True Radical Honesty From Our Community

If you suffer with regular breakouts we bet you often wonder about the best skincare ingredients for acne. Well, wonder no more, we got you.

Acne breakouts, whatever your age, are no joke. They can be frustrating, confidence-destroying, challenging and sometimes downright painful. Nobody wants that. But sometimes life just deals you a bad hand, and being prone to breakouts (or not) is exactly that. You don’t get pimples, blackheads and whiteheads because you have poor personal hygiene or eat too much chocolate. You get them because your genes dictate the makeup up of your skin and, in this case, are encouraging it to produce too much oil. This excess oil (or, more specifically, sebum) then teams up with dead skin cells and bacteria to have a party in your pores, leading to all sorts of congestion and potential breakouts.

Granted, it’s all well and good knowing your pimples aren’t your fault, but this doesn’t make them go away. So what can you do to control oil production, balance your skin and help keep zits from upsetting your mojo? Well, understanding what you put on your skin and, more specifically, knowing which skincare ingredients mean business is a great place to start.

Behold the best ingredients for acne-prone skin – in our (and most skin experts') humble opinion.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that’s steam distilled from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia (tea) tree. Chock full of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, it’s been used for centuries to heal the skin, and as an acne-fighter, it’s pretty unstoppable.

Exactly how does tea tree oil work on acne? For starters, it works hard to kill certain acne-causing bacteria that sit on the surface of the skin. Couple this with its ability to calm redness, reduce swelling and soothe irritation and it becomes a great choice for anyone wanting to deal with breakouts with a natural, effective skincare ingredient.

Word to the wise, however, tea tree oil is full-on potent so you should never apply it in its purest form. Instead, leave it to the pros to curate an effective formulation you can use every day.

Try: Tea Tree Super Cleanser+

Salicylic Acid

Keeping your skin ticking over is super important if you’re susceptible to the slings and arrows of blocked pores and acne breakouts. When your skin fails to turn over at a reasonable rate, dead skin cells get stuck at the surface, where they love to hang out in your pores causing total havoc. 

As you may know, the rate at which your skin turns over seriously slows down as you get older. This is why it’s super important to kick-start this process with exfoliation. Scrubs are great for removing dead skin cells and encouraging the skin to turn over more efficiently, but to really tackle acne-prone skin, your best bet is to choose skincare containing salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) which means it’s a oil-soluble chemical exfoliant. Hydroxy acids work by breaking down the bonds between your skin cells so they slough away easily and make way for the new stuff. However, unlike glycolic acid, which is a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), BHAs cut through grease which gives them the extra edge with oily skin, allowing them to truly work on your sebaceous glands and balance oil production. 

Another point in salicylic acid’s favor? It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. And if you have angry pimples or facial redness, you’re so going to want to get in on that.

Try: 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant

Retinol

A go-to in the skin aging world, retinol, a topical form of vitamin A, also offers some pretty impressive results for acne-prone skin. Who knew? Well, we did, but then again that’s what we’re paid for! 

Similar to exfoliating acids ­­– although it works very differently to salicylic acid and friends – retinol promotes cell turnover to ensure your pores stay clear of unwanted dead skin cells. Instead of breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells, however, retinol works by attaching itself to nuclear receptors in the center of each living cell where it activates certain genes to accelerate turnover.

It might not be the most obvious choice for when your skin breaks out, but use it on a regular basis and it’s been proven to reduce the frequency and improve the severity of breakouts. Plus, if you’re of a certain age, you get all the added age-fighting benefits as an added bonus. Put like that, it seems silly not to.

Try: Retinol Moisturizer

Niacinamide

If you’re stuck with the double-whammy of acne and sensitive skin, you’ll know only too well how difficult it is to find skincare formulations that improve your breakouts but don’t irritate your skin. The struggle is real. However, it’s not impossible. And one ingredient that should top your must-tries? Niacinamide.

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is one of the most effective active ingredients for sensitive skin. It also makes the list for best ingredients for acne-prone skin. And that’s no mean feat.

As well as being one of our favorite antioxidants, working hard to counteract the damaging effects of environmental free radicals, niacinamide also increases the production of ceramides in the skin’s uppermost layers. Ceramides enable the skin to remain strong, supple, hydrated and able to protect itself from unwanted irritation. Sweet.

But what about acne breakouts? Which is why we’re here, after all. Well, niacinamide has been proven to reduce inflammation (check), regulate sebum production (check) and it can even help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores when used regularly and together with a great cleansing regime. Research also shows it may have antimicrobial effects, helping to destroy acne-causing bacteria that may be lurking in your skin’s microbiome. Hells yeah!

Try: Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum

Finally, A Few Important Things To Remember

1. Always patch test new ingredients on a small area of skin before regular, all-over use. Not sure how to do this? No problem, here's a guide on how to patch test your skincare products.

2. Introduce potent, active ingredients gradually into your skincare regime. Start once or twice a week to begin with, then build slowly as your skin acclimates. This will allow the product to work its magic with fewer risks of irritation.

3. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, without fail. Active ingredients encourage fresh skin cells to the surface, so they need extra TLC to protect them from UV damage. No arguments.

4. Don’t expect miracles overnight. Skincare formulations that treat at a deeper level aren’t an immediate fix so be patient and give them the time they deserve ­– two to three months is usually the sweet spot.

5. Skincare alone may not be enough to manage persistent or severe acne, so consider seeking professional help from a dermatologist if yours simply won’t go away.

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

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

You can’t argue with that, right?

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

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

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

Your Skincare Goal: To Fight The Signs Of Aging

Try: Vitamin A

Namely: Retinol Facial Serum

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

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

Your Skincare Goal: To Brighten Dull Skin

Try: Vitamin C

Namely: Vitamin C Facial Serum

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

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

Learn everything you need to know about vitamin C here.

Your Skincare Goal: To Minimize Redness Or Sensitivities

Try: Vitamin B3

Namely: Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum

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

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

Your Skincare Goal: To Boost Moisture

Try: Vitamin E

Namely: Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

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

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

Learn more about this skin-loving powerhouse right here.

Your Skincare Goal: To Reduce Acne Breakouts

Try: Vitamin A (yes, again!)

Namely: Retinol Facial Serum

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

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

Your Skincare Goal: To Boost Overall Skin Health

Try: A Multivitamin

Namely: Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum

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

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

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

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

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

What’s The Deal With Milk In Skincare?

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

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

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

3 Benefits Of Non-Dairy Milk In Skincare

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

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

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

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

2. They’re Naturally Moisturizing

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. They’re Awesome For Soothing Sensitive Skin

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

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

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

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

One wish: to enjoy the tight, gravity-defying skin of 20 years ago. Sadly, it’s not going to happen, so the next best thing? Skincare ingredients that boost collagen and help your skin appear subtly firmer and just a tad more lifted.

Let’s get one thing straight: skincare cannot perform miracles. We’d love to be able to tell you that our new Caffeine Facial Serum can give you the skin of someone 30 years your junior or that our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub will eradicate every single one of your much-loathed dark spots after just one use. But we’d be lying. Skincare is awesome, absolutely. And yes, it can 100 percent help to subtly improve the appearance of acne breakouts, wrinkles and aging skin. But it has its limits. And knowing that your favorite moisturizer or prized facial serum can only do so much is crucial. Otherwise, you will always be disappointed. And that’s not what we want for you.

OK, so now this bombshell is out of the way and you understand that skincare ingredients aren’t going to give you an instant facelift or smooth out your laughter lines like fillers or Botox, here’s what they can do.

Choose the right formulation, crafted with thoughtful, clinically-proven ingredients, and skincare can very much improve the look, feel and health of your skin. And if you’ve ever woken up after trying a new serum for the first time, only to be greeted in the mirror by visibly brighter skin, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about.

So, which ingredients should you pin your hopes on if you’re specifically looking to lift and firm sagging skin? Well, skin starts to go south because of dwindling collagen supplies so boosting collagen production is your first and best bet. Bearing in mind everything we’ve just said about managing expectations, therefore, here are five topical favorites we believe are the most effective for encouraging healthy collagen and helping you on the road to firmer, more toned skin.

1. Peptides

Without blinding you with science, peptides are chemical compounds made from amino acids. They’re very similar to proteins, but where proteins are large molecules made up of long chains of amino acids, peptides are their baby cousins, containing much shorter chains. Why is this of interest? Because due to their similarity, peptides have the smart ability of being able to penetrate the skin where they work like little messengers, signaling for your cells to produce more proteins. And which protein is most abundant in your skin? Yes, you got it, collagen.

In simple terms, applying topical peptides encourages your cells to keep on producing collagen (and elastin, for that matter), thus helping to counteract the skin’s inevitable loss of this vital protein and staving off all that comes with it ­– namely wrinkles, lines and sagging skin.

Try: Firming Collagen Day Lotion which contains vegan collagen peptides, amongst other skincare powerhouses like ceramides, green algae, vitamin E and aloe.

2. Retinol

When it comes to boosting your skin’s supply of healthy collagen very few topical ingredients trump retinol. Ask your derm or any skincare expert and we bet 1,000 bucks they will agree. So, what makes it so darn good? Well, it’s been studied for decades and it never fails to deliver the same skin-regenerating results. You see, retinol has an innate ability to communicate with your skin at a deep cellular level to encourage a speedier production of collagen and elastin in a bid to heal and strengthen your skin. Simple as. Well, it’s not that simple, but that’s all you really need to know.

Of course, retinol isn’t for everyone – it’s so good, it can be a tad irritating for some skin types – but if you used it slowly and carefully, always patch testing it first, you’ll find it can be a fantastic way to help keep your skin firm and youthful-looking for years to come.

Try: Retinol Facial Serum which has been formulated with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, helping it to be as gentle on your skin as possible.

3. Bakuchiol

If retinol isn’t for you but you’re looking for something that does almost the exact same thing and offers very similar results, allow us to introduce you to bakuchiol.

One of the newest ingredients to the skincare world (but an absolute keeper unlike other ridiculous ingredients that are all fluff and no function), bakuchiol is nature’s best alternative to retinol. How so? Because it works just like its long-running counterpart, stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating cellular turnover at a deep, below-the-surface level.

Bakuchiol is extracted from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant and has been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. The reason it’s gained such momentum in Western skincare recently is that, granted, it's very similar to retinol, but more importantly it comes with way fewer unwanted side effects. Of course, its gentle nature means it works more slowly but if you sensitive skin and have patience, bakuchiol is a great choice for fighting the visible signs of aging –including sagging skin but certainly not stopping there!

Try: Rejuvenating Longevity Serum which combines bakuchiol with antioxidant-rich lingonberry stem cells and snow algae.

4. Vitamin C

If you don’t know by now how awesome vitamin C is then we’ve been doing something wrong! In our minds, this antioxidant wonder kid can do no wrong.

Like retinol, vitamin C is one of the most trusted and clinically-proven ingredients in the entire world of skincare. It’s known mainly for providing brightening benefits but never forget what an excellent antioxidant it is, offering the absolute best in environmental protection by neutralizing free radicals before they get a chance to destroy collagen – and believe us, that is exactly what free radicals will do if you don’t get in there first.

But it's not just vitamin C's antioxidant prowess that’s crucial for preventing collagen and elastin breakdown. Its highly acidic nature also works hard to boost your collagen and elastin levels. So there’s that.

Try: Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream which gives your skin a delicious overnight boost of protective vitamin C, along with skin-loving botanical oils like jojoba, rosehip and evening primrose.

5. MSM

Sure, we’re all about vitamin C for president here at TruSkin, but another of our skin-firming favorites comes in the form of methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM to friends like you.

Very well tolerated by even the most sensitive of skin types, MSM is a naturally-occurring form of sulfur. And if you didn’t know, sulfur is one of the most important elements in the human body, often touted as the ‘beauty’ or ‘healing’ mineral.

What does that mean for sagging skin? Yeah, we’re getting to that. And the answer is simple: MSM plays a key role in the production and composition of collagen and keratin. Its anti-inflammatory qualities also help decrease damage to the skin caused by lifestyle aggressors like stress, lack of sleep and a sugar or carb-heavy diet. Oh, and as an extra sidenote, MSM also boosts the body’s production of glutathione which is one of your most important, naturally-occurring antioxidants. Take that free radicals!

Try: Vitamin C Super Serum+ which partners MSM with its bestie, vitamin C. Why do they love each other so? Because vitamin C helps the skin readily absorb MSM, thus doubling up their combined collagen-boosting effects.

Salicylic acid is right up there with glycolic acid for exfoliating your skin. But it also has an extra string in its bow. Listen up, oily skin folks, this one’s for you…

Salicylic acid is one of those ingredients that truly delivers. Forget your snail mucus and 24k gold flakes because they simply don’t live up to the hype. Along with skincare greats like retinol and vitamin C, however, salicylic acid does exactly what it sets out to do. And frankly, that’s all you can ask from a skincare ingredient, is it not?

If you’re not sure what salicylic acid is all about, not a problem, that’s what we’re here for. 

So, read on for everything we know about salicylic acid: glycolic acid’s equally as effective, but really quite different cousin…

What Is Salicylic Acid, Exactly?

You’ve heard of AHAs and BHAs, right? Well, salicylic acid sits in the BHA camp. In fact, it’s really the only BHA you need to know about being the single most common BHA used in skincare and cosmetics.

BHAs, or beta-hydroxy acids are fat-soluble chemical exfoliants that break down the bonds between your skin cells to encourage them to slough away more efficiently. Physical scrubs have the same effect, but they use physical pressure alongside grains or textured surfaces to exfoliate your skin. Chemical exfoliants just harness the powers of acids like salicylic to do the same job, improving cellular turnover as a major part of the deal.

Salicylic acid, in particular, is extracted from the bark of willow trees and has amazing exfoliating benefits. But there’s more. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities (take that, pimples!) and, because it’s fat-soluble, it has an uncanny knack of penetrating into your pores and getting to work on your sebaceous glands. And that’s a big plus if you have super oily skin you find hard to control…

The Benefits Of Salicylic Acid In Skincare

Exfoliants are a crucial part of a healthy skincare routine. Not only do they boost cell turnover to help give you a smoother, softer and brighter complexion, but they also work hard to improve collagen synthesis. And as you mature, that’s really important since collagen degradation becomes a huge deal as you hit your 30s and beyond.

As we mentioned, however, salicylic acid differs to other water-soluble chemical exfoliants like glycolic, citric and lactic acids. And that’s because it’s fat-soluble which allows it to go deeper below the skin’s surface, penetrating through the lipid layers to really get into the pores. We mean no disrespect to the AHAs of the world, of course, because they’re incredible at what they do – which is to exfoliate at a more surface level. But, if you have oily skin or have trouble with breakouts, blackheads or blocked pores, salicylic acid can offer so much more.

Salicylic acid is almost unbeatable at preventing your pores from becoming clogged with dead skin cells and excess sebum, AND it gently exfoliates your skin by loosening the bonds that hold together those tough, outer layers of dead skin cells. This not only improves the tone and texture of your complexion almost immediately, but it stimulates collagen production helping to stave off premature lines and wrinkles as time goes by.

To summarize, the key benefits of salicylic acid are…

5 Ways To Make Salicylic Acid Work For You

Like most active ingredients, salicylic acid must be given the respect it deserves. Here’s how to use it wisely and effectively...

1. Always Patch Test Salicylic Acid First

Most salicylic acid treatments are well-tolerated by all skin types and safe for daily use. However, there’s always a chance your skin could freak out by this potent, active ingredient, so patch test any new product before applying it regularly. And yes, we know patch testing sounds like a bit of a headache, but it’s really easy and will only delay your product use by a day or so... but it can save your skin a whole lotta pain.

To patch test your product, apply a small amount to a discreet area of your skin (we like to do it behind an ear). Then leave it for 24-48 hours to check for any negative reactions. Most likely, your skin will be fine other than mild redness or tingling which is to be expected with any active product. However, if you experience anything like burning, discomfort, swelling or itching, stop use immediately – this product is not a good fit for you. 

2. Listen To Your Skin To Get Your Routine Right

Once you know you’re safe to use your salicylic acid formulation without any negative reactions, introduce it slowly into your routine. Your skin might be strong enough to take it every day… then again, it might not. Start with once a week and then build on that after a couple of weeks as your skin acclimates. And remember to always read the labels of your products as not all serums are built to be used daily, anyway!

Our Vitamin C Super Serum+, for example, is packed with potent ingredients and combines salicylic acid with other skin superheroes like retinol and vitamin C. Because of this we recommend you apply it just two or three times a week for the best results.

3. Get The Most From Salicylic Acid By Using A Leave-On Treatment

Salicylic acid can be used in pretty much any skincare formulation, from cleansers and toners, through to exfoliants, serums and moisturizers. To really maximize its benefits, however, we believe that leave-on products offer far superior results to anything you’re going to wash down the plughole. It’s common sense, right?

On that note, try our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which is everything for brighter, clearer, smoother-looking skin. Apply it to clean skin, before your serum and moisturizer.

4. Combine It With Tea Tree Oil

Our Tea Tree Super Serum+ blends salicylic acid with tea tree oil to really hit breakouts from all angles.

Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the Australian tea tree and it has awesome anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits making it a shoo-in for helping to calm facial redness at a surface level. Meanwhile, salicylic acid goes deeper to improve cell turnover and help remove excess oil and dirt that can block your pores in the first place. Together they’re truly dynamite. What’s more, our serum has been crafted to be as gentle as possible while still providing all the benefits you could ever want.

As we said, dynamite.

5. Use Sunscreen Every Morning

All experts agree (us, dermatologists, the FDA, need we go on?) that salicylic acid must be used in conjunction with a broad-spectrum sunscreen in order to help protect the skin and avoid sensitivities to UV radiation. It’s basically non-negotiable, so make sure sunscreen is as much a part of your morning routine as cleaning your teeth and brushing your hair.

We like to keep our SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C right there on the shelf next to our serums and eye cream. That way, we never forget.

Answer: epigallocatechin gallate, of course. No need for any further explanation, right? Just kidding…

If you’re into skincare you’ll be well aware of topical antioxidants and what they do for your skin. Heck, you may even be on first name terms with the likes of vitamin C, vitamin E, resveratrol and ferulic acid. And hats off to you.

But just to recap, antioxidants are some of the most important ingredients you can incorporate into your skincare routine. You see, they’re the absolute nemesis of one of your skin’s biggest enemies: free radicals. Free radicals damage up your skin at the rate of knots and are formed within the skin’s structure when it’s exposed to environmental and lifestyle aggressors like UV radiation, pollution, stress and a cruddy diet. Once they get under your skin they attack all the good stuff like collagen, elastin, even your DNA, ruining its strength, volume, suppleness and really screwing up the tone and texture of your skin.

To put it bluntly, free radicals are not your friend. Antioxidants on the other hand? Love ‘em.

So, what’s all this got to do with the elusive EGCG? Well, EGCG (aka epigallocatechin gallate) is an extremely hard-working, tried and tested antioxidant that works no end of magic on your skin, including a few benefits that others barely touch on. Here’s what you need to know…

What Is EGCG, Exactly?

EGCG is not just any antioxidant, but a very specific type called a catechin. Catechins are natural, plant-derived antioxidants found in many teas, fruits, berries, legumes and cocoa. Studies show, for example, that the leaves of green tea are made up of almost 40 percent catechins, with EGCG being the most abundant of them all. In fact, EGCG is the main reason green tea is so highly regarded for its health benefits.

When it comes to skincare, specifically, EGCG is considered to be an incredibly effective ingredient for warding off the visible signs of premature aging.

How EGCG Benefits Your Skin

1. Protects Skin From UV Damage

Let’s get one thing straight, no topical antioxidant can take the place of an effective, broad-spectrum sunscreen. However, they’re a fantastic addition to your skincare routine and a great way to further shield your skin from UV damage when used alongside your daily SPF. Of course, they don’t safeguard your skin from burning per se, but they work by fighting off DNA damage and helping to scavenge free radicals before they get a chance to mess with vital proteins in your skin. And that’s something all of us should get on board with.

As antioxidants go, EGCG is up there with the best. For starters, it’s the most tried, tested and trusted of all catechins, plus it rarely triggers irritation or sensitivities, so it can be used by most skin types with very little concern.

2. Helps Balance Oil Production

EGCG is an antiandrogen which means it helps block the effects that androgens like testosterone have on your body and skin. Androgens can cause your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum than normal, which makes EGCG a pretty useful ingredient for helping to control and balance sebum – great news for anyone who has crazy-oily skin or who suffers with blocked pores or acne.

Hormonal acne, in particular, can occur when androgens become unbalanced during certain stages of life such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy or the menopause. These hormonal changes often cause sensitivities in the skin which can result in excessively oily skin, coupled with pesky monthly breakouts.

3. Increases Moisture Retention

Another great reason to incorporate EGCG into your daily routine? It’s awesome for keeping your skin hydrated, supple and well moisturized by regulating and encouraging it to produce hyaluronic acid. As you know, your skin naturally contains hyaluronic acid from birth which helps to keep it soft and supple. However, as you age, your levels of this hydrating powerhouse diminishes, causing dehydration and accelerating the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

We’re big into topical hyaluronic acid and pack it into many of our serums and moisturizers to help keep your skin’s levels in check. (We recommend trying Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum for some major daily hydration.) However, working on the inside to encourage your skin’s very own HA synthesis? Another big yes from us.

4. Reduces Inflammation

Studies show that EGCG has anti-inflammatory properties which target and inhibit the molecules and processes involved in inflammation. This is more great news for anyone who sufferers with regular acne breakouts.

Anti-inflammatories are also fantastic for soothing sensitive skin or helping to calm facial redness.

5. Minimizes The Visible Signs Of Aging

Sun damage, free radical overload, inflammation and dehydration are all terribly aging on your skin, making EGCG an incredible addition to any healthy aging skincare regime. Not only does EGCG work on minimizing fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin, but it can also improve the tone of your skin by helping to reduce the formation of dark spots. That's a big deal.

How To Use EGCG In Your Skincare Routine

We believe to get the most from any active ingredient like EGCG, you’re best off maximizing their worth by using a leave-on formulation like a toner, serum or moisturizer. Wash-off products are great as an added bonus, but leave-ons are truly where all the magic happens.

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The good news is EGCG plays well with most other skincare ingredients. If you truly want it to work better and harder, experts recommend combining it with other antioxidants to provide a broad, all-encompassing barrier against environmental damage. All the usual suspects work incredibly well with EGCG but our favorites are soothing niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid which really amp up its super powers. Try our Caffeine Facial Serum to reap the benefits of all of the above plus caffeine (obvs!) to energize and revitalize tired skin.

One final note: EGCG can be pretty unstable so make sure any product you buy comes in a dark container and is stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Fail to do that and your formulation will lose its special powers lightning fast.