The Naughty And Nice List: Ingredients You DO Want In Your Makeup Collection

When it comes to our makeup collections, most of us know a thing or two about the ingredients which we should avoid. Programs have been made about them. Articles have been written about them. And, many of us don’t even consider stocking up on new products unless we have our red list of ingredients to hand. The ingredients which make a frequent appearance on such lists include –

Parabens (of course)
Triclosan
Polyethene
Retinoic acid
Petroleum distillates

That’s just to name a few. You may recognize some of the names which appear here, including petroleum! It doesn’t take a genius to work out that isn’t going to be the best for your skin. But, we aren’t here to dwell on the negatives. There are enough guides out there to help you avoid these things. Instead, we’re going to point out a few ingredients you may benefit from actively seeking out.

Yes, you did read that right. Some ingredients in our favorite products can work wonders for our skin. Sadly, these guys don’t get half the coverage they deserve. We’re all too busy berating the bad stuff. But, if you’re fed up of putting your products through the wringer, it’s time to write a ‘nice’ list. This will ensure you actually come away from that shopping trip with a product or two.

Retinol

You may have heard that retinol should appear on your naughty list. There’s no denying that this is something you want in small doses. But, this is actually a pretty handy addition. It could work wonders for your appearance. That’s because this chemical alone is what’s known as a ‘cell communicator’. It speaks to your cells, if you like, and encourages them to restore themselves. This way, retinol ensures that your cells keep producing younger and healthier replacements. These both improve your skin’s appearance and fight the appearance of things like wrinkles. That’s a pretty cool result from one single chemical. The majority of opposition against retinol is because it’s a strong chemical. We all know that they aren’t always the best for our skin. But, if this is one or two of your products, you can bet it will help you achieve that fresh-faced look you’re after.

Hyaluronic Acid

You might also want to buy at least a few products which contain hyaluronic acid. But, what is hyaluronic acid? In short, this is a skin fortifier. As it sounds on the tin, this is a chemical which ensures your skin stays hydrated. You surely don’t need us to tell you the wonders hydration can do for your skin’s appearance? This can be a real Godsend in products which you use on your face. There’s nothing worse than taking your makeup off at the end of the day and seeing all manner of dry patches. With an ingredient like this included, that’s unlikely to happen again. As if hydration benefits weren’t enough, fortifiers also rebuild skin structures. They, therefore, allow it to function like it did when you were a much younger woman. You could say, then, that this is essential within your collection.

Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids

These are another ingredient which often makes an appearance on the naughty list, but we think they get a bad rep. There’s no denying that these are another thing you want to use in small doses. Too much of each can undeniably undo the good they bring. In general, though, these can work wonders for the health of your skin. That’s because both chemicals work to resurface the skin and help your cells shed. That can work wonders for undoing the damage caused by sun, age, and many things between. We would argue that’s a pretty substantial benefit. The main thing to bear in mind here is that using these products too often could leave your skin at risk. You would certainly be more prone to sun damage afterward. This is very much a case of little and often, then, but these are still worth looking out for.

Essential oils

Lastly, we thought we would focus on something with much more natural benefits. We are, of course, talking about essential oils. These are everywhere at the moment. Your makeup collection could benefit from them as well. There are a whole variety of options which could help you here. Lavender oil works wonders for soothing irritated skin. Helichrysum Essential Oil can even keep acne at bay. In short; a product is probably worth buying if it boasts of essential oils.

What skincare ingredients do you feel are a must-have? Let me know in the comments, I love hearing from you!

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