. This in turn will restore glow, as skin appears supple, dewy and more youthful. If you’re struggling with blemish-prone skin and uneven tone, Dermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum puts the power of niacinamide to work alongside salicylic acid to clear breakouts and reduce dark spots.

One of beauty’s buzziest ingredients, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. Dedicated glow-getters know that it can help slow signs of ageing, prevent sun damage (by neutralising free radicals) and improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots and acne. 

Brighten and illuminate dull and tired skin with nature’s richest source of vitamin C: Kakadu plum. Antipodes Diem Vitamin C Pigment-Correcting Water Cream shines the spotlight on this native hero. Or, for skin that glows from the inside out, look to ingestible formulas like Vida Glow Radiance Advanced Repair Capsule. A capsule per day can help address uneven, discoloured skin caused by excess melanin production.

If you’re lusting after luminous skin, it’s time to introduce the magic of retinol to your routine. A powerhouse ingredient, retinol (also known as vitamin A) is an active ingredient that helps promote skin-cell renewal and the natural production of collagen. 

Ultraceuticals Ultra A Perfecting Serum Mild works to (gently) refine texture and diminish fine lines. The addition of hyaluronic acid in this formula will leave you hydrated and radiant – a saviour for dry or sensitive skin types that might experience irritation from stronger products. 

An ingredient that naturally occurs in our skin, collagen works wonders to hydrate and plump. Ultimately, the more collagen we have, the firmer and juicier our skin looks. But as we age, our collagen production begins to slow down. The added elements of UV exposure, stress and even drinking can accelerate the loss of collagen, too. 

But never fear, you can help stimulate collagen production with a dedicated anti-ageing routine. We love topical ingredients that include amino acids and peptides, as well as vitamin C and retinol to help skin “switch on”. For next-level glow, introduce a daily supplement, like Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen into your routine, and look to non-invasive tools such as the Foreo Bear device to help firm skin.

We all know how important SPF is when it comes to protecting skin from the sun’s harmful rays. We also know it can be hard to find a sunscreen that sits well under make-up and doesn’t leave you with mid-afternoon shine. Enter Giorgio Armani UV Master Primer SPF 40. This glow-giving formula will seamlessly slot into your beauty collection, as it absorbs effortlessly into skin and offers protection from UVA and UVB damage. 

Come rain, hail or shine, you should be incorporating protective skincare products into your daily routine. Sisley All Day All Year boosts the skin’s natural defence mechanisms, working to shield your face from the effects of environmental aggressors. The ingredients in this anti-ageing essential physically block pollutants and limit penetration to help skin appear more luminous.

While some ingredients should never be mixed (there is such a thing as too many actives, after all), others seem to be somewhat supercharged when used together. This is the basis of skincare cocktailing. For example, pairing niacinamide with your chosen retinol (or looking for a product that incorporates both ingredients) can help reduce the irritation that sometimes occurs with the use of topical vitamin A. 

Another winning combination of hero ingredients is vitamin C and SPF. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C enhance broad-spectrum sunscreens, which optimises protection and is shown to be more effective at neutralising exposure to free radicals and ultraviolet light.

No matter what your skin’s going through, it’s time to find your glow – however that looks on you.