This is for the skincare newbie – or those who are using products in their routine, but don’t know why! Bahar Niramwalla shares 4 ingredients to incorporate into your daily skincare regimen.

Vitamin A/Retinoids

Antioxidant: Encourages collagen production and skin renewal. They help battle fine lines & wrinkles, uneven skin tone and acne. It’s basically a superstar skincare ingredient.

Names to look for: Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinaldehyde

Best found: Serums, oils and moisturizers all of which have varying strengths

When to use it: ideal for nighttime use but you can use this in the day, just pick either-or, not both! And ALWAYS remember to wear a sunscreen when using a Retinoid.

New to this ingredient? Choose a low percentage Retinoid to ease into your routine and try using it every other day to start! It’s best to apply this to a cleansed, dried skin. Then wait for 15 minutes before applying your next product such as lotion or moisturizer.

Vitamin B3/Niacinamide

Antioxidant: Helps in cell renewal and helps combat free radical damage to the skin. It can improve the skin’s barrier function, uneven skin tone, fine lines & wrinkles and reduce redness in the skin

Names to look for: Niacinamide, Niacin, Nicotinic Acid

Best found in: cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers

When to use it: ideal for both day and night use

Niacinamide works well with other ingredients in your routine, like peptides, acids and other antioxidants!

Vitamin C/Ascorbic Acid

Antioxidant: Helps aid in collagen production and can help tackle multiple skin concerns, like brightening an uneven skin tone and soften fine lines & wrinkles.

Names to look for: Ascorbic Acid, L-ascorbic Acid, Ascorbate

Best found: serums, moisturizers

When to use it: Ideal for both day and night use

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant: found naturally in the body, it can bind up to 1000 times its own weight in water.
It can be skin soothing, healing and, obviously, hydrating.

Names to look for: Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronan, Hyaluronate Sodium

Best found in: facial mists, masks, essences, serums, moisturizers

When to use it: ideal for both day and night use, in multiple products