14 Ingredients You’ll Find In Skincare By BEAUTY BAY’s Serums

If there’s one product in your skincare routine that will help you to address and target your specific skin goals, it’s serum. The best face serums deliver a concentrated blend of active ingredients chosen with a specific skin type or concern in mind. Whether they contain hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin or brightening ones like niacinamide and retinol, there are serums out there to address everything from dryness and dehydration to dullness, breakouts, and textured skin.

Of course, finding the right serum for you can be where things get tricky—and if you’re not super clued up on skincare ingredients, you may not know which are the best ones for your skin. That’s why we created our new range of By BEAUTY BAY serums, designed to target the skin issues you’re most concerned about, and with names that make it super clear to figure out which serum will be best for your skin. What’s more, our serums are designed to go one step further and tackle multiple concerns, since they contain blends of multiple active ingredients, rather than just focusing on one. 

Got dull, dehydrated skin? Try our Brighten + Hydrate Serum. Experiencing pigmentation or fine lines? Go for the Renew + Smooth Serum. Redness or enlarged pores? The Refine + Soothe Serum is the one for you. Oh and if you’ve got breakouts, add the Breakout Clearing Serum to your next haul.

And if you do want to know more about the ingredients in the serums and how they work? Scroll down for a list—we’ve included all your faves, plus plenty of new and trending ingredients you’re going to want to try.

Salicylic acid might sound scary, but don’t let its name put you off. Also known as a chemical exfoliant or BHA (short for beta hydroxy acid), salicylic acid is a soothing and naturally anti-inflammatory ingredient which is much kinder to skin than physical exfoliants like scrubs. Salicylic acid works by removing dead skin cells on the upper layers of skin and because it’s oil-soluble and can exfoliate the pore lining, it helps to remove the dead skin and sebum that clogs in pores, leading to breakouts.

Retinol (also known as vitamin A) is well known for being one of the most effective ingredients for addressing signs of akin ageing, but it also has benefits for skin that’s prone to uneven tone, congestion, and breakouts. Retinol converts into retinoic acid once absorbed by the skin. It increases the production of collagen (which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles) and it increases cell turnover, encouraging skin to renew so that dead skin cells on the surface are removed and the smoother, brighter skin beneath is revealed. This also prevents buildup of the congestion that leads to breakouts.

Peptides are another effective ingredient for targeting signs of skin ageing like loose, skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. There are many different types of peptides, all with different functions, but ultimately, they all work by teaching skin cells to perform specific functions. The peptide in our Renew + Smooth serum is called acetyl hexapeptide-1—it protects skin from free radical damage and UV-induced redness.

A potent antioxidant, baluchiol has a soothing effect on skin, and can also help to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and skin discolouration. It’s a popular ingredient because it’s suitable for those with very sensitive and reactive skin, and because as an antioxidant, it protects skin from the environmental damage and pollution that can cause skin damage.

Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge, helping the skin to hold onto water so its texture remains tight, plump, and elastic. Hyaluronic acid is an amazing ingredient for all skin types, but especially for dry and dehydrated skin as each molecule can bind up to 1000 times its own weight in water.

Unlike many other acids, succinic acid isn’t an exfoliating ingredient. Instead, it acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, meaning it helps to calm and soothe the redness and irritation of breakouts.

Snow mushroom has been a staple ingredient in traditional Asian medicine and skincare for hundreds of years. It works similarly to hyaluronic acid, pulling moisture into the skin to increase hydration levels.

Kakadu plums are snall green fruits said to contain the world’s most concentrated source of vitamin C—yep, even more than oranges. They also contain a high level of antioxidants, so in skincare they can help to brighten, hydrate, firm, and even skin tone.

Allantoin is a frequently used but not so well known ingredient which definitely deserves more hype than it gets. It’s a soothing ingredient which helps to soften, protect, and heal damaged skin.

Glycerin is also commonly found in lots of skincare formulas but is, in our opinion, highly underrated. It’s a simple but effective hydrating ingredient that helps our skin to absorb and retain moisture.

Derived from chamomile, bisabolol is a soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredient which is great for calming sensitive or irritated skin.

Niacinamide is a popular ingredient for good reason–it’s a real multitasker with proven benefits for multiple skin types and concerns. Amongst its many benefits, it can help to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, helps to fade brown spots, increases ceramide synthesis to support the skin barrier, and can help to balance skin’s oil production so that sebum is less likely to clog in pores. 

Squalane occurs naturally within our own skin, making it suitable for any skin type to use—even those prone to breakouts. It helps to soften skin and prevent moisture loss by supporting the skin barrier.

Lactic acid is a gentle chemical exfoliant also known as an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid). It works by removing dead skin cells to reveal fresher, brighter, smoother skin beneath, and it also has impressive skin hydrating properties.