What are adaptogens in skincare?
Adaptogens are plants traditionally used to help the body cope with stress – ashwagandha, ginseng, rhodiola, reishi and other medicinal mushrooms, holy basil, schisandra. The term comes from herbal medicine rather than dermatology.
The rationale for putting them in skincare rests on the link between stress and skin: cortisol drives inflammation, impairs the barrier and worsens acne, eczema and psoriasis. Reviews of adaptogen mechanisms describe effects on stress-response pathways at the cellular level.
What skin concerns do adaptogens treat?
Most adaptogens are also potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, which is where their topical benefit is clearest – calming redness, defending against free-radical damage, and supporting a barrier that stress has compromised.
The evidence is stronger for oral than topical use: randomised placebo-controlled work on ashwagandha shows measurable reductions in cortisol and stress. Applied to skin, treat them as a good antioxidant and soothing layer rather than a stress cure.
What ingredients are best paired with adaptogens?
They complement other antioxidants – vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide, green tea – and sit well alongside ceramides, hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica for barrier and calming work.
If stress is genuinely driving your skin, the routine is only part of the answer: sleep, exercise and the underlying stressor do more than any cream. Speak to a doctor before taking adaptogens orally, particularly with thyroid or autoimmune conditions or in pregnancy. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is acne?
Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory condition of the pilosebaceous unit – the hair follicle and its attached oil gland. It produces blackheads and whiteheads, inflamed papules and pustules, and in severe cases deep nodules and cysts.
It is the most common skin condition worldwide, and it is not a hygiene problem. Acne begins with a microcomedone forming invisibly inside the follicle, weeks before anything shows on the surface.
What causes acne?
Four mechanisms work together: excess sebum driven by androgens, abnormal shedding of cells inside the follicle, overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes, and the inflammatory response that follows.
Genetics set the baseline. Hormonal fluctuation, stress, high-glycaemic diets, comedogenic products, friction from masks or helmets, and certain medications all push it further. Over-cleansing and picking make it visibly worse.
What ingredients are best for acne?
Salicylic acid clears inside the pore, benzoyl peroxide reduces bacterial load, and retinoids prevent the plug forming in the first place – that last one is the most valuable long-term.
Azelaic acid and niacinamide reduce inflammation and the marks left behind, and sulphur or clay help oily, congested skin. Keep the barrier intact with a gentle cleanser and a light non-comedogenic moisturiser; stripped skin produces more oil. Take our Skin Quiz.
