FOUNDER: WHAT I WOULD NEVER USE ON MY SKIN
The ingredients, formulations, and trends I avoid—no matter how popular they are.
This might go against everything you’ve been told.
The skincare industry is built on:
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Trends
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Marketing claims
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Shelf-life optimization
Not skin health.
As the founder of SkinRequisite—and someone who has spent years studying both botanicals and high-performance actives—there are things I simply refuse to put on my skin.
Not because they’re “bad.”
But because they don’t perform.
1. FILLER-HEAVY FORMULAS THAT LOOK GOOD—BUT DO NOTHING
If water is the first ingredient, that’s not the problem.
But when the formula is mostly:
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Water
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Thickeners
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Texture enhancers
You’re paying for:
feel, not function.
Many products are engineered to:
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Absorb quickly
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Feel silky
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Sit well under makeup
But they don’t change your skin.
I don’t use skincare that only performs cosmetically.
2. LOW-DOSE ACTIVES MARKETED AS “EFFECTIVE”
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in skincare.
Ingredients like:
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Niacinamide
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Vitamin C
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Peptides
Are often used at too low concentrations to create real change.
They maintain.
They don’t transform.
I choose formulations that actually shift skin biology.
👉 Niacinamide 20%: The Truth About High-Strength Skincare
3. OVER-EXFOLIATION DISGUISED AS “GLOW”
Acids are powerful.
But more is not better.
Overuse of:
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AHAs
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BHAs
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Daily peels
Leads to:
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Barrier damage
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Chronic inflammation
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Long-term dullness
What looks like “instant glow” is often:
temporary surface disruption.
👉Why Your Glow Is Fading (And How to Get It Back)
4. INGREDIENTS THAT COMPROMISE THE SKIN BARRIER OVER TIME
Some ingredients feel amazing at first…
But slowly weaken your skin.
This includes:
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Harsh alcohol-heavy formulas
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Certain fatty acid esters (for acne-prone skin)
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Overly fragranced products
The result:
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Sensitization
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Breakouts
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Reactive skin
If it disrupts the barrier, it’s not worth it.
5. PRODUCTS FORMULATED FOR SHELF LIFE—NOT BIOACTIVITY
This is the hidden truth of the industry.
To survive months (or years) on shelves, products are often:
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Stabilized heavily
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Diluted
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Preserved aggressively
Which reduces:
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Potency
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Bioavailability
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Performance
At SkinRequisite, we think differently.
Freshness and function come first.
6. TREND-DRIVEN SKINCARE (WITHOUT SCIENCE)
Skincare trends move fast:
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“Slugging”
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“Skin cycling”
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“Glass skin routines”
But your skin doesn’t need trends.
It needs:
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Consistency
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Balance
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Targeted correction
I don’t follow trends.
I follow skin biology.
WHAT I DO USE INSTEAD
My approach is simple—but precise:
Barrier-first always
Healthy skin is the foundation of everything.
High-performance actives (at effective levels)
Not just included—formulated to work.
Antioxidant protection daily
Because oxidative stress is constant.
👉 Free Radical Damage: The Hidden Cause of Premature Aging
Botanical intelligence + scientific precision
Not one or the other.
Both.
THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND SKINREQUISITE
I didn’t create SkinRequisite to follow the industry.
I created it because:
I couldn’t find products that met my standards.
Every formula is built around:
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Performance
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Skin compatibility
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Long-term results
No fillers.
No shortcuts.
No compromises.
FINAL THOUGHT
If your skincare isn’t changing your skin—
It’s not working.
And you deserve better than that.
Written by Kamila Starczewska
