Picture this: a skincare routine that not only promises a radiant and healthy complexion with plant-based ingredients but also boasts the backing of solid scientific research. That's the beauty of honest and clean beauty brands. In our pursuit of healthy, glowing and youthful skin, the choices we make in our skincare routines matter more than we might realize.

In this article, we're unraveling the science behind three essential skincare products that are must -haves in your beauty arsenal:  

Broad Spectrum Sunscreen + Vitamin-C + Retinoids.

Let's dive in!

1 | Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen: Your First Shield Against Premature Aging

Broad Spectrum Sunscreen isn't just for sunny beach days. It's your daily defense against the harmful effects of UVA and UVB radiations, the primary external factor responsible for premature skin aging. While it's not a secret that sunscreens protect against sunburn, their true magic lies in their ability to thwart UVA long-term sun damage, like wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation and ultimately, skin cancer. Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen is essential at all ages, when exposing the skin to sunlight. 

🔬The Science Behind It:

Broad Spectrum Sunscreen works by creating a barrier on your skin that absorbs and/or  reflects harmful UV rays. Two types of UV radiation, UVA and UVB, are primarily responsible for skin aging. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, causing premature aging, while UVB rays are responsible for sunburn. Broad-spectrum sunscreens shield you from both, UVA and UVB, preventing photoaging.

⚙️ Why It Works:

• Blocks Skin Burning: shields the skin either by reflecting or absorbing correctly UV rays (depending on the type of filter used in the formulation).

• Prevents Collagen Breakdown: prevents UVA rays entering the dermis and therefore preventing damage to the main proteins that make up collagen and elastin, leading to loss of skin tone, uneven skin texture and fine lines.

• Prevents Hyperpigmentation: prevents the formation of new dark spots by blocking UV-induced excessive melanin production.

• Reduces Fine Lines: regulates dehydration by keeping Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in check, therefore reducing the appearance of fine lines.

🦸 Plant-Based and Mineral Heroes: 

We love physical filters like Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide because they are gentle on sensitive skin and offer immediate protection without the need for chemical absorption.

🧠 Smart Broad-Band Sunscreen contain:

• Physical filters (Zinc oxide combined with Titanium dioxide) or non-irritant, nwest generation synthetic filters (bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol, tris-biphenyl triazine, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, ethylhexyl triazone)
  
• Vitamin C
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Be tested to be at least SPF 30 and PA+++

2 | Skincare with Vitamin-C: The Brightening Antioxidant Booster

Vitamin-C, a powerful antioxidant, has been hailed as a game-changer in the world of skincare for years. It offers a myriad of benefits, including skin brightening, collagen production boosting, and protection against free radicals. The best age to start using skincare formulated with Vitamin-C is 25-30 years.

🔬 The Science Behind It:

Vitamin-C (ascorbic acid and its various forms) is a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals produced by UV exposure and pollution, preventing them from damaging collagen and skin aging. 

⚙️ Why It Works:

• Brightens Skin: Vitamin-C inhibits excessive melanin production, helping to fade dark spots (not melasma, though) and even out skin tone, resulting in a brighter complexion. 

• Boosts Collagen: As an essential component in collagen synthesis and cell differentiation, Vitamin-C, if used for at least 12-15 weeks, helps maintain skin's firmness, texture and elasticity.

• Defends Against Free Radicals: By neutralizing free radicals, Vitamin-C protects your skin from oxidative stress and subsequent aging.

🦸 Plant-Based Heroes: 

Our first choice of plant-based and plant-extracted Vitamin-C forms are Ascorbyl glucoside, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (TDH) and Vitamin-C rich botanical extracts. They are, gentle, less irritating and more stable . Skincare made with Ascorbic acid, even if is considered one of the best anti-ageing actives, is highly unstable; when exposed to light or air, it oxidises and degrades very fast.

🧠 Smart Vitamin-C skincare contains:

• Vitamin-C concentration between 3 and 10%
• Vitamin-E and or Ferulic acid to boost Vitamin-C
• Hyaluronic acid 
• Ceramides
• Peptides

3 | Retinoids: The Time-Tested Wrinkle Fighter

Retinoids, derivatives of Vitamin-A, have long been the gold standard for anti-aging skincare. They offer an array of benefits, from smoothing fine lines to promoting cell turnover and treating acne. Consider Retinoids like the turbo of skincare. The best age to start using skincare formulated with Retinoids is 25-30 years.

🔬 The Science Behind It:

Retinoids work by boosting a faster cell turnover, inducing collagen synthesis, decreasing collage breakdown, and removing degenerated elastin fibers. This results in a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles and an improvement in skin texture and tone.

⚙️ Why They Work:

• Collagen Boost: Retinoids stimulate collagen production, which is crucial for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness.

• Cell Renewal: By speeding up cell turnover, retinoids help shed old, damaged skin cells and promote the growth of new, healthy cells.

• Reduction of Fine Lines: With regular use, retinoids can visibly diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

• Acne Control: Retinoids unclog pores, and reduce acne outbreaks by preventing dead cells from clogging pores.

🦸 Plant-Based Heroes: 

There are so many forms and strengths of Retinoids, some available over the counter and some are prescription only. Plant -based and gentle alternatives include Bakuchiol, and algae-derived Vitamin-A.

🧠 Smart Plant-based, non prescription Retinoid skincare contains:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Niacinamide
• Peptides
• Low comedogenic oils

Can I use all 3 in my routine?

Absolutely YES!

The best way to make the most of all three products is to start you day with your broad-spectrum sunscreen, ideally formulated with Vitamin-C. If not, you can apply a Vitamin-C serum / moisturiser before your sunscreen. Use Retinol at night on cleansed face. It's important not to use Vitamin-C and Retinol at the same time, but a few hours apart. 

So, don't wait—incorporate these three skincare super heroes into your daily skincare routine: they offer proven results and are an investment in the long-term health and beauty of your skin. 

Check out our best-selling two essentials:

Morning routine: SUN+ Vitamin-C Broad Spectrum Moisturiser SPF 50 PA+++

References:

1. The impact of ultraviolet radiation on skin photoaging — review of in vitro studies

2. The Protective Role of Melanin Against UV Damage in Human Skin

3. Ultraviolet Radiation, Aging and the Skin: Prevention of Damage by Topical cAMP Manipulation

4. The Protective Role of Melanin Against UV Damage in Human Skin

5. Skin pigmentation and its control: From ultraviolet radiation to stem cells

6. The Effect of Sun Tan Lotion on Skin by Using Skin TEWL and Skin Water Content Measurements

7. Vitamin C and Skin Health

8. Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications

9. Inhibitory effect of magnesium l-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (VC-PMG) on melanogenesis in vitro and in vivo

10. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health

11. Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments

12. Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety

13. A comparative study of the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on histological, molecular, and clinical properties of human skin

14. Cosmeceuticals: The Evidence Behind the Retinoids

15. Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing

16. Bakuchiol - a plant-based retinol. The review article

17. Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing