Quarantine Skin Care: The Top Skin Care Ingredients You Need While Indoors

With the on-going pandemic, we are all still highly advised to stay indoors to reduce the likelihood of infection. However, just because we’re stuck inside our homes doesn’t mean we should skimp on our skin care! In fact, with all this extra time on our hands, we’re given the perfect opportunity to test and perfect our regimens. To aid in your journey to complexion perfection, we’ve rounded up the top skin care ingredients to consider when building your quarantine routine.

Please be mindful, however, that different people have different needs when it comes to their skin. Always patch-test first to see how your skin reacts to certain ingredients, especially if they’re in strong doses! Some people also benefit more when using less ingredients, so do bear that in mind while crafting your skin care regimen. You don’t need to use all ingredients at once for great skin, after all!

FOR CHEMICAL EXFOLIATION

Just because they sound intimidating doesn’t mean that they are! Chemical exfoliants, especially because they’re harnessed in controlled quantities, safely lift away the build up of dead skin cells, oil, and dirt that sit on our skin and can cause dullness and inflammation–a must for making sure our skin looks youthful in the long run! They also provide a gentler, more even exfoliation than physical exfoliants, as the latter may even irritate or create micro-tears on the skin.

These exfoliants come in two kinds: AHAs and BHAs (read a more detailed guide on these terms here). To keep it simple, you can differentiate the two by remembering that AHAs work best on the skin’s surface, which makes them better for treating sun damage and dullness, whereas BHAs go beyond the surface of the skin and into the pores, as being oil-soluble helps them penetrate the skin more easily, making them better for cleaning out blackheads and acne.

Lactic acid and glycolic acid are both water-soluble AHAs. These ingredients are good for targeting uneven skin texture, hyperpigmentation, or a lacklustre complexion, as they not only lift impurities but also help improve cell turnover for a brighter, clearer appearance. Keep in mind that glycolic acid is typically more potent as it penetrates deeper into the skin, whereas lactic acid is a little bit gentler and more moisturizing. For this reason, we recommend that those with more sensitive skin start off with lactic acid.

Salicylic acid, on the other hand, is a pore-pumping BHA. It’s well-known to be an effective acne-buster for its ability to dissolve debris that’s lodged inside our pores, helping to rid us inflammation, whiteheads, and blackheads! Those with acne-prone skin will definitely benefit from this ingredient and can opt for cleansers containing it to help keep their inflammation at bay.

FOR ANTIOXIDANTS

Whether or not you’re regularly exposed to environmental stressors such as pollution or sun damage, antioxidants are always a good addition to your skin care routine as they help fight against free radical damage and keep our skin’s defenses on high. It’s also important to know that as we age, our skin’s natural ability to heal itself and retain moisture weakens, making us more prone to signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and dullness. Antioxidants are well known for their ability to visibly counter these signs, helping us create an even skin tone and promote a healthy, youthful glow by making sure our skin is well protected!

As a Calyxta Crew all-time favorite, niacinamide (aka vitamin B3) is a great multi-purpose ingredient that is not only a powerful antioxidant, but is also great at controlling excess oils and calming acne with its anti-inflammatory properties.

Another popular ingredient is Vitamin C, best known for its brightening properties that prevent hyperpigmentation and acne scarring. But don’t think that’s all it can do! This powerhouse of an ingredient is not only chock-full of antioxidants that help our skin regenerate naturally, but can trigger the skin’s collagen and elastin production–both naturally occurring fibers in our skin that are necessary in keeping it firm and plump!

Especially now that we’re more likely to stay indoors, it’s a good time to try and experiment with Vitamin A. This ingredient is typically used to fight the signs of premature aging, but is definitely not limited to that alone! Vitamin A plays a lot of essentials roles when it comes to skin health, such as the production of newer, healthier cells that improve skin vitality and tone, boosting skin-smoothing proteins like collagen, and fighting hyperpigmentation and sunspots caused by UV damage. However–this is VERY important–Vitamin A is usually found in retinoids or retinols (for a refresher, click here), which can be very irritating to the skin if you haven’t built a tolerance for it. Because they’re so powerful, you might even experience redness, dryness, and peeling before your skin starts to visibly improve months later. However, just because it’s strong doesn’t mean you need to be afraid of it! Try starting off with using a low concentration first every other day, then building up to daily use and higher doses. This ingredient may also make your skin more photosensitive, so be sure to put on sunscreen if you plan on going outdoors–kind of perfect for those in quarantine, as you’re more free to experiment with your tolerance without the fear of the sun sensitizing your skin!

FOR SOOTHING AND REPAIR

With the Philippine heat, sudden changes in weather, and irritation from masks, sometimes our irritated skin just needs to be soothed with gentle, reparative ingredients. One such ingredient is Centella Asiatica (aka Cica). K-Beauty lovers would most likely have heard of this ingredient before, as it quickly skyrocketed to fame for being a rich source of amino acids that help maintain the skin’s resilience and overall appearance. It’s also known to be calming and hydrating, which is excellent for aggravated skin!

Another ingredient to look out for is rosewater–one of my own, personal faves! Biases aside, rosewater naturally contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that do wonders to reduce redness and fight against acne. It’s also a great source of hydration and antioxidants that help refresh the skin for a clear, plump appearance!

Sometimes, the best ingredients come from the most unlikely places–in this case, bees! Bee propolis is a little-known ingredient that has been used to treat a wide variety of skin conditions, but is particularly popular for acne-prone skin. It’s renowned for its antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties that keep acne-sprouting bacteria at bay. Don’t be fooled by it’s thick, resin-like texture! Propolis can also be infused into products that deeply hydrate, smooth, and soften the skin without the icky, sticky feeling. Plus, it helps control your oil production too! Thanks, bees!

FOR HYDRATION AND MOISTURE

I’ve said it once, but I’ll say it time and time again: hydration is key to a healthy complexion. And don’t be fooled by your oily skin! Sometimes, that oil is your skin’s way of crying for help, so be sure to always treat it with some tender loving care by staying properly hydrated!

The first ingredient that comes to mind when it comes to hydration is Hyaluronic Acid. Beauty buffs have for sure heard of the wondrous tales of skin improvement this ingredient alone can provide–with good reason! To be technical about it, this ingredient is able to hold up to 1,000 times its molecular weight in water, which means that when it penetrates deep into the skin, it can bind more water to your skin cells to infuse it with the sweet, sweet moisture that it needs to stay healthy. Because it’s a humectant, it continues to draw moisture in from the surrounding environment for long lasting hydration.

Squalane is another ingredient that sometimes flies under the radar but is definitely worth a spot on your skin care shelves. This ingredient can make great moisturizers, as it’s an emollient that locks moisture into the skin and prevents it from drying out. When used consistently over time, it can even help reduce the signs of premature aging, reverse UV damage, lighten hyperpigmentation, and fight against free radical damage!

Ceramides are lipids that are naturally found in our skin and make up over 50% of our skin’s composition–don’t go sleeping on this ingredient, now! As we age, our skin’s ability to repair itself weakens, so applying products with ceramides help to boost our skin barrier to better equip it for its fight against dryness, wrinkles, irritation, and dehydration! Those looking to have plumper, firmer skin can definitely turn to this ingredient for a helping hand.

TIP: NEVER MIX THESE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER!

Piling on the skin care may sound like you’re piling on the benefits, but don’t get that twisted. Some ingredients naturally react negatively to each other, so always keep this in mind when trying and testing out new ingredients in your routine. Here are some you should never mix together:

Vitamin C + AHA/BHAs – Vitamin C is already naturally unstable, so mixing it with AHAs and BHAs may destabilise the pH balance of your product and nullify its effectiveness.

Retinol + AHA/BHAs or Vitamin C – These alone are already very potent ingredients, so using them in conjunction with one another can (and will) be extremely sensitizing for your skin. You may find it becoming over exfoliated, flaky, and generally more irritated.

Niacinamide + AHA/BHAs or Vitamin C  – This is not advisable as mixing the two may render the niacinamide useless, as their pH levels would cancel each other out. Mixing Niacinamide with Vitamin C may also create Niacin, which can make your skin red, itchy, and uncomfortable.

Glycolic Acid + Salicylic Acid – While both are great for exfoliating the skin, they should always be used separately as they can be too harsh and can overly strip your skin, causing increased sensitivity.

Julia Benito

Julia is Calyxta’s resident crazy plant lady with an unstoppable caffeine addiction and an ever-increasing love for glitter eye shadow. When she’s not staring out the window mulling over the correctness of her grammar, she can be found drawing on eyeliner, watching anime, reading books, or petting strangers’ dogs.

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