True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Want to feel more confident to go makeup-free? Then here’s what you need to know…

We love makeup as much as the next person. Red lipstick and winged eyeliner for a Saturday night out with your besties? Count us in. However, there’s a lot to be said for minimizing the amount of makeup you wear on a daily basis. And there’s even more to be said for feeling comfortable enough in your skin to go bare-faced and makeup-free.

Of course, we’re not saying that makeup is bad for your skin. Sure, there are certain formulations that can overwhelm your skin with pore-blocking oils or irritate it with synthetic fragrances and weird preservatives. But if you choose wisely there are plenty of incredible makeup products out there that help protect your skin from damaging UV radiation, boost your fill of antioxidants or even hydrate your complexion at a surface level.

The point we’re trying to make, though, is that you shouldn’t have to wear makeup everyday just to feel confident. Your skin might not be perfect and you might have certain areas that drive you nuts, but if you take care of what you’ve got with great skincare habits and a consistent routine, you’ll be well on the way to feeling brave enough to show the world your makeup-free skin.

Here are a few important beauty habits to ensure you’re starting off right…

Look Out For Number One: Your Skin’s Barrier Function

When it comes to healthy, comfortable skin that’s hydrated, moisturized, supple and strong, your barrier function is everything. The barrier function is basically your skin’s security blanket, holding onto vital moisture, stopping potential irritants from passing through and providing protection for everything that lies within. When this protective layer gets compromised or damaged, your skin can become dehydrated, weak and easily irritated. And it won’t look good either – furnishing you with all manner of issues from redness and flaky skin through to breakouts and dullness.

The good news is that, while your barrier function naturally weakens with age, there are plenty of ways to keep it as strong and healthy as possible. First up, you must avoid overdoing ingredients that can unbalance your skin’s pH. This includes harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (a big no-no from us!) and strong exfoliating acids. Of course, exfoliation is great – just don’t overdo it. Remember, gentle skincare is key.

Sun protection is also paramount. UV radiation is a killer on your barrier function, not to mention all those damaging free radicals the sun produces deeper down in your skin’s dermis. Get ahead of the game by applying SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C to your face and neck every day without fail. Because damage limitation and all that.

Be More Hands On

Bright, radiant skin – minus the help of illuminating primers or dewy foundation – is no mean feat. But it’s not impossible. And one of our favorite ways to get more glowy is to embrace a bit of facial massage. Whether you use your hands or a facial tool like a jade roller, a few minutes of gentle kneading is a great way to boost blood flow to the surface of the skin, simultaneously bringing essential nutrients to the table while draining away toxins and excess fluids.

We like to massage our skin first thing, during our morning cleansing routine, but if mornings are a bit of a rush for you, you can also practice it in the evenings, after applying facial oil or your favorite serum (we’re all over Peptide Facial Serum right now). Just remember to use upward motions to help lift your skin, working from the center of your face out towards the hairline. It may sound simple, but it’s amazing what this small and relatively quick habit can do for the brightness of your skin.

Don't Underestimate The Power Of Vitamin C

While we’re on the subject of skin brightening, let’s talk about vitamin C. One of the most powerful ingredients for improving radiance, vitamin C is an absolute must for anyone wanting to enhance their skin and prepare it for a makeup-free future.

Topical vitamin C is a clinically-proven ingredient that works hard to protect, brighten, strengthen and rejuvenate dull skin. It sometimes gets bad press by skincare cynics because pure vitamin C can be irritating, is highly acidic and easily breaks down on contact with your skin. So hold on, why’s it so great, then? Well, there are many different variations of vitamin C and some derivatives hold all the power. Our favorite is sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) which, in our humble opinion, is far superior to the pure stuff (l-ascorbic acid). 

SAP is a salt version of pure vitamin C and, although it’s more gentle, is no less effective when you used consistently and with a little patience. It’s also more stable when it comes into contact with light, air and water which means it maintains its potency for way longer. Win-win.

Not only does vitamin C rev up your glow and inhibit melanin production, but it’s also a potent antioxidant, fighting off free radical damage and minimizing the visible signs of premature aging such as dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles and sagging. Try our fan-favorite Vitamin C Facial Serum coupled with Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser for a boost of vitamin C your skin will love.

Make Cooler Temperatures Your Friend

One thing skin hates (pesky sun aside), is hot water. Cleansing your skin with scorching water can irritate your barrier function, damage keratin and strip the surface of valuable oils and moisture, causing dryness and dehydration. At best, it’ll make your skin temporarily flushed. At worst, it'll feel super itchy, downright inflamed and could even cause tiny blood capillaries to burst leaving you with red spots under the surface of your skin.

Word is, never cleanse your skin in water that’s anything hotter than room temperature. Similarly, don’t stick your head under the shower if you like your showers on the side of boiling, either. Not sure what ‘room temperature’ really feels like? No problem, just run your water over the back of your hand and apply the Goldilocks principle – aiming for water that’s neither too hot nor too cold.

Colder temperatures can also be your skin’s best friend if you suffer with blotchy skin or bags under your eyes that you’re always trying to cover up with makeup. A couple of teaspoons kept in the fridge, for example, are genius for placing over tired eyes to help depuff and brighten. You could also keep your eye cream, face masks and jade roller in the fridge to help constrict the blood capillaries and calm redness on application.

Get Breakouts Under Control

Covering pimples and blackheads with makeup can often make things worse – especially if your foundation and concealer contain pore-clogging oils.

Instead of trying to solve acne with makeup, tackle them at their source by cleansing twice daily (as well as after exercising) with a gentle, balancing cleanser that clarifies your pores without stripping your skin of essential sebum. We love Tea Tree Super Cleanser+. After cleansing, apply a pore-refreshing toner that also helps exfoliate and regulate your skin (oh hi there Ocean Mineral Super Toner), then follow with Tea Tree Super Serum+ two or three times a week. Trust us, you’ll soon notice a big difference in the frequency and severity of your breakouts.

Now, just think how much money you're going to save on makeup going forward. Not to mention the extra time in bed you'll get back every morning...

Realistic skincare goals are the bomb. Because there’s always room for improvement when it comes to the look and feel of your skin.

Let’s get one thing clear. Striving for skin perfection is not something we subscribe to here at TruSkin. Better skin? Sure. But perfect skin? Hell no. In fact, does that even exist outside Hollywood movies and retouched glossy magazine covers? Probably not.

That being said, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve what you’ve been blessed with. That’s just human nature. Whether you’re done with your dull, lackluster skin or totally over your monthly breakouts, these are the kind of skin issues we can get on board with. Because wanting better things for your skin is realistic. It’s also attainable – especially when you’re armed with the right tools and a side of skincare knowhow.

On that note, read on for five of the most common skin goals – plus how to flip them into reality…

Skincare Goal #1: Glowing Skin

Dull skin that lacks radiance hits us all at some point. And whether it’s a temporary, day-after-the-night-before blip or a more long-term grievance, dull skin is usually related to one big issue: dehydration.

Dehydration can be a problem for any skin type – dry or oily – and it happens when your skin isn’t retaining enough moisture. Not to be confused with dry skin, which lacks sebum, dehydration occurs thanks to things like cold weather, stress, a lack of sleep, poor skincare choices and surprise, surprise, sun damage. Basically anything that screws up your barrier function and compromises your skin's ability to hold onto water.

But dehydration isn’t the only reason your skin might look kind of sad. Poor cellular turnover can also be an issue. Healthy, adult skin has a turnover rate of around 28 days (give or take) but as you age, this gets longer as your skin cells become sluggish and dead ones hang around longer than necessary.

To help get your glow back, we recommend two important things. First, increase your skin’s moisture levels by applying a hydrating serum twice daily. Try one that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid or aloe vera. We love Hyaluronic Acid Serum when our skin is feeling thirsty.

Second up, add a little gentle exfoliation into your skincare routine. Our Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser is a great choice because it contains citric acid, a chemical exfoliator that helps dissolve the bonds that bind dead skin cells together.

Skincare Goal #2: Smaller-Looking Pores

Pores are kind of annoying, we agree. But they’re actually super important for your skin to function so don’t give them too much of a hard time, OK?

Your body has two types of pores: those that produce sebum (oil) and others than produce sweat. Oil-producing pores are tiny little openings found at the top of your hair follicles where they release sebum to moisturize and soften the skin. 

This may sound innocent, but the problem starts when your sebaceous glands produce too much sebum than your skin really needs, causing your pores to stretch and become blocked. This is very common for oily and combination skin types, but here’s the thing – your pore size is determined by genetics which means that, no matter what you do, you can’t physically shrink them. However, there are many things you CAN do to help strengthen and firm your skin, and simultaneously help keep your pores in decent shape.

Keeping your skin clean and your pores clear of excess oils, makeup, sunscreen and the like is your most important play, but don't go too nuts. Gentle is the key. Try our new Tea Tree Super Cleanser+, followed by Ocean Minerals Super Toner for a pore-kicking cleansing routine that won’t strip your skin completely dry.  

Skincare Goal #3: Less Visible Wrinkles

As the most common signs of aging, fine lines and wrinkles are a bugbear we all have to face at some point. And while it’s easy to say, ‘don’t worry about them,’ it’s much harder to actually put that into practice.

Lines and wrinkles usually appear on and around areas of the face that experience repeated muscle movement. This is because repetitive motions like laughing, frowning and smiling cause weaknesses and dips in the skin which, as your skin matures and it loses valuable proteins, don’t bounce back like they used to.

Once wrinkles start to set-in, they’re pretty tricky to eradicate with skincare products alone, but the best way to keep them at a minimum is to look after your collagen levels. And this is where the mighty retinol steps in.

Retinol is the gold-standard of skincare because it actually ‘communicates’ with your skin at a cellular level, encouraging it to rev up collagen and elastin production, accelerate cell turnover and neutralize skin-damaging free radicals. Pretty good stuff.

Try applying our awesome Retinol Facial Serum nightly (after patch testing, of course) to improve the appearance of your fine lines and wrinkles – and to help stop new ones from forming!

Skincare Goal #4: Fewer Breakouts

Pimples, spots, zits, breakouts, whatever you call them, welcome they are not. So annoying, then, that acne is the most common skin condition in the US and affects around 50 million of us every darn year!

Acne rears its ugly head (pun absolutely intended) when your pores get blocked up with an excess of sebum that mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria. Thanks to genetics, you’re either susceptible to acne, or you’re not. But plenty of other triggers can contribute to the frequency and severity of your breakouts. Hormones – yeah those again – are a major trigger, as is stress.

Obviously you can’t miraculously change your genetic makeup but there are plenty of skincare ingredients and helpful tricks for treating and controlling your breakouts. Our absolute go-to is Tea Tree Super Serum+ which combines tea tree oil with salicylic acid and niacinamide to create a powerful, yet gentle way to balance your skin and deal with unwanted pimples. Tea tree is one of the best ingredients for acne as its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial AND way less irritating than things like benzoyl peroxide. What’s more you only need to apply it two or three times a week to see experience visible results.

Skincare Goal #5: A More Even Skin Tone

Fed up with dark spots that are totally killing your skin’s mojo? Dark spots, aka hyperpigmentation, appear when your skin produces too much melanin which is the pigment that gives it its color. The three main triggers are your hormones; skin trauma like a bite, burn or pimple; or the sun.

We like to blame the sun for all manner of things where the skin is concerned. But this is totally legit for it really does have a lot to answer for. Dark spots included. Even if the sun wasn’t the original trigger, the sun makes any dark spot so much worse in the long run.

This is why protecting your skin from the sun’s evil rays is the single most important thing you can do for dark spots and patchy skin. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is a must (hi there SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C) but don’t dismiss antioxidants, either, which have a very clever way of neutralizing free radical damage and shielding your skin from cumulative photodamage. Our go-to is always vitamin C which not only protects your skin from damage but also helps to fade the appearance of uneven skin that’s already come and bitten you on the butt! Try our classic Vitamin C Facial Serum twice daily, swapping it out for Vitamin C Super Serum+ two or three times a week, to really hit dark spots where it hurts.

Say hello to better skin… minus the hard work.

Hands up if you want to be furnished with 10 tips for better skin. Goes without saying, right? And what about if we tell you that every single one of the following skincare tips requires almost no effort on your behalf? Then we’ll just stop talking and get on with it, shall we?

1. Listen To Your Skin

Paying attention to your skin is super important. Sure, you might have oily skin, but as you age, sebum production slows down so the products you used five years ago won’t be the best idea for your current needs. Similarly, things like dehydration, dark spots, fine lines and hormonal breakouts can become more of a thing during certain times of the month or as your skin matures. Watch out for signs that your skin is asking for help. It’s much easier – and way more effective – to act sooner rather than later.

2. Use Fewer Products

This might sound kinda weird coming from a skincare company, but don’t buy every single product you can get your hands on and throw them at your skin all at once. Your skin does not need five treatment serums. It just doesn’t. Overloading your skin with tons of active ingredients is too much for most skin types and can make it irritated, red and downright sad. Instead, stick with a simple routine that includes the most important stuff  – aka cleanser, toner (optional), an eye treatment, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen.

Also, if you're looking for a genius-like serum that feeds your skin with 11 plant-derived vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and almost everything else your skin needs, look no further than our new Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum.

3. Always Patch Test New Skincare

Buying a new product and diving in head first without a second thought for potential skin repercussions is never a good idea. In fact it’s a bad one. You should always patch test new formulations because you never know if there’s an ingredient in there that might react with your skin. This is especially important for products that contain potent, active ingredients like retinoids or exfoliating acids. Never has the phrase ‘it’s better to be safe than sorry’ rung more true. And dealing with skin reactions after the event will cause you much more heartache in the long-term.

4. Layer Your Skincare Correctly

While we don’t recommend layering hundreds of products on top of each other (see #2, above!), the few you do use should always be applied in the correct order.

Of course, cleanser goes first, followed by toner but what’s next? We get that it can seem confusing, but the main rule is that your thinnest, more liquid-like products should always be applied first, before the more heavy-hitters. Otherwise, the thicker, heavier products will get in the way. This means that after toning comes serum, your eye treatment, moisturizer and then sunscreen. No matter how lightweight your sunscreen is, this always comes last.

5. Wear Sunscreen Inside, Outside & All Year Long

We say this a lot. And we will continue to do so. Because it’s the single, most important product you can use to protect your skin from the sun’s nasty UV rays.

The fact is simple: UV radiation is a beast and it causes premature aging, sunburn, and worst of all, skin cancer. It’s also present all year long, and can penetrate through clouds, windows, the lot. So while sunscreen might seem like an ‘extra’ step in your skincare routine, it’s not. It’s basic and it’s needed.

Get into the habit of making SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C the final step in your morning regime and sooner or later it will become the norm. And your skin will thank you for it. Majorly.

6. Find What Works… & Stick With It

Consistency is one of the most important words when it comes to your skincare routine. Of course, adapting the products you use to suit the seasons and your skin’s needs is essential, but once you find a regime that’s effective, try to stick to it. This not only helps prevent potential irritation but also allows your products to do the best job they can. Retinol, for example, is a very complex ingredient that needs to be applied regularly for a good few months before you’ll start to see results. Be patient, persistent and it’ll be well worth it.

7. Keep Your Hands Off Your Face

Touching your face is something we all do without really thinking about it. And this subconscious act might seem completely harmless but, no matter how often you wash your hands, there’ll always be bacteria, oils and other debris lurking on them. Now ask us this: do you really want to transfer all that nasty stuff to the delicate skin on your face? Especially knowing that it can trigger breakouts?

Thought not.

8. Go To Bed Earlier

It’s called beauty sleep for a reason: getting your zzzs every night is up there with sun protection and good cleansing as one of the most important ways to boost the health of your skin.

When you’re asleep blood flow to the skin increases which nourishes it with valuable nutrients; cell turnover accelerates to bring fresh, healthy skin cells to the surface, and collagen production revs up big time. All good stuff, we think you’ll agree. Not only that but when you DON’T get enough sleep, stress hormones kick in which wreck the skin’s ability to heal and regenerate. Disaster.

Try to go to bed at a decent hour every night to get your eight hours in and ensure you start the night off right by cleansing and treating your skin before turning in. We love Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

9. Moisturize While Your Skin Is Damp

We know you'll have heard this one before. But do you actually put it into practice?… Probably not. Well, let’s start from hereon in shall we? After all, dampness on the surface of your skin is free moisture – and your skin can never have enough of that.

After cleansing, showering or bathing, pat your skin with a towel until it’s ‘almost’ dry then slather moisturizer all over to lock in any water that’s left over. Instant hydration right there.

10. Clean Your Makeup Brushes More Often

Just a couple of minutes is all it takes to gently shampoo your makeup brushes. But this swift habit can be vital for reducing breakouts as it keeps bacteria, sweat, oil and ‘old’ makeup out of your pores.

Really can’t be bothered to clean your entire brush collection every week? Fair enough, then at least do your foundation, blusher, bronzer or concealer brushes as they're the ones that are most likely to touch your skin.

Deal? Deal.

You can have all the will (and fancy products!) in the world, but without a consistent skincare routine, you might as well kiss healthy skin goodbye.

‘Routine.’ Granted, it’s not the most glamorous word in the world, but it’s probably one of the most important ones when it comes to the health of your skin. It’s all well and good arming yourself with bazillions of skincare products and all the beauty knowhow you can lay your hands on, but if you’re not consistently nailing the important basics through a carefully thought-out daily routine, then the rest is basically pointless.

Great skin is something we all dream of. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but if we can help it to be, look and feel its absolute best then we’re happy. Great skin doesn’t just happen, however. It requires work and care. It needs to be protected from the grinds of everyday life (yes, we’re talking to you sunshine, pollution, stress and so on), and it needs to be kept clean, hydrated, balanced and moisturized. After all, if you neglect your skin and the damage is already done, it’s almost impossible to reverse it.

According to the Oxford English dictionary, the definition of routine is ‘a sequence of actions regularly followed.’ Sound pretty simple, right? Then let’s have a look at how to build an awesome skincare routine that a) you can stick to and b) is effective…  

The Importance Of WHAT You Put On Your Skin… And HOW!

While we believe the best daily routine includes cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen, ultimately, there are only three steps your skin genuinely ‘needs.’ One is cleanser; two is moisturizer and three is sun protection. Of course, the old skool routine was to cleanse, tone and moisturize but we’ve since realized that skin can probably survive without toner… but it’s much more damaging to go without sunscreen.

Don’t get us wrong, we would never dismiss all those other products that work super hard to amp up your routine and target specific concerns like dark spots, fine lines and dark under eye circles. However, when it comes down to the fundamental basics, cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen are everything.

1. Cleanser

Cleansing is the start of your routine, and choosing the right formulation is worth its weight in gold. Dermatologists recommend cleansing your skin twice daily (plus after exercising), using gentle formulations that are free of harsh, potent chemicals that can upset your barrier function. Certain alcohols like alcohol denat are best avoided as are sulfates and parabens that can irritate your skin and suck all the important oils from the surface. Instead, stick with gentle, non-abrasive products for daily use – whatever your skin type.

When you cleanse, take a few minutes to massage the product into your skin with your hands. This will help blood flow and lymphatic drainage to really up your glow factor. Oh, and don’t forget that hot water is the enemy. Use lukewarm water only, rinsing well and then gently patting with a clean, cotton towel.

2. Moisturizer

No matter what comes between your cleanser and moisturizer, this important step can make or break your routine. And consequently the state of your skin. Go too bold with thick, heavy ingredients that are too rich and you could break out lightning fast. Similarly, if your moisturizer is too light your skin can end up feeling super dry and dehydrated.

The key is to find a moisturizer that works in complete harmony with your skin type. Moisturizers need to have two main components: humectants which draw in water to hydrate the skin, and emollients or occlusives that lock in hydration and leave a certain smoothness to the skin. Oily or combination skin types should avoid occlusives like cocoa butter and coconut oil as these create a protective layer on the skin’s surface which blocks the pores. But other than that, it’s fair game. Humectants like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and glycerin? Incredible… and very important for all skin types. Emollients like jojoba oil and vitamin E? Ditto.

To get the most from your moisturizer, smooth it all over your skin in upwards strokes to lift and firm your complexion. You could also apply it when your skin is still a little damp to lock in hydration.

3. Sunscreen

We get bored of hearing ourselves bang on about sunscreen, but until it becomes the norm for everyone to apply it on the reg, we will continue. Why is sunscreen so important? Because it not only protects your skin from the perils of premature aging, but it also reduces your chances of developing skin cancer.

The sun is present all year long, and its harmful UV rays are also around every day, doing the best they can to damage your collagen, ruin your elastin and screw up your DNA. This is why sunscreen is mega important every day (not just on the beach!), and on every area of exposed skin. To ensure you get good protection from both UVA and UVB radiation, look for broad-spectrum formulations that have an SPF of at least 30 – that’s the sweet spot most derms recommend. Apply around a nickel-sized amount to ensure you get the right amount of protection.

The Importance Of WHEN You Apply Your Skincare

A good skincare routine isn’t just about knowing which products to use, you also need to know how and when to apply them.

Sunscreen obviously isn’t required before bed. Because that would be pointless. And certain retinol products, strong actives or exfoliants might only be necessary a couple of times a week. But the rest of your routine should be carried out morning and night, unless otherwise stated on the label.

Then, it’s all about getting your order right. Obviously you should cleanse first, before toning, but then what? Well, if you’re using some kind of treatment serum for acne or pigmentation this should follow your toner. Next, would be an antioxidant serum like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide, followed by your eye cream, moisturizer and face oil.

Sunscreen is vital every morning and, without question, always comes last because most formulations (and especially mineral sunscreens) are designed to sit on the surface of your skin. If you apply sunscreen before your serum, for example, it’ll block all those delicious ingredients from penetrating your skin and doing their job. Money. Down. The. Drain.

If this skincare layering order doesn’t stick in your head just remember that your thinnest product should be applied first, with the thickest, most dense product going last.

Finally, The Importance Of Being Patient… & Consistent

Expecting miracles from your skincare routine right from the off is setting yourself up for failure. Most products take time before they’re able to offer you the positive results you’re after. Retinol, for example, can take weeks, if not months before you really start to see the benefits, so be patient and stick with it.

Go to bed ten minutes earlier to give yourself the time to cleanse, treat and moisturize your skin before you turn in. Similarly, set your morning alarm five minutes earlier to ensure you have enough time (and therefore no excuses not!) to apply sunscreen. 

Ensuring your routine becomes a habit is such an easy thing to do. And it's so worth it in the end.

Fall might not feel like a drastic change in the weather but to maintain glowing skin all year round, it’s wise to adapt with the seasons. Here’s how to get on that.

As you know, maintaining a consistent skincare regime is something we feel very strongly about here at TruSkin. Crushing a twice daily cleanse? Vital. Moisturizing your skin after every cleanse? Ditto. And protecting it daily from the damaging rays of the sun? Well, you know what our feelings are on that one. However, as the seasons switch it’s always wise to take a long, hard look at what you put on your skin to see if it’s in sync with the changes in the weather.

Right now, we’re talking fall – the season of pumpkins, pie, knitwear and new coats. And it’s official: fall is the best time of year. Well, try arguing that with the 41 percent of adults who cite fall as their favorite season, anyway.

Where your skin is concerned, fall is the perfect time to repair summertime damage while preparing your skin for what winter will inevitably bring – which is mainly dryness and dehydration. It’s also a great time to start out with a new retinol or antioxidant regime.

Keep scrolling for 10 ways to tweak your skincare regime so that it a) doesn’t interrupt your bang-on regime too much, but b) keeps you on top of the seasonal changes…

1. Tackle Post-Summer Dark Spots

After a summer of intense UV radiation it’s a smart move to scrutinize your skin for any patchy areas, dark spots or changes in your moles. Feel like the latter might be a concern? Then book yourself in for a check immediately, just to be sure. For any other discoloration issues, we recommend vitamin C which is a whizz at maintaining better control over melanin production, thus helping to brighten and even out your skin tone. Fan-favorite Vitamin C Facial Serum is a shoo-in. Obvs.

2. Treat Yourself To A Humidifier

Wasting money on pointless gadgets is so not our thing. But things that actually benefit the skin? Those we can get on board with. And one we’re massively into is the humidifier. Fall and winter are notoriously ‘dry’ months in which the air contains less moisture than during spring and summer. That’s bad news for skin hydration. Humidifiers, however, add moisture back into the air which means more for your skin to soak up. Get one for your bedroom, specifically, so your skin can relish in all that extra moisture as you sleep.

3. Layer Up With Hydration

Along with a humidifier, you should also add extra hydration into your daily skincare routine. And what better way than by layering up with a serum that contains one or more humectants? Humectants like glycerin, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid work like magnets to draw water into the top layers of your skin. They’re super smart. And super important, especially during fall and winter. Try Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum, layered underneath your moisturizer.

4. Keep On Top Of Your Sunscreen

Before we go any further, let’s address the elephant in the room: sunscreen. Everyone’s favorite love-to-hate product, sunscreen plays an important role in skincare – come summer or fall.

Here’s the thing: the sun is present EVERY DAY, even when it’s cruddy outside, because sunshine is about light, not just heat. Sure, you might not feel the sun on your skin on cold, cloudy days, but it’s still there. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays penetrate right through clouds. UVA rays in particular are constant all year round. And they’re the ones most responsible for deep skin aging. So don’t file away your sunscreen just because September is over. You need SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen every day. Lecture over.

5. Go All Over With Moisture

Moisturizing is your skin’s best friend, so as colder months approach it’s important not to begin and end with your face. A lack of humidity in the air can seriously contribute to dry, itchy skin on your arms, back, legs and your entire body, so get your barrier function back in order, up hydration and load up on head-to-toe moisture.

6. Be Kinder As You Cleanse

Turning up the water temperature is extremely tempting as the months turn chilly, but hot water is a bad idea for your skin as it sucks away moisture and strips away vital oils. Keep it lukewarm and use a skin-forgiving cleanser to retain hydration and replenish your barrier function. We love Soothing Cleansing Milk for the ultimate in gentle cleansing.

7. Give Your Skin A Break

If you have sensitive skin or suffer with conditions like eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, seasonal changes can be a real trigger for flare-ups and irritation. So lay off the active ingredients for a while and put a pin in exfoliation for a week or so. Instead, go back to basics by nourishing your skin with gentle ingredients like aloe vera and shea butter.

8. Start Right With Retinol

Thinking of adding retinol to your skincare routine? Well, now’s a great time to do so as you’re less exposed to strong sunlight in the fall and winter months. UV radiation can break down the efficacy of retinol which is why it’s often advised to apply it at night time only. Start now, however, and you’ll minimize these effects even more.

We love Retinol Facial Moisturizer which contains plenty of delicious moisturizing ingredients to counteract any further dryness or irritation. It’s a retinol miracle!

9. Love Your Eyes

The skin around your eyes is thin and extremely fragile so it can be greatly affected by transitions in the weather. Dryness, itching, redness and puffiness? A real thing if you don't treat this area with the love and respect it deserves. And we can help with that with our new Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream which contains bakuchiol to help strengthen the skin, as well as glycerin and aloe to hydrate, plus coffeeberry extract to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles.

10. Cut Back On Exfoliation

Exfoliating regularly in the summer months is fine because all that extra humidity helps your skin remain sturd, giving it the strength to deal. However, as the air dries up your barrier function can become dehydrated and therefore less able to hold its own against all that buffing and scrubbing. The solution? Either cut down your exfoliation routine to once a week, or go for a gentler product that contains non-abrasive exfoliants like lactic, glycolic or salicylic acid. Try Ocean Minerals Super Toner which offers gentle exfoliation after cleansing to revitalize your skin without irritation.

Bloated, puffy skin is no fun for anyone. But it doesn’t have to ruin your day. Just get ahead of the game with some deft lifestyle habits and smart skincare moves.

We’re sure you’ve been there; woken up with a bloated or puffy feeling to your face that certainly wasn’t there the night before. What is that all about? All you’ve done is gone to bed… right? Well, actually you might have had a few too many wines with dinner, or perhaps not had the best night’s sleep. But still: unfair.

The good news is that, more often than not, puffy skin is a temporary bugbear – unless some other underlying condition is at play, of course, in which case it’s always wise to seek professional help.

If you're well aware that your puffy skin is self-inflicted, however, here’s what you need to know about might be its cause, plus what to do about it…

What Causes Facial Puffiness?

A puffy face is usually thanks to a build-up of excess fluids just below the surface of your skin. This happens when an imbalance of water causes fluids to leak through your blood vessels and into your skin. And don’t worry, we know that all sounds pretty horrific, but it’s totally harmless.

So, what triggers this fluid retention in your skin? Well, it can be due to any number of reasons, but the usual suspects are mostly to blame – aka emotional stress, a lack of sleep, poor diet choices, your hormones and alcohol.

5 Effective Ways To De-Puff Your Face

The good news is there are some pretty easy fixes for facial puffiness – some of which will gift you with almost-immediate results. Scroll on for five of our favorites...

1. Try A Daily Facial Massage

Massaging your face is one of the best ways to not only up your glow factor in an instant, but to help reduce swelling. If you spend just three or four minutes massaging your skin during your morning cleanse, for example, you'll instantly boost circulation and accelerate lymphatic drainage which helps remove toxins and fluid build-up. Simply use the pads of your fingers to work your cleanser all over damp skin, then press your fingers into the brow area and slide them up in circular motions to your forehead. Repeat this a few times, before moving down to your cheeks, working from each side of your nose, out towards the hairline. Again, do this a few times, then continue with the same motion around your chin and jawline. To finish, smooth your fingertips up your neck.

You could also try a gua sha stone to help sculpt your skin and reduce unwanted puffiness. Gua sha stones are flat, smooth crystals made from jade or rose quartz which you place flat against your skin and gently glide around the contours of your face. They're awesome for encouraging the transportation of excess fluids and toxins from the tissues in your skin.

Whatever you go for, try to give your face a quick massage every morning. Trust us, you'll start to notice a real difference almost immediately.

2. Enjoy The Chill Factor

Cold temperatures are incredible for constricting your blood vessels and helping to reduce puffiness and inflammation. But, while TikTok might have you believe that iced facials are the future, we’re not sure that dunking your face in a bowl of iced water for as long as you can bear it, and repeating this teeth-chattering process for 10 whole minutes is such a good idea! In fact, it can cause facial redness and irritation if you’re not careful, so we’d strongly advise against it.

Instead, try a final rinse with cool water after cleansing or keep your moisturizer in the fridge to help de-puff your skin at the end of your morning routine. You can even keep facial massage tools like a gua sha stone or jade roller in the fridge for extra de-puffing powers. And if your eyes are showing the most signs of puffiness? Lie back with a couple of cold teaspoons or slices of cucumber over each eye. It’s amazing how effective some of those old beauty tricks are!

3. Drink More Water

Since fluid retention is the issur here, it makes sense to drink plenty of water every day. The simple fact is that by keeping your body hydrated you will reduce the need for your tissues to hold on to fluids so much. It’s just common sense. And science. 

Experts agree that an average adult requires between 2.7 and 3.7 liters of fluid a day. However, it’s worth remembering that not all of this needs to come from glugging pure water. Certain foods like watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes and spinach contain a ton of water and drinks like milk, unsweetened fruit juices and caffeine-free teas all count towards you daily intake and are just a beneficial as water.

4. Embrace A Great Facial Serum

When it comes to what goes on your skin, there are some awesome ingredients out there to help keep your skin hydrated while reducing inflammation and puffiness. Green tea, for example, is a pretty good one, as are caffeine, peptides and, our current favorites, electrolytes.

Electrolytes are essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium which, when dissolved in water, conduct electricity – which is where the name comes from. Electrolytes are vital for your health as they keep your body hydrated and balanced while aiding in tissue repair and regulating nerve and muscle function. When it comes to skincare, topical electrolytes have the same moisture-quenching benefits. Their electoral charge helps drive water into the skin while simultaneously giving energy to other active ingredients to help deliver them to exactly where they’re needed. The result? Healthier, more hydrated skin. Bingo!

Try applying our new Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum daily. It's chock full of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes to help keep your skin at its optimal best. You could even use a cold jade roller or some ice globes to supercharge the ingredients and further reduce swelling. But you don't have to – it's a wonder serum even without the extra help!

5. Assess Your Lifestyle Habits

Finally, think about some of your lifestyle habits and how they might be contributing to any facial bloating. Alcohol, for starters, can be terribly dehydrated for your skin so keep that in check whenever you can – or try alternating booze with glasses of water. This is a great trick and also makes hangovers much easier to bear!

A high-sodium diet is another reason your body will hang on to extra fluids so cut down on salty snacks and avoid cooking with salt. In fact, try to limit yourself to no more than 2,000 milligrams a day.

Finally, too much stress and very little sleep can be hell on your skin, causing your levels of cortisol (aptly named the stress hormone!) to sky rocket.

And cortisol is a known culprit for triggering puffy, inflamed skin. Say no more...