The Chemists' Blog

vitamin c derivatives chemist confessions blog

Antioxidant

Which Vitamin C Derivative is the Best For My Skin?

There are a LOT of vitamin C derivatives to choose from on the market such as ascorbyl glucoside, THD ascorbate, ethylated vitamin C, etc. We can a...

ahas

Mandelic Acid - Should You Choose It Over Salicylic Acid or Glycolic Acid?

AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) such as glycolic and lactic acid have long enjoyed the spotlight - and for good reason! These are your proven chemical e...

Decoding Actives

Hyaluronic Acid - Which type is the best for my skin?

Hyaluronic Acid is an oldie in skincare but seems to never be out of fashion. This elusive ingredient has been tied to so many different types of s...

Barrier Care

Ceramides - What exactly do they do for skin?

“Skin barrier care” seems to be one of the top skincare trends in recent years, and ceramides are the ingredients that are often associated with th...

Decoding Actives

Bakuchiol - A "Retinol Alternative" Worth Trying?

Good old anti-aging retinol promises so many benefits. Yet for many (Gloria included!), it’s a temperamental little guy that can wreak havoc on you...

Anti-Aging

Retinal - Is it Better Than Retinol?

Retinaldehyde or retinal (with an A!) has become the latest, buzz-worthy retinoid on the market. Many seasoned retinoid users are honing in on the ...

Anti-Aging

Retinol: The Tried-and-True Way to Putting Off Botox

Retinol has been a longtime fan favorite anti-aging molecule. And for good reason! As a cosmetic ingredient, retinol is one of the few that has dec...

Decoding Actives

How Helpful is Skincare for Redness? (aka. Erythema)

One of the budding categories in the “soothing” skincare realm is dedicated to tackling skin redness (aka. erythema). However, tackling redness isn...

azelaic acid

Azelaic, Tranexamic, Kojic Acid... The Chemists' Best Hyperpigmentation Ingredients Guide

Uneven skin tone, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, dark spots, sun spots, acne scars, melasma… it doesn’t matter what type of hyperpigmentation...

Anti-Aging

Vitamin C: The Antioxidant Powerhouse

Vitamin C serums is probably one of the most popular products with countless new launches every year. Their lasting popularity make a lot of sense!...

Decoding Actives

What's the deal with CBD serums & oils? - The 2023 edition

Back in fall 2019, we wrote a blog post on CBD in skincare when it was all the rage. During the early days of Covid lockdowns, it really felt like ...

Anti-Aging

A Chemists' Guide to Navigating "Retinol Alternative" Skincare

It feels like everyone is now launching a "retinol alternative". But wait! Let's do a deep dive to make sure we're actually shopping for an actual ...