What You Should Look for in a Good Cosmeceutical and Why It’s Important

As 2019 kicks into high gear, we’re focusing on preserving the health and youth of skin through good cosmeceutical skincare. If you’re familiar with beauty therapy in Auckland, you’ve likely heard the term “cosmeceuticals” tossed around. They’ve been around since the 80s, but cosmetic skincare products with pharmaceutical benefits are rapidly gaining popularity among Auckland skin clinics.

But what do you know about your cosmeceutical skincare product? Cosmeceuticals are not regulated as thoroughly as other medical products and thus are not required to back up their medicinal claims with rigorous testing. So, is your cosmeceutical skincare product delivering the goods? Read on to learn why good cosmeceutical skincare is so important.

What are Cosmeceuticals?

Sometimes referred to as medical-grade cosmetics, cosmeceuticals can offer significant benefits. While basic cosmetic products improve the aesthetics of your skin, cosmeceuticals contain ingredients that fundamentally change the behaviour of your skin. Cosmeceutical skincare that works properly will restore your skin to its ideal natural state. These products contain active ingredients that are known to slow or reverse the natural ageing effects of your skin or restore your skin’s natural moisturising qualities.

When it comes to cosmeceuticals, however, not all products are created equal. You may find that your cosmeceutical skincare product is not delivering on its promises, or even resulting in unexpected side-effects. So, what can you do? The answer is simple. Knowing what to look for and what to avoid in your cosmeceutical skincare products can you help you avoid losing money on false promises or even damaging your skin with unrecognised medical research.

Active Ingredients

What makes cosmeceuticals special? Cosmeceuticals do more than ordinary cosmetic skincare because they contain something called active ingredients. Active ingredients work on your skin’s composition. Some active ingredients are restorative, helping to return your skin to a more youthful state, while some go even further, empowering your skin to restore itself. Active ingredients could be antioxidants, growth hormones, or vitamins. Cosmetics that don’t contain active ingredients are considered “inert” and do little more than disguise imperfections in your skin.

Active ingredients can be found in many cosmetic skincare products. Most of the time, these active ingredients are antioxidants or vitamins, often included to fight acne, moisturise, or reverse ageing. However, you are unlikely to notice any major medicinal benefit from these active ingredients unless a cosmeceutical contains a high enough concentration of them to penetrate the surface and impact the deeper layers of skin. Any cosmetic skincare products that include only trace amounts of active ingredients won’t necessarily be unhealthy, but they may not deliver the results you’re looking for unless they contain the right concentration. Your Auckland skin clinic should be able to explain what’s in their cosmeceuticals and how they work.

Keep an eye out for these active ingredients and ask your skin care provider if they will provide the health benefits you’re seeking. Here are some common cosmeceutical active ingredients to keep an eye out for.

• Alpha-Lipoic and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (ALA & AHA): Evens sun damage and other pigmentation issues, protects against free radicals
• Botanicals (Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Tea tree Oil): Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, helps skin resist acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles
• Ceramides: Helps skin retain moisture
• Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrates and improves elasticity
• Peptides (Amino Acids)
• Soy: Believed to restore healthy collagen levels
• Vitamin A (Retinol): Helps to smooth wrinkles
• Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide): Powerful antioxidant, known to revitalise skin tone
• Vitamin C: Promotes collagen production, reduces damage from free radicals, and preserves healthy pigmentation
• Vitamin E: Improves skin elasticity, particularly from sun damage

This list is not comprehensive, and other vitamins and extracts can also offer holistic benefits for your skin.

The Difference Between Healthy Looking Skin and Healthy Skin

Cosmeceuticals are gaining popularity because many are delivering results. Not all cosmeceuticals are created equal, however, and understanding what to look for is important. With cosmeceuticals, you are looking for long-term rejuvenation of the underlying health of your skin. Don’t settle for a quick fix! For more information about what cosmeceuticals can offer you, contact us at Palm Clinic today.