7 Key Ingredients You Need In Your Skincare

The 7 Key Ingredients You Need In Your Skincare…

And why it’s only half the equation to getting the results you want

Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Panthenol, Retinol, AHAs, Niacinamide and Squalane are widely celebrated skincare ingredients. They represent some of the most proven, effective and safe actives available from modern science. Hydration, brightening, promotion of cell turnover, enhancing collagen production, evening skin tone and protecting the skin barrier are just a few of the numerous benefits these ingredients can offer. However, simply including these ingredients in your skincare routine is not enough for achieving the results that you want. Many brands tout the high potency of actives on their labels with claims like 20% Niacinamide, in a bid to boost perceived effectiveness by the shopper, however, there can be too much of a good thing. High concentrations of certain actives can irritate your skin and damage the skin barrier. Extreme concentrations of Niacinamide for example may cause flushing and damage your capillaries when used incorrectly. Rather, getting results from your skincare is more complex than simply including high potency actives – we share what to look for below so that you can reap the maximum benefits of these super seven ingredients.

But first, let’s start with, what benefits do these active ingredients provide?

Hyaluronic Acid for Hydration

What is it: Hyaluronic Acid is a natural marvel molecule known for its ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. This water magnet is a sugar molecule that is naturally found in the body and is responsible for the skin’s plumpness and volume.

Benefits: Ageing, environmental aggressors and underlying skin conditions can deplete Hyaluronic Acid levels in your skin over time leading to moisture loss. This results in loss of firmness, fine lines, dehydration, and a lackluster complexion. Hyaluronic Acid pulls moisture into the skin more effectively than any other ingredient. This helps to minimise those fine lines, restore suppleness, support the skin barrier and give a more youthful, glowing complexion.

Product Recommendation: To experience the powerful hydration effect of Hyaluronic Acid, we recommend our Glam Squad Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating and Brightening Serum. This powerhouse serum contains a triple blend of Hyaluronic Acid to provide both immediate and long term hydration on both the surface of the skin and at deeper levels.

Hyaluronic Acid is also featured in our Quiet Achiever Leave on Exfoliating Gel, Power Broker Anti-Red Wrinkle Defence Cream, Superhero Antioxidant Wrinkle Defence Cream with Blue Light and Pollution Protection and Star Quality Firming + Collagen Complex Rich Wrinkle Defence Cream.

Panthenol to Moisturise

What is it: Panthenol, also called Pro-Vitamin B5, is a naturally occurring alcohol that is quickly absorbed by the skin where it readily converts to Vitamin B5. This moisturising powerhouse is lauded for its ability as both a humectant (attracts water) and emollient (seals any cracks to keep the water locked in).

Benefits: Panthenol is known for its hydrating, soothing and rejuvenating properties. It provides essential barrier protection to the skin and assists with moisture retention, dryness reduction, and skin enhancement for a plump and glowing complexion.

Product Recommendation:  This hardworking moisturiser is a star in our best-selling Superhero Antioxidant Wrinkle Defence Cream with Blue Light and Pollution Protection. This lightweight moisturiser helps to hydrate and replenish the skin while supporting collagen, skin integrity and barrier function. It also helps to shield the skin from urban pollution, heavy metals, free radical and blue light.

Panthenol is also featured in our Eye Do Peptide Wrinkle Defence Eye Gel, Star Quality Firming + Collagen Complex Rich Wrinkle Defence, Cream, Quiet Achiever Leave-on Exfoliating Gel and Glam Squad Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating and Brightening Serum.

Vitamin C for Brightening

What is it: Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid. This vitamin is not able to be produced by the body and therefore to maximise its skin benefit potential, it needs to be applied topically.

Benefits: Vitamin C can inhibit melanin production in the skin which helps to brighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots, even skin tone and boost skin radiance. It is also an antioxidant powerhouse helping to protect the skin from free-radical damage and provides targeted support to collagen production.

Product Recommendation: Due to its multitasking nature, Vitamin C is an ingredient in a many of our Liberty Belle Rx products. Next Level is our powerful serum that contains a triple blend of stabilised Vitamin C. It is light in feel and oil-free. Next Level is suitable for all skin types but particularly favoured by those with ageing skin for its potent antioxidant benefits. Bright Star contains stabilised Vitamin C. It works in conjunction with a Patented Brightening Complex to brighten and improve the appearance of pigmented skin. It is a cream face treatment rather than a serum and contains nourishing butters, which means that many people use it as their moisturiser. It can also spot treat pigmentation patches. 

Vitamin C is also featured in Game Changer Pore Refining and Mattifying Gel Face Treatment and Lionheart Citrus Cleansing Emulsion.

Retinol for Skin Renewal

What is it: Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and is a part of the retinoid family.

Benefits: Vitamin A increases the rate of the cell regeneration which essentially means Retinol can make skin cells in dull or older skin mimic the behaviour of younger, healthier cells to help refresh the complexion and fight the appearance of lines and wrinkles. This transformational multi-tasker also stimulates collagen production, promotes improvement in elastin fibres, helps brighten pigmentation and even up skin tone, and, also helps clear acne by unclogging pores and clearing the skin and preventing further outbreaks.

Product Recommendation: If you are new to using retinol we recommend you start with a lower concentration product such as Liberty Belle Rx Dream Team 0.625 to help your skin adjust to using this active. For experienced users we recommend Dream Team Advanced 1.25. Both products use encapsulated retinol which is considered the gold standard as it minimises the potential side effects seen in traditional retinol products. Both Dream Team Retinols have been independently verifed as suitable for sensitive skin.

Retinol is also featured in Eye Dream Restorative Retinol 0.625 Eye Cream.

AHAs for Exfoliation

What is it: AHA stands for alpha-hydroxy acids and refers to a group of water-soluble acids made from sugary fruits known for their exfoliating properties.

Benefits: AHAs work on the outer layer of the skin’s surface by loosening the bond between dead skin cells to help reveal radiant skin beneath.

Product Recommendation: Not all AHAs are created equal with some known to be irritating to the skin. It is for this reason that Liberty Belle Rx has pioneered the development of a new type of leave-on AHA featured in our popular Quiet Achiever Face Treatment. Containing a blend of five botanical extracts, the naturally occurring Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) self-neutralize after a period of time. This self-neutralising action allows the product left on the skin without the risk of over exfoliation but remain effective at producing a smoother and more radiant complexion. The over-achieving Quiet Achiever is also enriched with supporting actives that hydrate, brighten, and help even skin tone.

Niacinamide for Skin Barrier Support and Balance 

What is it: Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and is celebrated for its multitasking nature. Niacinamide essentially works by encouraging the skin’s cells to behave in a more efficient manner, mimicking younger, healthier cells.

Benefits: Niacinamide helps to improve the appearance of enlarged pores, reduce fine lines, increase hydration, improve dullness, even skin tone and support the skin barrier. 

Product Recommendation: Due to its versatility, Niacinamide is in many of our Liberty Belle Rx products including our Glam Squad Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating and Brightening Serum, Superhero Antioxidant Wrinkle Defence Cream with Blue Light and Pollution Protection, Star Quality Firming + Collagen Complex Rich Wrinkle Defence Cream and Dream Team and Eye Dream Retinols making it easy for you to include this all-star player in your routine.

Squalane to Nourish 

What is it: Squalane is an excellent emollient derived from olives.

Benefits: Known for its ability to maintain the skin's moisture barrier and hydration by sealing it with a strong lipid. This stable form of Squalene (a substance naturally found in your body) is easily absorbed by the skin.  Including squalane in your skincare can help offset the natural decline in your body’s squalene levels as you age which will help to keep your skin more moisturised and looking more youthful. This vitamin rich, deeply nourishing ingredient is neither heavy or occlusive on this skin.

Product Recommendation:  Squalane is a member of the cast of ingredients in our Face Oil Godsend. Godsend features a blend of 10 plant derived super oils that were purposely selected for their skin conditioning and non-comedogenic properties. It’s a perfect finale to your skincare routine.

Squalane is also featured in Eye Dream Restorative Retinol 0.625 Eye Cream and Power Broker Anti-Red Wrinkle Defence Cream.

These super 7 active ingredients can clearly supercharge your skincare but maximising the effectiveness of these star performers is more complex than creating one-dimensional formulas with high potency singular hero actives. More is not always more. The answer lies in choosing a brand that has the expertise to formulate for visible results AND skin health, choosing a brand that uses the right packaging to support the longevity of an active ingredient and choosing a brand who can SHOW you, not only TELL you, the results you may expect.

At Liberty Belle Rx, Dr Moss uses rigorous in-clinic testing to determine the precise concentrations and optimal balance of high-performance actives to deliver outstanding clinical results and superior skin benefits all while being gentle on the skin. Creating the best skincare is a complex science – not simply bottling a singular active and selling this to a consumer. These precision formulations are the heart of the Liberty Belle Rx difference and are why we may be considered Australia’s trusted brand for results.

Dr Moss safeguards the effectiveness of these precision formulations by investing in superior packaging. Most active ingredients degrade or oxidise when exposed to air. That is why Liberty Belle Rx does not use screw-top jars or pipettes. Instead, we use high-quality airless pump technology for all our bottles so that the actives in your skincare remain as effective from first pump to last. (to read more about the importance of our Airless Pump Packaging see our blog post here)

Finally, we urge you to not only take a brand at its word for developing effective formulations featuring star ingredients. Instead, ask a brand to show you its products’ efficacy with real results. Liberty Belle Rx can do just that. They have released the results of their Before & After Trial, where they have used clinically controlled Before & After photographs in order to make meaningful assessments of their product performance. This level of testing and transparent sharing of results with the public means that Liberty Belle Rx consumers can feel confident that are using the best possible skincare with effective concentrations of hero active ingredients so that they can work towards getting the skin they want.

To visit our Before & After Gallery click here.