Why A New Year Calls For New Skin

Collagen is one of, if not the most important building blocks of your skin. But what’s the deal with collagen loss and can skincare really help put back what’s gone? Here’s everything we know…

If you’re here, you’re probably semi-interested in your skin and how it works. And if that’s the case you’ll know a little bit about collagen and the role it plays in the overall health of your skin. Hint: it’s a LOT.

But how much do you really know about collagen? Like, what happens as you age? And what collagen in skincare truthfully means?

Interested to up your collagen knowledge (ooh, try saying that three times in a row after a few pinots!)? Then read on for the full intel…

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the whole of your body and it’s made up of a combination of amino acids. While there are many different types of collagen, there are only four main variants, and of these, just one (type I) accounts for a whopping 90 percent of your body’s collagen levels.

Collagen is found in the body’s connective tissues and it has a kind of dense, fiber-like structure which acts like ‘glue’ to make these tissues strong, supple and resilient. You’ll find collagen in your bones, muscles, teeth and blood, but it’s most prevalent in your skin where it’s produced just beneath the surface in the dermis.

How Does Aging Affect Collagen?

When you’re young, your skin is awash with lots of delicious collagen which keeps it soft, strong, plump and wrinkle-free. However, once you hit your 20s, you start to produce around 1-1.5 percent less collagen every year. This is what’s known as intrinsic aging and it’s what causes the inevitable thinning and weakening of your skin you literally have no control over.

Of course, there are plenty of other factors at play here, too. Your lifestyle, your diet, how much sleep you get and your levels of stress all work to deplete collagen in your skin. Then, there’s the environmental stuff like pollution and UV damage that cause collagen-damaging free radicals. All this you can control and it’s what’s known in the biz as extrinsic aging.

So, Can You Slow Down The Rate At Which Your Skin Loses Collagen?

Yes and no. Intrinsic aging is a done deal and unless you’ve invented some kind of Back To The Future style DeLorean, you can’t alter time. But you can control all the other factors. The sun is the biggest player and responsible for around 80 percent of extrinsic aging, so you must protect your skin from UV damage every day by applying an antioxidant like Vitamin C Facial Serum followed by sunscreen with broad-spectrum coverage.

Getting a great night’s sleep, not smoking and reducing emotional stress are also super important. And so is your diet. Sugar and refined carbs can really screw up collagen synthesis so try to avoid these. Instead, up your intake of antioxidant-rich fruit and veggies and ensure you get plenty of protein as this helps your body produce more quality collagen in order to maintain firmer, younger-looking skin.

Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, beans and tofu are real BFFs for quality collagen production.

What’s The Deal With Collagen In Skincare?

Experts are divided as to whether applying skincare containing collagen really works. The issue is that collagen is a large, very complex molecule making it pretty hard to penetrate the skin when applied topically. Hydrolyzed collagen (which is collagen that’s been broken down into peptides) may absorb more easily, but the jury’s still out.

If you're not convinced, stick with skincare ingredients that work to increase your own rate of collagen production, rather than to apply topical, synthetic collagen. Ingredients like retinol, MSM and vitamin C have all been studied and proven to stimulate your skin’s natural collagen production and inhibit its breakdown. Retinol, in particular, has been used for decades and has an awesome track record when it comes to upping your collagen levels.

Try Retinol Facial Serum or Vitamin C Super Serum +. And of course, don’t forget that super important sun protection to reduce the formation of free radicals in your skin and consequently decrease your risk of collagen damage. 

Finally, What About Collagen Drinks & Supplements?

There's not a huge amount of evidence to support whether collagen shots or supplements can realistically make your lines and wrinkles disappear. Some research papers point to them having definite potential, but other experts believe that by the time the collagen has been ingested, digested and made its way into your bloodstream its potency and quantity could be somewhat lacking.

Again, hydrolyzed collagen supplements seem to have potential as studies show these to be more easily absorbed by your body. 

Our advice for maintaining quality collagen for as long as you possibly can? Go for a healthy diet, use daily sun protection and apply antioxidants and retinol on the reg. 

 

 

 

 

Cleaning up your beauty act requires very little time and effort. All it takes are a few tweaks to the ingredients you use in your daily routine. Simple.

According to studies carried out by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the average woman uses around 12 cosmetic products a day. Sounds about right, doesn’t it? But the problem is, these products equate to a staggering 168 chemicals and contaminants that could be potentially harming your skin, your health and even the planet.

Now, we don’t know about you, but we’re not down with exposing ourselves and our precious world to so many chemicals on the reg when, frankly, we don’t have to. So, here, we talk you through some of the nastiest ingredients you should put on your beauty blacklist.

Oh, and public service announcement: you won’t find any of these ingredients in your TruSkin products. Not one. So, if you’re looking for a very lazy but super effective way to get a cleaner skincare routine, we’ve got your back.

Now let's get to it. Beauty bad boys, it’s time to stand up and be accountable

1. Parabens

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 20 years, you’ll know that parabens are a major no-no on your ingredients label. In theory, they sound like a great idea because they act like preservatives to prevent gross stuff like bacteria, mold and fungi from growing in your beauty products. However, while considered safe by the FDA, research suggests that parabens such as butyl, methyl and propyl parabens can be linked to hormone disruption, fertility and reproduction problems, even cancer.

The good news is we use small concentrations of alternative preservatives like ethylhexylglycerin and phenoxyethanol which are safer and much kinder to your skin and health.

2. Sulfates

Just like parabens, sulfates will undoubtedly be familiar to you for their notorious bad press in recent years. And sorry, sulfates, but we agree with every word of it, you’re nasty and unnecessary.

The thing about sulfates such as sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) is they’re known irritants. Yes, they work extremely hard to clean your skin and hair by lathering up and removing oil, dirt and product residue. But they can cause all manner of problems for your eyes and skin including dryness, itching, redness and breakouts. Claims from the early ‘90s that sulfates were carcinogenic have since been disproven, so that’s something. But still, we say a big fat ‘no’ across all of our products.

Instead, we use milder, non-drying surfactants like disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate and disodium 2-sulfolaurate in our Vitamin C and Charcoal cleansers. Because we care about your skin as much as we care about our own.

3. Phthalates

Be wary if you ever see DEP, DBP or DEHP on your ingredients list. While deemed safe by the FDA, these phthalates are not cool, according to the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics.

Often found in makeup, nail polish, cleansers and moisturizing lotions, phthalates are chemical compounds used as solvents, fixatives and fragrance stabilizers. Many experts believe phthalates cause reproductive and fertility problems and they’re actually banned from cosmetics in the EU which should be enough of a red flag, right there.

4. Hydroquinone

No harmful beauty ingredient list would be complete without the oh-so-controversial hydroquinone getting a brief mention. It’s completely banned in Europe, Australia and Japan and, as of September 2020, also became banned in over-the-counter products here in the US. Not only that, but all prescription hydroquinone products must now be approved by the FDA.

Hydroquinone is a skin bleaching chemical that inhibits melanin production to help fade dark spots and discolorations. It’s effective, boy is it effective. However, it can also be super irritating, thin your skin and may even make dark spots worse if it’s not used with the utmost of care. 

5. Silicones

There are hundreds of different silicones used in skincare and, while they might not be toxic, they have occlusive properties and therefore have the potential to build up on the surface of your skin. Not great for oily or acne-prone skin types for a start.

Silicones are also non-biodegradable which means there are gazillions of silicone microparticles being washed down the drain and into our oceans and wildlife on a daily basis.

It's still unclear exactly how detrimental silicones are to the environment, but we’re not willing to take the risk just to produce skincare that ‘feels good’ when you apply it. Plus, we think ours feel pretty darn amazing on your skin anyway, thanks, in part, to sustainable, natural oils like sweet almond and avocado oils. You'll find both of these in our Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream.

6. PFAS

Otherwise known as polyfluoroalkyl (or perfluoroalkyl) substances, PFASs are synthetic chemicals used in cosmetics to condition, soften and smooth or add shine to your skin or hair. They’re also formulated in things like waterproof mascara, to help repel water. Teflon is a common PFAS. Yes, the stuff used to make nonstick pans. Eesh.

There've been very few studies on PFA substances as skincare ingredients meaning the jury’s still out on whether they’re harmful to your skin and your health. However, the EWG reckons PFASs are ‘among the most worrisome’ of chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products and have the potential to pollute ‘people, animals, drinking water and the environment.’

If that worries you – and we believe it should – be wary of any beauty ingredient that has the word ‘fluoro’ in it. These are all PFA substances.

7. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is banned in many countries and highly restricted in Europe and Canada due to its links with cancer and potential to harm your immune system. While historically used as a preservative, it’s pretty unlikely you’ll see formaldehyde in your skincare these days as it’s become a well-known toxic ingredient that manufacturers prefer to avoid. Phew.

However, there are many other preservatives still in use that slowly release formaldehyde when applied to your skin. Not cool. Look out for, and avoid, ingredients like quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, bromopol and glyoxal. 

Now, you can better understand what you put on your body. And reap the benefits of better skin and a cleaner conscience into the bargain. 

 

 

 

Because if your routine is all over the place, your skin could easily end up in the exact same boat.

Do you love your skin? And we’re not talking about your so-called imperfections because you’d be kind of weird if you truly loved your dark spots, lines and pimples. No, what we’re actually talking about is your skin as a whole. That massive and super important organ which accounts for around 15 percent of your entire body weight, covers an average of 20 square feet and is your body’s first line of defense against the world and everything it throws at you.

Understanding your skin and coming to terms with the fact that it may not be what it used to be is the first step to loving your complexion. And the second? Working diligently every single day to help protect, treat and maintain what you now have.

We believe that looking after your skin with a consistent regime is the single most important way to help balance your skin, prevent acne, treat dryness, reduce the visible effects of aging and so on and so forth. By sticking to a routine that includes gentle cleansing, targeted treatments, smart moisturizing and, of course, that all-important sun protection, you can rest assured you’re doing everything you can to manage the effects of time. And by doing this you automatically maximize your skin’s full potential. Which is all you can ask for, right?

So, how do you know what’s the correct routine for you? Well, first you need to understand your skin type.

What’s Your Skin Type?

Sure, you may have days when your skin feels oilier than others, but do you honestly have oily skin? And yes, your skin may feel a little irritated sometimes (don’t we all!), but is it genuinely sensitive?

To work out your true skin type, wash your face with a mild cleanser, then pat it dry and leave it completely bare for an hour or so. After this time, study it in the mirror and feel it with clean hands. If it feels tight and a little itchy it’s dry; if it looks shiny and feels greasy – especially around your t-zone – it’s oily; if it’s a bit of both it’s combination and if it looks the same as it did an hour ago – ie: peachy keen – then we hate you (jokes) because you’ve been blessed with the much-coveted normal skin.

Once you know your skin inside out, you can then tailor a smart routine that caters for both your skin type and your current concerns. Trust us, this knowledge is worth its weight in gold.

How To Build An Awesome Skincare Routine

Here’s how to nail the five most important steps…

1. Cleansing

No matter your skin type, gentle is always the way to go when it comes to cleansing your skin. Choose products that are free of irritating ingredients like sulfates, phthalates, silicones and bad alcohols, and make sure you cleanse every morning and night – without fail. Your skin is subject to all manner of toxins, chemicals and pollution throughout the day, not to mention the natural oils and sweat that blend with your makeup and build up on the surface of your skin. All this simply has to go before turning in for the night if you want to keep your skin clean, clear and healthy.

When you cleanse, use lukewarm water only as hot water could cause redness and irritation. Massage your face and neck (don’t forget your neck, people) using the pads of your fingers to boost blood flow and lymphatic drainage, then rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean towel. That communal hand towel the whole family uses to dry their hands? Unacceptable for the delicate skin on your face.

2. Toning

After cleansing, don’t forget to spritz your skin with toner. Long gone are the days when toners stripped your skin of every last drop of oil, claiming to be the cat’s whiskers for getting rid of acne spots but often making matters worse. Nowadays, toners are formulated to flood your skin with hydration, antioxidants, minerals, peptides, exfoliating acids, the works.

Even the most sensitive of skin can benefit from toner. Take our Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner, for example. This 100 percent pure and natural Moroccan rose water gently balances, hydrates, calms and heals the skin, making it ideal for all skin types, but particularly great for irritated skin.

Simply mist it all over your skin immediately after cleansing. So easy, but so effective.

3. Treating

Now’s the time to apply your eye treatment and serum. Serum should come first, straight after toning, and remember, less is more. Apply just one or two drops to your fingers, then smooth or press it all over your face and neck. Take care not to massage it in too much as serums are formulated to penetrate your skin without too much effort on your behalf.

Think about what niggles you about your complexion and choose your serum accordingly. Are you concerned with dehydration? Then something with hyaluronic acid or glycerin should be your first port of call. Perhaps you want to target the visible signs of aging. Then you can’t go wrong with retinol. Or maybe your skin is looking dull and you want to up your radiance game. Say hello to vitamin C. We have a whole team of serums just waiting to help deal with your skin woes. You’re welcome.

After applying your serum, allow it to settle for a few minutes while applying an eye cream or gel to moisturize this notoriously dry area and target issues like dark circles or puffiness. The skin around your eyes is around 10 times thinner than the rest of your face, so avoid applying your regular moisturizer here – it could overload the skin and cause irritation or bags.

Again, a tiny amount of eye treatment is plenty, so dispense just one pump between the pads of your ring fingers, then dab it gently all around your eyes, taking care not to apply too much pressure or drag the skin. Big no-no, right there.

4. Moisturizing

Give your serum and eye treatment another minute to settle before applying the next stage in your awesome routine: moisturizer. This will help avoid pilling –  those annoying balls of product that build up on the surface of your skin.

Your moisturizer should be formulated with a blend of humectants (to hydrate) plus emollients and/or occlusives (to smooth and seal in moisture) and should be targeted to your specific skin type. Look out for oil-free, gel formulations if your skin is super oily, and richer butters or balms if you’re extremely dry.

Lotions and creams are ideal for normal or combination skin types, but if they’ve been formulated cleverly they can be great all-rounders for all. Our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer, for example, is an awesome choice for hydrating, moisturizing, brightening and protecting most skin types. Same goes for Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

Apply a dime-sized amount all over your face and neck, using the palms of your hands. Start either side of your nose and sweep it out towards the hairline. Repeat this a few times, then work in the same motions over your forehead, chin, jawline and neck.

5. Protecting

Your nighttime regime is now complete. Not so for the morning because there’s one vital component missing here: sun protection. Of course, great serums and moisturizers will be packed with antioxidants to help protect your skin from sun-induced free radical damage, but you must further protect it with a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day of the year: rain or shine.

Unlike the rest of your regime, sun protection is not something you can afford to scrimp on. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a good nickel-sized dollop for your face, so don't be tight and apply it evenly and generously.

Now, Stick With It, People

You know your skin type, you’ve pinned down an awesome routine, now all that’s left to do is to stick with it. Of course, the odd lazy evening when you’re too tired to spend 10 minutes on your skin is OK, but try to keep up with a consistent routine as much as you can. And no matter how tired you are, at least cleanse and moisturize your precious skin before bed.

Your skin will thank you for it, we promise.

 

 

 

Antioxidant-packed Virgin Mary, anyone? Your skin says ‘hells yeah!’

Boozy nights are all well and good, but sometimes a ‘night off’ is just what the doctor ordered. Whatever your tipple, the truth is simple: as delicious and Insta-worthy as they may be, cocktails are real bad for your skin.

For starters, alcohol is a toxin. It’s inflammatory, extremely dehydrating and also screws up your sleep. Cue redness, dull skin, dryness, irritation, fine lines, maybe even a breakout or two. Dang.

Next up, let’s talk about the sugar content of most cocktails which, more often than not, is super high. A mojito, for example, contains about two tablespoons of sugar, so if you sip on a couple of those of an evening? Well, that’s a whole lot of bad news for your skin. You see, overloading your body with sugar accelerates the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in your skin. AGEs – if the name wasn’t enough of a clue – kill your radiant, youthful complexion by doing a real number on collagen and elastin, causing dryness, exacerbating fine lines, deepening wrinkles and generally giving your skin an overall look of bleurghness.

Finally, there’s the salt that comes with certain cocktails like the classic Margarita. Salt is another inflammatory that robs your skin of moisture by sucking all the water out of it. This is hell on your barrier function and further exacerbates everything you don’t want your skin to be – namely dry, dehydrated, sensitive and itchy.

Thinking twice about your seventh alcohol-fueled, sugar-heavy cocktail in a row? Then indulge yourself with a skin-loving mocktail instead. Even better, throw your own mocktail party and try your hand at being a mixologist master with some of our favorite healthy sips. That way you can leave the bad stuff alone and pack your drinks with ingredients that might actually do your complexion some good. Trust us, your skin will be SO thankful the morning after.

OK, people, cocktail shakers at the ready...

Virgin Mary

Packed with flavor and perfect for those of you who hate sticky, sweet drinks, the Bloody Mary is an absolute classic. And honestly? It tastes just as good minus the vodka. Just make sure to buy decent tomato juice that’s not laden with salt and/or sugar. And if you really want to keep the levels of salt to a minimum, go easy on the pickle juice and Worcestershire sauce, and swap out celery salt for a stick of celery. Other, than that, simply make your Virgin as you would a regular Bloody Mary – with tomato juice, lemon juice, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, hot sauce and a dash of cayenne. Delicious.

What’s In It For Your Skin?

• Tomato Juice – chock-full of minerals, vitamins A, B and C, plus lycopene which helps prevent premature aging.
• Cayenne Pepper ­– contains antioxidants and improves circulation for healthier, radiant skin.
• Celery – around 95 percent water, celery is the perfect way to hydrate from within. It’s also full of fiber, nutrients and antioxidants.

Minty Watermelon Smash

Super refreshing (and very easy on the eye thanks to its bright red color), watermelon juice is a big favorite here at TruSkin HQ. And your skin loves it, too.

Watermelon is very low in calories and around 92 percent water which makes it the most hydrating fruit out there. You could juice your own, but many supermarkets sell fresh, unadulterated watermelon juice which is just as good – and a whole lot easier when you’re entertaining. Simply pour it into a cocktail shaker with ice, add a squeeze of lemon juice and shake for 20-30 seconds. Pour it into a tall glass, then top with a little sparkling water and a fresh sprig of mint. Yum.
                                                         
What’s In It For Your Skin?

• Watermelon Juice – as well as being extremely hydrating, watermelon contains plenty of antioxidants to help reduce oxidative stress and fight the signs of premature aging.
• Lemon Juice – antibacterial and high in vitamin C, lemons help eliminate toxins to brighten tone and improve texture.

Skingria

Everyone loves a pitcher of sangria and don’t get us wrong, we love red wine – plus it's packed with antioxidants like flavonoids and resveratrol. However, it’s also a vasodilator which means it opens up your blood vessels, causes your skin to become flushed and is seriously bad news for anyone suffering with redness or rosacea. So, why not try a virgin sangria your skin will love – or a skingria, if you will?

First up, muddle some oranges and green apples (these have the lowest sugar content of the apple family, btw) with ice in a large pitcher. Then, add equal measures of freshly squeezed orange juice, pomegranate juice and caffeine-free iced black tea. Finish with a couple of slices of lemon and you are good to go.
 
What’s In It For Your Skin?

• Black Tea – rich in phytonutrients and free-radical fighting antioxidants such as catechins and polyphenols.
• Pomegranate Juice – packed with vitamin C to decrease inflammation and help reduce cellular damage.

Blood Orange Spritz

Blood orange season is December through May which makes them a winter mocktail must if you like to stick with in-season fruits and veggies. They also make for a fine-looking, jewel-colored drink that smells festive and tastes divine. Which is always a bonus.

Juice a bunch of blood oranges with ½ teaspoon of ginger powder and ½ teaspoon of turmeric, then half-fill a tumbler or an old-fashioned glass before topping with sparkling water. Add a few sprigs of rosemary and slice of orange to garnish. Cheers!
 
What’s In It For Your Skin?

• Blood Orange Juice – bursting with age-defying antioxidants such as anthocyanins, plus vitamins A and C. Fun fact: blood oranges contain 40 percent more vitamin C than regular oranges.
• Turmeric – an anti-inflammatory, turmeric contains curcumin which gives it its bright yellow color and helps combat free radicals.

Now, roll on 2022 and here's to a fabulous, hangover-free complexion in this new year!