There is some controversy around BHT. It's not a new ingredient, it has been used both as a food and cosmetics additive since the 1970s. Plenty of studies tried to examine if it's a carcinogen or not. This Truth in Aging article details the situation and also writes that all these studies examine BHT when taken orally. It might also be helpful for acne prone skin as it normalizes keratinization and makes the pores produce less sebum Don’t mix retinol with AHAs or BHAs because using too many active ingredients, too frequently, can spark sensitivity. For this reason, also be careful if using a cleanser with actives.

Going too strong, too soon, can cause dryness and make fine lines and wrinkles more pronounced – not the aim of the retinoid game! Patience is key. “You will not see results overnight and it may take up to 12 weeks before any benefit is noticed,” says Dr Mahto. Speak to a dermatologist if you have sensitive skin or an underlying inflammatory skin condition, such as eczema, psoriasis or rosacea, as retinoids can potentially cause problems.” Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns. Make-up and skincare services, BrowBar benefit, gifting and personalisation workshop, Sephora offers you a whole range of services to come and discover in store Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure. Sunflower seed oil contains many fatty acids. The fatty acids found in sunflower seeds include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.

An emollient and natural moisturizer that can be found also in the sebum (oily stuff our skin produces). It leaves a nice non-greasy, non-heavy feeling on the skin. Retinol (and retinoids) will also make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Studies show using retinol consistently will make your skin sensitive for up to a month after the last application. Definitely wear SPF after applying retinol! If you want to use both retinol and brightening vitamin C in your skincare routine, apply the latter ingredient in the morning to give your skin a breather. Some brands do blend the two together, but these products have been carefully formulated to not cause irritation, so don't take a DIY approach. How we test retinoid serums We think that the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and we agree with Dr. Baumann's conclusion: " sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between RP and skin cancer has not been produced. Nor, I’m afraid, are there any good reasons to recommend the use of RP". We would addespeciallyduring the day!Historians believe Indigenous cultures of North America domesticated sunflowers before corn. Thus they relied on sunflower oil for a variety of uses. One such use is moisturizing skin and hair. It’s a real oldie: expressed directly from the seeds, the oil is used not for hundreds but thousands of years. According to The National Sunflower Association, there is evidencethat both the plant and its oil were used by American Indians in the area of Arizona and New Mexico about 3000 BC. Do the math: it's more than 5000 years – definitely an oldie. As an antioxidant, retinyl palmitate helps neutralize free-radical molecules. These molecules have the potential to damage skin cells. Thus, antioxidants may help with anti-aging. Though not as powerful as other serums on our list, if you’re dipping your toe into retinoids, this retinyl ester formula makes an affordable starter choice. Our testers loved how spreadable it was – thanks to moisturising squalane – and said it left their skin feeling instantly softer. This ingredient has antioxidant and exfoliating properties. Like other types of retinols, retinyl palmitate increases cell turnover. Removing dead skin cells and encouraging the growth of new ones improves skin tone and unclogs pores. This in turn promotes brighter looking skin and even skin texture.

It's a common little helper ingredient that helps water and oil to mix together. Also, it can help to increase the solubility of some other ingredients in the formula. what‑it‑does Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.It's the acronym for Butylated Hydroxy Toluene. It's a commonsynthetic antioxidant that's used as a preservative. PERFECT FOR NORMAL, COMBINATION AND OILY SKIN – Ideal anti-wrinkle and anti-acne solution. Suitable for both men and women. In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin. Unlike AHA's, retinol does not remove the top layer of old and dead skin cells. Instead, it travels directly to the middle layer and gets to work. As an antioxidant, it boosts elastin and collagen production. By steps, we mean metabolic steps. Tretinoin, aka retinoic acid,is the active ingredient our skin cells can understand and retinyl palmitate (RP) has to be converted by our metabolic machinery to actually do something. The conversion is a 3 step one and looks like this: