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5 natural ingredients that give you radiant skin – how to add them to your daily routine
Published: 24.03.2025 | Updated: 19.10.2026 | Reading time approx. 6 min.
Skincare is all about the actives. Skin faces constant attacks from external aggressors – UV radiation, pollution and oxidative stress – which deplete its elasticity, firmness and regenerative capacity. Choosing the right actives strengthens skin’s defenses, slows down aging and gives you healthy glow. By supporting keratinization, hydrolipidic barrier and neutralizing oxidative damage these ingredients deliver visible results. Below, discover 5 well-documented, nature-derived ingredients to add to your routine.
1. Coenzyme Q10 – cellular energy boost
Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone) is a natural compound essential for cellular energy production. It fuels the metabolic processes in the mitochondria – the cell’s powerhouses – and skin cell regeneration and function. With age Q10 levels decline, skin’s protective barrier weakens, skin becomes more prone to oxidative stress and loses firmness.
In cosmetics, coenzyme Q10 is now most often produced biotechnologically, by fermentation with microorganisms – much like hyaluronic acid. The other method is semi-synthesis from solanesol, a compound obtained from plant leaves.
Clinically Proven Benefits:
- Elasticity & Wrinkle Reduction: Studies show regular Q10 use improves skin suppleness and reduces wrinkle depth.
- Antioxidant Defense: Neutralizes free radicals that break down proteins and lipids in the epidermis.
- Ideal For: Mature, photoaged skin and those exposed to high pollution.
In Alexandra Kubas cosmetics Coenzym Q10 has been combined with other ingredients that protect and regenerate the skin. At the heart of Serum +q10 is a synergistic blend of ubiquinone with protective and regenerative actives that work in harmony with your skin. By accelerating cellular metabolism this formula stimulates gentle exfoliation – a gentle renewal process that refines texture without visible flaking. Meanwhile its high-potency Q10 concentration targets hyperpigmentation at its source, gradually lifts discoloration even in deeper epidermal layers for a uniform, radiant tone. Over time the serum’s collagen and elastin boosting action restores density and gives you plumper, more resilient skin with natural glow.
2. Omega Acids – restoring the hydrolipidic barrier
Omega acids – Omega-3, -6 and -9 – are unsaturated fatty acids necessary for epidermal integrity and optimal hydration. They are found in plant oils and cosmetic butters, each with a specific role in skin regeneration and defense against external aggressors. Only Omega-3 and Omega-6 are essential fatty acids (EFAs): the body cannot produce them, so they must come from outside.
A deficiency in Omega acids compromises the hydrolipidic barrier, leading to water loss, dryness, irritation and increased susceptibility to inflammatory conditions like eczema or atopic dermatitis. Importantly linoleic acid (Omega-6) is essential not only for dry skin but also for oily and combination skin. Research shows that the sebum of acne-prone skin contains less linoleic acid than that of clear skin, which encourages clogged pores. In one study, topically applied linoleic acid reduced the size of microcomedones. Oily skin can also be dehydrated, so it is better to protect it from water loss than to strip it with harsh products.
Alexandra Kubas’ skincare line addresses this with water-free formulas based on natural plant oils and butters. These nutrient-rich blends deeply nourish while forming a protective, occlusive layer that minimizes water loss and supports barrier repair. Despite their rich texture the formulas absorb completely leaving no residue. Designed for a silky, satin finish they work under makeup or as part of an evening ritual to give lasting hydration and comfort without compromising skin’s breathability.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): The Science-Backed Skin Benefits You Need to Know
Discover the science-backed skin benefits of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) — how it fights wrinkles, boosts collagen and restores a youthful glow.
Good skincare today goes far beyond covering up imperfections. It’s about supporting your skin’s daily repair process — and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is one of the key players in that process. Without enough of it, skin cells struggle…
3. Bakuchiol – a plant-based alternative to retinol
Bakuchiol (INCI: Bakuchiol) is a compound obtained mainly from the seeds and leaves of babchi (Psoralea corylifolia), a plant used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Chemically, it is not a retinoid and has a completely different structure, yet in studies on skin cells its effect on gene expression turned out to be very similar to that of retinol. Among other things, it stimulated the production of type I, III and IV collagen.
The most important study is a randomised, double-blind comparison with retinol. For 12 weeks, 44 people applied either a cream with 0.5% bakuchiol twice a day or a cream with 0.5% retinol once a day to their face. Wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation decreased similarly in both groups, and the difference between the two ingredients was not statistically significant. However, people using retinol reported scaling and stinging more often.
That is why bakuchiol is a good choice for sensitive skin and for people who don’t tolerate retinol well. Keep in mind, though, that there is still far less research on it than on retinol, and retinol remains the ingredient with the best-documented anti-ageing effect.
4. Vitamin E – antioxidant shield
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, famous for its ability to neutralize free radicals and counteract oxidative stress – the main cause of premature aging. By quenching reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protecting epidermal lipids from oxidation it delays visible signs of aging while boosting skin’s intrinsic repair processes.
Multifunctional benefits:
- Dry Skin: Strengthens the hydrolipidic barrier, minimizes transepidermal water loss (TEWL) to prevent dehydration.
- Sensitive Skin: Soothes irritation and accelerates repair of compromised skin.
- Oily Skin: Balances sebum production when paired with plant-derived oils, promotes epidermal equilibrium.
For mature skin Vitamin E’s synergy with hyaluronic acid and retinol enhances firmness and defends against photoaging, addressing both hydration and collagen preservation.
In Alexandra Kubas’ Cream, Cream: Woody and Serum +Q10 Vitamin E merges with nutrient-rich plant oils and butters in water-free formulations. These carefully crafted blends provide concentrated nourishment without compromising skin’s breathability.
5. Hyaluronic Acid – intensive hydration & skin barrier support
Hyaluronic acid is a skincare must-have, famous for its ability to deliver intense hydration and protect against dehydration. Its unique property to bind water makes it one of the most effective humectants, supporting the natural functions of the hydrolipidic barrier. Through its hygroscopic action it helps to maintain optimal moisture levels in the stratum corneum and the upper layers of the epidermis. But hyaluronic acid works best when paired with an oil-based product. As a humectant it attracts moisture – but without an occlusive layer this moisture evaporates quickly. That’s why skincare routines should combine hyaluronic acid with emollient-rich products. Natural oils and plant butters are perfect, they create a thin occlusive layer that locks in hydration and prevents moisture loss.
Alexandra Kubas’ water-free cosmetics, formulated with plant oils and butters, match hyaluronic acid’s hydrating properties. These lipid-rich formulas provide long-lasting hydration and strengthen the hydrolipidic barrier without leaving a residue.
Active ingredients should always be chosen according to your skin type. Just as skin types are different, so are their preferences for specific ingredients. Customize your routine to your skin’s needs for the best results.
If you’d like to learn more about natural skincare, make sure to read our article: Natural Skincare and Cosmetics For Face and Body – A Comprehensive Guide to Conscious Care
Discover Pure Raw Rich skincare:
Gentle Gel
500 ml
Gentle cleansing with prebiotics and a chelating agent
Smoothing Cleanser
50 ml
Hydrates, softens and smooths
Cream
50 ml
Supports the skin’s self-regeneration
Serum + Q10
30 ml
Antioxidant serum with omega fatty acids and coenzyme Q10
Aleksandra Kubas-Maliszewska
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I’m a cosmetic scientist and the founder of Pure Raw Rich.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the coenzyme Q10 in cosmetics natural?
Coenzyme Q10 occurs naturally in the body. For cosmetics, it is now most often obtained by fermentation with microorganisms, much like hyaluronic acid. The other method is semi-synthesis from plant-derived solanesol. How the raw material in a particular product was made depends on the supplier.
Does bakuchiol work like retinol?
In a comparative study, a cream with 0.5% bakuchiol used twice a day for 12 weeks reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation similarly to a cream with 0.5% retinol, while causing scaling and stinging less often. Bakuchiol is not a retinoid, however, and there is far less research on it than on retinol.
How does natural vitamin E differ from synthetic vitamin E?
You can tell by the INCI name. The natural form, obtained e.g. from plant oils, is d-alpha tocopherol or a mixture of tocopherols (Tocopherol). The prefix “dl”, as in dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, indicates the synthetic form.
Which of these ingredients should I choose for dry skin?
For dry skin, the most important ingredients are those that support the hydrolipid barrier and hydration: omega acids from plant oils, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Hyaluronic acid works best when you follow it with a cream containing oils or butters, which limits water loss.
Sources
- Dhaliwal S et al. Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing. Br J Dermatol. 2019;180(2):289-296. Source
- Chaudhuri RK, Bojanowski K. Bakuchiol: a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014;36(3):221-230.
- Lee SQ, Tan TS, Kawamukai M, Chen ES. Cellular factories for coenzyme Q10 production. Microb Cell Fact. 2017;16:39. Source
- Downing DT, Stewart ME, Wertz PW, Strauss JS. Essential fatty acids and acne. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986;14(2 Pt 1):221-225.
- Letawe C, Boone M, Piérard GE. Digital image analysis of the effect of topically applied linoleic acid on acne microcomedones. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1998;23(2):56-58.