Ectoin is an emollient used in skincare to help maintain moisture balance in the skin. New research shows it may also be able to protect against certain environmental aggressors, such as pollutants and UV. This is believed to be down to its antioxidant properties, as well as the ability to protect skin from dehydration from the surrounding environment.

Renude

I have chosen this day cream and your moisturiser & SPF step, as it hydrates the skin whilst providing against UV and environemental damage. It include two powerful antioxidants, Vitamin C and Superoxide dismutase, to help protect from free radicals, alongside Hyaluronic acid to hydrate and Carnosine to prevent wrinkle formation. A great all-round multifunctional product to address your needs.

Carnosine is a peptide used in skincare as an antioxidant and a soothing agent. Research also shows this also has an effect against glycation (a process which accelerates ageing).

carnosine

ectoin

Glycerin is a humectant present in all natural lipids. It works to attract water molecules towards it, plumping & hydrating the applied area, resulting in smooth, soft, hydrated skin. It is one of the most widely used humectants in skincare, due to it’s high performance and broad availability (making it very cost-effective). Recent research has shown that it’s ability to penetrate the layers of the skin is superior to that of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, making it a brilliant choice for overall skin hydration, and suitable for all skin types.

glycerin

moringa oleifera seed extract

Moringa seeds contain a wealth of over 30 antioxidants, helping to provide protection against free radical damage. It also contains Vitamina A, C and E and is thought to have skin soothing abilities.

Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid (a polysaccharide which occurs naturally in the body), created to improve the ingredient stability. It works as an extremely powerful humectant, able to attract 1000x its own weight in water, to immediately plump and hydrate the area it is applied to. The body’s own production of hyaluronic acid slows with age, so supplementing this ingredient in topical formulations helps to support the skin’s natural moisture-binding, anti-ageing mechanisms.

sodium hyaluronate

Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide which occurs naturally in the body. Hyaluronic acid works as an extremely powerful humectant, able to attract 1000x its own weight in water, to immediately plump and hydrate the area it is applied to. The body’s own production of hyaluronic acid slows with age, so supplementing this ingredient in topical formulations helps to support the skin’s natural moisture-binding, anti-ageing mechanisms.

Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme produced naturally in the body, specifically to break down the free radical superoxide (an oxygen with an excess electron and thus a negative charge). It is considered to be the body’s most important antioxidant and works by catalysing the conversion of superoxide, into elemental oxygen (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a process known as dismutation. This action is part of the body’s natural anti-ageing mechanism, so including this ingredient in skincare supports this natural protection process.

superoxide dismutase

tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate

Vitamin C has many skin benefits, including its action as an antioxidant, to neutralise free radicals (reactive molecules with an unpaired electron), preventing them from causing damage to cells within the body. Vitamin C is also involved in the collagen-production process, so provides anti-wrinkle activity through this mechanism. Lastly, Vitamin C inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in melanin-synthesis, and can therefore visibly reduce areas of hyperpigmentation in the skin.

Our most advanced day cream ever. Combining comprehensive environmental protection in a deeply hydrating SPF 30 moisturiser to help prevent premature skin ageing. Advanced Day Total Protect includes Pollution Shield, anti-infrared, anti-blue light and anti-A.G.E technology alongside SPF 30 and 5* UVA protection all in a lightweight moisturiser. Effectively protecting skin from free-radical damage, this is the ultimate daily hydrator for total environmental protection. Despite the high SPF, the advanced moisturiser is super-light and has an invisible finish, making it the perfect daily cream. Fine lines and wrinkles are visibly reduced and future skin ageing is prevented.

Broad-spectrum sunscreen is the cornerstone in every skincare routine. These SPF30 formulas are lightweight and layer well over the rest of your routine.

Daily SPF30 Sunscreen picks

Hailed as their most advanced protection formula, this Medik8 cream includes protection against pollution, blue light, infra-red and glycation (one of the body's ageing mechanisms), whilst boasting broad-spectrum SPF30. A solid all-rounder option for moisturising and protecting in one.

This non pore-clogging SPF30 uses patented mousse technology, which allows the formula to bind to our skin's surface, creating a uv shield which lasts for up to 6 hours. It also includes collagen, hyaluronic acid and vitamins c and e, to deliver antioxidant protection, hydration and anti-ageing benefits to boot.

UK made

Cruelty free

Vegan

This SPF is a great option for dry, irritated, or sensitized skin. I have chosen this for you to soothe the skin whilst providing daily UV protection.

Asiatic acid is one of the active constituents found in Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Kola or Tiger grass). This plant has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine for it’s healing properties.

asiatic acid

Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Kola or Tiger grass) has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine for its healing properties. It contains phytochemicals which research shows can stimulate blood flow, strengthen the skin and provide antioxidant protection, all of which combined accelerate the wound healing process.

It is also believed to have the ability to stimulate the fibroblasts to produce type 1 collagen, which further supports wound healing as well as providing anti-ageing benefits. Collagen is also a protein whose production decreases with age, and is essential for maintaining skin firmness & smoothness, so this collagen-boosting property gives the added benefit of reducing wrinkles and firming the skin. It has also been shown to stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid in the skin, another molecule whose production slows with age, but is essential for keeping skin looking hydrated, plump & youthful.

Asiaticoside is one of the active constituents found in Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Kola or Tiger grass). This plant has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine for it’s healing properties.

asiaticoside

madecassoside

Rhamnose is a naturally occurring sugar found in plant sources such as buckthorn and birch. Studies have shown that it’s molecular size and structure allows it to penetrate to the area between the base of the epidermis and the top of the dermis, known as the ‘dermo-epidermal junction’. This is important as this is where the fibroblasts are situated, which produce the key skin proteins collagen and elastin, which contribute to overall skin structure & firmness. In vivo studies (on humans) from the manufacturers have shown that applying a product including rhamnose once daily for 8 weeks resulting in an increase in collagen production, and a decrease in overall wrinkle depth.

rhamnose

Prebiotics in simple terms, can be classed as a food source that encourages the growth of good bacteria on the skin. The microbiome (the ecosystem of bacteria on the skin) is a relatively new discovery and we are learning that this is linked to many different aspects of our health, mood and appearance. A diverse breadth in the strains of bacteria living on the skin results in a healthy microbiome, and some early research has linked certain imbalances in this microbiome to skin conditions such as acne, ezcema and psoriasis.

vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract

Resveratrol in a polyphenol most famously found in the skin of red grapes, but also occurs naturally in peanuts and certain fruits such as blueberries and cranberries. It is included in skincare for its powerful antioxidant abilities - with research showing it can protect against free radicals, as well as oxidative damage caused by UV. 

Protect your complexion with Bioderma Cicabio Cream SPF50+, a soothing moisturiser that takes care of damaged skin in the sun. Providing broad spectrum UV defence, the sunscreen uses Hyaluronic Acid to replenish vital hydration, whilst Zinc offers antibacterial properties and Antalgicine™ relieves discomfort and the urge to scratch.

These day creams with sun protection are specifically formulated for skin prone to redness and include technologies to soothe and even out skin tone.

Redness reducing SPF moisturiser picks

This non-comedogenic formula contains green pigments to instantly reduce visible redness of the skin, whilst SPF25 protects against UV damage. It also includes patented SymSitive, which helps to regulate the sensory response, and liquorice root to soothe, resulting in less reactive skin over time, with clinical results showing a reduction in skin redness after 4 weeks.

This nourishing sunscreen is a great option to soothe the skin whilst offering high broad-spectrum sun protection. It includes a blend of centella asiatica, resveratrol and copper to reduce inflammation and provide antioxidant protection, whilst zinc provides antibacterial protection. Perfect for those with compromised skin barriers as it functions to repair the skin as well as protect from UV.

Clinically proven

Non-comedogenic

Dermatologically tested

Sensitive

Unfragranced

I have chosen this lightweight antioxidant-rich formula to provide daily protection against environmental aggressors, whilst soothing the skin. It is perfectly formulated for sensitive skin so is a great option for you.

aloe barbadensis leaf extract

Aloe vera has been used for millennia as a natural medicine across many regions of the world, with references as early as Cleopatra using it as part of her beauty routine. It contains around 75 active constituents, including Vitamins A,C & E to provide antioxidant protection, 8 enzymes to inhibit inflammatory processes in the body and 9 different minerals to support the body’s natural functioning. It also includes sugars to provide hydrating humectant properties, fatty acids to provide anti-inflammatory & antiseptic properties, and hormones to promote wound healing. 

Bisabolol is a naturally-occurring active found in the chamomile plant, although this can also be created synthetically. It’s key properties are as an anti-inflammatory and soothing agent, with some studies also showing it to have a brightening effect on the skin. Bisabolol is also a rich source of Panthenol (Vitamin B5), which acts as a humectant, meaning it draws water molecules towards it to plump and hydrate the area. Studies have also shown that bisabolol can enhance the penetration of other actives into the skin, so is great when used in combination with other actives designed to work at the basal layer of the epidermis, or in fact the dermis.

bisabolol

hyaluronic acid

Lactobacillus ferment is a probiotic, with a number of skin benefits. It was first shown by Estee Lauder to protect against environmental aggressors by supporting DNA repair within the cell. It was later shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, with research indicating it being particularly beneficial for those with acne or rosacea. The manufacturer of the ingredient, Barnet, has confirmed the mechanism of this is by suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria associated with these conditions, and encouraging the diversity of growth of beneficial skin microbiota.

lactobacillus ferment

Probiotics can be defined as living bacteria which are good for the skin, and are useful to include in skincare formulations in order to populate a healthy microbiome (the ecosystem of bacteria on the skin). A diverse breadth in the strains of bacteria living on the skin results in a healthy microbiome, and some early research has linked certain imbalances in this microbiome to skin conditions such as acne, ezcema and psoriasis.

This is a lightweight plant oil which acts as an emollient in skincare. This means is supports the natural lipid-barrier, to help keep water from being lost through the skin. This make is an effective moisturising ingredient.

limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil

Sensitive skin is more easily affected by what you put on your skin and what's in the air -  pollution, central heating, air conditioning and blue light. Some of those things can increase reactivity, making it harder to get your best skin. We understand you can't control what's around you. That's why we made a soothing moisturiser for the most sensitive skin, with a focus on protecting you from environmental stress.

These lightweight moisturisers give the perfect balance of water and lipids to keep skin functioning at it's best.

Lightweight moisturiser picks

This moisturiser has a lovely melt-in texture and a host of soothing active ingredients, alongside antioxidants to protect and calm the skin.

Formulated with mineral-rich Avene thermal spring water to soothe, pre-tocopherol (Vitamin E) to provide antioxidant protection, and glycerin to hydrate. A simple formula, which does exactly what you need it to.

This is a fantastic moisturiser rich in humectants including 5% urea, to hydrate the skin and support our overall skin health.

This simple but perfectly formed moisturiser contains a blend of niacinamide, ceramides and humectants to support the skin barrier, hydrate and keeping skin in the best health.

This lightweight moisturiser has a minimalist formula and is specifically designed for sensitive skin, so is. great choice if your skin barrier is compromised or you have reactive skin.

Female founder

This is a great lightweight, mattifying daily SPF to complete your daily AM routine.

ginkgo biloba leaf extract

Ginkgo Biloba is a tree native to Asia, one of the oldest plant species on the planet, and rich in flavonoids and terpenoids. These provide powerful antioxidant protection, reducing potential damage caused by reactive free radicals. Studies have also shown Gingko Biloba to provide skin-smoothing and hydrating properties. 

Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), derived from sugar cane. AHAs work by dissolving the keratin binding the outermost layer of skin cells, speeding up the skin’s natural exfoliation process. This leads to smoother, brighter, clearer skin, whilst reducing skin discolouration & fine lines/wrinkles with continued use.

Glycolic acid has the smallest molecular weight of all the AHAs, meaning it can penetrate the skin quickest, producing the fastest results, but also most likely to cause skin sensitivity, so it is best for those with fairly tolerant skin types.

glycolic acid

laminaria ochroleuca extract

Algae is an incredibly interesting natural ingredient source. It is essentially an underwater plant, designed to get its food from sunlight, much like any other plants, although from much more challenging conditions. There are many types of algae (kelp, laminaria, microalgae), but in general in all its forms it acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting from free radical damage, as well as being able to hydrate the skin and deliver naturally-occurring vitamins into the skin.

Keep skin safe in the sun with Bioderma Photoderm AKN Mat SPF30 Mattifying Fluid, a high protection sun lotion with long-lasting mattifying effect. Formulated to deliver optimum UVA/UVB protection, the non-greasy sunscreen expertly shields against harmful effects of the sun, and leaves no unsightly white residue on application. Waterproof and photostable, the SPF30 formula contains a Cellular Bioprotection™ biological patent which activates skin's natural defences and protects against premature ageing, and a dual action Fluidactiv™ patent, which provides exclusive photo protection and prevents the clogging of pores to help inhibit the appearance of blemishes.

This is a great SPF option for you as it's specifically formulated for those looking to target hyperpigmentation. It contains 2% ascorbyl glucoside (a stable form of vitamin c), alongside antioxidant vitamin e, soothing centella asiatica and balancing prebiotics.

Ascorbyl Glucoside is a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin C. This derivative was created to provide improved stability and skin penetration vs. ascorbic acid alone. It is still unclear how well ascorbyl glucoside is converted into ascorbic acid (the active form of Vitamin C) within the body, but some of it will be lost during this conversion, making this less potent, and therefore requiring higher levels in the formulation in order to achieve great results.

ascorbyl glucoside

fructooligosaccharides

Squalane is a natural substance usually derived from olives. It is structurally very similar to our skin’s own sebum, so is a great ingredient to support our own natural skin processes. In drier skin, which is naturally lacking in natural sebum, it helps to support the skin barrier to prevent water loss, which results in more hydrated, smooth and plump skin. Due to its sebum-mimicking structure, it is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t cause breakouts, so is also suitable for oily and acne-prone skin. It can be a great option to reduce any over-stimulation of the sebaceous glands, which can occur with excess cleansing (and make breakouts worse). It also works to support the skin barrier to combat any drying effects caused by ingredients commonly associated with acne treatment, so is a great ingredient for all skin types.

squalane

Tocopherol, aka Vitamin E, is a fat-soluble Vitamin contained in many plant oils, or can also be produced synthetically. Vitamin E is found naturally in our own skin, and it’s main benefit is to offer powerful antioxidant protection against pollution and free radical damage. It also helps to support our skin’s natural lipid barrier, which in turn improves the hydration levels within the epidermis, as water loss through the skin is minimised.

tocopherol

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble Vitamin contained in many plant oils, or can also be produced synthetically. Vitamin E is found naturally in our own skin, and it’s main benefit is to offer powerful antioxidant protection against pollution and free radical damage. It also helps to support our skin’s natural lipid barrier, which in turn improves the hydration levels within the epidermis, as water loss through the skin is minimised.

BIODERMA creates Photoderm SPOT-AGE SPF 50+ that combines the power of three active ingredients recognised by dermatologists [Vitamin C* - Vitamin E** - Centella asiatica] and solar filters for broad spectrum protection (UV - Visible Light - Infrared) and creates sun care that prevents and promotes the reduction of visible signs of photoageing (spots, wrinkles, loss of firmness).

This is a great SPF option which protects the skin daily from UV exposure, whilst also containing ingredients to target hyperpigmentation.

Glycyrrhetinic acid is an active constituent derived from liquorice, used in skincare for its anti-inflammatory benefits. It works by inhibiting the production of inflammatory substances, such as cortisone, within the body, with some research showing results to be comparable to prescription hydrocortisone cream.

glycyrrhetinic acid

Liquorice is a legume which grows in the Mediterranean, the Middle East & Russia. It contains the active constituent glabridin, which has been shown to prevent and reverse UV-induced skin damage, to provide visible skin-lightening properties to the skin.

Its second active component, Glycyrrhetinic acid is used in skincare for its anti-inflammatory benefits. It works by inhibiting the production of inflammatory substances, such as cortisone, within the body, with some research showing results to be comparable to prescription hydrocortisone cream.

glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract

Keep skin safe in the sun with Bioderma Photoderm Spot SPF50+ Cream, a very high protection sun lotion that helps to limit the appearance of hyperpigmentation while protecting scars.

Providing optimum UVA/UVB protection, the sunscreen expertly shields against harmful effects of the sun and delivers dual action purpose: photo protection and anti-brown spots. Waterproof and photostable, the SPF50+ formula contains a Cellular Bioprotection™ biological patent which activates skin's natural defences and protects against premature ageing, and Glabridin (derived from a liquorice extract) to inhibit pigmentation and the hyperpigmentation of scars. Shields against damaging UV rays while delivering an anti-mark effect to promote more even toned-looking skin.

Ectoin

What is Ectoin?

What does Ectoin do?

Who is Ectoin good for?

Who should avoid Ectoin?

Ectoin

What is Ectoin?

What does Ectoin do?

Who is Ectoin good for?

Who should avoid Ectoin?

SPFs (2)