There are so many skincare brands out there touting ingredients that will change our skin forever. So what do we do? We stock up. We layer. We saturate. We look for the highest concentrations—because the more intense the exfoliation, the softer our skin, right? More niacinamide means we’ll light up a room. More vitamin C means we’ll glow in the dark. We’ll eliminate our pores by blitzing them with one million percent prescription retinoids. We’ll become immortal.
However, when it comes to our skin, more often than not, a healthy dose of a powerful active is a lower dose … aka microdosing. It may take longer to reach results, but the results will be worth the wait and prevent the irritation and damage that can occur from overdoing active ingredients. The last thing we want is constant purging, redness, inflammation, dry skin, perioral dermatitis, or a severely damaged barrier as a result of doing too much.
So what exactly is an active ingredient, and how often should we be using them? Essentially, an “active” ingredient is one that enacts therapeutic change to the cells it comes in contact with. Everyone’s skin is different, so those with less sensitive skin can handle more, while many others should use it sparingly, or less frequently. Here are some of our favorite, most effective actives that give us major results with a more minimal dose.
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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