7 Chemicals That Will Change The Way You View Skincare Forever
Fawn's Favorite Skincare Ingredients and Where to Find Them
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, just a cartoon deer on the internet with a background in chemistry and a hyperfixation on skin. This is not medical advice.
1) Salicylic Acid
1-2% salicylic acid is the holy grail for oily skin.
It's also ideal for blackheads and those stubborn little pimples that pop up now and again.
My favorite leave-on product with salicylic acid is this one from CosRx because the formula includes three great ingredients:
Willow Bark
Salicylic Acid
Betaine Salicylate
If you want to go the simple route, get this cleanser and use it no more than once per day.
It also has a bunch of stuff I like:
Gluconalactone
Niacinamide
Humectants
Ceramides
2) Retinol
If you've been following me for a while, you already know this one.
The holy grail of anti-aging, retinol goes through a few oxidation steps to get converted to retinoic acid.
Retinoic acid then tells our body to make the skin cell printer go brrrrrrrrr (safely).
It also stimulates collagen and elastin production which naturally downregulate as we age post ~25 years old.
My favorite low-dose retinol is this one from CeraVe as the formula includes:
0.3% encapsulated retinol
Licorice root
Niacinamide
For more information on how to use retinol safely, check out my anti-aging series for Retinol Part 1 and Part 2.
3) Panthotenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
B5 helps control sebum production, so it's ideal for people with oily skin.
If you have oily skin and can't tolerate any moisturizers, then I'd suggest using this serum with B5 and HA instead.
And hey, if you're on TRT, check out this protocol I wrote based on the modified Leung B5 protocol to help reduce acne issues:
4) Benzoyl Peroxide
This one is controversial because it's too harsh for some people, but I love it.
BP kills off acne-causing bacteria and is an athlete's best friend.
I use this 4% cleanser no more than once a day, timed around the sweatiest part of my day.
You can go up to 10% if using on it on your body.
My biggest issue with BP is the creation of free radicals (ie. premature aging) so I stay away from leave-on gels.
If you're dealing with back acne, I suggest checking out this protocol I wrote to clear up @alexfeinberg1's back in just a few weeks:
5) Lactic Acid
One of the harsher alpha hydroxy acids, lactic is great for exfoliation.
I keep it away from my face though because I really don't like the smell.
Instead, I suggest keeping it to your body with an exfoliation lotion 1-3 nights per week.
This body lotion is especially good if you deal with keratosis pilaris.
6) Glycolic Acid
The strongest AHA you'll commonly find over the counter!
Glycolic is great for exfoliation, ingrown hairs, and has even been proven to stimulate collagen production at >8%.
7) Niacinamide
Niacinamide is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier and can even out skin tone.
My biggest issue is that ideally, I'd like to see niacinamide in the 2-5% in a product.
Some people seem to love this 10% niacinamide serum, but it seems like overkill to me.
I'd rather see you just get a moisturizer with niacinamide in it.
Cheers,
Note: you can book consultations with me! Check it out here or DM me on Twitter to book with ETH.Â
