True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Retinol is one of the best ingredients for your skin, battling the signs of visible aging like no other skincare ingredient can even dream of doing. But it needs to be used consistently for the best results. So, if you’re of the opinion that retinol should be packed away in the summer, we’re here to change that.

When it comes to skincare powerhouses, retinol is top of the class. Ask any derm, skincare expert, A-lister or influencer and they will all agree it’s the gold standard in anti-aging ingredients. 

Derived from vitamin A and a gentle cousin to retinoic acid (otherwise known as tretinoin), retinol has this clever way of getting under your skin to communicate with important proteins like collagen and elastin. This stimulates their production and kick-starts them to do their jobs more efficiently and more effectively, speeding up cell turnover and helping to improve your skin’s tone and texture. Retinol also helps fade sun spots and boosts the production of blood vessels in the skin to enhance radiance. Gotta love that.

But retinol isn’t just an anti-aging whizz kid. Studies prove that retinol also has anti-inflammatory powers which makes it a very effective anti-acne treatment, keeping pores clean, clear, bacteria-free and therefore stopping your skin from breaking out like a hormonal teenager’s.

So, why is retinol often perceived as something to be wary of in the summer months? Well, it’s a little bit misunderstood. Most people think retinol is unsafe during the daytime because it makes your skin extremely sensitive to the sun. Which is kind of true… but not really.

The hard truth is that retinol itself is not sun sensitizing. We’ll just let that sink in for a minute...

NOT sun sensitizing? So, why the myth? Well, it does thin the very top layer of your skin (the stratum corneum) which is why it’s a bit of a bummer when it comes to reducing your skin’s ability to protect itself from UV radiation. But, to be honest this is why it’s so effective at controlling acne and reducing the signs of aging.

The main reason retinol is usually formulated into night treatments is not because of what it does to your skin in the sun, but the fact that it can become deactivated by sunlight. When a skincare ingredient becomes deactivated it doesn’t particularly harm your skin, per se, it simply becomes less effective. And retinol is such a fabulously effective ingredient, this is exactly the opposite of what you want.

So, how can you make the most of your retinol treatment this summer? Here are five things to bear in mind…

1. Summer Is Actually A Great Time To Start Applying Retinol

Many people experience increased dryness and sensitivities in the winter, which makes summer a much better season to introduce retinol into your routine. Summer equals more humidity and this extra moisture in the air helps keep your skin healthier, more hydrated and better equipped to start getting used to such a powerhouse of a skincare ingredient. Take that non-believers.

2. However, Retinol Can Cause Irritation – Any Time Of The Year

It’s true, retinol can irritate your skin come rain or shine, so you should always do a patch test before introducing it into your routine. Then, once you’ve established your skin can tolerate it, go low and slow.

Start with a moisturizer as these are usually less potent than treatment serums. Our Retinol Moisturizer is great for retinol newbies as it cleverly blends retinol with hyaluronic acid (HA) to hydrate your skin and help fend off flaky or peeling skin, which often occurs with regular use of retinol. If your skin is super sensitive you can even get away with alternating Retinol Moisturizer with our equally-as-awesome Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer. It'll still have a great impact on the look and feel of your skin.

3. Retinol Serum Is Perfect For Balmy Summer Evenings

Can’t bear heavy night creams when the mercury is rising and your bedroom feels hotter than the surface of the sun? Yeah, we hear you girl. And this is when our Retinol Facial Serum comes to the rescue.

Blended with HA and vitamin E for hydration and extra healing qualities, we call this our go-to-summertime serum because it’s super lightweight and absorbs into your skin in seconds so you can get some valuable beauty sleep without feeling like your face is totally suffocating. Even though it’s perfectly safe to use in the morning, UV light can destabilize retinol and diminish its effectiveness, so you’re always better off using it a night. Apply it two or three times a week (after patch testing first, of course) to freshly cleansed skin, then follow with moisturizer.

4. You MUST Go Heavy On The Sunscreen

The powerful rays of the sun, coupled with retinol’s potent, thin-skinning actions are asking for trouble if you don’t wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. We’re talking dryness, redness, itching, burning and worse. So, make sure you protect your skin carefully and regularly.

Around half a teaspoon of sunscreen is recommended for your face and you should reapply the same amount every two hours if you’re spending all day in the sun. Also, try to spend as much time with your face in the shade and wear a large-brimmed hat and good quality sunnies that block both UVA and UVB radiation for an added safety net.

5. Stop Using Retinol If Your Face Gets Sunburned 

As previously mentioned, retinol thins the outermost layer of your skin which increases your chances of sunburn. However, as long as you take care to protect your skin, this should rarely, if ever happen. If you do get caught short, stop applying your retinol products immediately – and in fact any active ingredients including exfoliating acids. Instead, use super gentle cleansing products and soothing moisturizers only for at least a week or until your skin heals.

You see, due diligence and a bit of common sense is all it takes to crush an awesome retinol routine.

All. Year. Round.

Dark, under-eye circles getting your goat? Facial redness seriously starting to cheese you off? Then it’s time to take action against these common skin concerns. And thankfully, we know how… 

What’s your skin hangup, because we know you have one? Maybe even more than one. Come on, even the most perfectly porcelained among you will have something you hate about your skin. And yes, even if it is the tiniest of lines between your brows that nobody else notices, but you see EVERY TIME you look in the mirror.

When it comes to taking care of annoying skin issues like lines, wrinkles, acne and dark spots, a regular skincare routine doesn’t usually cut the mustard. But all it takes is that one awesome product to take your regime to a whole other level.

Here, we take a look at eight of the most common skin concerns you might face… plus what to do to minimize their effects on your skin – and your mental wellbeing.

1. Redness

Severe facial flushing can be caused by anything from rosacea and psoriasis through to eczema and seasonal allergies. And the most important thing here is not to even try to self-diagnose. Rosacea, for example, is often mistaken for acne which can lead to nothing short of disastrous results for your skin. So, first up, visit a skin specialist straight away to talk through your symptoms and treatment options.

If you think your skin is red due to harsh cleansing or irritation from potent actives in your skincare, you should also pare back your routine. Remove a facial serum from your regime for a few weeks and see if this helps. Or switch up your cleanser to a gentler formulation that avoids parabens, sulfates or harsh fragrances. This will help you understand if there’s a certain ingredient your skin has taken offense to. Rose Water Refreshing Toner is also a great shout for calming and soothing irritation.

2. A Shiny T-Zone

Excess shine around your nose, chin and forehead is due to too many overactive sebaceous glands in your skin which produce an excess of oil. And while shiny hair and shiny lips are all well and good, a slick face? Not so much.

The best ways to control excess shine are to avoid oil-heavy moisturizers, invest in some salicylic acid which cuts through oil like no other ingredient, and cleanse regularly, but gently, using a detoxifying ingredient like charcoal.

Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser is just the guy for the job here. Containing activated coconut charcoal, it not only draws out toxins from your skin but also mops up excess sebum while it’s at it. Thankfully, it also contains aloe, glycerin and non pore-clogging lavender oil to keep your skin hydrated and balanced while it works it’s wonders. Because we're smart like that.

3. Dark Circles & Bags Around Your Eyes

Puffiness and dark, under-eye circles generally form as you age, when your skin loses collagen and therefore weakens and sags. Why is the area under your eyes so susceptible to aging? Because the skin here is thin, fragile and lacks fat and muscle to support it.

Dark circles are usually hereditary, but both conditions can be exacerbated by sun damage, cruddy sleep, stress, dehydration and irritation, so your first step to clearer, smoother eyes is to make better lifestyle choices. Our top three pieces of advice? Wear sunglasses outside, sleep with your head elevated and add a topical eye treatment to your daily routine. Peptide Eye Gel is the nuts for tackling dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles around your eyes.

4. Visible Pores

Your pore size is another skin grievance that’s determined by genetics and newsflash: it’s physically impossible to shrink them – even though many skincare manufacturers would like you to believe otherwise.

However, by keeping your skin healthy, strong and supple, you can definitely improve the look of enlarged pores. Of course, protecting your skin from the sun is super important as UV rays break down collagen and compromise the structure of your skin. Therefore always wear a lightweight sunscreen and introduce antioxidants into your regime to further boost your protection.

You should also look out for gentle cleansers and toners containing salicylic or glycolic acid as these boost cellular turnover and help remove dead skin cells which can hang around on the surface of your skin and block your pores. Try Ocean Minerals Super Toner which contains glycolic acid along with MSM and our favorite antioxidant, vitamin C.

5. Cracked, Flaky Skin

Cracked, flaky skin is usually a result of dryness (or eczema, of course). Dry skin is hereditary, caused by a lack of natural sebum and is not to be confused with dehydration which is due to a lack of water in the skin and can affect any skin type – dry, normal, oily, you name it.

The best way to look after dryness and cracked skin is to treat it super carefully. Avoid harsh chemicals in your skincare and never wash your face in hot water which compromises your barrier function and depletes essential fatty acids and lipids from the surface of your skin. 

It’s also a great idea to include occlusive or emollient ingredients in your skincare to help repair and smooth over cracks and reduce moisture loss. Our Vitamin C Night Cream contains some of the best emollients including cocoa butter, beeswax and botanical oils like jojoba, rosehip and evening primrose oil.

6. Frown Lines

You might be applying the best eye treatment to the lines around your eyes, but what about those pesky 11 lines that lurk right between your eyebrows? What can you do about those – without having to resort to a syringe full of Botox, of course?

Frown lines are caused by the natural loss of collagen and elastin as you age, coupled with repeated facial expressions like raising your eyebrows, squinting and frowning.

Facial yoga can be an effective way to combat a crinkly forehead. A great one is to open your eyes as wide as possible – without wrinkling your forehead – then stare at the horizon for 10 seconds, relax and repeat five times.

Of course, the usual suspects of stress, excessive sun exposure and pollution also play their part, so protect your skin with SPF and antioxidant serums. We recommend our super-powered Vitamin C Super Serum+ which is packed to the brim with antioxidant favorites like vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and retinol.

7. Hormonal Acne

Acne is the most common skin condition in the US and can affect any one of us, at any time in our lives. Research shows that hormonal acne, which makes you break out while dealing with hormonal fluctuations during your periods or the menopause, affects 25 percent of women in their forties and a massive 50 percent of women in their twenties.

Retinol is an awesome ingredient for treating and controlling mild hormonal acne because it boosts cell turnover which helps slough off dead skin cells and prevents your pores from becoming blocked. Retinol can be pretty potent, remember, so introduce Retinol Facial Serum slowly into your routine and always perform a patch test first.

If your hormonal acne is severe and manifests itself through deep, cystic bumps, oral medications might prove more effective.

8. Dark Spots

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sun damage is the most common cause of dark spots which usually appear on your face, hands, shoulders and/or arms – yes, the areas that are most often exposed to sunlight. It goes without saying, therefore, that if you limit your time in the sun, and protect your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen every time you step outside, you’ll dramatically reduce your chances of developing sun-related dark spots. But you knew that.

Retinol, vitamin C and AHAs such as glycolic acid are also fabulous for dealing with minor, surface-level discolorations. Vitamin C has even been proven to prevent future dark spots from developing, so you’ve simply got to add Vitamin C Facial Serum to your daily routine if dark spots are your thing. And you really don’t want them to be…

When it comes to nailing selfie-ready skin it’s all about enhancing your skin to make it look and feel its absolute best. Who needs filters, anyway, right?

Whether you’re battling with redness or fed up with eye bags the size of a small country, here are five ways to make sure your skin is selfie-ready at all times.

1. Combat Redness

Red, blotchy skin can totally kill your otherwise Insta-ready complexion. And while we understand it’s hard to control certain flare-ups like alcohol-induced rosacea or hot, flushed skin, one of the most important pieces of advice for keeping redness under control is to cut back on your skincare regime. Yeah, we know that sounds like crazy talk from a company whose entire existence is based on selling skincare. But we care about your skin and don’t want you to suffer the consequences of a 17-step K-Beauty-style routine, when you could get the same (in fact, better) results from just three or four carefully chosen products.

If you think your redness is a sign of irritation from potent, active ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid or vitamin C, go back to basics with a gentle cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine. Our Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner, for example, is ideal for calming and soothing sensitive skin – what’s more it’s great for carrying in your purse for a cooling, refreshing spritz of hydration whenever you’re on-the-go.

2. Reduce Shine

Facial blotting papers are genius for instant oil mop-ups, but for a more permanent way to keep excess sebum under control, you’re going to need to get some balance in your skincare regime.

Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser is a total score for mopping up oil without stripping your skin of essential hydration, so this is a good place to start. Then, after cleansing, you’re going to love Ocean Minerals Super Toner. Packed with mattifying witch hazel, exfoliating glycolic acid, strengthening peptides and hydrating aloe it’s the perfect all-rounder for oily skin types. After spritzing this all over your clean face, apply Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. This'll help lock in water without leaving your skin feeling heavy or greasy.

3. Get Glowing

Are you always the one with tired, gray-looking skin? And, double blow, you continually find yourself photographed next to ‘that’ friend whose glowing complexion is literally lit from within? Group selfie: officially blown.

Dull skin is often a sign of poor turnover which is the natural lifecycle of your skin cells. Your skin has its own pre-programmed way of shedding millions of dead skin cells every day, but as you get older and life gets in the way, this system slows down and your skin can become sluggish, dull and dehydrated. Cue gray, sad skin. To boost cell turnover, try exfoliating your skin two or three times a week with either a gentle scrub or a chemical exfoliating treatment that contains a hydroxy acid like glycolic, lactic or salicylic. These types of acid help break down the ‘glue’ between dead skin cells so they shed more easily and pave the way for all that gorgeous fresh stuff underneath. Try a daily dose of Vitamin C Super Serum+ which not only contains salicylic acid, but vitamin C to further brighten a dull complexion.

4. Control Breakouts

While the truth is, nobody else really notices that pimple on your chin, you know it’s there and it can completely derail your selfie game. And sure, makeup can work wonders for calming red, inflamed breakouts, but you’re way better off trying to keep them under control with some deft skincare knowhow.

Acne is caused by blocked pores so keeping your pores clean and healthy is the best thing you can do here. First up, avoid products that contain occlusive ingredients because these will block your pores and cause no end of problems for the acne-prone among you. Occlusive ingredients are those rich, heavy balms, oils and butters like petroleum jelly, cocoa butter and coconut oil. These are probably things you tend to naturally steer clear of anyway, but if not, now’s the time to start.

Instead, only ever use non-comedogenic products which are way less likely to cause your pores problems. Salicylic acid is one of the best ingredients for oily skin because it boosts cell turnover and targets oils blockages to allow sebum to flow more freely to the skin’s surface. Tea Tree Super Serum+ combines salicylic acid with tea tree oil to help keep your pores clean and clear. Use it two or three times a week under a light moisturizer to keep your skin balanced, or spot treat problem areas daily.

5. Wake Up Tired Eyes

Skin on point, but eyes telling a totally different story? Nothing kills a great selfie like puffy, tired eyes – no matter how many different angles you try or filters you apply.

The best remedy for wide-awake eyes is obviously a great night’s sleep, coupled with plenty of hydration (White Claws don’t count), but if it’s too late for that, grab a couple of cold teaspoons and place these over your eyes for 10 minutes after cleansing. The cooling effect will constrict your blood capillaries while the light pressure helps drain excess fluid.

Of course, an effective eye cream, applied twice daily to clean skin will also help keep the skin around your eyes looking refreshed and youthful. Searching for an awesome all-rounder? Then allow us to introduce you to Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream which is bursting with hydrating hyaluronic acid, plus vitamins B5, C and E to help treat, heal and strengthen the delicate skin around your eyes.

Most of you will have had the displeasure of a blackhead or two at some point in your lives. Gosh, aren’t they annoying? Here’s everything you need to know about dealing with the pesky little things…

From whiteheads to full-blown pimples, acne is the worst and, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), it affects almost 50 million Americans every year. And blackheads are right up there among the things you definitely do NOT want on your skin. Puffy eyes, dark spots and saggy jowls can do one too, but they’re topics for another day…

So, blackheads. What the heck are they? And why you?

What Are Blackheads?

Also known as open comedones, blackheads are caused by overactive sebaceous glands that create way too much oil than your skin really needs. This oil sits in and blocks up dilated hair follicles where it combines with dead skin cells, opening the pore so much that it breaks through and hits the air where it oxidizes and turns black. This means that contrary to popular belief, blackheads aren’t pores filled with dirt; their dark color is simply because of their reaction with the air. So, there’s one piece of good news, at least. Oh and btw, when all this happens, but the hair follicle remains closed, the bump becomes a whitehead (or closed comedone) rather than a blackhead. The lesser of two evils? Potayto, potahto…

Blackheads are rarely painful because they’re not inflamed like regular pimples. They usually appear on your t-zone (especially on and around the nose), but they can also crop up on your back, chest, arms and shoulders. If you have oily skin, then you’re way more likely to be a blackhead sufferer, but hormonal changes during menstruation, menopause or while taking the pill can also increase oil production and your chances of developing them. And, of course, all the other culprits that send your sebaceous glands into overdrive can also play their part – hi there stress, environmental pollution and lack of sleep.

So, How Can You Win The Blackhead War?

Keeping oil production under control is the absolute key – and you can do that through a number of ways…

1. DO Use A Detoxifying Cleanser

Cleanse your skin morning, night and always after exercising to help remove oil buildup. But remember, steer clear of super harsh products that completely strip your skin and kick-start it to produce even more oil. That’s what we call a vicious circle. Instead, look for more gentle, non-irritating cleansers that help detox your skin while helping to restore balance.

Skin Clearing Charcoal Face Wash is great for this as it contains activated coconut charcoal to mop up any debris (oil included) from the skin’s surface to help decongest your pores and clarify your complexion.

2. DON’T Squeeze Your Blackheads

As tempting as it is to prod, poke and press away at your blackheads, removing them is a fine art and best left to the professionals. Unless you love causing inflammation and possible scarring of course? No, thought not.

Book yourself in for an extraction facial instead of attempting to squeeze them out at home.

3. DO Embrace Salicylic Acid

One of the most effective ingredients for tackling oil production is the mighty salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that works like a chemical exfoliator to dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells which makes them fall off to reveal the fresh, new skin underneath. Unlike alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic and lactic acids, however, salicylic acid goes one step further, penetrating deeper into your skin to target and remove excess sebum.

Our Tea Tree Clear Skin Super Serum harnesses the powers of salicylic acid, combining it with hydrating hyaluronic acid and free radical-fighting niacinamide to help unblock pores and heal your skin. It’s perfect as an all-over treatment, two or three times a week, or use it nightly to spot treat specific areas that are prone to blackheads and other breakouts.

4. DON’T Forget To Moisturize Twice Daily

Keeping your skin as balanced as possible is vital if you want to reduce oil production and maintain healthy skin. Yes, it might feel weird to put something on your skin that has the potential to block your pores, but as long as you choose wisely, your skin will be fine. In fact, more than fine: better. So, never skip moisturizer. It’s important, OK?

Just make sure to avoid occlusive ingredients which really will block your pores. Occlusives create a physical barrier on your skin’s surface to help prevent moisture loss and they’re great for dry, sensitive or dehydrated skin… but they’re terrible for oily or acne-prone skin types as they’re far too thick and heavy. Instead of occlusive ingredients like cocoa butter and mineral oils, choose formulations that contain a blend of humectants (eg. hyaluronic acid and glycerin) to draw in water and emollients (eg. jojoba oil and squalane) to seal it all in.

5. DO Apply Retinol Before Bed

Retinol is considered the cream of the crop as an anti-aging ingredient, but it’s also pretty kick-ass when it comes to tackling breakouts.

It works by speeding up cell proliferation to make dead skin cells get out of town quicker. This, of course, means retinol is ideal for helping to keep your pores clear, allowing your skin to stay smooth and blackhead-free. Not only that, but studies show retinol also has the potential to decrease sebum production. Win-win.

Retinol is a pretty potent ingredient, however, so you should always introduce it slowly into your skincare routine. After patch testing, begin applying it just once or twice a week to clean, dry skin. Then, as your skin acclimates, you can move to three or four times a week, gradually building to every night.

Finally, If your blackheads are seriously getting you down, it might be worth coupling a great skincare routine with a trip to your derm’s office. There are many powerful medications and treatments like dermabrasion and chemical peels that can help keep severe breakouts under control.

So, the moral of the story? Don’t let blackheads get you down. Simply get even.

Troubled with pimples on your chest? Annoyed by the dreaded 'bacne'? Then it’s time to take action against body breakouts once and for all. 

Body breakouts… boy, are they stressful. Even during wintertime when your skin is mostly covered by chunky sweaters, they can be painful and itchy. And come summer when you want to start exposing a little more flesh to the world? Then the whole situation becomes downright rude.

So, what causes acne on your back and chest (aka folliculitis) and is it the same as the stuff that plagues your face? Kind of. All acne, wherever it may be located, is caused by excess oils which gets trapped in your pores alongside dead skin cells where, together, they become inflamed. Depending on the level of inflammation and whether the pore remains open or closed, these blocked pores can become anything from blackheads (although these are very uncommon on the body) and whiteheads through to pimples, pustules or full-blown cysts.

Body breakouts most commonly occur on your back and chest where your skin tends to be oilier. However, sweat coupled with friction from tight-fitting clothes can irritate the skin anywhere on your body, causing pimples on your legs, arms, even your butt – yes, butt acne: also a thing.

Whether you do or don’t get plagued by breakouts depends mainly on your genes and your skin’s level of oiliness, but hormones and stress are other major factors. You can also blame COVID-19 if you’ve noticed more flare-ups during this past year than ever before. The combination of worry, being too exhausted to take care of yourself and a poor diet can all increase inflammation and breakouts in your skin. 

How To Treat Body Breakouts

Thankfully, most skin grievances come with simple solutions. And body breakouts are no exception. Below, we’ve rounded up five of the most effective – and easiest ­­– ways to get prevent and treat body acne. You can thank us later.

1. Reassess Your Cleansing Habits

As tempting as it may be to start exfoliating your body like crazy in a vain attempt to scrub those zits away, this is a terrible idea. Harsh scrubs and cleansers will irritate your skin and compromise your barrier function, making matters a whole lot worse in the long term, so file them away for now. Oh and you know those overly fragranced shower creams that feel super moisturising and luxurious? Well, they’re going to do nothing for your body breakouts. Avoid.

Instead, wash your skin gently with an oil-absorbing, balancing cleanser like Skin Clearing Charcoal Face Wash. Charcoal Face Wash contains activated charcoal which helps draw bacteria, toxins, dirt and oils from your skin making it perfect for blemish-prone areas. Cleanse your body after shampooing and conditioning your hair so your conditioner doesn’t leave residue on your skin, and use a gentle mitt or muslin cloth to help exfoliate as you cleanse.

2. Shower Immediately After Working Out

Always remove your workout clothes and take a shower immediately after exercising.

Bacteria loves sweat, so if you like sitting around drinking tea or catching up with emails after working out, this will do your body breakouts no favors at all, increasing irritation and generally giving bacteria the perfect breeding ground to do its absolute worse. To avoid this, thoroughly cleanse your skin as soon as possible, using a gentle wash that contains acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, tea tree oil or, of course, activated charcoal.

3. Moisturize

When you don’t moisturize your skin, your sebaceous glands go into overdrive, producing even more oils to counteract any dryness your skin may be experiencing. These oils will continue to block your pores and make breakouts ten times worse.

OK, so body oils and butters contain pore-clogging ingredients like coconut oil and cocoa butter which are terrible for acne-prone skin… but there are plenty of moisturizers that don’t and are perfect for balancing, soothing and repairing your skin’s barrier function. All of which are important for treating breakouts. Look for moisturizers that are non-comedogenic (this means they’re less likely to block pores) and contain light humectant and emollient ingredients which work to draw water into the skin and lock it all in. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin are especially great for oily, congested skin types. You’ll find both of these in our Retinol Moisturizer which also contains retinol (obviously!) to help boost cell turnover and reduce irritation – win-win.

4. Spot Treat Troublesome Areas

As well as sticking to a smart cleansing and moisturizing routine, try spot treating problem areas with a targeted acne solution. And good news: most products you use on your face will also work on your body. The only ingredient we don’t advise using on body acne is benzoyl peroxide as this can bleach your clothes and bed linen. However,  anything containing tea tree oil, glycolic acid, salicylic acid or lactic acid will do the job nicely.

Tea Tree Clear Skin Super Serum, for example, combines tea tree oil with salicylic acid, retinol and hyaluronic acid for a gentle, but super effective acne treatment. Apply a drop to clean fingers and smooth it over cleansed pimples daily to reduce irritation and promote healing.

5. Think About The Clothes You Wear

Clothes that generate friction or put pressure on your skin can irritate the follicles, causing another type of acne called acne mechanica. You know those pimples you might have had (or still have) due to wearing your facial mask for prolonged periods of time? Maskne as it became known as? Well, that was acne mechanica and just like facial masks can cause breakouts on your cheeks and jawline, tight clothing like snug collars can do the same to your body.

To reduce your chances of getting acne mechanica on your body, steer clear of tight clothing and man-made fibers which can add to sweat and bacteria build up. Choose cotton clothing as much as possible and wear looser clothes for a while to see if this helps with your breakouts.

And it goes without saying, wash your clothes, especially your bra, after every wear.

Just like dry skin, oily skin comes with its problems. So, if a shiny t-zone, clogged pores and monthly breakouts are all too familiar bugbears, it’s time to take control.

If you’ve had oily skin for as long as you can remember you’ll understand the grievances of a greasy forehead, equally as slick bangs and makeup that just won’t stay put. And while having thicker, more resilient skin and fewer wrinkles (two of the plus sides of an oily complexion) might make you feel better for all of ten seconds, oily skin can seem like more of a curse than a blessing.

So, what causes oily skin and why might your skin be way slicker than your BFFs? Let’s investigate.

Important Fact: Your Skin Needs Oil

Your skin is your body’s largest organ and plays a very important role in regulating body temperature and protecting you from heat, light, injuries and infection. There are many factors that must come together for your skin to function properly, not least of which is its ability to produce a certain oil called sebum.

Sebum is a slightly sticky, oily substance that’s produced by sebaceous glands which are found in varying numbers all over your body – except on the palms of your hands and tops and soles of your feet. You know that infamous t-zone? Well, your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin have way more sebaceous glands than the rest of your face which is why it's notoriously shiny.

Sebum contains several types of complex oils and lipids such as triglycerides, fatty acids, wax ester, cholesterol and squalene which work together to lubricate and support the health of your skin. In fact, sebum is vital for sealing in moisture, creating a barrier from environmental stressors, helping your skin heal and transporting antioxidants to the skin’s surface. It also plays an important role in helping your skin maintain a slightly acidic pH level to prevent bacteria and viruses from penetrating the top layers.

Why Is Some Skin Oiler Than Others?

How much sebum your skin produces depends on many factors but it’s largely genetic. Does one or both of your parents have oily skin? Then chances are this is why your sebaceous glands are also larger and more active than you might like.

As you age, hormonal changes, medication and lifestyle factors such as stress, your diet and your skincare choices can also play a major role in your rate of sebum production (as does hot or humid weather), but for the most part you can definitely blame your parents if that makes you feel better.

The Downsides Of Oily Skin

As if the immediate annoyance of slick skin that requires a packet of daily blotting papers to control shine wasn’t enough to contend with, excess sebum can also create longer-term concerns. Namely, acne vulgaris – the medical term for common acne.

Oily skin and acne often go hand in hand because excess sebum prevents your dead skin cells from shedding from the surface of the skin, trapping bacteria and irritants with them. Your hair follicles then become blocked with this cocktail of sebum, dead skin cells and other nasties, which is when problems start to rear their ugly heads. If this plugged follicle remains closed, it will create a whitehead, whereas if it opens up at the surface of your skin it will become oxygenated, darken and turn into the dreaded blackhead. And if inflammation follows? Then we’re talking papules, pustules, nodules or cysts – known to most of you as zits.

How To Control Oily Skin – The Do’s & Don’ts

When it comes to sebum, the key is balance. This means that over-stimulating your skin with insane amounts of chemicals in your skincare or being a little too enthusiastic with your exfoliation routine is totally off the menu. Gentle skincare is the future.

Here’s a checklist of the most important do’s and don’ts for you to remember…

1. DO Resist The Urge To Over-Cleanse

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again (sorry, not sorry), cleansing your skin like your life depended on it is seriously bad news. This is true whether your skin is dry, combination, normal or oily, but it’s especially important for oily skin types. How so? Because skin that’s ‘squeaky clean’ is skin that’s had all of its natural sebum stripped away. This may sound like the best news ever, but sebum is important for your skin’s health, so if you take it away with chemical-laced cleansers and/or harsh exfoliation your skin will produce even more sebum to compensate. The result? Skin that’s just as oily as it was before you cleansed. Maybe even more so.

By all means cleanse your skin morning, night and after exercising, but stick with gentle formulations like our Vitamin C Daily Facial Cleanser. You could also try Skin Clearing Charcoal Face Wash which contains activated charcoal to help draw out oils, dirt and bacteria – all without drying out your skin.

2. DO Perfect Your Moisturizing Game

First things first, don’t think you can get away with not moisturizing because the same rules apply here as they do with over-cleansing: no moisture = more sebum.

When it comes to choosing a great moisturizer for oily skin, stick with gels, serums and light lotions above balms, creams and ointments. Also, keep away from heavy, occlusive ingredients like cocoa butter, beeswax and petrolatum as these create a barrier on your skin which you, of all people, should avoid.

If you suffer with clogged pores and/or acne, look for the terms non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic on your skincare labels. These mean that a product has been specifically formulated not to clog pores or cause acne respectively. It doesn’t mean they absolutely, 100 percent won’t, but they’re much less likely to. And that’s good enough for us.

3. DON’T Touch Your Face

You might think your hands are as clean as they’ve ever been, but they’ll still harbor dirt, oil and bacteria, no matter how often you wash and sanitize them. It’s just life. So, although it’s tempting, stop touching your face throughout the day as this will transfer all that extra oil and debris straight from your hands to your face. And if you’re guilty of wiping excess sebum off your cheeks and forehead with your fingers? Don’t do that. Invest in some blotting papers instead.

4. DO Apply A Retinol Treatment

We’re big fans of retinol as an anti-aging ingredient, but did you know retinol is also the nuts for tightening pores and balancing sebum? Regular use of a retinol treatment stimulates cell turnover, shrinks sebaceous glands and draws dead skin cells out of your pores, making them appear visibly smaller. Just remember to introduce retinol into your routine slowly and carefully to enable your skin to adjust without freaking out.

5. DON’T Overload Your Skin With Pore-Clogging Makeup

Heavy makeup might be tempting if you have blemishes you want to hide, but caking your skin in heavy, oil-based foundation will further clog pores and exacerbate flare-ups. And that’s a big nope from us.

If you can, leave your skin clean, bare and moisturized (at least on those days when you’re not leaving the house) or wear an oil-free tinted moisturizer with broad-spectrum sunscreen as a lighter alternative to full-on foundation. Mineral powder foundations are also a great shout for oily skin as they’re non-comedogenic and help mattify your skin without looking like you’ve tipped a vat of oil-controlling powder all over your face.

6. DO Get Some Salicylic Acid In Your Skincare Routine

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and quite possibly one of the most effective ingredients for treating oily and acne-prone skin. Like glycolic and lactic acids, salicylic acid exfoliates the skin. But unlike the others it’s lipophilic which means it penetrates oil to target blockages and thin sebum, allowing sebum to flow more freely to the skin’s surface. This helps deeply cleanse, balance and reduce inflammation while minimizing enlarged pores as part of the bargain.

As with retinol, salicylic acid can pack a potent punch, so always perform a patch test first, then go slowly when using it for the first time. Start applying it just once or twice a week, then as you continue to use it you can up the ante as your skin acclimates.

One of our top picks for oily skin is our Tea Tree Clear Skin Super Serum which combines the powers of salicylic acid with tea tree oil and retinol. And if that sounds like skin irritation just waiting to happen, fear not. It also contains calming niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid. So... winner.