True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Say hello to the latest powerhouses for hydrated, healthy skin. And yes, as their name suggests, they’re just like Gatorade for your skin. Well, kinda…

Some skincare ingredients come and go lightning fast. Especially when they’re all talk, no action! Some, however, are built to totally stand the test of time. Think retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E and exfoliating acids like glycolic and salicylic which are all awesome examples of tried and tested ingredients that are loved the world over. Because, of course, they work.

When it comes to hydration we’re sure you’re well aware of some of the most successful and commonly used moisture-magnets used in skincare formulations. Yes, here’s looking at you hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe vera. But, while incredibly effective at getting the job done, these are not, contrary to popular opinion, the be-all and end-all.

Enter electrolytes which are pipped to be the new, long-lasting darlings of skincare ingredients.

But first, let’s revisit skin hydration for a hot minute – because we know it can all get a little confusing…

What Is Skin Hydration?

Hydration is simply about the levels of water in your skin. But here’s the thing; hydration has nothing to do with dryness.

Allow us to elaborate. As you may know, there are four true skin types which are categorized not by their levels of water, but by the activity of your skin’s sebaceous glands and their ability to successfully (or not) moisturize your skin with sebum (oil). These skin types are normal, dry, oily and combination. While your skin can certainly change over the years, your skin type is the one you were born with and it’s predetermined by your genes. In this sense, skin types are very different to skin conditions which are usually the result of lifestyle or environmental factors like your age, hormones, stress levels or the products you put on your skin.

OK, so how is this all linked to hydration? Well, dehydrated skin is skin that’s lacking in water (NOT oil) and is a condition rather than a skin type. Dehydration can be due to any number of reasons like cold weather, stress, lack of sleep and sun damage, but it's rarely a genetic disposition which means you can have dry skin that’s dehydrated, oily skin that’s dehydrated or, well, you see where we’re going here.

How Does Skin Naturally Stay Hydrated?

A healthy barrier function is the key to hydrated skin. This important protective layer not only pulls in water from the air, but also works hard to keep it there, creating a barrier to stop moisture from escaping from the surface of your skin. It does this thanks to its natural moisturizing factor (NMF) which is a combination of amino acids and humectants.

Pretty smart stuff, right? Indeed it is... Until it isn’t. You see the problems start as skin ages and is subject to years of UV radiation, harsh ingredients in skincare and personal care products, prolonged exposure to water, pollution and so on and so forth. All this works hard to compromise your barrier function and break down your NMF, resulting in all manner of unwanted issues – dehydration included. 

And this is where help from quenching skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and, the newest kids on the block, electrolytes come to the rescue.

So, What Are Electrolytes?

Ok, here’s the science bit. Electrolytes are essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium which, when dissolved in water, conduct electricity – hence the name. In terms of your overall health electrolytes are vital for keeping you hydrated, balancing your body’s pH levels, rebuilding damaged tissue and regulating nerve and muscle function. They’re obtained mostly through a balanced, healthy diet and are abundant in things like fresh fruit and veggies.

You lose electrolytes through sweat (as well as urine, diarrhea and vomiting) which is why many athletes or people who exercise intensely replace them with sports drinks.

And What’s The Deal With Electrolytes In Skincare?

When it comes to skincare, applying electrolytes topically has the same moisture-quenching benefits. Their electoral charge helps drive water into the skin and retain essential moisture, while simultaneously giving energy to other hydrators and active ingredients, delivering them to exactly where they’re needed most. The result? Hydrated, plump, soft and most importantly, healthier skin.

Of course, electrolytes need water in order to work, so it’s important to choose the right water-based formulas for effective results.

And have we got just the thing in the form of our brand new Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum. Containing a special electrolyte blend of magnesium, potassium and calcium to hydrate your skin with a capital ‘h’, this all-in-one serum is also chock-full of water-binding hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe. But it doesn’t stop there. It’s also brimming with a mighty seven skin-loving vitamins to protect, strengthen, brighten, soothe, restore and replenish your skin so it continues to look its absolute best.

Already becoming a big hit with TruSkin fans, this lightweight serum is ideal for all skin types but we're finding it to be particularly effective for dull, dry, sensitive or dehydrated skin.

Are electrolytes the future for skincare? Who knows? But what we do know is they’re pretty dreamy for hydrating the skin and helping the rest of your routine perform better.

And, we don’t know about you, but we’re All. Over. That.

Want to hear all about the buzziest ingredient in skincare for the coming year? Interested to know the most important trends going on for your complexion right now? You got it.

Skincare trends are a funny business. After all, the most important thing for skin is to consistently do the best you can for it so you can enjoy its beauty… while trying not to sweat over the not-so-great stuff. ‘Consistency’ and ‘trends’? Hmm, not really two words that go together in the same sentence, are they? Because one’s all about maintaining a regular routine, while the other is all about switching things up to keep up with changes in fashion.

The thing is, however, skincare trends are an entirely different ballgame to fashion and makeup trends. While the latter are all about buying the latest colors, shapes and must-have ‘it’ items, skincare trends are more focused on your skin as a whole. They’re tailored towards different aspects of your skin or specific types of ingredients, products and new technologies that help maximize your skin’s potential and make it truly glow.

So, while we’re all about nourishing your skin with a consistent routine and awesome skincare products, trends are still important to us. What kind of skincare company would we be if we weren’t on top of the latest happenings in our beloved industry? And how could we possibly create and launch new product formulations if we weren’t clued up on what you, our awesome customers, actually wanted? 

On that note, here are some important trends to know for the coming year…

Skin Minimalism (or skinimalism, if you will!)

One of our favorite trends, for sure, is this nod towards stripping back your skincare routine to focus on just a small of number of products that do real good. Gone are the days of applying a bazillion products on a daily basis. It’s totally unnecessary… and often does more harm than good, overwhelming your skin with too many active ingredients and often resulting in irritation and sensitivities.

Instead, the past few years have seen a real trend towards the exact opposite of skin overload. And this trend is set to stay as the economy faces many challenges and frivolous spending is put on hold.

What does this mean in real terms? Well, it’s simple: less is more. No one really needs 15 serums, so take a few steps back, think about what your skin needs and hone your routine to around five or six purposeful products that work in harmony to treat your skin without overloading it. Your skin will totally thank you for it. Oh, and btw, so will the environment.

Multi-Use Skincare

As mentioned, money sets to play a major role in skincare trends as we get into 2023. This means efficient and more affordable, multi-functional products are going to be front of mind all year long.

Chances are you’re doing this already, but if not, it’s an easy one to subscribe to. First up, look for two- or even three-in-one formulations that offer a number of different skin benefits and a whole lot of bang for your buck (hello SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen With Vitamin C which moisturizes, protects and brightens your skin!).

Similarly you’re going to want to try our NEW all-singing, all-dancing Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum which is packed with 11 vitamins, minerals and electrolytes to pump your skin full of all the nutrition it needs while improving tone, texture, strength and elasticity. Apply it after cleansing and before moisturizing to maximize your skin’s potential and cut out all the other unnecessary middle men (ie: countless treatment products that simply don’t cut it!).

A Focus On Your Barrier Function

Respecting the integrity of your skin’s barrier function isn’t a trend per se, but tell us this, did you even know what your barrier function was a few years ago? Thought not. Now it’s on everyone’s lips and 2023 is set to be the year that skincare formulations and routines are entirely based around keeping the barrier function healthy.

A quick reminder: your skin’s barrier function is the uppermost layer of your skin which works hard to protect and moisturize it by keeping all the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. It’s always been there – because, nature – but it’s not really been talked about so much in the past. Who knows why, but what we do know is that now it’s here, it’s going nowhere.

Your action points to ensure you’re totally on top of this one? Avoid over-exfoliating and steer clear of strong, harsh chemicals, preservatives and surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) which are extremely drying on your skin.

Also, make sure you’re boosting your skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF) to help keep your barrier function in good working order. Include plenty of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe in your regimen and couple these with restorative ceramides and reparative emollients and/or occlusives like jojoba oil and shea butter. We love Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which is ideal for a super healthy barrier function.

The Ingredient Of The Year: Tea Tree

Natural ingredients often get mocked for not being glamorous, flashy or even as effective as synthetic, science-formulated ingredients. But in certain cases, this could not be further from the truth. Take tea tree, for example, which, like the desire for a cleaner, greener routine, is seeing a big resurgence in skincare right now.

Used for centuries for its antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory powers, tea tree oil has been proven to contain key components to help kill acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin. Not only that but it’s a genius when it comes to balancing excess oils, reducing facial redness and calming angry skin. It’s kind of like nature’s alternative to benzoyl peroxide – with the added bonus of fewer side effects.

Not to blow our own trumpets but we were well ahead of the curve with this trend and added a brand new product to our tea tree range at the end of last year: Tea Tree Super Cleanser+. Along with our Tea Tree Super Serum+ (which currently comes free with any purchase of the Cleanser!) you can now reap the benefits of this botanical super power across your cleansing AND treatment routine. Bonus.

Your Wellness For The Win

Studies point to a huge link between your mind and your skin so, while we know life is stressful right now, 2023 is all about looking after your mental health in order for your skin to follow suit.

Stress and anxiety both play a big impact on your skin. And not in a good way. For starters they elevate your cortisol levels which can weaken your skin; cause inflammation; deplete collagen; increase sebum production and trigger flare-ups in existing skin conditions like rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. Stress also impairs that all-important barrier function which, as you know, is the key for strong, supple, healthy skin.

This mind-skin connection is extremely motivating and a great thing to focus on when it comes to actively improving your mental well being, raising your self-care habits and enhancing the health of your skin. It also helps you stop seeking perfection and stress less about your lines, wrinkles, zits and oily skin.

Because stressing about them does nothing but send you right back to square one.

Let’s stop your skin from going into cold weather meltdown before it’s too late, shall we?

While winter might be fun for the kids and your wardrobe, when it comes to the state of your skin, it’s no walk in the park. Colder temperatures, biting winds, snow and a serious lack of humidity all combine to throw your skin completely off-kilter, making it tight, red and anything from a tad dry to seriously flaky and dehydrated.

And we’re not just talking about the skin on your face, either. Because, while facial skincare understandably takes precedence over the rest of your body (it is the part you look at the most), skin covers every part of your body – from head-to-toe. And during the wintertime, your body, just like your face, will suffer if it gets neglected.

The answer, of course, is never to leave your skin to its own devices. Because skincare doesn’t work like that. Ever. But especially during winter when it has a tendency to freak out thanks to harsh conditions and extreme temperature changes.

Want to keep breakouts, dryness, flaky skin and unnecessary redness at bay this winter? Then here are eight of the best ways to winter-proof your skin…

1. First Things First: Don’t Overhaul Your Entire Skincare Routine

Healthy skin likes consistency, so while it might be tempting to switch up your whole routine when the seasons change, a few minor tweaks are going to be way more beneficial than a complete overhaul.

Listen to your skin as winter sets in and make changes accordingly. Yes, the weather has turned chilly and sure, your skin may start to feel drier and more dehydrated than normal, but don’t change your entire cleansing, toning, treating and moisturizing routine. This is so not what your skin needs. Small tweaks? Good. Complete overhaul? Not so much.

2. Treat Your Barrier Function Like Royalty

Winter can play hell with your skin’s barrier function so if there’s one thing to be aware of as the weather turns, it’s treating this uppermost layer of your skin with love and respect.

If your skin starts showing signs of sensitivities, this is an indication your barrier function has become compromised thanks to a dastardly combination of a cold, dry outdoors and hot, dry indoors which literally sucks all the moisture out of your skin.

Be kind to your skin by cutting back on exfoliation and choosing super gentle cleansers that are free of skin-drying sulfates which strip your barrier of essential oils and hydration. Try Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser morning and night.

You could also cut back on your treatment serums if you think they might be over-stimulating your barrier function. There’s no shame in using something like our Vitamin C Super Serum + just two or three times a week rather than every day. In fact, we highly recommend it!

3. Buy A Humidifier

Cranking up your indoor heating makes the air inside extremely dry so, while they might not be the most attractive things in the world, a bedroom humidifier is an awesome idea for replenishing dry skin during wintertime.

Humidifiers work by replacing lost moisture in the air. This not only clears your sinuses and helps you breathe better, but extra hydration in the air means extra hydration for your skin. This is super important overnight when your skin goes into regeneration mode and needs all the help it can get. In fact, humidifiers are so great for replenishing your skin’s moisture levels, many skin specialists recommend them for people suffering with chronic dry skin or conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Just remember to apply night cream before bed to help seal all that moisture into your skin. And specifically look out for those containing high levels of humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Why? Because humectants work hard to draw all that extra water from the air into your skin. Bonus! Try Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream which is a big winner for winter skin.

4. Moisturize, Moisturize & Moisturize Some More

Speaking of moisture, one product that might be worth levelling up in winter is your moisturizer. It’s no secret that cold, dry weather and artificially heated homes make your skin more dehydrated than normal so most skin types will benefit from some extra help as fall slips away and winter sets in.

If you love your moisturizer and don’t want to try something richer or heavier just because the weather has turned, we totally respect that. In fact, we celebrate it because there’s an ideal alternative – simply add a hydrating treatment serum into the mix. Our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is an incredible way to boost the moisture levels in your skin. Apply it to damp skin after cleansing, then apply moisturizer over the top.

5. Try An Oatmeal Bath

Itchy skin on your body is a total bummer, but very common in winter when it’s cold outside, warm inside and your skin is often wrapped in layers of clothing.

A great way to soothe dry, itchy skin is to have a warm, oatmeal bath. Oatmeal helps reduce inflammation while protecting, calming, moisturizing and soothing dry, flaky skin. Simply grind a cup of plain oats into a fine powder, add it to your bath and relax. Just don't stay in there for too long...

6. Resist Hot, Hour-Long Soaks

Bathing your skin in hot water is tempting when it’s freezing outside, but it can be pretty detrimental to your skin. You know how your fingers and toes sometimes look all crinkly after too long in a hot bath or shower? This is all thanks to dehydration. Hot water basically strips away the protective lipid layer from your skin’s barrier which means all those lovely fats, proteins and moisture are able to readily escape.

Bathing and showering is great, for sure, but only if you use lukewarm, rather than scorching hot water (with some added oatmeal for extra moisturizing effects!) and limit your time to 10-15 minutes. Also, make sure you apply plenty of moisturizer afterwards, from head-to-toe, to seal water into your skin and help strengthen your barrier function.

7. Stick With The Sunscreen

Sunscreen often gets packed away as soon as temperatures drop below 70. But this is a silly mistake you do not want to make. Of course, you won’t need full body SPF every day when most of your skin is concealed by clothing, but any areas not covered up are going to be exposed to UVA radiation – come rain, shine, snow, whatever.

Apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen to your face and neck as the last step in your morning skincare routine to ensure your delicate skin stays shielded from UV damage every day of the year.

8. Finally, Pay Extra Attention To Your Hands

One of the areas to suffer the most during winter? Your hands. Again, this is all thanks to the cold, dry air – combined with constant hand washing, of course.

Our advice? Don’t stop washing your hands for starters! Instead, use gentle cleansing, sulfate-free products and always apply hand cream afterwards. Wear gloves when you’re doing the dishes, and apply a rich cream to clean hands every night before bed. You could even pop a pair of cotton gloves over the top to really amp up your overnight moisturizing game while helping to heal and calm dry, itchy skin.
 

Feel like your skincare routine isn’t quite cutting it? Here’s how to make it work harder… and better.

An awesome skincare routine is all well and good, but if you’re not using your products properly, or applying them in the correct order, you’re never going to get the optimal results you deserve.

Skincare is a fine art and, while it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to moisturize your face, knowing the finer details that help maximize a product’s potential can result in some major differences to the look, feel and health of your skin.

Here’s how to kick-start your routine into doing the best job it can for your skin.

Rule #1: Always Read Your Labels

Are you guilty of buying a new product and using it right away without so much as glancing at the label? Big mistake. Sure, you might have spent the last 30 years cleansing your face with zero issues because, come on, how difficult can it be? But it’s worth bearing in mind that not all products are created equal. Some cleansers are formulated to be used without water, others are meant to be applied to damp skin and massaged into your skin for few minutes. And how do you know which is which if you've not read the fine print?

Reading the instructions is super important and will help you get the most from each and every product in your routine. It’ll help guide you in terms of how often to apply as well as how much to apply. So do it. No arguments.

Rule #2: Use Your Products In The Correct Order

This is another one that might sound obvious, but gone are the days when skincare routines were basically cleanse, tone, moisturize… and you’re done. Now there are tinctures, oils, essences, serums, gels, lotions, and all sorts to get your head around. And if you apply them in the wrong order, then they might not work correctly. Money. Down. The. Drain.

The general rule of thumb when it comes to layering skincare formulations is to cleanse and tone first (obvs) then work from your thinnest to your thickest product. The simple fact is that thinner products aren’t able to penetrate through the thicker stuff so you need to build up to the big guys. This means that after toning, you should apply your serum first, then your eye treatment, moisturizer, face oil and finally – in the mornings anyway – sunscreen. Of course, your specific regimen doesn’t need to include each and every one of these steps, but if it does, then this should be your order if you want to get the best results.

Rule #3: Apply Your Treatments To Damp Skin

To turn up the efficacy of your products, full throttle, always apply your first treatment product to moistened skin. This could be an exfoliating toner such as Ocean Minerals Super Toner or an antioxidant serum like our new Peptide Facial Serum. But whatever it is, try to apply it within the first minute of cleansing. The reason for this is that damp skin is more permeable than dry skin which makes it far more receptive to active ingredients like vitamin C, glycolic acid, MSM and peptides.

Gently pat your skin with a clean towel after cleansing so just a small amount of water is left on the surface, then, using fingertips, apply your treatment product all over your face and neck. Simple, but super effective.

This being said, there is one exception to the rule, and that’s to avoid doing this if you have skin that’s particularly sensitive to certain ingredients like retinol. Retinol is a potent (but awesome) little beast that can easily irritate sensitive skin. So if you apply it to damp skin you could exacerbate these irritations. Instead, apply it to dry skin, after patch testing first, and you'll likely get along with it way better.

Rule #4: Know That A Serum Is The Absolute Key For Targeting Skin Concerns

Facial serums might not be absolutely essential for clean, moisturized skin but if you really care about your complexion and the rate at which it ages, facial serums are everything. The bare minimum skincare routine is, of course, cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. But if you have concerns like acne, blocked pores, fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, sagging skin and the like, and you want to really target them with your skincare, you simply HAVE to include a serum (or two) in your daily routine.

Serums are formulated differently to moisturizers and have a smaller molecular structure. This means they’re able to penetrate the surface of your skin quicker and deeper to hone in on your particular skin gripes. Getting really peeved by dull, patchy skin? Then a moisturizer is essential, for sure, but it will never give you the same results as an antioxidant treatment serum like our best-selling Vitamin C Facial Serum.

Not sure where to start with choosing the right serum for your needs? Not a problem. Check out our helpful guide right here. And remember that important order: serum comes after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Always.

Rule #5: Understand The Importance Of An Awesome Nighttime Routine

Your morning routine is great for waking up your skin, replacing lost moisture and preparing yourself for the day ahead, but overnight is when the real business happens so it’s vital to prepare your skin for eight hours’ worth of healing, regenerating and repairing time before you hit the sack.

At night, blood flow to your skin increases, collagen production speeds up, cell turnover accelerates, free radicals get nixed by your body’s natural defense system and your skin’s barrier function works hard to restore itself. All good stuff, we think you’ll agree. But how can all this happen if your skin is covered in crud that’s built up on the surface during the day? Well, it can’t. Not properly, anyway. So you simply have to cleanse properly with a gentle but effective face wash before bed. We have three awesome cleansers to choose from depending on your skin type and needs – check them out here. Then, after cleansing, apply a collagen-boosting treatment serum like Retinol Facial Serum followed by Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to help seal in moisture.

Vitamin C as a skincare ingredient is practically a given. But do you know exactly which C-vit you’re putting on your skin? Because if it’s not sodium ascorbyl phosphate, you might want to rethink your decisions…

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate might sound like a scary ingredient that you’d rather keep as far away from your precious skin as possible. But on the contrary, it’s up there with retinol and hyaluronic acid as a veritable darling of the skincare world. Now don’t roll your eyes in exasperation as if to say ‘really? Then why haven’t I heard of it?’. Because a) you have – you just didn’t know it, and b) give us a minute and we will elaborate.

For those of you not wanting to read this entire piece, here’s the most important fact about sodium ascorbyl phosphate (we’re just going to call it SAP from now on). SAP is topical vitamin C. Granted, it’s not the pure, unadulterated vitamin C you often read about – that’s l-ascorbic acid – but it’s vitamin C nonetheless. Furthermore, it’s a far more stable, kinder-to-your-skin type of vitamin C. Here’s what you need to know…

SAP: The Facts

1. Along with a lengthy list that includes magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl-6-palmitate and sodium ascorbate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a derivative of l-ascorbic acid – pure topical vitamin C.

2. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps fight the daily onslaught of skin damage that can be caused by free radicals. Free radicals form in your skin when it’s subjected to all those things it hates like UV radiation, pollution, smoke, a poor diet, cruddy sleep and, well, you know the drill.

Vitamin C is basically the Obi-Wan Kenobi to free radicals’ Darth Vader, stopping the long-lasting damage before it gets a chance to do a real number on your skin.

3. SAP is a salt form of vitamin C and one of the most stable versions available in skincare. How so? Because SAP has a sodium and phosphate molecule attached to it which helps it to stabilize.  This means it not only keeps its potency for longer, but is also more stable than L-Ascorbic Acid and MAP. These forms are notoriously unstable which means they break down and lose efficacy when exposed to light and air.

4. In order for your skin to experience the benefits of vitamin C, SAP has to be converted back to ascorbic acid after it’s been applied to your skin. This may sound counter-intuitive, but pure l-ascorbic acid is a very potent ingredient, so when you apply it directly to your skin it can be irritating, causing dryness, redness, stinging and even a mild burning sensation. Not cool. Literally. Switching up to SAP and having your skin convert it into ascorbic acid after application, significantly reduces your chances of irritation.

5. Full disclosure, the visible benefits of SAP take a tad longer to experience than pure vitamin C because your skin needs to do a little work to get to the bioactive form of the vitamin (l-ascorbic acid). But, call us crazy, we’ll take that over dry, red, itchy skin any day.

What SAP Does For Your Skin

Just like pure vitamin C, SAP has been clinically proven to improve the tone, texture and clarity of your skin. By fending off free radicals before they get a chance to damage DNA and valuable proteins within your skin (hi there collagen and elastin), SAP helps fight off the visible signs of aging such as dullness, dryness, fine lines, wrinkles, sagging and dark spots.

While we’re on the subject of dark spots, studies have also shown that vitamin C has a smart way of inhibiting melanin production which not only works to prevent dark spots from forming in the first place, but may also help fade any existing ones.

Now do you see why we’re all over this little gem of a skincare ingredient?

How To Up Your SAP Game

Good news: we've long been aware that active skincare ingredients are great… but not if they cause your skin to flare-up or break out. This is why we are in favor of the gentler, more stable SAP across all of our formulations.

Here’s a little reminder of some of our favorite SAP products.

The Awesome Cleanser: Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser

With a knock-your-socks-off blend of 15 percent SAP along with soothing aloe vera, collagen-boosting MSM, balancing tea tree oil and nourishing rosehip oil, this rejuvenating cleanser is the jack of all trades and master of all!

The Brightening Treatment: Vitamin C Facial Serum

As Amazon’s biggest selling vitamin C serum, you can’t fail to fall head over heels in love with this skin-brightening daily antioxidant treatment. The entire TruSkin brand was born from this, our original facial serum, and it’s still one of the best.

The Skin-Boosting Day Moisturizer: Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer

Pumped full of SAP along with its vitamin cousins, B5 and E, this classic moisturizer is a must for giving your skin’s barrier function a reboot while working hard to protect, nourish, brighten and clarify your complexion.

The Nourishing Night Cream: Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream

Rich but lightweight, powerful yet gentle, our SAP-infused night cream sounds like a total contradiction, but it has to be experienced to be believed. Ideal for all skin types it’s the best way to help your skin reach a whole new level of awesome while you sleep.

The Year-Round Sun Protector: SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C

Our new sunscreen might be the baby of our vitamin C family, but it’s by no means the weakling. Non-nano zinc oxide shields your skin from UVA and UVB rays while marine collagen, squalane and cucumber extract help hydrate and illuminate aging skin. And all this served up with a hefty helping of SAP? Yes, there is a beauty god!

Can You Use More Than One SAP Product?

Short answer, yes! Many of our customers use a whole regimen of our Vitamin C products and get awesome results. However, everyone’s skin is different, so we recommend adding new products one at a time and always patch test first to check for compatibility.

Because true beauty goes way beyond the surface of your skin…

As a skincare company, the health of your skin is super important to us. But when it comes to ‘real’ beauty who and what you are on the inside is what really matters. Not sure you know how to cultivate your inner beauty? Well, it’s all about embracing a positive mental attitude and being good to both yourself and everyone around you.

Here’s how…

1. Start The Day How You Mean To Go On

The first few minutes after waking up are extremely important to how the rest of your day will transgress. So check your mental state and start positive. This may sound easier said than done but it’s all about mind over matter. Sure, if you’ve had a great night’s sleep it’s easy to feel great first thing in the morning and hit the day running. But if you’ve had a rough night it’s natural to slip into a bad mood which is hard to shake off. Sounds familiar? Then turn that negative into a positive. You might be tired and grumpy but it’s a fresh new day and who knows what’s in store? Be mindful of your attitude, take control of your emotions, smile like you mean it and your inner beauty will naturally shine.

2. Say Something Nice To Yourself Every Day

The way you view yourself is super important when it comes to both your inner and outer beauty. When you look in the mirror, do you always see the things you dislike first? Why do we do that to ourselves?

The problem is that unlearning this negative thinking is really quite hard – it’s human nature, after all. However, it’s a great step towards celebrating your beauty so let’s try, shall we? Next time you check yourself in the mirror, look past your crow’s feet/wobbly thighs/graying hair and concentrate on the good stuff. Is your skin looking particularly fresh today? Then tell yourself so. This simple act of self-love will really boost your self-perception and help celebrate 'you'.

3. Be Gentle With Your Skin

Perfect skin is not something we like to promote. Because, life isn’t perfect and neither is your skin. However, looking after the skin you were born with? Now, that’s a different story. Your skin is the first thing people see when they meet you so, while it doesn’t define you, it can help reflect who you are.

The best ways to do this are as follows. First, be kind to your skin. Cleanse and moisturize twice a day with gentle ingredients that help strengthen your skin’s barrier function. Next up, avoid chemical nasties that can irritate your skin. Protect it daily with antioxidant treatments that counteract the damaging effects of, well, life. And shield it from UV radiation to help avoid premature aging from the sun’s nasty rays.

Ingredients like vitamin C are awesome for boosting your inner glow while hyaluronic acid keeps your skin plump, hydrated and healthy-looking. Check out our fan-favorites, Vitamin C Facial Serum and Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum which check both of those boxes – and then some!

A simple, but effective skincare routine shows you care about yourself. And that speaks volumes.

4. Look After Number One

While we’re on the subject of taking care of yourself, your inner health – just like your inner beauty – is super important. Most people think that eating well and exercising regularly is all about losing weight or building muscle, but it’s so much more than that.

Physical exercise, for example, releases endorphins which have been proven to reduce stress, boost your confidence and help improve your emotional wellbeing. Even short bursts of activity like walking or 10 minutes of morning yoga can increase you alertness, boost your energy and lift your mood. And of course, the added bonus of knowing you’re looking after your body does wonders for your self-esteem. Win win.

When it comes to your diet, what you eat also has a massive impact on how you feel about yourself. A balanced diet helps you sleep better, increases your energy levels and improves your state of mind – all of which play a major role in making you feel happier, healthier, more confident and less stressed. Certain foods like antioxidant-rich fruit and veggies also help you look, as well as feel amazing.

Again, win-win!

5. Do Things You Enjoy

If going to the gym fills you with dread, don’t do it. There, we said it. Yes, exercise is important for the health of your body and state of mind, but doing something you hate is extremely counter-productive. It’ll fill your mind with negative thoughts and make you feel bad about yourself for not wanting to go.

To overcome this, but still get some physical movement going, fill your life with activities you actually enjoy taking part in. Do you love team sports? Then research some local groups like softball or football. Perhaps you love the water? If so, check out your local swimming pool to see what they’ve got going on. Partaking in regular exercise you enjoy will make you want to do it more often. Which will simultaneously make you feel good and look fabulous.

6. Switch Up Your Social Media Habits

Ever found yourself falling into a black hole of social media scrolling, only to come away feeling kind of crappy about your boring existence and inadequate social life? You and us both. But remember, you have every single ounce of power over this. Not only do you control who you follow but you’re also in charge of how long you spend on social media. Don’t forget that. Another thing: perspective. People mostly post highlights of the best bits of their lives on social media; rarely the mundane stuff like taking the kids to school, cooking dinner or watching hours (and hours!) of Netflix.

If you find yourself feeling jealous of others while scrolling through their feeds, tap into these emotions and turn those negative thoughts into positive ones. Feel happy for your friends and remember, it isn’t real life. Not really. It’s just a snapshot and they’re just as likely to be sitting on the couch right now, feeling green with envy at the snippets of your life they’re currently checking out.

Know that you have just as much to be thankful for as everyone else.

7. Practice Kindness To Others

Being good to yourself is a great way to celebrate who you are. But don’t forget to offer the same kindness to everyone around you. Being a nice, authentic person, with a positive attitude and a genuine concern for other people’s feelings has a similar impact on your brain as physical exercise. This is thanks to happy hormones like oxytocin and endorphins which are triggered by acts of kindness.

Live by the rule ‘treat others as you want to be treated’ and the whole world will soon appreciate your inner beauty just as much as you do.