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7 Skincare Ingredients That Actually Plump and Hydrate Mature Skin

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At some point, just about everyone has found themselves staring at a moisturizer bottle, trying to make sense of the ingredients list. As someone who cares about their skin, you may also have concerns about using harsh chemicals that could do more harm than good.

Fortunately, you can find quality skincare products for mature skin when you know which ingredients to look for. As you begin your search for the right cream for sagging skin to meet your needs, look out for these ingredients that signal quality.

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1. Plump Your Skin With Peptides

Peptides are simply short chains of amino acids that send signals to your skin to make more elastin and collagen. You can think of them as cheerleaders that prompt your skin to do its best to promote overall good health, which could help stave off fine lines and wrinkles.

Products containing peptides can help promote more collagen production. You may find this especially beneficial for improving hydration and elasticity in delicate parts of your skin’s structure. For instance, gels and skin serums containing peptides can help gently improve the appearance of fine lines around your lips and eyes.

2. Help Your Skin Retain Moisture With Hyaluronic Acid

You might have seen this skincare product ingredient appearing on the labels of liquid makeup and moisturizers. This ingredient is gaining popularity due to its ability to ease dryness by helping the skin retain more moisture.

Hyaluronic acid is a type of naturally occurring sugar that exists throughout your body’s connective tissues. One of the things that makes this ingredient unique is that it is known for playing a huge role in keeping the skin plump and supple.

In fact, hyaluronic acid is recognized for being able to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Including this ingredient in your skincare regimen helps your skin maintain its ideal moisture levels.

3. Try a Vitamin C Serum

This vital nutrient is contained within citrus fruits, bell peppers, and other natural foods that you can eat to nourish your skin from the inside out. You can also use a vitamin C serum to hydrate your skin from the top, and you’ll find that skincare products containing this ingredient are easy to work into your daily routine.

If you’re using a serum, apply it after cleansing your skin. Or, you can use a moisturizer containing vitamin C during your hydration step. Either way, you can enjoy knowing that vitamin C also works well with other ingredients you’ll find on this list that including hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.

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4. Discover the Wonders of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

This ingredient might feel like a mouthful, but it’s not as complicated as it seems. When you see this ingredient listed on a skincare product label, you can feel confident that it’s not a potentially harmful chemical.

Instead, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is a form of vitamin C that is oil-soluble and stable. Skincare product manufacturers include it in creams and moisturizers to help promote your body’s ability to stimulate collagen production.

Using products containing this ingredient can help you maintain firmer, more elastic skin. Improving your overall skin tone can help it retain moisture, plumping up areas with fine lines to make them less noticeable.

5. Boost Hydration With Ferulic Acid

Ferulic acid is a plant-derived ingredient that is found in the walls of many plants that you are familiar with, including apples, grapes, and spinach. This ingredient is generally considered safe for use in skincare products and is often added to help stabilize other ingredients.

On its own, this powerful antioxidant may also have a soothing effect on your skin. Looking for products that contain both ferulic acid and vitamin E can provide you with a skincare regimen that is packed with helpful antioxidants.

6. Look for Skincare Products With Squalane

Seeing a name that you might not recognize on a skincare product label might cause you to pause. But you can rest assured that squalene is an oil that helps to increase hydration naturally. Your skin naturally makes squalane, and it is also found in plants.

As you look for products that contain this ingredient, you’ll want to look for ones that specifically contain squalane versus squalene. Squalane is plant-based and more shelf-stable compared to the animal-derived form. Plus, squalene is recognized for being more eco-friendly, to give you a skincare product that you can feel good about using.

7. Choose Products With Vitamin E

Similar to vitamin C, this nutrient works as an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from potential damage. Vitamin E is found within your skin’s natural oils, and it works as a barrier that helps to seal in moisture.

As mature skin begins to slow down oil production, it’s beneficial to incorporate vitamin E into your skincare regimen to help your body retain as much hydration as possible. Using products containing this ingredient can help you maintain smoother skin that appears and feels more hydrated.

Explore Skincare Products That Contain Powerful Hydrating Ingredients

As your skin matures, it may require some assistance with staying hydrated, as natural oil production begins to slow down. Knowing which ingredients you see on a serum or moisturizer label actually work empowers you to make informed decisions about your skin’s appearance.

Now that you can recognize the ingredients that you prefer to use for plumping and hydration, it’s time to get started. Since skincare needs can vary from one person to another, it’s helpful to take a personalized approach to developing a hydrating regimen.

BAKUCHIOL: What it is + The Skin Benefits We LOVE

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Bakuchiol is known to make skin look younger because it acts like retinol but without the irritation. Can Bakuchiol really make skin look young?

Read this Bakuchiol Guide: What it Is + The Skin Benefits We Love

About Bakuchiol

Bakuchiol comes from the leaves and seeds of the babchi plant. It is also called babchi. It is a plant-based phenol that decreases wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Studies show that gentle, natural bakuchiol holds its’ own against Retinol. Structurally, babchi is nothing like retinol. While it can technically cause redness and irritation, it is rare.

Unlike retinol, you can use it during the day. It is still important to use sunscreen.


Why Use Bakuchiol Not Retinol

Retinol is the gold standard of skincare ingredients. It quells acne, age spots, and wrinkles. It leaves skin dewy, refined, refreshed, and younger. But before the dewy, youthy, fabulous skin phase, there’s the dreaded irritated skin phase. And for those of us with sensitive skin that phase of retinol use is torture. In fact, many stop using retinol altogether because they cannot tolerate that phase of intense skin irritation. There are some ways how to buffer retinol for sensitive skin:

  1. Applying a moisturizer first, wait 10 minutes then apply retinol.
  2. Use Retinol only for a few hours then washing it off is another option.
  3. A third option is using retinol only one or two nights a week.
  4. Some prescription retinols, such as Atralin, contain built-in buffers that allow many sensitive skin types to finally experience retinol.
  5. Some over the counter retinol products contain buffers to soothe irritation.

But some people prefer a natural alternative with less fuss.

Bakuchiol Skin Benefits We Love

  • Bakuchiol is a natural retinol alternative. It is non-irritating.
  • It improves photoaging, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation equally as well as retinol, but is better tolerated. [1]
  • Stimulates collagen within the skin, as well as significant improvement in wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, and firmness without the retinol-associated side effects. [2]
  • Inhibits melanin production on age spots and acne scars [3].
  • Treats acne without skin peeling or redness.[4]
  • NEW Moms: Ask you doctor about Bakuchiol use. It may be okay during pregnancy or while you are breastfeeding (retinol is NOT considered safe for either – so plan accordingly).
bakuchiol is an alternative to prescription retinol Prescription Retinols such as Atralin have built-in buffering ingredients that may help some sensitive skin types tolerate retinol use. Others prefer natural ingredient alternatives. [/caption]

Bakuchiol Research Studies

“Our study demonstrates that bakuchiol is comparable with retinol in its ability to improve photoaging and is better tolerated than retinol.” [5]

One randomized, double-blind, clinical study compared retinol and bakuchiol. There was no statistical difference between how each decreased wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. But the retinol users reported facial skin scaling and stinging. [6] A second study confirmed the Retinol-like functionality of bakuchiol. It also documented the stimulation of collagen within the skin. Bakuchiol was used twice a day for 12 weeks. The result was a significant improvement in wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, and firmness without the retinol-associated side effects. [7]

FeatureRetinolBakuchiol
Anti-aging effectivenessProven to stimulate collagen, smooth wrinkles and improve texture Comparable benefits (wrinkle reduction, elasticity, pigmentation) in clinical trials
Skin toleranceCan cause redness, dryness, peeling, irritation, and sun sensitivityGentler alternative; typically low irritation, suitable for sensitive skin
PhotosensitivityIncreases sun sensitivity must be used at night with SPFStable under sunlight, safe for morning use, no added photosensitivity
Suitability during pregnancyNot recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding (Vitamin A derivative)Considered safe during pregnancy (no retinoid structure) though discuss with your doctor
Speed & potencyFast-acting and potent; noticeable results in weeks but harsher Generally milder and slower; may take longer for visible results
Research & track recordExtensively studied for decades well-established effects and risksPromising clinical results and growing evidence, but shorter history in skincare
Daytime use & integrationRestricted to nighttime; incompatible with many other activesCan be layered with other ingredients, including daytime routines; adaptable integration
Pros and Cons Benefit Chart

Recommended Clean Beauty Skincare with Bakuchiol Benefits

We previously featured two Bakuchiol clean beauty skincare products:

Both give Retinol results without retinol irritation.

24K Carrot Glow also contains Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a clean ingredient that helps skin with premature aging and photo damage (sun damage).

Tropical Melt contains probiotics to clear acne prone skin. Both are great clean beauty skincare options depending on your specific primary skin condition.

About Tropical Melt with Bakuchiol

Caley Cosmetics Tropical Melt is an excellent multi-tasker to address wrinkles, acne, discoloration, and acne. Apply this multi-tasking balm to damp skin and use it as a cleanser, makeup remover, mask, or leave-on treatment. We love the retinol results AND how skin still feels so supple, hydrated, and smooth!

Caley Cosmetics Tropical Melt
Caley Cosmetics Tropical Melt
Caley Cosmetics Tropical Melt

More from Caley Cosmetics

Here are some of the other Caley Cosmetics skincare and makeup we love:

Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Natural Eyes Eyeliner
Why Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe NATURAL EYES Eyeliner is Special


Find Clean Beauty Skincare options featuring Bakuchiol like Caley Cosmetics Tropical Melt

References

  1. Dhaliwal, S.; Rybak, I.; Ellis, S.R.; Notay, M.; Trivedi, M.; Burney, W.; Vaughn, A.R.; Nguyen, M.; Reiter, P. (February 2019). “Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing”
  2. British Journal of Dermatology. 180 (2): 289=296. doi:10.1111/bjd.16918. ISSN 0007-0963. PMID 29947134.
  3. Chaudhuri RK, Bojanowski K. Bakuchiol: a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014 Jun;36(3):221-30. doi: 10.1111/ics.12117. Epub 2014 Mar 6. PMID: 24471735.
  4. Ohno O, Watabe T, Nakamura K, Kawagoshi M, Uotsu N, Chiba T, Yamada M, Yamaguchi K, Yamada K, Miyamoto K, Uemura D. Inhibitory effects of bakuchiol, bavachin, and isobavachalcone isolated from Piper longum on melanin production in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2010;74(7):1504-6. doi: 10.1271/bbb.100221. Epub 2010 Jul 7. PMID: 20622433.
  5. Dhaliwal, S.; Prospective, British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
  6. Ibid
  7. Chaudhuri, Bakuchiol, Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014

ABOUT THIS POST

These Caley Cosmetics and Morganna’s Alchemy products were both originally submitted to Style Chicks for consideration purposes. All opinions and experiences are 100% our own. See details in the original product reviews. All Ingredient Guide research is our own. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for this Ingredient Guide, please contact us. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Find Clean Beauty Skincare options featuring Bakuchiol like Caley Cosmetics Tropical Melt[/caption]

Pure Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel How to Best Use

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This article is a review of Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel and explains how to best use Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is well known in folk remedy. Research shows it has a powerful biochemistry[1] supporting many skincare and hair care uses, including collagen synthesis. But not all Aloe Vera products are free of unwanted additives. We like Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel. It is a pure Aloe Vera leaf juice free of added coloring or fragrance. It is completely unscented.

Read about the benefits of Aloe Vera and our experience with Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel.

About Aloe Vera 

Aloe Vera gel comes from the inner leaves of the Aloe Vera plant.

You may use Aloe Vera gel for minor burns, bug bites, sunburn and scrapes. Aloe Vera plants were a staple in many Grandma’s kitchens as a go-to fix for multiple skin problems.

Aloe Vera is also a versatile natural ingredient with both hair and skin benefits. It can be applied alone, or added to a DIY skin or hair treatment.  

Why Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel is Special

NO UNNECESSARY ADDITIVES

We like Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel 100% Pure & Natural Gel because it is a pure Aloe Vera leaf juice that is free of added coloring or fragrance. 

A lack of excess additives, coloring, fragrance or fillers greatly reduces the chance of skin irritation or reactions.[2]

Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel has no added color or fragrance. It is clear and pure
UNSCENTED

Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel has ZERO scent. It smells like nothing.

For those of us who desire unscented products, it is difficult to find a pure Aloe Vera product without scent. Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel has no added fragrance. We detect none of the natural allium/onion scent found in fresh aloe vera gel straight from the leaf.

ENRICHED WITH VITAMIN E

This Aloe Vera formulation also contains Tocopheryl Acetate, a stable form of VITAMIN E used in skincare. Vitamin E is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. It also softens damaged skin to make it pliable.

RESIDUE-FREE ABSORPTION

There is no sticky residue to the Aloe. It contains carbomer, a safe texturizer that enables product absorption. There is practically no dry-down time.

MADE IN THE USA

Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel is made in the USA.

It comes in a 2-ounce travel size (1, 3 or 6 pack) and a 32 ounce size bottle. We tried the travel size 3-pack.

Aloe Vera Benefits 

Aloe Vera can get things done! Use it as a shaving cream, treat razor burns and bumps, and as an all around moisturizer.

Aloe Vera Benefits for Skin 

Aloe Vera is a base for many clean and natural skincare products, and for good reason.

Aloe Vera feeds the skin with essential nutrients and makes skin smooth, hydrated, and soft. This skin “food” heals, hydrates, and accelerates skin cell growth.

It provides nourishment to the skin as it contains:

  • Vitamins A, C, B, and E, (all anti-oxidants) folic acid, and choline
  • minerals like collagen III-enhancing copper
  • 8 enzymes, including Bradykinase to reduce inflammation[3]
  • Amino Acids and fatty acids to hydrate the skin without oil.

Aloe Vera has an enzyme that repairs skin cells. This helps soothe and heal:

  • minor burns
  • scrapes
  • sunburn and excess sun exposure[4]
  • razor burn
  • dry, flaky skin

It provides anti-inflammatory[5] and anti-bacterial properties.

Aloe Vera contributes to collagen regeneration which is helpful in wound healing. [6]

Aloe Vera Benefits for Hair

Research on Aloe Vera applications within hair care includes benefits for the scalp and the hair lengths.

SCALP BENEFITS

A healthy scalp means optimal hair growth.

Aloe Vera has an enzyme that repairs dead skin cells on the scalp to help hair grow strong. This helps treat or reduce scalp conditions impacting hair growth such as:

  • dandruff
  • dry scalp
  • seborrheic dermatitis[7]
  • psoriasis[8]

HAIR LENGTHS

The hair length and the ends lose moisture over time. Aloe Vera feeds the hair with essential nutrients and B5 and amino acids make hair smooth, hydrated, soft, and shiny!

TIP: Aloe Vera makes a great conditioner for eyebrows! Combine Aloe with a drop of Castor or Almond Oil and brush onto eyebrows with a spoolie!

The Eden Dews Experience

We like the convenient travel size bottle size and its’ easy to use dispenser top design to keep the product fresh.

  • Scent: None
  • Color: None, clear
  • Consistency: It is a lightweight texture
  • Dry-down: non-oily, absorbs well. It is not at all tacky even during dry-down.
  • Residue: No chalky residue, not sticky or tacky.

RESULTS

The feel on my skin is moist and hydrated skin, not the feel of product, very natural. Notably, unlike some aloe formulations, it does not sting or burn on my sensitive skin.

I love an unscented aloe formulation because it absorbs better than fresh aloe and smells better than aloe vera gel fresh from the leaf!

Find Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel on Amazon

Where to Shop It

Find Eden Dews Aloe Vera Gel on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQSRDL8R

Lightweight, thin consistency is easy to spread with no stickiness

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

Have any questions or comments about Eden Dews Aloe Vera?

Email us or comment below and we will do our best to answer them!

References

  1. Davis, Robert H. Aloe vera: A scientific approach. Vantage Press, 1997.
  2. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review, January 2019 pages 1-42
  3. Atherton P. The essential Aloe vera: The actions and the evidence. 2nd ed 1997
  4. Byeon SW, Pelley RP, Ullrich SE, Waller TA, Bucana CD, Strickland FM. Aloe barbadensis extracts reduce the production of interleukin-10 after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. J Invest Dermatol. 1998 May;110(5):811-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1998.00181.x.
  5. Hutter JA, Salmon M, Stavinoha WB, Satsangi N, Williams RF, Streeper RT, et al. Anti-inflammatory C-glucosyl chromone from Aloe barbadensis. J Nat Prod. 1996;59:541–3.
  6. Chithra P, Sajithlal GB, Chandrakasan G. Influence of Aloe vera on collagen characteristics in healing dermal wounds in rats. Mol Cell Biochem. 1998 Apr;181(1-2):71-6. doi: 10.1023/a:1006813510959. PMID: 9562243.
  7. Vardy AD, Cohen AD, Tchetov T. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Aloe vera (A. barbadensis) emulsion in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. J Derm Treatment. 1999;10:7–11.
  8. Syed TA, Ahmad SA, Holt AH, Ahmad SH, Afzal M. Management of psoriasis with Aloe vera extract in a hydrophilic cream: A placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Trop Med Int Health. 1996;1:505–9.

ABOUT THIS POST

How to Use Kukui Oil for Better Skin Collagen

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Kukui Oil has the unique ability to penetrate deep into the skin. It is helpful to support collagen synthesis at a deeper level in the skin. Learn about this beloved oil and its’ skincare benefits.

 

kukui nuts

kukui nuts are cold-pressed into Kukui Oil AKA Candlenut

What is Kukui Oil?

Aleurites moluccana is the flowering tree which produces what is commonly called candlenut oil or kukui nut oil. You may have seen this this tree’s lovely silver leaves for yourself on a visit to Hawaii.

The official name is Euphorbiaceae.  Ingredient labels may call this ingredient by one of several names including:

  • candlenut
  • Indian Walnut
  • Kukui Seed Oil

Kukui Oil is used to intensely hydrate and moisture skin.

Why It Is Special

Kukui Oil or candlenut can do something unusual: it can penetrate into the deep layers of the skin.

This is exciting since it also helps promote collagen production. The deeper the skin can make collagen, the firmer it looks.

It is a dry oil yet is highly emollient and creates a protective layer.

Kukui Oil Nutrients

Rich in Omega-3s, Kukui Seed Oil replenishes fleshly washed skin after the irritation of cleansers and makeup removers.

It contains skin-refining vitamins A, C, and E.  A and C can be harsh on the skin, but Kukui Nut has such great softening and buffering properties that it makes C and A accessible to those with sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema.

It also reduces inflammation, treats wounds and burns, and soothes conditions like eczema.

Skincare Products with Kukui Oil

Kat Burki Power Trio Radiance Oil

Kat Burki Power Trio Radiance Oil uses just three oils – Raspberry Seed Oil, Tamanu Oil and Kukui Oil.

Kukui Nut Oil helps the other oils absorb deeper into the skin. This enhances Raspberry Seed Oil’s collagen production and Tamanu Oil’s scar and sun damage repair.

Kat Burki Power Trio Radiance Oil

Kat Burki Power Trio Radiance Oil

Read more about Kat Burki Power Trio Radiance Oil in this article Kat Burki Power Trio Radiance Oil to the Rescue. 

Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil

Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil fights environmental stressors to protect the skin’s exposome.

A clean beauty skincare product, it contains multiple organic oils to benefit the skin.

 

Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil

Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil is rich in Kukui Nut Oil which enables its’ actives to penetrate the skin

Read more about Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil in this article:  Fight Environmental Skin Stressors Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil

Summary of Kukui Oil Ingredient Overview

Kukui Oil is commonly called candlenut oil or kukui seed oil. It can intensely hydrate the skin.

Kukui Oil is a dry oil which penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin. This enables superior collagen production and sun damage repair.

Did you find this article Ingredient Guide useful? Then you may enjoy other reading other Ingredient Guide Overviews about ingredients often used in clean beauty such as:

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