9 Skincare Products With Unexpected Ingredients
Real ingredients equal real results.
If you keep saying you want to switch to more natural beauty products, but worry they're not effective enough, these nine incredibly potent skincare treatments will assuage your concerns. Ingredients like blue tansy, Umbrian clay, Greek saffron, spinach, and more leave your complexion fresh, glowing, and younger-looking. Here, the formulas are targeted to solve all your skin issues.
Your Arch Enemy Is Oil
Tend to get shiny by lunchtime? Apply this toner before your moisturizer. The high mineral content of this special Umbrian clay helps skin stay matte throughout the day and shrinks the appearance of pores. Cinnamon bark, burnet root, and lavender floral water also help keep oily skin in check.
Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Facial Toner, $35, sephora.com
You Spy Lines and Wrinkles
Greek saffron derived from the village of Krocus is often touted as one of the most expensive spices in the world—more precious than gold. As an anti-ager, this ingredient delivers antioxidants, peptides, and amino acids that makes skin more resilient. Also in this golden serum, copper and polysaccharides help build collagen and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump. Apply morning and night after cleanser but before moisturizer or sunscreen.
Korres Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum, $98, sephora.com
You Legit Need a Skin Detox
Like a fresh green juice, this multitasking mask and foaming cleanser purges pores and revives a tired complexion after a week of heavy makeup or weekend of hard-partying. The kaolin clay-based formula is packed with green tea, spirulina, and spinach, which deliver antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, it feels slightly cooling as it gets to work (and it can be applied directly over makeup).
Origins By All Greens™ Foaming Deep Cleansing Mask, $36, sephora.com
Your Skin Feels Thirstier Than Thursday
It feels lightweight, but this gel is chock full of moisturizers and anti-agers that makes skin look ultra-fresh and healthy. Unique hydrators like pineapple ceramide, watermelon rind, apple, and lentil make skin immediately supple and glowy. Antioxidants from swertia chirata, bearberry, and hyaluronate crosspolymer encourage brighter and smoother skin over time. Bonus: You can also mix with your favorite cream, serum, or oil as a booster.
Drunk Elephant B Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Gel, $52, sephora.com
You Want to Wipe Out Breakouts
This intensive wash-off treatment gently purifies pores thanks to two kinds of charcoal—bamboo and binchotan (a mild combination that doesn't completely strip skin of moisture). Leave on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing with warm water to leave skin feeling softer and slightly exfoliated to boot.
Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment, $38, sephora.com
Your Skin Could Use Some Coddling
Super-dry skin types will relish the lightweight, whipped texture of this deep moisturizing cream, which nourishes with argan oil, watermelon seed oil, shea butter, cucumber extract, and aloe. The luscious formula is designed to absorb quickly so skin feels supple, but never greasy. For an extra boost, layer on an oil after.
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter, $40, sephora.com
You Want a Fresher Face Fast
Boost cellular turnover overnight with this luxurious intensive retinoid (balanced with calming ingredients like blue tansy and chamomile) for a brighter complexion, reduced appearance of wrinkles, and a smoother skin texture. Massage a few drops into clean skin just before you hit the sack. (Don't worry, the blue tone becomes completely translucent once absorbed.)
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, $105, sephora.com
Your Skin Gets Irritated Just Thinking About it
Traditional Japanese warrior-wear was dyed with deep indigo because, in case of injury, the anti-inflammatory properties of the deep blue-purple flower were said to help heal wounds. The same logic applies to this cream. The indigo—which blends invisibly on skin in this formula—soothes irritation, while 3% colloidal oatmeal nourishes and extracts from green tea, red algae, and rice bran stave off signs of aging.
Tatcha Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream, $135, sephora.com
You Want "Bright Like a Diamond" Skin
Top derms love to recommend vitamin C thanks to it's effectiveness at brightening, stimulating collagen, and repairing sun damage. In this serum—which should be applied between cleanser and moisturizer—the vitamin C is extracted from multiple sources such as orange, grapefruit, and rosehip, to intensify the benefits. Green tea adds more antioxidant protection while sodium hyaluronate hydrates.
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum® Vitamin C Collagen Booster, $48, sephora.com
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