5 Of The Most Skin-Friendly Food Swaps

When battling breakouts, what you put on your skin can make or break your complexion. So which ingredients can truly help acne-prone skin and which make matters worse? Let’s find out…

When it comes to the ingredients in your skincare routine it’s important to know if what you’re putting on your skin is doing any good. And if you suffer with oily, acne-prone skin, this is absolutely crucial. Because some ingredients can be a total dream for dry skin... but they're the absolute enemy of pimples and blackheads. They can block your pores, over-stimulate your sebaceous glands and cause all sorts of unwanted side-effects like redness and inflammation.

If you’re stuck in a bit of a breakout zone right now and are suspicious of your skincare routine, here’s a quick guide to some of our favorite breakout-busting skincare heroes… plus a list of some potential villains you'd be wise to avoid.  

5 Of The Best Skincare Ingredients For Acne

Acne occurs when an excess of sebum becomes stuck at the surface of the skin where it chokes up your pores and combines with other debris and bacteria. It makes sense, therefore, that your skincare ingredient BFFs include those that balance sebum, increase cellular turnover and reduce inflammation.

1. Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is up there as one of, if not the best ingredients for reducing the severity and frequency of acne breakouts. A beta hydroxy acid (BHA), salicylic acid is what’s known as a chemical exfoliant which means it works to break down the bonds between dead skin cells so they’re able to shed more efficiently.

But it doesn’t stop there. BHAs also have another string to their bow because unlike water-soluble AHAs like glycolic and lactic acids, they’re oil-soluble which enables them to help balance your sebaceous glands to reduce excess oil and minimize breakouts. Add to that the fact that salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and there’s very little that can beat it.

2. Tea Tree Oil

Nature also offers some incredible benefits for acne-prone skin, not least of which comes from tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil is one of the most effective oils for reducing acne breakouts because it kills certain acne-causing bacteria that sit on the surface of the skin. When that kind of bacterium gets left to its own devices, it blends with excess sebum, congests your pores and the inevitable happens lightning fast. 

By treating your skin with a thoughtfully crafted tea tree oil formula (applying it neat is not advised) it will also work to calm inflammation and minimize the other visible effects of acne, namely redness and irritation. It’s kind of like the natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide – with fewer side effects.

3. Retinol

Retinol is usually thought of as the queen of aging treatments. But it’s also fabulous for fighting acne. A derivative of vitamin A, retinol helps boost collagen and increase skin turnover. It has a similar end result to exfoliation but instead of removing dead skin cells at the surface it activates specific genes at a deep cellular level, encouraging the cells to turnover quicker and more efficiently.

Cell turnover often goes awry in acne-prone skin so retinol keeps things ticking over nicely, helping to prevent blocked pores and thus reduce breakouts and minimize scarring.

4. Bakuchiol

Say hello to bakuchiol, another effective skincare ingredient from nature. Often referred to as the natural alternative to retinol, bakuchiol is extracted from the leaves and seeds of the babchi plant and has been proven to offer almost like-for-like benefits as its vitamin A counterpart.

Is it as kick-ass as retinol? Yes and no. It’s a much milder alternative, for sure, so it definitely takes a little longer to reap the same benefits as you’d get from a similar retinol-based treatment. However, its mildness means it’s much better tolerated by sensitive skin which means it's more likely to be applied consistently.

Both are fantastic in their own special ways, so our advice? Try them both (although not at the same time!) to help you decide which is best for you.

5. Niacinamide

Active ingredients can often irritate sensitive skin so it’s important to go carefully with what you put on your skin, especially during periods of breakouts when your skin is delicate and potentially inflamed.

If your skin falls into that sensitive camp, we recommend niacinamide.

A gentle giant among the skincare greats, niacinamide (vitamin B3) is extremely effective for sensitive skin that’s prone to breakouts. Not only does it help strengthen the barrier function and regulate sebum production but it also works hard to reduce inflammation and redness while aiding repair and reducing the appearance of existing scars and discolorations. Another thing: niacinamide plays well with other acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid making it a great way to tackle things head on without causing your skin to freak out.

3 Of The Worst Skincare Ingredients For Acne

Your biggest enemies? Harsh ingredients that dry out the skin and over-stimulate the sebaceous glands. Oh, and anything that ranks high on the comedogenicity scale. More on that to follow…

1. ‘Bad’ Alcohols

Certain alcohols like cetyl and stearyl alcohols have a rightful place in the skincare world. But many of them don’t. Low molecular alcohols like denatured alcohol (aka alcohol denat), ethanol and isopropyl alcohol, for example, are really no good – for any skin type. They can be super irritating and extremely drying on the skin which has the reverse effect on oily skin types, making the sebaceous glands produce even more oil to overcompensate for that which has been lost. When your skin produces too much sebum it clogs up your pores… and the rest is history.

2. Heavy Occlusives Like Cocoa Butter

While excellent at moisturizing, occlusives are ingredients that form a protective barrier over the surface of the skin, trapping in water and keeping dry skin moisturized. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, however, occlusives are the absolute enemy because their thick, waxy composition makes them comedogenic. This means they have the potential to plug the pores and encourage pimples as quick as a flash. Other occlusives include mineral oil, coconut oil, beeswax and lanolin. Don’t go there.

3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

Have you ever been so good at something that it's seen as a disadvantage? No? Well, that’s exactly what SLS – and its buddy SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) – is. As two of the most powerful cleansers around, these sulfates clean so well that they often strip all the goodness from your skin which disrupts the skin’s protective barrier. This can leave your skin feeling squeaky clean, for sure, but also completely parched. Even irritated and inflamed. We do not advise them for skin that breaks out. The good news is, our cleansers contain neither. 

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.

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.

If you’re a fan of a downward-facing dog you might also be intrigued by face yoga. Read on for everything we know about exercising and stretching your face in the bid for glowing skin.

Face yoga has become a real thing in the last ten years or so. Thanks to social media and a whole host of A-list celebrities touting their love of facial exercising, it’s now commonplace to spend 20 minutes each day stretching the skin around your eyebrows and making lion faces in the mirror.

But does this natural approach to youthful-looking skin really work or are there better ways to spend 20 minutes on your skin? Let’s do a little face yoga digging…

What Exactly Is Face Yoga?

If you know anything about yoga, you’ll understand that this ancient Indian practice is all about combining physical postures, stretches and breathing techniques to help build strength and flexibility while boosting your mental wellbeing. Face yoga follows a similar philosophy but instead of concentrating on the whole body, it targets the muscles of the face and neck.

The practice involves performing repetitive movements, exercises and exaggerated stretches to strengthen, tone and relax the facial muscles. What’s the point, you may wonder? Well, the point is to improve the overall health of your skin to help boost radiance, enhance skin tone, refine skin texture and reduce the appearance fine lines and wrinkles.

What Are The Key Benefits Of Face Yoga?

Your face contains more than 50 different muscles which, as you age, naturally lose mass, strength and volume. Face yoga aims to build these muscles back up again to help them function more efficiently and therefore enhance skin health. It’s like bodybuilding. Or facebuilding, if you will. 

Specifically, face yoga is said to benefit the skin in five primary ways:

1. Muscle Strength. By building muscle back into the underlaying areas of your skin, face yoga is said to help fill in the contours of the face and tighten, sculpt and firm the skin.

2. Better Blood Flow. Exercising and stretching the face and neck increases circulation which brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin, aiding healing and improving radiance.

3. Stress Reduction. Just like traditional yoga practices, face yoga is said to tap into the parasympathetic nervous system which helps reduce emotional stress. And as you know, stress can be a killer on the look and feel of your skin.

4. Enhanced Lymphatic Drainage. Certain massaging techniques are believed to stimulate the lymphatic system which can help reduce puffiness, sluggish skin and bags under the eyes.

5. Efficient Cell Turnover. Regular massage may help accelerate cell turnover which naturally slows down as the skin ages. This helps minimize things like dullness, blocked pores and rough texture.

Is There Any Proof That Face Yoga Actually Works?

There’s not a huge amount of research to back up the efficacy of facial yoga but it’s so closely related to regular yoga that we believe there’s probably something in it. One of the few trials we could find studied a bunch of 40-65 year olds who partook in 30 minutes of daily face yoga for eight weeks, then continued practicing every other day for a total of 20 weeks. Unfortunately, this study included just 16 participants but, still, results showed modest improvements in their facial appearance, specifically in the cheek area. Experts also agreed that it seemed to shave an average of three years off the look of their skin.

Not bad, right?

Is Face Yoga For You?

Face yoga is safe for most people. However, experts recommend erring on the side of caution if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin as the extra strain on your skin can cause irritation. Also, if you have dermal fillers, regular facial exercises may compromise their longevity, so check with your dermatologist before starting any kind of face yoga routine.

One of the best things about face yoga is that it requires no needles… and it’s free! Of course, it’ll never give you the same results as Botox or fillers, but if you have realistic expectations and are looking to boost your skincare routine with a natural alternative it’s definitely worth a go. Just remember, you will need to be willing to set aside 20-30 minutes at least three or four times a week.

3 Popular Face Yoga Exercises To Try At Home

There are plenty of YouTube video and apps available to help guide you through your face yoga journey, but here are a few basic moves you can easily do at home. Some of them require a hands-on approach so ensure you cleanse your hands and face first. You can also apply moisturizer for a little extra slip. 

1. The Lion’s Pose

This is a fabulous face stretch which helps tone the skin around your eyes and jawline. It’s also super easy. From a seated position, make yourself as small as possible, scrunching up your entire being from head to toe. Then breathe out, open your arms wide, stretch your legs, stick out your tongue and widen your eyes. Basically make yourself as big as possible, then relax and repeat 5-10 times.

2. The Cheek Workout

A great one for toning and firming the cheek area. Start by smiling as wide as you can, making sure you lift the cheeks as you do so. Then simply close your eyes and hold this position for 15 seconds. Relax and repeat 15 times.

3. The Forehead Smoother

Place both hands flat on your forehead, spreading your fingers wide so they span your entire forehead from brows to hairline. Apply light pressure, then sweep your fingers outwards to the sides of your head. Hold for a few seconds then relax and repeat 10 times.

Our Take On Face Yoga

When it comes to deciding on the best route to take for healthier skin, we firmly believe that you should always do you. Whether you choose to stick with a consistent skincare routine, incorporate facial yoga into your daily regime or explore other cosmetic procedures, the key is to find whatever supports your lifestyle, budget and skin health goals.

Face yoga is unlikely to have a detrimental effect on your skin (although some experts believe that if you perform repeated exercises incorrectly, they may have the potential to make fine lines more noticeable – eek!), so if you want to try it, go nuts. Just remember, evidence-based skincare ingredients like retinol, vitamin C and peptides alongside a consistent routine form the true foundation of healthy skin.