A lack of radiance is not a problem that happens overnight; rather, it is the result of various factors that progressively affect the skin's condition. Why does the skin lose radiance? Some factors are internal, such as the changes the skin undergoes over time, while others are external, such as sun exposure. What are the most decisive factors in the loss of facial radiance? We tell you which factors make the skin look lifeless and how glycolic acid and niacinamide can help you with this problem.
- Aging: As we age, the skin's cell renewal process slows down. This means that dead cells accumulate on the skin's surface, giving it a duller, less radiant appearance. Over time, without proper skin care, this buildup of dead cells can cause the skin to lose its smoothness, resulting in a rougher texture.
- Sun exposure: UV rays are the greatest enemy of skin health. In addition to being responsible for premature aging due to continuous exposure, they can also damage the DNA of skin cells, causing dark spots and an uneven tone. This makes the skin look much more devitalized.
- Pollution: Pollutant particles present in the environment are loaded with the dreaded free radicals. Therefore, upon contact with our skin, they can penetrate the epidermis and oxidize cells. This process, which we know well as oxidative stress, is what causes a dull appearance on the face.
- Stress: Stress can trigger processes that damage the skin, affecting its radiance. This is because the cortisol we generate when we are stressed reduces blood flow, meaning nutrients and oxygen do not reach the skin properly. Consequently, the skin looks dull and devitalized, much like our mood.
- Poor diet: A diet deficient in vitamins and antioxidants can be reflected in dull, lifeless skin. Although the skin's ability to absorb nutrients is limited and it is always recommended to apply vitamins topically to increase their absorption, a lack of water, excess sugar, and the accumulation of toxins lead to a dull, lackluster tone.
What can be done to restore skin radiance?
Knowing that the loss of skin radiance can be due to a combination of internal and external factors, it is important to look for solutions that are specifically designed to treat this problem. Fortunately, there are ingredients that can help combat these negative effects and restore the skin's natural glow. Two of these key ingredients are glycolic acid and niacinamide, two active ingredients that, when used in a combined routine, can transform dull, lifeless skin into luminous and healthy skin.
The power of Glycolic Acid (AHA)
Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from sugar cane. This ingredient has exfoliating and renewing properties. This means that when applied to the skin, this acid acts by dissolving the bonds between the dead cells of the epidermis, facilitating their removal and revealing the younger, more luminous layers of the skin.
What are the benefits of glycolic acid?
Deep exfoliation: Unlike physical exfoliants that contain microparticles and perform gentle erosion on the surface of the face through friction, glycolic acid penetrates deeper levels of the epidermis and achieves a greater shedding of dead cells. Therefore, it works in-depth and achieves more visible results in skin renewal.
Collagen stimulation: Every time we perform an exfoliating action on our face and remove damaged cells from the outermost layer, a signal is sent to the inside of the skin to start producing new cells and proteins to replace and repair the ones already removed. This is how superficial mechanical stimulation sets in motion the internal mechanisms for producing new collagen, which provides us with firmer skin.
Unifying the tone: Glycolic acid is very effective for reducing dark spots and improving the uneven tone caused by aging or sun exposure. By removing the top layers of the skin, the most pigmented cells are reduced—those that accumulate on the surface with a high concentration of melanin and lead to spots. In this way, glycolic acid helps us obtain a more uniform and brighter complexion.
Pore reduction: By removing the dead cells that clog pores, it is easier to extract dirt from within and thus reduce their size. Thanks to this ability, glycolic acid minimizes their appearance and contributes to softer, smoother, and healthier-looking skin.
Why use Niacinamide with glycolic acid?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It is a multi-functional ingredient for facial care and is compatible with all skin types. Among its wide range of actions, the main function of this ingredient is to restore the skin's barrier function, increasing the ceramides that protect the outermost layer. It is the ideal complement to glycolic acid because a potent regeneration is followed by an ingredient with a repairing and soothing effect.
Benefits of niacinamide
Illumination: It is well known that niacinamide helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone. As it acts on dark spots, niacinamide brightens the skin and restores its natural glow.
Soothing effect: Niacinamide has properties that help reduce redness and irritation. This makes it the ideal ingredient to use after glycolic acid, which can be a bit more aggressive for some skin types.
Strengthening the skin barrier: This is fundamental for maintaining hydration and protecting against damaging external factors. Our skin's hydro-lipid mantle must be balanced, and the action of niacinamide in reinforcing its structure is the guarantee of healthy skin.
Pore reduction: Like glycolic acid, niacinamide also has the ability to minimize the appearance of pores. Its role in this case is to regulate sebum production; thus, we reduce internal dirt and the pore looks finer.
How to combine glycolic acid and niacinamide in your routine?
You can combine glycolic acid and niacinamide in the same routine to enhance their effects, creating unbeatable synergistic benefits to increase skin brightness.
Glycolic acid prepares the skin by exfoliating it and renewing cells. On the other hand, niacinamide calms, unifies the tone, and strengthens the skin barrier. This combination is ideal for achieving luminous, radiant, and healthy skin. Let's integrate these two ingredients into a quick and simple routine.
First, and always important for any routine, use a cleanser suitable for your skin type. Next, use Excellence Glycolic Serum, a specific serum with an incredible skin-renewing effect that stimulates skin regeneration, contributes to the elimination of dead cells, and reduces imperfections. Finally, use Blast Antioxidant & Cellular Protection Cream, a cream created with niacinamide and liposomal vitamin C that achieves a synergistic effect to promote the synthesis of collagen and elastin, thus improving the skin's structure and providing radiance.
Are you ready to try this new routine and restore radiance to your skin?
