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Five innovative beauty ingredients you need to know about

With thousands of new launches every year, it's almost impossible to keep up with all the products, trends and buzzwords in the beauty industry. Katie Wright discovers the truth about the latest beauty buzzword ingredients.

It's almost impossible to keep up with all the products, trends and buzzwords in the beauty industry
It's almost impossible to keep up with all the products, trends and buzzwords in the beauty industry It's almost impossible to keep up with all the products, trends and buzzwords in the beauty industry

1. Bamboo

Max Factor Lash Revival Mascara, £12.99, available from Boots
Max Factor Lash Revival Mascara, £12.99, available from Boots Max Factor Lash Revival Mascara, £12.99, available from Boots

Max Factor's new Lash Revival mascara (£12.99, Boots) is enriched with bamboo extract, which conditions lashes over time as well as delivering immediate jet black mega-drama.

Beauty Pie Jeju Daily Multi Phase Purifying Cleansing Milk, £28 (£9.25 for members); Jeju Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Cloths, £15 for two (£7.25 for members), available from Beauty Pie
Beauty Pie Jeju Daily Multi Phase Purifying Cleansing Milk, £28 (£9.25 for members); Jeju Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Cloths, £15 for two (£7.25 for members), available from Beauty Pie Beauty Pie Jeju Daily Multi Phase Purifying Cleansing Milk, £28 (£9.25 for members); Jeju Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Cloths, £15 for two (£7.25 for members), available from Beauty Pie

Bamboo extract also has skin-soothing properties. Beauty Pie's Jeju cleanser (£28/£9.25 for members) is an ultra-moisturising lotion-balm ideal for dry skin types. Team with a Jeju Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Cloth (£15 for two / £7.15 for members) a couple of times a week to gently slough away dead skin cells.

2. Cica

It's said the healing effects of centella asiatica were discovered when scientists saw tigers rolling in its leaves following a particularly bloody fight. Also known as cica, the plant has now been harnessed to help humans, as in Aveeno Skin Relief Nourish & Repair Cica Balm (£6.99, Boots).

Aveeno Skin Relief Nourish & Repair Cica Balm, £6.99, available from Boots
Aveeno Skin Relief Nourish & Repair Cica Balm, £6.99, available from Boots Aveeno Skin Relief Nourish & Repair Cica Balm, £6.99, available from Boots

Or try adding a few drops of Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Booster (£27) to your night cream to let its healing powers get to work while you sleep.

Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Booster, £27, available from Elemis
Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Booster, £27, available from Elemis Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Booster, £27, available from Elemis

3. Kakadu plum

Boasting 50 times more vitamin C than an orange, the kakadu plum is the ultimate in antioxidants, which are essential if brightness is top of your skincare wish list.

Extracts of the Australian fruit can be found in Goop's GoopGlow Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator (£112), a highly effective mask that combines chemical and manual exfoliants to mimic the effects of microdermabrasion treatments at home.

GoopGlow Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator, £112, available from Goop
GoopGlow Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator, £112, available from Goop GoopGlow Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator, £112, available from Goop

For a quick daily dose of kakadu plum, pop on Sanctuary Spa's 1 Minute Daily Glow Mask (£9.29, Superdrug) then jump in the shower. By the time you've washed your hair, the antioxidants should have sunk in and it'll be ready to rinse.

4. Hyaluronic acid

The next generation of the uber-hydrating molecule can hold 1,000 times its own weight in water. L'Occitane has reformulated its cult Immortelle Precious Dynamic Youthcare Serum (£59, available September 5) with a dynamic HA complex and silicium, which they say helps to smooth out fine lines even faster.

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Dynamic Youthcare Serum, £59, available from L'Occitane on September 5
L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Dynamic Youthcare Serum, £59, available from L'Occitane on September 5 L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Dynamic Youthcare Serum, £59, available from L'Occitane on September 5

Skinsense Hydranet Intense Concentrate (£26) encapsulates HA in a 'cage' structure, which allows it to slowly release over time, delivering intense hydration long after you've applied the serum.

Skinsense Hydranet Intense Concentrate, £26, available from SkinSense
Skinsense Hydranet Intense Concentrate, £26, available from SkinSense Skinsense Hydranet Intense Concentrate, £26, available from SkinSense

5. Bakuchiol

Tried retinol but found it was too harsh? Then give bakuchiol a go instead.

This Works No Wrinkles Extreme Moisturiser, £50, available from This Works
This Works No Wrinkles Extreme Moisturiser, £50, available from This Works This Works No Wrinkles Extreme Moisturiser, £50, available from This Works

This plant-based alternative found in This Works No Wrinkles Extreme Moisturiser (£50) and The Inkey List Bakuchiol (£9.99, Cult Beauty) also reduces fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation but is more suitable for sensitive skin and doesn't cause photosensitivity, so can be used morning and night.

The Inkey List Bakuchiol, £9.99, available from Cult Beauty
The Inkey List Bakuchiol, £9.99, available from Cult Beauty The Inkey List Bakuchiol, £9.99, available from Cult Beauty