Medically reviewed by Minimalist Health Specialist - Written by Sritama Dutta (Medical Science) on 05th Jan 2021
How to get clear skin with 3 Key Minimalist Serums (Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide & Alpha Arbutin)
No one on the Earth hasn't dreamt of having clear, radiant skin. Flawless, smooth skin not only helps you to feel fresh and pretty but also gives your confidence the much-needed boost. But there is no magic wand that will instantly give you clear, glowing skin. Taking care of your skin, paying attention to its needs, and attending to them is the only solution.
Don't have time to tend to your skin? We know how busy life can get in this fast-moving world. But certain active ingredients are readily available in the market and help you get the radiant, clear skin that you always desired.
In this article, we would tell you about the three great Minimalist serums that can have amazing effects on your skin.
Niacinamide
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide, sometimes also referred to as Nicotinamide, is a form of Vitamin B3 (Niacin). Though it is an essential nutrient produced in our body, its generation gradually decreases with advancing age. This nutrient helps build proteins in our cells and boost the inherent immunity of our body.
Niacinamide also helps in the proper functioning of various organs of our body and should be an integral part of our daily diet. It is deficiency can lead to disorders of the skin, kidney, and even brain. It has also been seen that taking niacinamide supplements can treat various skin conditions like eczema and acne. Let's find out how niacinamide can be good for your skin.
How is it beneficial for your skin?
Niacinamide is a versatile compound that has a multitude of beneficial effects on the health of your skin.
- When topically applied, niacinamide serum can minimize open pores on the skin and control sebum production. Its antioxidant property is also effective in protecting the skin from photodamage.
- Niacinamide also has antimicrobial properties. It can penetrate deep into the skin cells and reduce the bacterial count responsible for acne formation.
- Niacinamide also plays an important role in collagen production. This makes the skin firmer, more resilient, and supple. An increase in collagen synthesis in the skin due to niacinamide serum also reduces aging signs, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
- Niacinamide can also give you a brighter skin tone. It is an effective topical ingredient to treat hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
How to use Niacinamide serum?
Niacinamide is an inert, water-soluble organic compound that works mildly on the skin. It is safe to include this active ingredient in your daily skincare regime without the fear of any adverse reactions. You can also layer it with almost all other active ingredients (with few exceptions) if you want.
Niacinamide can be used in your morning or night skincare routine or both. It is suitable for all skin textures and types. Niacinamide is also available in various concentrations. If you have oily, acne-prone skin, you can use a 10% concentration of niacinamide along with a booster ingredient like zinc PCA or Folic acid.
If you have dry skin, a 5% concentration of niacinamide serum along with moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be beneficial for you. It will help to restore the natural moisture of the skin and make it soft and supple. 5% niacinamide can also be used to treat hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
2% niacinamide can help in the treatment of eczema and other skin infections. It also helps in lowering the sebum production within a few weeks. However, it is recommended that individuals over the age of 18 should use niacinamide.
Minimalist's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc
Minimalist's 10% niacinamide is a nourishing serum made with pure vitamin B3 and the antimicrobial mineral zinc. Instead of preparing the serum in water, this serum is prepared by dissolving the active ingredients in 100% pure aloe vera juice. It is most suitable for people with oily, acne-prone skin.
This lightweight, soothing aloe-based formulation of the serum ensures that it will have no harsh effect on your skin. It has been clinically proven to be effective in reducing sebum activity, and it also reduces excess melanin concentration on the skin.
This oil-free serum also helps in calming inflammation and redness. Minimalist's 10% niacinamide reduces visible blemishes and helps in cleansing congested pores. Zinc in the formulation reduces acne marks and leaves your skin smooth and fresh with a desirable glow.
Minimalist's Niacinamide 5% + Hyaluronic Acid 1%
The 5% niacinamide is specially formulated for individuals with dry and sensitive skin. The booster ingredient: Hyaluronic acid added as the booster ingredient provides optimal hydration to the skin and repairs the skin cells.
This niacinamide serum is manufactured in aloe base instead of water. This brings an added benefit to the health of the skin. The serum also helps in protecting the integrity of the skin's natural barrier.
The 1% Hyaluronic acid reduces trans-epidermal moisture lost, making the dry skin softer and smoother. It also helps in minimizing the melanin production, thus giving you a lighter and brighter skin tone.
This serum also has antioxidant properties, which reduces the signs of oxidative stress on the skin. The 5% niacinamide serum is also a potent anti-inflammatory ingredient.
Salicylic Acid
What is Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is a mild organic acid classified as Beta Hydroxy Acids or the BHAs. It is colorless and exists in a crystalline form when 100% pure. It is a widely used ingredient in the skincare industry and has been known for treating various skin conditions such as warts, corns, acne, ringworm, and dandruff.
Salicylic acid is extracted from the bark of willow trees. SA is also an active ingredient in medicines for treating dermatological conditions like psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, and keratosis pilaris. It is a readily available over-the-counter active ingredient.
How is it beneficial for your skin?
- Salicylic acid can have a lot of beneficial effects on the skin. It is comedolytic, i.e., cleansing the dead skin cell debris and sebum accumulated in congested pores.
- Salicylic acid is also a potent hemolytic ingredient. It slowly exfoliates the dull and aged superficial skin layer and reveals younger and fresher skin cells beneath. It also reduces the dark spots and PIH marks and gives you flawless, radiant clear skin.
- Salicylic acid also possesses mild anti-inflammatory properties, which help calming symptoms of inflammation and redness of the skin.
- Salicylic acid also has a bacteriostatic activity, which slows down acne-causing bacteria's proliferation in the dermal layers.
How to Use Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is recommended to be used only once a day. You can include it in your morning or night skincare regime as per your preference. However, it is better to keep it for the night as the peeling action will denude the underlying younger cells susceptible to sun damage.
You have to apply 2-3 drops of salicylic acid serum on the skin after cleaning it with a mild cleanser. Let it soak into the skin for a minute or two, and then you can layer it with any other product.
After chemical exfoliation, the skin needs more hydration. It is recommended to layer your skin with hyaluronic acid that will help in moisturizing the skin. Also, the younger skin cells that get revealed are more prone to sunburns. Thus, it is advised to use a broad-spectrum SPF Sunscreen while using the salicylic acid serum.
Minimalist's Salicylic Acid 2%
The Minimalist 2% Salicylic acid is a gentle exfoliating acid that is formulated with an aloe-based solution. It is incredibly lightweight and absorbs fast in the skin cells. It effectively penetrates the skin layer and cleanses the debris, dirt, and sebum collected in the pores.
Unlike other oil-based SA serum, this BHA peel dissolves the dead skin cells and grease from the skin's inner layers without harming the skin's integrity. Its antibacterial properties help in reducing the acne-causing bacterial count in the skin cells and prevent further breakouts.
This SA serum gradually clears off dark spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the skin by sloughing away the superficial skin cells over time. This chemical peel reveals the newer and younger skin cells lying underneath the layer of dead skin cells.
The added aloe vera juice helps in soothing the effects of direct acid exfoliation and rejuvenating the skin. Apart from treating facial acne, the Minimalist's 2% SA serum can also be used for treating mild body or back acne.
Alpha Arbutin
What is Alpha Arbutin?
Alpha Arbutin is one of the great ingredients that can make your skin brighter and give you a flawless, even skin tone. It is a naturally occurring ingredient that is a derivative of hydroquinone. Alpha arbutin is extracted from the dried leaves of blueberry, cranberry, and bearberry.
How is it beneficial for your skin?
Alpha arbutin reduces dark spots and pigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase activity that reduces melanin synthesis. It also helps minimize freckles, age spots, blemishes, acne scars, and PIH marks.
Alpha arbutin works similarly to hydroquinone. It acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor, which helps in slowing down the melanosome maturation. This, in turn, reduces pigmentation of the skin to give you a lighter and brighter skin tone. It also helps in reducing sun tan and helps in evening out skin discoloration.
How to use alpha arbutin serum?
Alpha arbutin is a mild active ingredient that can be used in both AM and PM skincare routines. Before applying Alpha Arbutin serum, you must cleanse your face and hydrate it with moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid ingredients.
Apply 2-3 drops of Alpha Arbutin Serum and spread it over your face in a gentle, circular motion. Let it rest for 1-2 minutes so that the serum can penetrate the deeper skin layers. Then you can layer it with other products.
Layering it with an AHA/BHA serum will give you a brighter and even skin tone. If you have sensitive skin, you can also layer it with Niacinamide serum to get the same effect.
If you are using Alpha Arbutin serum, then a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or above) must protect the skin from sun damage
Minimalist's Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid 1%
The Minimalist Alpha Arbutin Serum can dramatically reduce undesirable dark spots and blemishes to give you brighter skin with an even complexion in 5 weeks. The ultra-light formulation based on aloe vera juice instead of water acts as a spot remover and skin polisher.
1% Hyaluronic Acid is added as a booster ingredient in the serum that hydrates the skin. The alpha arbutin serum reduces the effects of suntan and other signs of photodamage. It also helps in lowering melanin synthesis to give you a lighter skin tone.
This product is recommended for individuals in their mid-20s. Both males and females who suffer from patchy skin tone and dark spots and hyperpigmentation can use this serum in their daily skincare regime.
The Bottom Line
Who doesn't love a radiant and clear skin tone? You can get clear skin too. You have to pay attention to your skin's needs. These three incredible serums from Minimalist can be a great addition to your skincare regime to get a brighter and flawless skin tone. Adopt these in your daily skincare routine, and be ready to take over the world with newfound confidence.
