True Radical Honesty From Our Community

As skin ages it inevitably becomes thinner, drier, more delicate and less springy. Sounds familiar? Then here’s how to take charge of your aging skin.

Let’s face it, your skin is not what it used to be. When you smiled in your teenage years, there were likely very few fine lines around your eyes, right? And during your 30s your skin was probably way more glowing, firm and plump than it is now (even if you weren’t aware of it at the time!). 

It’s a fact of life, once you hit your mid-40s and beyond, your skin undergoes significant changes that alter its youthful look and feel.

What Happens To Your Skin As You Age?

According to the National Institute on Aging, as skin ages the outer layer gets thinner, paler and less stretchy. This is mainly due to the skin losing collagen and elastin at a rate of knots. As you know, these proteins are vital for maintaining strength, structure, support and elasticity in the skin. You're born with tons of the stuff which is why young skin is so plump and soft. Once you hit your mid-20s, however, most people start to produce 1 percent less collagen every year which results in visible wrinkles and sagging. Cell turnover also decreases, while hyaluronic acid and sebum production naturally slow down, further contributing to the dryness, dullness, uneven skin tone and consequent wrinkling of mature skin.

It's basically all downhill from the day you hit your 21^st birthday!

OK, so it’s not that bad, but in all fairness, time does a real number on your skin. And when you factor in everything else you throw at it, including exposure to UV radiation, pollution, stress and poor diet choices, the health of your skin is going to really feel the hit.

The good news is that if you employ smart skincare practices, skin can radiate with health – whatever your age. Full disclosure: it’s unlikely to look porcelain-clear and as smooth as a baby’s bottom without more serious professional treatments that involve needles and surgery, but if you set yourself realistic goals, you will not be disappointed by what an effective skincare routine can achieve.

Our Essential Skincare Routine For Mature Skin

Great skincare isn’t about erasing every single sign of aging. It’s about keeping your skin healthy, glowing and functioning at its very best. So let’s see what you can do to help your skin be the most radiant version of itself at this ripe age, shall we?

First, Know That Simple Skincare Is Best

Harsh skincare ingredients like denatured alcohol, strong synthetic fragrances and butt-kicking sulfates are mature skin’s nemesis. How so? Because they strip away natural oils and other vital nutrients from the skin’s very important barrier function. Your barrier function helps your skin to retain moisture while protecting it from external aggressors so it’s super important, especially as you age and it naturally becomes compromised.

Stick with kind-to-skin ingredients in your routine and look out for products specifically formulated for sensitive or mature skin as these will contain fewer strong ingredients that have the potential to dry out or irritate your skin. Start right with a super gentle cleanser, but make sure you cleanse morning and night to reduce pore-clogging build-up on the surface of your skin. Our Soothing Cleansing Milk is a must.

Embrace Retinol: The Queen Of Aging Skin

When it comes to ingredients you should look out for, there are many greats out there. Vitamin C, for example, is awesome for improving dull, uneven-looking skin while peptides are fantastic for boosting your collagen and elastin supplies. Niacinamide is a fabulous antioxidant that’s gentle on the skin and helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier. 

But by far the most recommended ingredient for aging skin is retinol. An all-round, skin-improving powerhouse, retinol has been studied for decades. And it’s proven to work. By communicating with your skin at a cellular level, retinol is known to boost healing and rev up the production of collagen and elastin which accelerates cell turnover and strengthens your skin while improving elasticity, suppleness, tone, texture, the works. It even helps decrease acne breakouts. Yes, it’s that good.

We love our Retinol Facial Serum but if you don’t get on with retinol try Rejuvenating Longevity Serum which contains bakuchiol, nature’s gentler-but-just-as-good alternative.

Try A Collagen Supplement

As you will have now gathered, collagen is a major player in the structure and strength of your skin, and a very effective way to help improve depleted supplies as skin ages is with a collagen supplement.

Our Collagen Boosting Skin Supplement is formulated with vegetarian collagen only (that’s important because not all brands are) and safely helps to improve your skin’s natural production of quality collagen. It makes for a great addition to your daily routine and requires zero effort and time. No brainer, right?

Never Leave The House Without Applying SPF

This applies to skin at any age but as you get older sunscreen is absolutely, no questions asked, the most non-negotiable step in your morning skincare routine. In fact, a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen is widely known to be the single most effective product for reducing the visible signs of premature aging.

If you don’t fancy adding another step to your morning regime you HAVE to try our new SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum which is super sheer and goes on before your moisturizer making it the easiest way to safeguard your skin from UV damage.  

Make Moisture A Priority

Skin loses valuable moisture as it ages and its protective barrier gets thinner and weaker. It’s imperative, therefore, to ensure you do everything you can to pump moisture back into the skin. Drinking plenty of fluids is crucial but as is using your skincare routine to layer on hydration.

Look out for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe and glycerin in everything from your toner to your serum and moisturizer. These draw water to the surface of your skin like magnets. Just make sure your moisturizer also contains ingredients that lock all that hydration into your skin. Things like shea butter, vitamin E, ceramides and jojoba oil are your best bet.

Try Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which also works to brighten dull, uneven skin with the gentle but mighty sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a derivative of vitamin C).

Boost Cell Turnover With Gentle Exfoliation

Remember all that talk about cell turnover slowing down as you get older? Exfoliation helps to speed things up by actively removing dead skin cells so the newer, fresher ones have no choice but to reveal themselves at a surface level.  

If you’re not already exfoliating, change that starting from today. Begin with once-weekly usage and gradually increase as your skin becomes acclimated. Also, just like your entire routine, choose gentler products that don’t overstimulate or damage the skin.

Our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub is awesome if you’re into physical exfoliation but if you’re not keen on using a scrub we can also recommend 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which uses chemical exfoliants to gentle break down dead skin cells so they slough away naturally. Both are winning choices, even if we do say so ourselves.

Don’t Forget Your Neck

Last but not least, remember that whatever goes on your face should continue down your neck and chest. Cleanser, toner, serum, SPF, moisturizer, the lot. The skin on your neck is thinner than your face so neglect it at your peril.

We’re thrilled to announce that two of our favorite products have joined forces to bring you one of the most exciting advancements in skincare, ever. Is it a serum? Is it a sunscreen? Wait… surely it can’t be both?

Protecting your skin from the perils of the sun is the single most important thing you can do for healthy skin aging. We know that. And you know that, too. Because you can apply the best retinol formulation in the world every night before bed, and you can slather on all the daily antioxidants your skin can take, but if you don’t shield your skin every morning with broad-spectrum, high SPF sun protection, you may as well throw the rest of your skincare in the trash.

Granted, that may sound dramatic, but it’s totally true. And there’s a ton of research to back it up. According to Dr. Deborah S. Sarnoff, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation, for example, more than 90 percent of age-associated wrinkles are related to cumulative sun damage. Studies have also shown that individuals who use sunscreen daily are 24 percent less likely to show signs of visible skin aging. 

The thing about sunscreen, however, is that it rarely comes with the glamor or feel-good factor of other skincare products like serums and facial essences. In fact, thanks to the thick, heavy formulas of yesteryear, sunscreen ends up being the poor cousin that nobody really likes. We just stick with it because we know it’s the right thing to do.

Of course, due to more advanced technology, most modern day sunscreens are nothing like their ancestors. Our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C, for example, comes with brightening benefits, moisturizing properties and feels so good on your skin, you don’t even know it’s there. 

We hate to sit on our laurels, however. Yes, our sunscreen is great and nothing will ever take that away. But one word: options. We love coming up with innovative ways to help you care, protect and cherish your skin, so this month we’re thrilled to bring you our latest offering. 

And it’s a BIG one.

Say hello to SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum, an incredible, multi-use serum and sunscreen in one beautiful, feather-light formulation.

What Is SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum?

Pretty ground breaking, even if we do say so ourselves, SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum redefines the sun protection game. How so? Because instead of being a classic lotion, spray or cream, this high factor, broad-spectrum sunscreen delivers all the skin-shielding qualities of a regular sunscreen, but with the extra qualities of a treatment serum. 

Quick reminder: facial serums have a smaller molecular structure than moisturizers which makes them lighter, more fast-absorbing and able to deliver active ingredients exactly where they’re needed in the skin. They really amp up your skincare routine by targeting specific concerns like dehydration, dark spots and wrinkles. Moisturizers can do that to a certain degree but at the end of the day, their main job is to hydrate and moisturize the skin.

Wouldn’t it be awesome, then, if your serum could treat your skin AND safeguard it from the slings and arrows of UV radiation all at once? Well, SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum does all that. And more!

What Makes SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum So Great?

A veritable multi-tasker, this innovative treatment serum is your one-stop shop for healthy, glowing, always protected skin. And it’s foundation comes from non-nano zinc oxide, a hard-working broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen that’s safe, effective and reef-friendly. 

Zinc Oxide: The Protective Powerhouse

Sunscreens are generally categorized into two types: chemical and mineral. Both have their pros and cons but we believe that mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide trump their chemical friends because they block UV rays at a surface level (chemical ones absorb them). Furthermore, they have no negative impact on the environment (chemical sunscreens are questionable) and they're perfectly safe for all skin types (chemical ones have the potential to irritate sensitive skin). 

Our new serum is formulated with just over 16 percent zinc oxide which provides your skin with the American Academy of Dermatology’s recommended minimum of SPF 30. You’re welcome.

That’s one gold star for SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum, right there. But it’s not over yet, because this feather-light serum is also packed with some of the finest skincare ingredients we could find.

A SAP Of Potent Vitamin C

We’re huge advocates of vitamin C here at TruSkin. But not just any old vitamin C. For us, the queen of the Cs is sodium ascorbyl phosphate, or SAP as we like to call it. This stable form of vitamin C is far kinder to the skin, promoting brightness and radiance without the potential irritation of the pure stuff. It also retains all of the antioxidant qualities you want from a topical vitamin C. And that’s exactly what we live for. PS: did you know, vitamin C and sunscreen make each other work harder and more effectively? They’re basically the perfect skincare partnership.

Prickly Pear Brings Calm To The Table

A great face serum should also deliver support and strength to your skin which is why this one is infused with prickly pear extract.

Rich in antioxidants and with high water retention properties, prickly pear works hard to soothe, hydrate and minimize irritation and facial redness. It’s also super high in linoleic acid, a non-comedogenic omega-6 fatty acid which helps to condition and deeply moisturize the skin’s important barrier function.

Max Out Moisture With Sunflower Extract

Derived from the seeds of the helianthus annuus plant, sunflower extract is chock full of fatty acids and antioxidant-rich vitamin E. This makes it a worthwhile addition to any treatment serum. 

We couldn’t resist blending it with SAP and prickly pear to further strengthen and protect the barrier function while doubling up the skin’s ability to retain moisture. The emollient qualities of sunflower extract also help it fill in tiny cracks that often appear in the skin when it becomes dry, rough and flaky. This reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and leaves your skin with a beautifully soft, smooth feel.

Finally, A Suits-Everyone, Universal Tint Tops It Off

You know that tell-tale white cast that some mineral sunscreens leave behind on your skin? We eliminated that risk entirely by giving our SPF serum an incredibly sheer tint that blends seamlessly with all skin tones.

Because, yes, we think of everything.

SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum is out NOW. Check it out right here and say hello to a new era in sun protection.

If you’ve often wondered how to properly care for the skin around your eyes, the answer is ‘gently’ and ‘with care.’ Read on for seven of the most effective ways to look after this thin, fragile skin.

You may hate your crow’s feet, frown lines and dry skin around your eyes but the skin in this super expressive area is like flipping through a storybook of your life. Every laugh, frown, squint and sleepless night over the years leaves something behind. You’ve gotta love that. It’s proof of a life well lived. And one must never take that for granted.

Sure, the skin around your eyes ages faster than the rest of your face but there are reasons for this. Not only is it thinner, but the skin in this area contains fewer sebaceous glands and less underlying fat and collagen which makes it prone to dryness, dehydration, fine lines, dark circles and puffiness. Add to this the facts that you blink around 10,000 times a day; make countless facial expressions; rub your eyes constantly AND subject this area to environmental exposure on the daily and, well, frankly, it’s a wonder the skin around your eyes fairs as well as it does.

So, how do you make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure this vulnerable skin gets the love and care it deserves? Simple. You follow these important rules. To. The. Letter.

1. Know That Sleep Is Everything

Around 30-40 percent of us get less than seven hours of sleep a night. And that’s way short of the recommended sweet spot – which is somewhere between seven and nine hours.

Sleep is extremely important for the health of your skin because this is the time when skin regenerates, repairing environmental damage before it hits hard and strengthening itself in preparation for another day.

Studies show that if you miss out on your important shut-eye, the skin around your eyes, in particular, suffers big time, showing signs of redness, swelling, dark circles, dryness and even hanging eyelids. According to sleep.com sleep deprivation is one of the most common causes of dark circles under the eyes because it causes tiny blood vessels under the eyes to dilate, creating a darkish tone to the skin.

Want to help the skin around your eyes avoid all that? Then get yourself to bed at a decent hour in order to enjoy your fill of a good quality seven hours of sleep. Oh, and treat your skin to a nourishing eye treatment to give the skin some overnight love. Try Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream.

2. Be Careful When You Cleanse

Whacking on your face wash, rubbing it all over your skin and smooshing it around your face, neck and eyes may seem like a good way to ‘wake up’ your skin and get a good, thorough cleanse, but it can cause dragging. And this kind of heavy-handed approach is bad enough for the rest of your face, but the thin, fragile skin around your eyes? Disaster. Apply your cleanser gently and yes, massage it into the skin with circular motions, but use only the pads of your fingers when it comes to your eyes and go extremely lightly.

3. Don’t Overload Your Eyes With Regular Moisturizer

Reckon eye creams are all stuff and nonsense, and moisturizer is just fine for the skin around your eyes? For some people this can be true, but mostly, regular moisturizer will be too heavy or potent for this area, overloading it and causing puffiness exactly where you don’t want it.

A targeted eye cream is so much better. C'mon now, the clue is right there in the name.

Also, eye creams contain ingredients intentionally crafted to deal with specific eye concerns like dark circles, puffiness, sagging, lines and loss of volume. Moisturizers can't promise all that, they have other jobs to do.

4. Invest In An Effective Eye Treatment

Speaking of eye creams, think about what you’d specifically like to target, then look around and find one that suits your needs. 

Our Peptide Eye Gel, for example is extremely lightweight and awesome for waking up the eye area as its gel formula sinks in almost instantly. Top tip: we don’t subscribe to keeping skincare in the refrigerator as a rule, but this one works perfectly when chilled. It also combines a special peptide complex with licorice extract to hydrate, nourish and support collagen and elastin production.

If you’re looking for something to help reduce the visible signs of skin aging, we highly recommend Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream which not only gets to work on puffiness but also contains lingonberry stem cells and green coffee bean to brighten dark circles.

5. Learn How & When To Apply Your Eye Cream

When it comes to the order of your skincare routine, cleanser obviously comes first, but then what? Well, the general rule of thumb is to start with the thinnest in texture and finish with the thickest. Taking that into account, after cleansing comes toner which is thin and watery, then serum which is silky and kind of slippery. Your thicker, heavier formulas like moisturizer and sunscreen come last. And your eye product? This slots in the middle, between serum and moisturizer. 

When applying your eye cream, use just a very small amount – too much will overload your skin – and tap it lightly around the orbital bone using the pad of your ring finger. Using your ring finger ensures a delicate touch. That's crucial. 

6. Pair Down Heavy Eye Makeup

It makes sense that the more makeup you apply to your eyes, the more effort is required to remove it. And harsh rubbing damages the delicate skin in this area, significantly accelerating the visible signs of aging.

We don’t want that for you so try to either cut down on the amount of makeup you wear regularly, or if you can’t do without your daily fix of mascara, use a gentle eye makeup remover that’s formulated for sensitive skin. Apply it to a cotton pad and hold it over your closed eye for 30 seconds before gently wiping in an outward direction. This helps to break down the makeup and cuts down on the amount of rubbing required.

7. Wear Sunglasses Every Day

Who said you should only where your shades on super bright days? Sunglasses reduce squinting, plus they help protect the skin around your eyes from the perils of UV radiation. And just because the sky’s not blue and the temperature’s not up in the 90s, the sun is still there. So, we say wear your shades as often as you can.

Your eyes will thank you for it.

Want to help your skin in its relentless battle against the harmful rays from the sun? Then zinc oxide may be the exact skincare ingredient you’ve been looking for.

Sunscreen might not be the most glamorous product in your skincare arsenal, but if you truly care about slowing down the signs of visible aging, it's undoubtedly the most effective. How so? Because the sun's dastardly UV radiation is seriously bad news for your skin.

Research shows that UV radiation directly affects the structural integrity of your skin by causing oxidative stress to the cells, damaging DNA and breaking down collagen and elastin fibers. In fact, studies have shown that exposure to the sun is potentially responsible for around 80 percent of visible skin aging. Maybe even more.

Not only that, but UV radiation is also the biggest cause of skin cancer – the most common cancer in the US which affects around one in five Americans during their lifetime.

What can you do about all this doom and gloom? Apply sunscreen. Specifically one that harnesses the proven powers of the mighty zinc oxide.

The Importance Of Sunscreen For Healthy Aging

We constantly stress the importance of applying daily sunscreen to all areas of exposed skin. It just makes no sense not to. You see, sunscreen works like an invisible shield on your skin, safeguarding it from the wrath of UV radiation. This protects the barrier function and helps to keep your DNA, collagen and elastin levels in check, thereby reducing the formation of premature wrinkles, sagging, dullness, dehydration, even dark spots.

But we get it, sunscreen can be oh-so-tiresome. It’s no fancy retinol serum or satisfying face scrub, after all. So if you’re going to go there – which you are, of course ­– you need reassurance that the sunscreen you’re applying is doing the best it can for your skin. 

This begs the question: are certain sunscreen ingredients better than others? Actually yes, we believe they are. And one that sits heads above the rest? Zinc oxide.

Your Sunscreen Options ­– Explained

There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and mineral.

Chemical sunscreens utilize, yes you guessed it, chemical ingredients to protect your skin. These chemicals work by absorbing UV radiation like a sponge, then breaking them down into heat and releasing them back out through the skin. Examples of chemical sunscreens include oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate and octinoxate.

Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, use ingredients that sit on top of the skin where they physically block UV radiation from penetrating the surface. The most common mineral sun blockers are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which, consequently, the FDA currently propose are the only two safe and effective sunscreen ingredients in the beauty industry.

While chemical sunscreens are often deemed more elegant and ‘better’ in texture and wearability than their mineral cousins, technology has improved mineral-based sunscreens leaps and bounds in recent years. Furthermore, questions are constantly being asked about the potential environmental impact of certain chemical sunscreens. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, for example, are banned in the entire state of Hawaii because studies have shown they may cause damage to the marine environment and ecosystems.

Mineral sunscreens, however, are a much better friend to the environment. They’re also very well tolerated by the skin and many skin experts actually believe them to be more effective than their chemical alternatives. We like that. Another thing: you know that age-old complaint about mineral sunscreen being thick, goopy and leaving a white cast on the skin? Ancient history. Thanks to modern formulations, many are now lightweight, almost invisible and a joy to use.

This moves us neatly onto zinc oxide, one of, if not the most reliable mineral sunscreen used in the sun care industry. Read on for five reasons why we believe this powerful defender deserves the spotlight in your daily skincare routine. Other than the fact that it kicks UV ass, of course!

5 Reasons Why Zinc Oxide Stands Out From The Rest

1. It’s A Physical Blocker

As mentioned, we believe mineral sun blockers are far superior to chemical sunscreens. They physically block UV from getting under your skin – what can be better than that? Zinc oxide is also extremely photostable which means it doesn’t degrade or loss efficacy when it’s exposed to sunlight.

Our reef-safe SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C uses non-nano zinc oxide at the ultimate level to safeguard your skin and respect our oceans.

2. It Protects From UVA AND UVB Radiation

Did you know that SPF is only an indication of UVB protection? It has no relevancy when it comes to UVA radiation which is just as damaging. This is why it’s important to choose a ‘broad-spectrum’ sunscreen for year-round use. Broad-spectrum indicates that a product defends your skin from both UVA and UVB, and zinc oxide is the literal queen of broad-spectrum protection.

Great news: our SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C is broad-spectrum all the way. 

3. It Works Straight Away

Because it sits on top of the skin’s surface, zinc oxide provides instant protection against sun damage. Chemical sunscreens need to be applied a good 20 minutes before exposure. We don’t know about you but we don’t have time for that kind of waiting around.

4. It’s Highly Unlikely To Irritate Your Skin

Zinc oxide is super gentle on the skin. This makes it an excellent choice if you have sensitive, dry or acne-prone skin. It’s also often the choice for babies and individuals who have eczema or other chronic skin conditions.

Of course, it’s always wise to patch test any active skincare formulation on a small area of skin before using it regularly for the first time, but if you’re looking for a relatively safe sunscreen bet, we highly recommend zinc oxide.

5. It Provides Even More Skin Benefits

Not only is zinc oxide an absolute powerhouse in the defense against sun damage but it also offers other benefits to your skin.

First up are its anti-inflammatory properties which are great for soothing sensitive skin issues like redness and irritation. Zinc oxide also shows antibacterial qualities and, when you couple this with the fact that it’s non pore-clogging, you get a pretty fantastic sun protective ingredient that won’t cause congestion or, worse yet, encourage pesky breakouts.

Finally, its protective barrier helps promote healing and is a great shield from other external aggressors like wind and pollution. This makes it a very useful tool in preventing unwanted dryness and dehydration.

It makes you wonder, therefore, why more skincare products don’t harness the powers of this gentle, sun protective giant, right? Well, we can reveal a very exciting new zinc oxide product coming to the TruSkin range very soon. Hint: it’s a facial serum… but it’s also a sunscreen. 

Excited? Us? You bet we are.

Combination skin is the most common skin type in the world but the blend of excess oil in some areas and parched dryness in others can feel like a beauty curse. Honestly, it’s not. You just need to know how to deal with it.

When it comes to your skin type, the saying ‘the grass is always greener’ has never been more true. If you have oily skin you probably crave for the shine-free existence that dry skin types take for granted. And if you’re of a drier persuasion we bet you’d give your right arm for a little more sebum in certain areas. Are we right, or are we right?

Just like your height, eye color, shoe size and sporting prowess (or lack thereof!) your skin type is predetermined by your genes. Sure you can work on it, maximizing the good stuff and using clever tricks to hide or improve the not-so-good stuff, but at the end of the day, your skin is what it is – normal (rare), dry, oily or combination. Your role is to understand the best ways to manage whatever nature gave you. And no matter your skin type, this takes time and patience.

So let’s take a look at combination skin which is arguably the toughest skin type to deal with. Neither oily nor dry, but a mixture of the two, combination skin is a tricky little customer, which makes finding the right skincare routine feel like an impossible task. 

Do You Have Combination Skin?

The best way to check your skin type is to wash your face with a mild cleanser, then pat it dry and leave it for an hour or so without applying any other skincare product. After this time, the tell-tale signs of combination skin are greasiness and noticeable pores in the t-zone area (forehead, nose and chin), combined with dryness or a tight feeling around the cheeks and/or hairline.

It's also common for combination skin to experience breakouts in the t-zone area. This is thanks to excess sebum building up at the surface and getting unnecessarily up close and personal with your pores.

As previously mentioned, whether or not you have combination skin is very much the luck of the draw. However, many factors trigger excess oiliness in the t-zone and dryness elsewhere which can prompt certain changes throughout the year. Poor choices in your skincare routine can worsen the situation, while dietary choices, emotional stress and even the climate in which you live all have their say in the ever-changing characteristics of your combination skin.

The Most Common Triggers For Exacerbating Combination Skin

Your Hormones: Fluctuations in your hormones (think puberty, your monthly cycles, pregnancy, the contraceptive pill, menopause) raise your testosterone levels, thus causing sebum production to amp up. Hello, super greasy t-zone.

Your Diet: Too much sugar and too many processed carbs in your diet can also trigger your hormones to go all over the place. See above!

Your Environment: Extreme temperatures and humidity send your sebaceous glands crazy. Raging central heating, scorching showers and frigid temps outside, for example, suck moisture from the skin making oily skin play up and dry areas feel doubly worse.

Your Skincare Routine: Over-exfoliation, too many active ingredients, switching up your daily regime quicker than your underwear, all these things mess up your barrier function and unbalance your sebum levels.

6 Skincare Tricks To Help Restore Harmony To Combination Skin

The key for combination skin is not to concentrate on sucking the life from your oily areas. It’s way better to treat the entire surface of your skin like a delicate flower, sticking with gentle, hydrating formulations and calming, anti-inflammatory ingredients that balance both dryness and oily areas.

Read on for some of the best tried and tested ways to manage your combination skin.

1. Say No To Bar Soaps & Sulfate-Heavy Cleansers

Cleansers that work too hard at whisking away every last scrap of dirt, makeup and oil from the surface of the skin are, frankly, never a good idea – no matter your skin type. You see, ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are pretty common in cleansers, but they can disrupt the skin’s important barrier function, potentially making it vulnerable to dryness and irritation. This is particularly bad news for combination skin because it could make dry areas drier and oily areas oiler.

Instead, look for formulations that are packed with calming ingredients that help to balance sebum production. We love our Soothing Cleansing Milk which gently cleanses and removes makeup without disturbing the integrity of your barrier function.

2. Steer Clear Of Scorching Hot Water

While we’re on the subject of cleansing, never wash your face with hot water. Hot water strips away important oils and nutrients from the surface of your skin, exacerbating both dryness and oiliness. Not fun. 

3. Embrace The Wonders Of Exfoliating Acids

When it comes to exfoliating combination skin, less is more. Overdo it and the extremes of your oiliness and dryness will reach stratospheric levels.

Scrubs can also be a little abrasive for your sensitive areas, so your best bet? Go for a leave-on exfoliant, instead. Specifically our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant. This gentle exfoliating toner combines salicylic acid to balance sebum and keep your pores clear along with glycolic acid, vitamin C and reishi mushroom to boost cellular turnover while brightening and soothing the skin.

4. Gently Spot-Treat Breakouts

If your oily areas are causing your skin to break out, try spot-treating them with our Tea Tree Super Serum +. Oily skin types love applying this treatment serum all over but if have combination skin you might be better off applying it just two or three times a week to your t-zone only. This will help to mop up excess oil and decongest the skin exactly where you need it.

5. Switch Things Up With The Seasons

Everyone’s combination skin is different but, generally speaking, your drier areas will need more of a focus in the winter, while the oily sections will have their moment to shine (no pun intended!) come the summer months.

During winter, layer on extra hydration by applying a non-pore-clogging serum like Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum. Then smooth on a rich moisturizer to your dry areas only, using a lighter gel or lotion on the t-zone. The good news is that in the summertime, this lightweight formulation might work all over, but listen to your skin and switch up or dial down your moisturizing game as needs be.

6. Make Multi-Masking A Weekly Must

To give combination skin a weekly boost of exactly what it needs, get involved in some multi-masking.

What is multi-masking? Well, this clever trick involves applying two face masks to your skin at the same time. You apply a clay or charcoal face mask to your t-zone to purify the skin and absorb excess oil, then elsewhere you apply a hydrating or soothing mask to moisturize and calm dry areas. This might sound like a bit of a headache, but it’s a really simple way to help balance your skin. Plus it forces you to relax for 20 minutes while you let you masks do their thing.

And that’s golden.

Skin redness is no joke, especially when it just won’t go away. But there are plenty of ways to deal with a red face – whatever the cause.

Facial redness is one of those things that’s so… very… frustrating. Of course, temporary flushing can be attributed to all manner of daily triggers like a vigorous workout or a particularly embarrassing/nerve-wracking/thrilling event. But that kind of redness isn’t the end of the world – it is temporary, after all. 

When red skin becomes more of a permanent issue, however and, worse still, comes complete with other irritating concerns like itching, heat, bumps or flaky skin, something else is clearly going on.

What Is Facial Redness?

Also known as erythema, skin redness occurs when blood vessels beneath the skin dilate, causing blood to the rush to the surface. This increased blood flow can be caused by many factors but when it’s persistent or severe it’s usually a sign of some kind of inflammation or irritation.

The 5 Most Common Culprits Of Facial Redness

1. Rosacea: This chronic (and surprisingly common) inflammatory condition causes persistent redness along with bumps, hard pimples and itching. Rosacea is often genetic and can lay dormant until triggered by external factors.

2. Irritation: Some skin types are way more reactive making them prone to redness from things like potent skincare, dietary choices and emotional stress, to name just a few.

3. Acne: Acne is the most common skin problem in the US, affecting around 50 million individuals every year. It occurs when the pores becomes blocked by oil, dead skin cells and bacteria.

4. Psoriasis: According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis is a chronic disease where skin cells build up too quickly, causing redness and scaly, itchy patches.

5. Dermatitis: Two main types of dermatitis lead to facial redness – atopic and contact. Atopic dermatitis (aka eczema) is a genetic condition and results in itchy, sudden rashing, whereas contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with an irritant or allergen.

How To Reduce Redness At Home

Let’s get one thing straight: if you can’t find relief from your facial redness, it’s wise to consult a physician for a proper diagnosis on your skin health. Conditions like rosacea can’t be cured, you see, and they require careful management. Plus, if you try to self-diagnose you could get things all kind of wrong – often making matters worse.

There are also plenty of proven strategies for calming facial redness and skin inflammation with smart, sensitive skincare choices. Read on for the most important must-dos and don’ts.

DO Avoid Potentially Irritating Ingredients

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), fragrance is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis which makes it a massive no-no in your skincare regime.

Of course, most people have no issues with fragrances in their beauty products, but if you have sensitive skin that’s easily prone to redness, you’d be wise to avoid synthetic fragrances completely. You should also tread carefully with natural fragrances. Although rare, certain essential oils can cause reactions on extremely sensitive skin.

Synthetic dyes, parabens (preservatives) and strong sulfates like SLS and SLES can also be irritating for some people so look out for these on skincare labels and avoid them if you think they’re causing your skin to flare up.

DON’T Over-Exfoliate

One of the biggest mistakes you could make ­is to exfoliate sensitive skin too often and too vigorously. Don’t get us wrong, exfoliating is a fantastic way to encourage healthy cell turnover, remove dead skin cells and boost the results from the rest of your skincare routine. But too much exfoliation can weaken your skin’s protective barrier, stripping away all the good stuff that helps your skin remain strong, hydrated and healthy. This makes your skin extremely vulnerable to the outside world and basically asks irritation and redness to do their worst. 

Listen to your skin (it’ll tell you when it’s unhappy!) and limit your exfoliation to whatever your skin is able to tolerate. Once a week is often enough. Also, choose gentle exfoliating formulations that avoid harsh grains or high percentages of potent acids. Both of our exfoliators are super kind to the skin and can be used as little or often as you like. We particularly love our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub which uses ultra fine Bora Bora white sand to gently buff your skin. 

DON’T Underestimate The Powers Of A Soothing Toner

The right toner can really supercharge your skincare routine, without needing to pile on too many active (and potentially irritating) ingredients.

The basic role of toner is to remove lingering makeup, cleanser and other debris from the surface of your skin while preparing it for the next stage in your routine. But they can be so much more than that. Their high water content makes them an ideal way to cool down inflamed skin, and if you search for ingredients like aloe vera, calendula, chamomile and gotu kola these are masters at hydrating, soothing and calming the skin.

DO Apply Sun Protection Every Day

UV radiation is seriously bad news for sensitive skin that’s prone to unwanted redness flare-ups, so make sure the sun stands zero chance of getting even close to your face. We recommend applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen that contains an SPF of at least 30. Every day, for that matter. This ensures you’re well protected from both UVA and UVB rays all year long. With a hefty helping of aloe leaf juice plus 21 percent zinc oxide, our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C is literally made for sun sensitive skin. It’s so good you will want to apply it every day.

PS: Sun-induced flushing may also be a red flag (no pun intended) that you have a sun allergy, so if your redness is persistent and comes coupled with itchiness, stinging, bumps and/or blisters seek professional advice from a dermatologist.

DO Make Calming Ingredients Your BFFs

What are the specific ingredients to look out for in a successful, sensitive skincare routine? Aloe vera is the obvious choice because it’s naturally cooling, healing, hydrating and packed with anti-inflammatory qualities. And, as a sidenote, almost all of our products contain this gentle powerhouse. Because yes, we love it that much.

Green tea is another must-have for red skin because it’s incredibly soothing and chock full of polyphenols which contain all manner of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Then there’s milk – specifically oat and rice milks ­– which contains tons of nourishing compounds and is great if your skin is particularly dry and sensitive.

Finally, a big shout out to niacinamide which works hard to increase the production of ceramides in the uppermost layers of your skin. This helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier function making it a game-changer for reducing inflammation and evening out red skin. Word is, niacinamide can even be an effective treatment for controlling rosacea or eczema, but if you're a sufferer of either of these conditions you should always seek professional advice before diving in head first.

Fancy introducing some of these sensitive skin, redness-reducing wonders into your skincare routine? Then try our Soothing Cleansing Milk followed by Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum – a winning combination for red, irritated skin if ever we knew one.

DON’T Forget To Moisturize

Like a comforting hug for your skin, moisturizer is non-negotiable for all skin types. And it’s especially important if you suffer with chronic redness. A good moisturizer not only hydrates your skin but it holds all that moisture in while simultaneously ‘feeding’ your skin with essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that help to keep your barrier function ticking along nicely.

We recommend ceramide-rich formulas like our Firming Collagen Day Lotion, alongside healing and soothing topicals. When it comes to moisturizing, some of the best ingredients for sensitive skin are aloe (wait, did we mention that already?!), vitamin E, shea butter, squalane, glycerin and hyaluronic acid.