What Is Cosmeceutical Skincare? Our Expert Guide
I've been in the beauty industry for 4+ years now, although my background is originally in fine arts. In between researching and publishing our guides, I’m usually snacking and making spontaneous (and somewhat chaotic) choices about what to do with my hair.
So you’ve got your skincare routine down. You cleanse and moisturise religiously, wear sunscreen daily, and never, ever go to bed with makeup on. Well done you! You get an A+ at Skincare School today! But, if you’re itching for even better results, it’s time to level up your skincare by exploring cosmeceutical skincare products.
What is Cosmeceutical Skincare?
’Cosmeceutical’ is just a fancy word for skincare products that contain active ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, or botanical extracts. These ingredients are chosen to enhance your skincare and make noticeable changes to the skin. Find out more in our Beauty IQ article Everything You Need To Know About Cosmeceutical Skincare.
What’s the Difference Between Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals?
Cosmetics is the catch-all term to describe all things skincare and makeup. While cosmetics can have beneficial ingredients (think nourishing beeswax in lipstick or a hydrating cleanser), they generally don’t contain active ingredients.
Cosmeceutical skincare products are often backed by science and research so you can be more confident the products are going to do what they say they’ll do. Basically, cosmeceutical products are formulated to deliver better results than regular skincare products.
What are the Benefits of Cosmeceutical Skincare Products?
The active ingredients in cosmeceutical skincare are chosen to target specific skincare concerns, such as:
- Fine lines
- Dryness and dehydration
- Dullness
- Acne
- Scarring
- Sun damage
Even if you don’t have specific issues with your skin, you can still use cosmeceutical skincare to give you brighter and more vibrant skin.
What are the Common Cosmeceutical Active Ingredients?
It’s easy to tell if a product could be classified as a cosmeceutical skincare product by reading what it contains.
Glycolic Acid: This chemical exfoliant gently removes the dead layers of skin. It can be used on most skin types and is especially good for blackhead and acne-prone skin.
Hyaluronic Acid: This wonder ingredient binds to water molecules, helping to maintain moisture and hydrate the skin.
Retinol: Perhaps the most-hyped cosmeceutical ingredient, retinol has been clinically proven to improve skin cell turnover and minimise the breakdown of collagen (and therefore prevent wrinkles). Fun fact: Retinol is a super-concentrated version of Vitamin A.
Vitamins: A virtual alphabet of vitamins can be found in cosmeceutical skincare including Vitamin C (which increases brightness) and Vitamin B (improves skin tone).
Niacinamide: Also known as B3, niacinamide has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can help to reduce redness and moisture loss.
Antioxidants: This is a catch-all term for vitamins and minerals that protect your skin from free radicals. You know, things like air pollutants, chemicals and haze that damage your skin by weakening the collagen. Antioxidants are like little warriors going into battle for your complexion.
Idebenone: This super-charged antioxidant is found in premium skincare products and helps to prevent skin damage.
Salicylic Acid: Salicylic acid is an acne-fighting ingredient used to cleanse pore-clogging oil and debris and clear up breakouts faster.
Lactic Acid: This is a sensitive-skin friendly ingredient that gives gentle exfoliation and hydration.
Peptides: Think of these like tiny building blocks for the skin, helping to repair and enhance the skin’s appearance and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Who Should Use Cosmeceutical Skincare?
If you still remember the opening theme song to Friends then you should be using cosmeceuticals. But then again, it’s never too early to start looking after your skin better, so once you’ve hit your twenties, it’s worth considering. As we age, our skin begins to show signs of damage caused by lifestyle factors, hormonal changes, and sun exposure. Cosmeceutical skincare can help prevent further damage and even repair and enhance the skin’s appearance.
If you’re younger, you can also benefit from cosmeceutical skincare. Particularly those designed to combat free radicals or prevent the signs of aging.
It’s important to research which ingredients are right for your skin, and avoid layering up your cosmeceutical skincare until you know how your skin reacts to each ingredient. Remember, these products are more potent than regular skincare products and not using them correctly could actually damage your skin.
Best Cosmeceutical Brands
There are a lot of great cosmeceutical skincare brands out there so it really comes down to personal preference and your particular skincare needs.
Discover which cosmeceutical brands and products are right for you by having a read through some our of guides:
And don't miss out on our podcast! Beauty Editor Joanna and beauty newbie Hannah getting real about every aspect of beauty. Start listening here: Episode 1: Everything You Want To Know About Serums
If you're having trouble choosing the right products, our friendly customer service team are always happy to help
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty’s highly trained Customer Service team. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
