True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Want to target all the things you don’t love about your skin? Then it’s time to get to know your (vitamin) ABCs…

Honest question: are you more of a ‘cleanse, moisturize and let nature do the rest’ kind of person, not caring for the finer side of skincare because, well frankly, you don’t have the time? Then we’d like to try and change that. Because just one extra step in your skincare routine could reap incredible rewards. And, come on, we know you can put aside one measly minute each day to apply a single layer of product to your skin.

You can’t argue with that, right?

The product we'd love for you to get on board with is serum. More specifically, vitamin-packed facial serums that are smoothed on your skin after cleansing and before moisturizing. Now, these tiny little bottles of concentrated juice might look unimportant to the untrained eye, but on the contrary: topical vitamins do for your skin exactly what those in your diet do for your health. They give valuable support, allowing your skin to not only look better, but also to feel and behave better as well. 

We get it, though: the number of lotions, potions, serums and tinctures available to you is overwhelming. So how are you supposed to know which vitamin is best for your skin’s needs and how do you ‘feed’ your skin without getting too carried away and risking vitamin overkill which, in all honesty, does the skin no good at all.

Below are six of the most common skincare goals, plus our thoughts on the best vitamin serum to crush each goal. Let’s do this.

Your Skincare Goal: To Fight The Signs Of Aging

Try: Vitamin A

Namely: Retinol Facial Serum

No matter how strongly certain brands may claim otherwise, skincare products can’t get rid of wrinkles. However, certain ingredients can 100 percent help minimize the speed at which your skin ages, thus helping to keep fine lines, wrinkles and sagging, lax skin at bay. 

One of those ingredients? Vitamin A, more commonly known in the skincare world as retinol. Retinol, when applied to the skin, activates collagen production and stimulates cell turnover. The result is smoother-looking, softer-feeling skin that’s stronger, healthier, firmer and basically the best version of itself. It’s the absolute cream of the vitamin crop. And you’d be wise to get on board if you want to ensure your skin ages healthily and beautifully. Worried about using retinol for the first time? Good, because it’s not to be taken lightly. However, it can truly work for all skin types if you know what you’re doing. So wise up, right here.

Your Skincare Goal: To Brighten Dull Skin

Try: Vitamin C

Namely: Vitamin C Facial Serum

You’re probably aware, vitamin C is our middle name here at TruSkin. Quick recap: our entire company grew from the launch of our classic Vitamin C Facial Serum which went on to be the best-selling vitamin C serum on Amazon and is still as good as ever.

As topical vitamins go, Mr C is the glow-getting member of the team. Don’t get us wrong, it’s one of the best antioxidants out there, helping to protect your skin from the slings and arrows of daily life like little else. However, most people turn to vitamin C because they want to add radiance to their complexion or are hoping to blur out uneven, patchy skin. And the good news is, it truly works. Of course, its environmental protection prowess is a big plus, but it also has mildly exfoliating effects and inhibits melanin production as extra bonuses.

Learn everything you need to know about vitamin C here.

Your Skincare Goal: To Minimize Redness Or Sensitivities

Try: Vitamin B3

Namely: Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum

Another awesome antioxidant, niacinamide has powerful anti-inflammatory qualities which makes it a fantastic choice for sensitive skin types looking for active skincare that doesn’t cause flare-ups. Studies show that niacinamide can increase the biosynthesis of ceramides and various other lipids in the uppermost layers of your skin which makes it a super-effective ingredient for helping your skin to retain moisture. It's also vital for maintaining a strong, protective barrier function while improving strength and resiliency. Music to the ears of anyone with easily irritated skin.

Here’s everything we know about niacinamide and how it can work for your skin.

Your Skincare Goal: To Boost Moisture

Try: Vitamin E

Namely: Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

One of the oldest ingredients in skincare, vitamin E shows no signs of going away. And why should it? This classic has proven itself time and time again and it thoroughly deserves its place among buzzy newbies like bakuchiol and friends.

Another fantastic antioxidant (are you sensing a theme, here?), vitamin E helps to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized by being both a humectant AND an emollient. What does that mean? Well, humectants draw moisture to the top layers of your skin (hyaluronic acid is the most common humectant) while emollients help to repair and smooth tiny cracks at the surface which works to seal all that delicious moisture in. It’s the kind of top drawer moisturizing skills other skincare ingredients can only dream of. And it’s all in a day’s work for vitamin E!

Learn more about this skin-loving powerhouse right here.

Your Skincare Goal: To Reduce Acne Breakouts

Try: Vitamin A (yes, again!)

Namely: Retinol Facial Serum

Not to go on about retinol too much, but it's not just about fine lines and wrinkles. In fact, when it comes to controlling and reducing the severity of acne breakouts, retinol is up there with ingredients like tea tree oil and salicylic acid. Remember how we told you that retinol is one of the best ways to boost cell turnover, encouraging dead skin cells to skip town quickly and effectively? Yeah, well this is also a great way to keep your pores from getting clogged. Makes perfect sense when you think about it. 

For more, check out our ultimate skincare routine for adult acne.

Your Skincare Goal: To Boost Overall Skin Health

Try: A Multivitamin

Namely: Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum

If you’re not one for specifics and don’t have one major skin concern to target, try an all-in-one topical multivitamin. Similar to how oral multivitamins give your entire body a much-needed pick-me-up, their topical cousins also make your skin feel and look a hundred times better. What’s more, combining a curated blend of vitamins rather than concentrating on just one key player gives your skin a complete, holistic treatment that's well tolerated and offers visible benefits on so many levels. Ours, for example, blends energizing vitamin C and soothing vitamin E with B vitamins plus vitamins D, F and K to balance the skin, neutralize damaging free radicals, protect your collagen supplies and strengthen the barrier function. It’s kind of a big deal.

It might not be your most obvious skincare ingredient go-to, but milk offers a whole host of benefits for your skin.

Some beauty companies are all about high-tech ingredients and science-led formulations while others sit firmly in the ‘nature is best’ camp. Here at TruSkin, however, we live by the rule that the best skincare ingredients don’t have to be exclusive to either science or nature. Because why can’t you have one and the other?

We pride ourselves on combining clinically-proven, synthetic ingredients like sodium ascorbyl phosphate (which is an incredible form of vitamin C in case you were wondering!) alongside nature’s finest powerhouses, because we believe this is the most effective way to offer you and your skin the absolute cream of skincare.

And speaking of cream (groan!) one of our favorite, natural ingredients for the overall look and health of your skin is milk. Yes, it turns out Queen Cleopatra was on to something, after all…

What’s The Deal With Milk In Skincare?

When you think of milk in skincare, your mind probably goes straight to dairy milk. Now don’t get us wrong, we’re not here to question the benefits of cow's stuff because its high lactic acid content makes it fantastic for gently exfoliating the skin. By breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells, cow's milk encourages any dull, dreary cells to slough away efficiently, revealing all the bright, fresh stuff that’s waiting in the wings. We’re all over that.

However, dairy milk isn’t something everybody likes to get on board with, and this is especially pertinent if you live by a vegan diet or are lactose-intolerant.

Well, the good news is that milks from plant sources like oats and rice are just as good for your skin as they are on your corn flakes. Read on for three ways non-dairy milk can help improve your skin when you harness its powers in your beauty routine…

3 Benefits Of Non-Dairy Milk In Skincare

1. They’re Packed With Antioxidants Which Help Fight Aging

Rice and oat milk are both chock full of antioxidants. Quick refresher: antioxidants are substances that help counteract the damaging effects of free radicals. And while free radicals may sound nice and fluffy, they are anything but. In fact, free radicals are highly unstable, reactive atoms or molecules that form in your skin when it’s exposed to things like UV radiation, pollution, stress or an unhealthy diet that’s high in things like sugar, fat and processed carbs. Their whole purpose in life is to screw up important proteins in your skin (think collagen and elastin) to try and stabilize themselves, thus causing all manner of damage like fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin.

The good news is that antioxidants, unlike skin's poor, unsuspecting proteins, have the ability to neutralize free radicals without being susceptible to harm. And this is why they’re some of the most important ingredients in a healthy skincare routine.

There are many incredibly effective antioxidants available in skincare – some of which are found in the natural world. Green tea and grapeseed are popular choices, but oat and rice milks are also up there with the best of the best.

2. They’re Naturally Moisturizing

Both oat and rice milk have humectant qualities. Not on first name terms with humectants? No problem, that’s what we’re here for.

Moisturizing ingredients generally fall into one of three types: emollients, occlusives and humectants. Emollients are lipids, butters or oils that help repair cracks in the skin to create a softer, smoother surface and thus prevent moisture loss. Jojoba oil and vitamin E are great examples of emollients.

Occlusives are similar but they create a thicker, physical barrier on the surface. They’re fantastic for super-dry skin as they stop any drop of moisture from escaping; but they’re not so cool if you have acne-prone skin as they can block your pores and lead to an increased frequency of breakouts. Occlusive ingredients, since you asked, include things like cocoa butter, beeswax and dimethicone.

Then you have humectants. The likes of hyaluronic acid would tell you that humectants are the most important of moisturizing ingredients as they draw water vapor (either from the air or from underlying layers of your skin) to the surface of your skin to increase hydration and prevent flakiness and cracking. However, without occlusives and emollients, all that moisture can easily evaporate into thin air.

This is why the most effective skincare formulations blend humectants alongside their besties, emollients and/or occlusives.

Rice milk contains a vitamin-like component called inositol which falls into the humectant category alongside classic favorites like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid. Meanwhile, oat milk is rich in beta-glucan, another humectant that locks in hydration and helps boost your skin’s barrier function. Both milks also contain skin-smoothing emollient properties which make them a veritable shoo-in for moisturizing your skin doubly well. 

3. They’re Awesome For Soothing Sensitive Skin

If you have eczema or rosacea, you’ll know that finding skincare products which don’t cause your skin to flare up is no simple task. Well, if you’re yet to try oat milk, now’s the time.

Overflowing with anti-inflammatory properties and naturally pH balanced, oats have been used for centuries to soothe, calm and treat sensitive skin. They’re even pretty kick-ass at controlling acne breakouts, helping to reduce redness, swelling and promoting more effective healing. 

The gentle nature of rice milk also works hard to keep inflammation at bay, providing a breath of fresh air for sensitive or easily irritated skin. As an added bonus, rice milk is also thought to have gentle brightening effects which can help diminish the appearance of dark spots or patchy, uneven skin.

Interested in trying out the benefits of non-dairy milk in your skincare routine? Both oat and rice milk are considered to be non-comedogenic which means that, even though they’re great for moisturizing your skin, neither are likely to block your pores or increase your risk of breaking out. Try our incredible Soothing Cleansing Milk which harnesses the powers of both oat and rice milk to gently cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize and protect your skin without any drying after effects or pore-clogging nastiness. 

Incoming... skincare goals that truly make a difference. Count us in.

We don’t know about you, but years of making pointless new year’s resolutions ‘just for the sake of it’ have made us somewhat over them. Sure, it’s great to have ambitions and personal goals to strive for, but forcing yourself to come up with something, just because it’s the start of a new year? That’s a hard pass from us.

Making skincare goals, however, is something we can totally get on board with. And if you’re reading this you’re probably in complete agreement. Because knowing you’re doing your best for your skin – even if you change only one habit or add just one extra product to your routine  – is worth a thousand ‘I shall spend less at Starbucks’ false promises.

So, on that note, to follow are some very doable skincare goals for you to totally crush this year.

DO Reassess Your Skin

Your skin is not the same as it was ten years ago. Heck, it’s not even the same as it was this time last year. So, spend a few minutes taking a good, long look in the mirror to see what’s going on. Are you noticing some redness? Maybe a few extra dark spots have appeared? Perhaps your skin is feeling more dehydrated than it used to? Or, wait, is it weirdly oilier?

You can only deal with skin concerns if you actually know what they are, so make sure you’re totally on the ball with where your skin is at right now. Then you’ll be able to act accordingly with targeted skincare and better lifestyle habits.

DON’T Use Cleansing Wipes On The Reg

Face wipes are fine in a pinch but most of them are doused in drying chemicals that do your skin zero good. Granted, they might be called ‘cleansing wipes,’ but rarely do they actually cleanse your skin thoroughly – instead they simply move surface debris around a bit. Then there’s the fact that they’re mostly made from synthetic, non-biodegradable materials which end up hanging around in landfills for up to 100 (no joke!) years.

You might be tired, but make it a priority to cleanse your skin with a decent face wash morning and night. Try Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser which is so delightful, you’ll actually enjoy using it.

DO Moisturize Skin When Damp

You’ll have had undoubtedly heard this trick before, but we bet you don’t actually put it into practice, right? Well, try it. You see, applying moisturizing while your skin is still slightly damp from cleansing helps to seal in those tiny droplets of water that are left hanging around at the surface. It’s basically free moisture your skin will really benefit from – especially during winter when the air is extremely drying on your poor skin. C’mon, when we put it like that, it seems insane not to.

DON’T Give Up On Retinol

Retinol is one of the most effective topical ingredients for the skin. It deals with premature aging, it helps keep acne under control, it protects your skin from environmental damage, it does your laundry. OK, so that last one is a bare-faced lie, but you get where we’re coming from.

The problem with retinol is that its potency can be hard to deal with – especially during the first few weeks when it can make your skin especially dry, red, flaky and even a little itchy. As long as it’s not causing discomfort, however, a little initial irritation is OK, it’s just your skin adjusting, so don’t give up. Simply reduce your frequency of use as your skin acclimates, then build back up again. Easy.

DO Give Your Neck Some Love

You may be meticulous with your facial skincare routine but if your habits stop at your chin, you’re doing yourself a real disservice. How so? Because your neck is one of the first places to show signs of aging.

The skin on your neck has fewer sebaceous glands than your face, you see, which means it can’t produce as much oil to keep it soft and moisturized. This is seriously bad news in the fight against dry skin, fine lines, wrinkles and sagging because moisture is essential for the firmness and elasticity of your skin.

Whatever you do to your face, continue down to your neck and décolletage area. Cleanse it, tone it, treat it with serum, moisturize it (we love Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream for the neck area) and protect it from the elements. It’s the least you can do.

DON’T Fret About Your Imperfections

If we asked you to name something you hate about your skin we bet you could reel off a few without taking a breath. Well, do you know what, those crow’s feet you hate or monthly breakouts that drive you crazy are not worth crying over. You’re not perfect. But big deal, who is? So instead of sweating over the bad stuff, do the best you can for your complexion with a consistent skincare and good lifestyle habits. And, instead of feeling all the skin self-hate, try to focus on the good. Sure, you have fine lines around your mouth, but hey, isn’t your forehead looking pretty fabulous?

DO Trash Old Products That Rarely See The Light Of Day

Skincare products do not last forever. In general, they’re usually good for around one year if previously opened or two years if unopened. Unless it says otherwise on the label, of course.

Go through your vanity and trash anything that’s older than two years. Allowing your products to collect dust in the vain hope you might go back to them one day? Not gonna happen.

DON’T Underestimate Your Bedtime Skincare Routine

Sleep time is crucial for your skin. As your brain goes into rest mode, your skin gets super busy. Blood flow increases to nourish it with valuable nutrients; cell turnover accelerates to bring fresh, healthy skin cells to the surface; collagen production revs up big time and your natural antioxidant system kicks it to help nix any free radicals which may have built up during the day.

If you go to bed with unclean, unmoisturized skin, this whole rejuvenation process becomes compromised. So don’t do that. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure your skin is thoroughly cleansed before bed, then apply your favorite serum and moisturize with Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

DO Exfoliate More

As you get older, your skin doesn’t turn over as quickly. What does this mean? Well, when you’re in your 20s the life cycle of a skin cell is around 28 days during which time it’s created, moves up to the surface, then dies and sloughs away. Great. As you age, however, this process slows down and dead skin cells get ‘stuck’ at the surface where they cause uneven texture, blocked pores and dull-looking skin.

The good news is that exfoliation helps keep things moving at a more favorable rate, so how about increasing the frequency of your exfoliation game going forward? This can mean anything from once a week to three or four times a week but it depends on your skin so play around to find what works.

Our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub is fantastic for gently brightening and exfoliating your skin without drying it out making it ideal for regular use. You could also try our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which does without scrubbing particles and instead uses gentle skin acids to slough away dead cells. Neither are a bad choice. Far from it.

DON’T Ignore Sketchy-Looking Moles

Noticed a change in a mole? Get. It. Checked. Out. Moles that change in color, shape, texture or just start to feel or look wrong should always be immediately looked at by a qualified expert to rule out serious concerns such as melanoma. The chances are your mole is totally fine or, at least, can be treated quickly and painlessly, but it’s better to be on top of them. 

Consistency is our favorite word when it comes to a boss skincare routine. So why should you mess with yours just because the weather’s changed? Simple, because, er,  the weather has changed.

Whether you subscribe to seasonal skincare or not, one thing’s for sure, skin becomes drier and more sensitive in the winter time. 

Winter, for most of us, means colder, drier weather which can be tough for your delicate skin to take. Extreme temperatures ­­­– especially when you flip-flop between frigid temperatures outdoors and balmy ones inside ­­– stress out your skin and compromise its critical barrier function. Then there’s the lack of humidity which starves your skin of vital moisture and, well, stresses out your skin and barrier function even further.

However, as you know, we’re all about sticking with a consistent skincare routine, all year round. So what should you do in winter to ensure you’re not causing potential upset to your tried and tested routine, but you’re still giving your skin the extra care it needs to make it through the chilly months?

The answer: make small tweaks rather than massive changes. Here's how.

1. Add In An Extra Layer Of Moisture

A certain level of dryness and dehydration is pretty much a given in the winter months – whatever your skin type ­– but if you’re like us and hate to give up your trusted moisturizer, the good news is, you don’t have to. Instead, layer up by applying a thirst-quenching serum underneath your regular moisturizer each morning. This will help draw water to the surface of your skin, giving it a much-needed boost without having to apply an overly rich moisturizing cream (which, let’s face it, can ruin your makeup!).

We have tons of fabulously hydrating serums that are perfect for winter-parched skin. Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is a classic favorite because it combines glycerin, aloe and hyaluronic acid – three of the best hydrating ingredients in skincare. Peptide Facial Serum is another great choice as it really cares for your barrier function while kick-starting sluggish collagen and bringing all sorts of hydration and protection to the skin’s lower layers.

Take your pick, you really can't go wrong with either.

2. Pair Back The Actives

With little moisture in the air for your skin to enjoy during the winter months, the surface of your skin inevitably becomes more dehydrated, dry and sensitive. Of course, if you’ve managed to crush the perfect moisturizing routine for your skin type, this might not be relevant to you, but for the rest of you, it’s wise to be careful with any active ingredients you apply on a regular basis.

Retinol is the obvious culprit for sensitizing the skin so if you apply a retinol product daily, give yourself a break one or two nights a week, swapping it out for something equally as fabulous for your skin – but not quite as potent. Our Niacinamide Facial Serum, for example, is a great option for nights off as it still targets skin aging but is gentler and contains soothing and hydrating ingredients like vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. It's officially awesome for winter skin.

Vitamin C is another one to be cautious around. Of course, our vitamin C formulations contain a gentle type of vitamin C called sodium ascorbyl phosphate which is very kind to the skin and extremely well tolerated by all skin types, all year round. But if you do find your skin feeling a bit winter worn, give it a break for a few days; concentrate on building moisture and hydration back into your skin instead.

3. Focus On Overnight Repair

Skin naturally produces less sebum overnight, so during winter, when there’s a serious lack of moisture in the air, it’s more important than ever to treat your skin with some nourishing overnight respect.

First up, invest in a bedroom humidifier to combat any dryness in the air caused by your indoor heating. Then focus on a really good, quality night cream.

The best night cream for winter must contain a number of emollient or occlusive ingredients. These create a barrier on the surface of your skin to help prevent moisture loss and protect your skin from drying out as you sleep. Try Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream which balances a whole bunch of botanical oils including organic sunflower, coconut and evening primrose (to name just a few!). It also contains our favorite under-the-radar ingredient, MSM, a naturally-occurring sulfur compound which supports collagen and keratin production while limiting inflammation and protecting your skin from damaging free radicals.

4. Alternate Your Cleanser

Do you love your regular cleanser more than life itself? We hear you. But in the winter, when your skin is a little more compromised than normal, you need to tread very carefully with your cleansing routine.

Cleansers play a pivotal role in your skin’s moisture balance. Go too harsh and you will strip all the life from your skin, leaving it sucked dry and prone to irritation, flaking, itchiness and redness. We recommend gentle cleansing all year round, but in the summertime when your skin is oilier and sweatier it can take a bit more than in the winter.

Our trick, once warm days become a distant memory, is to alternate our go-to cleanser with something more mild and caring, especially for the mornings when all you’re really doing is freshening up your skin and removing any minimal surface debris that’s built up overnight. We reach for Soothing Cleansing Milk every morning in the winter. Dry, sensitive skin is basically its middle name. Plus it feels like a comforting hug for your skin as soon as you apply it. And we are all over that.

5. Stay Sun Safe

One thing you shouldn’t change? Your impeccable sunscreen regime. Just because you can’t see the sun shining away in the sky every day in winter, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Daylight simply doesn’t exist without the sun, remember that. What’s more, reflective surfaces like snow and ice intensify the sun’s damaging rays by reflecting them right back onto your skin, allowing them to get you from all angles.

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to exposed skin every day ­– come rain or shine – and go for an SPF of at least 30 to ensure you are well protected from both UVA and UVB radiation. Studies show that, while clouds do protect you from a small percentage of the sun’s UV rays, up to 80 percent of UVA rays (the ones that age you up) are able to penetrate right through.

Make our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C a part of your morning routine and it’ll soon become a habit you don’t even think about. Just like cleaning your teeth and brushing your hair.

Reckon you’ll never see bright eyes and a glowing complexion again? On the contrary. Here’s how to hit the reset button on over-indulged skin.

Hangovers are bad enough. The headache. The foggy memory loss. The nausea. The maxed-out credit card. Oh the shame of it all. Plus there’s nobody to blame but yourself. Eugh, why do we do it to ourselves? You’d think we would have learnt better by now.

Ha, fat chance.

Another thing. Is it just us, or as we get older, don’t hangovers feel 3,000 times worse? And, hold on, but why does our skin look so freakin’ terrible? Surely that didn’t happen in our 20s right?

The truth is, hangovers do get worse with age because your body’s metabolism decreases allowing alcohol to hang around in your system for way longer than you’d like. Also, your liver becomes less efficient which means its less able to cope with all those toxins that alcohol throws at it. It will get there eventually but, again, it will take way longer than a 20-year-old liver. There are also other factors to take into consideration. Your body weight, whether you're taking any medication, all this adds up to longer, worse hangovers and ruddy-looking skin as a consequence.

Sigh.

How Alcohol Affects Your Skin

Alcohol affects your skin in a number of ways. Here are the biggest things you'll notice after a night (or two) on the sauce...

* Alcohol is a diuretic which means that it increases urine production, making you pee more frequently and therefore lose vital water. Cue dehydration and more visible fine lines.

* Excessive water loss also causes your body to miss out on vital vitamins, minerals and nutrients that help ‘feed’ your skin and strengthen its barrier function. Cue dullness.

* Alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate. Cue redness and flare-ups in existing conditions like rosacea.

* Ever woken up after a boozy night out only to feel like you’ve slept for minutes, rather than hours? That’s because alcohol unbalances your sleep, causing you to wake up throughout the night. Cue dark under eye circles and puffy skin.

* Then there are all those free radicals that form and screw up your collagen and elastin. Cue accelerated skin aging.

5 Tips For Rejuvenating Morning-After Skin

No matter that we know how bad drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is for our health and our skin, we still do it. So if you find yourself experiencing some serious morning-after-the-night-before skin, here are five emergency sk-invigorating (see what we did there?) tricks to try.

1. Wake Up Your Skin

Even just stepping in the shower and letting the water fall over your body can instantly lift a hangover. But to really get your blood flowing and thus encourage oxygen and nutrients to flood to your skin, we recommend a good (but gentle) exfoliation session. Our energizing Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub is awesome for hungover skin as it also contains brightening whizz-kid, vitamin C – c’mon, it’s right there in the name!

Offering the effects of a mini facial (but with minimal effort), exfoliation helps clear out your pores and get rid of dead, dulling skin cells from the surface of your skin. It also boosts collagen production and smooths out the skin making it better able to absorb all the other goodies you’re about to treat it with. And trust us, your skin needs all the help it can get right now.

Gently work your scrub over your entire face and neck, using circular motions to lift and smooth out the skin as you massage it all over. And if you can bear it, try a cool rinse to finish. It’ll feel pretty savage at the time but, trust us, it’ll make you feel a million times better in the long-term.

2. Calm Redness

Facial flushing and booze go hand-in-hand for many people so if that includes you and you find that your redness lingers way into the next day, keep your morning-after routine simple and calming. Avoid exfoliating acids like glycolic and salicylic, and stick with gentle cleansers, hydrating toners and treatments that contain de-stressing ingredients like ceramides, aloe, vitamin E and niacinamide.

We love treating our skin with Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner after a particularly boozy night out. This one-ingredient-only (er, rose water) facial spritz instantly calms and hydrates the skin after cleansing, plus it feels cooling and refreshing which is perfect when, inside, you feel neither of those things!

TOP TIP: In future, try to stick with clear spirits rather than red wine or dark liquor. Clear spirits like vodka, tequila and gin contain less histamines and are less likely to aggravate the skin or cause inflammation.

3. Reduce Puffiness

Too much booze makes your body want to retain water in a bid to combat dehydration. And fluid retention is the pits for your skin, inevitably making your face – and especially the area under the eyes – look puffy and swollen. It doesn’t help that you’ve also been starved of quality sleep which raises your levels of cortisol (the ‘stress’ hormone) which alters the salt balance in your body and forces it to retain even more water. Ever woken up after a big night out with under eyes bags the size of China? Yeah, this is exactly what we’re talking about. 

To help pep up your face and reduce swelling, try a deep massage with your morning cleanse. Your hands are a powerful tool for getting blood flowing and improving lymphatic drainage so spend a few minutes working on your face to help depuff your skin.

When it comes to your eyes, place cold, used tea bags, cucumber slices or teaspoons over them and relax for 10 minutes. Anything cool will help reduce swelling by narrowing the blood vessels. Then, for an extra shot of depuffing freshness, follow with Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream.

4. Enjoy A Hit Of Multivits

Similar to how your oral multivitamins will give your body a much-needed pick-me-up, their topical cousins will also make your skin feel (and look!) a hundred times better. Vitamin C helps boost energy while vitamin E soothes and calms your skin. Then there are your Bs, D, F and K which all work together to balance the skin, neutralize damaging free radicals, protect your collagen supplies and strengthen the barrier function.

Our Multivitamin Facial Serum is a great post-party treatment because not only does it contain all of the above but it’s chock full of minerals and electrolytes for a complete, healthier-looking skin overhaul. Apply just a few drops to your face and neck after cleansing and toning and nobody will ever know about that extra shot of tequila you downed when you should really have been getting an Uber.

5. Load Up On Hydration

Morning-after thirst is real. Not only for your entire sorry being, but for your skin, too. So as well as drinking plenty of fluids to reduce nausea and a banging headache, you need to rehydrate and moisturize your skin from the outside in.

If you have some kind of intensely hydrating mask at hand, that’ll go a long way to taking the thirst away from parched skin. Look out for ingredients that draw water to the surface. These are called humectants and include things like glycerin, aloe vera and the biggest crowd-pleaser of them all, hyaluronic acid.

Our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum contains all three of these big guns and believe us when we tell you that your skin is going to lap it all up! Apply it to damp skin to make the most of surface moisture, then finish with a rich day cream that contains botanical oils, ceramides and/or fatty acids to help seal it in for the rest of the day.

Our favorite post-party moisturizer? Undoubtedly Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which blends antioxidant-rich green tea with jojoba oil and a cheeky hit of vitamin C to really get your glow back on.

Now, who's ready for another night out? Anyone?

Don’t let fragile, wintry skin and boozy breakouts ruin your skin when the rest of you is ready to rock the party circuit.

It’s the season of champagne, bright lights, festive apps and Santa hats and we, for one, are thrilled. But as much as we love all the fun and fabulousness of the holidays, your skin can take a real beating. Cold, dry weather; warm, steamy bars; a little more alcohol and a lot less sleep can all add up to stress on your skin, compromising your barrier function and throwing your moisture levels out of whack.

Granted, if you have the skin of an angel, you might not notice issues with dryness, shiny foreheads or annoying breakouts during the party season. Well, lucky you because for the other 99.99999 percent of us, party skin often needs an extra bit of TLC to look and feel as high-spirited as our moods.

Here’s how to help get your skin on its merry way this festive season…

One Week Before

To truly get your skin in the right frame of mind for partying, you have to start looking after it early. A good week in advance, in fact. Of course, we know you have a great and consistent skincare routine up your sleeves, period, but there are three things you should really concentrate on in the week up to a big do.

1. Chemical Exfoliation

A great way to kick-start your skin into looking more plump, energized and fresh, is to embrace exfoliating acids. These are the AHAs, BHA and PHAs of the world and include powerhouses like glycolic, salicylic and lactic acids.

Try applying 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant daily to cleansed skin to help boost cellular turnover, improve collagen synthesis and give sluggish skin a real kick in the booty.

2. Facial Massage

A simple facial massage is awesome for improving lymphatic drainage and blood flow. It gets everything moving thus helping to remove toxins while boosting nutrients and oxygen to the surface of the skin – super important for the party season when salty snacks and boozy beverages zap all the life from your skin. Simply work your hands all over your face and neck while cleansing each morning and night, taking your time to lift and smooth the skin in circular motions. You could also invest in a face roller or gua sha tool if they’re your jam.

3. Energizing Serum

While we wouldn’t suggest doubling up on your coffee intake (ever!), adding topical caffeine to your skincare routine will do your complexion all sorts of favors. An incredible antioxidant and with lots of anti-inflammatory powers, caffeine is a fantastic way to counteract all those free radicals that stress, lack of sleep and a poor diet produces. Gold star right there.

Caffeine also energizes your skin by tightening the blood vessels and stimulating circulation. Say hello to brighter, firmer skin and less puffiness and under eye bags as an added bonus. Get involved by applying Caffeine Facial Serum to your skin morning and night.

The Night Before

Big night out tomorrow? Then the following are some super effective ways to ensure your skin is clean, clear, beautifully hydrated and ready to partay!

1. Double Cleanse

We’re not massive fans of double cleansing – it just seems a bit excessive, as a rule. However, do it gently and on the odd occasion, and it can truly help to give your skin a proper ‘clear out,’ leaving you with a smooth foundation for some serious party makeup (if that’s your thing, of course!).

To double cleanse with success, first use an oil-based makeup cleanser to remove makeup, sebum and any other oily stuff from your skin. Then, go for a water-based cleanser to get rid of other surface debris while boosting your complexion with skin-loving ingredients like vitamin C, minerals, aloe vera or plant extracts. We love Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser for a party season detox.

2. Facial Steam

Steaming your face increases perspiration to help remove toxins and boosts blood flow to get oxygen and lots of nutrients flowing to your skin. Win-win. What’s more it’s arguably the easiest and cheapest (aka: free!) way to give yourself the results of a spa-like facial in the comfort of your own home.

Simply place your face over a bowl of recently boiled water (although not freshly boiled, that’ll be too hot!). Place a towel over your head to trap in the steam and hold your face over the surface of the water without getting too close for about 10 minutes. Just remember to always follow with moisturizer. Speaking of which…

3. Layered Hydration

Before bed, baby your skin with as much hydration as it will take – without overloading it with heavy coats of rich creams that might block your pores, of course. That can be disastrous. The best way to crush this? With layers. First up, smooth on a moisture-magnet serum like Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum then wait a few seconds before applying moisturizer over the top. We have tons to choose from but a current favorite comes in the form of Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream which contains skin-reviving bakuchiol (just like retinol, but gentler on the skin!), plus snow algae to boost radiance and protect your skin from any party stress factors!

The Day Of

OK, it’s crunch time. Hopefully, if you’ve kept to your routine and added in a few choice extras, your skin is ready to glow – who needs makeup, anyway!? However, if you still need a little pick-me-up, try these last-minute glow-getting tricks.

1. A Morning Scrub

First things first: don’t overdo it with the exfoliation, people. If you’ve been applying a chemical exfoliant in the run-up to party time, a facial scrub might be a tad excessive. However, if you’ve not had time to get ahead of the exfoliation game, a face scrub is game-changing for instantly smoother, brighter-looking skin. Grab our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub as a matter of urgency, and smooth it all over your face and neck, using gentle circular motions to work it all over.

2. Vitamin C

We rate very little above topical vitamin C when it comes to rejuvenating ingredients that get the job done. So, apply the best vitamin C money can buy after cleansing  and feel smug in the knowledge that your skin has started off the day right. Sure, it may end the day a little tipsy and full of sugar and salt, but at least you started well and, hey, we have just as many great tricks for hungover skin as we do for party prepping!

Try our Vitamin C Super Serum+ for a punchy pack of skin brightening goodness.

3. Ice Globes

A favorite with makeup artists for prepping celebrities’ skin for red carpet events, ice globes are glass or metal wands that have balls on the ends and are kept in the fridge or freezer. They're kind of like rubbing ice cubes all over your skin without the watery mess or potential skin damage.

Awesome for depuffing the eye area, ice globes also work wonders on facial redness, inflammation and sluggish skin. Cleanse your skin first, then apply serum before working them over the skin for 10 minutes or so. Use upwards movements to lift your skin and add radiance, or downwards strokes to encourage lymphatic drainage and reduce swelling. But make sure you don’t press too hard as this could drag and damage your skin. 

Finish with moisturizer and you are ready to, well, get ready!