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Skincare ingredients can be confusing, but when it comes to collagen stimulation and wrinkle reduction, peptides are worth knowing about. Here’s what we know…

If you’ve ever found yourself confused by skincare ingredients don’t worry, you are not alone. Mysterious ingredients like kojic this and azelaic can dumbfound even the biggest skincare aficionados. But while they might sound super intimidating, these science-based actives are often some of the most effective ingredients you can use on healthy aging skin.

On that note, let’s talk about peptides. Major news in skincare right now, peptides are short chains of amino acids which, as you know, are the building blocks of protein. Like tiny little messengers that communicate with your skin at a cellular level, peptides deliver a whole host of incredible benefits, triggering specific responses like skin barrier repair and collagen production. By telling the cells exactly what to do and accelerating healing, renewal and rejuvenation, they’re vital for the health of your skin.

A Quick Lesson On The Different Types Of Peptides

Not only are there thousands of active ingredients available in skincare, but there are tons of peptides alone: often with hand-scratching names, numbers and spellings. Here’s a quick run-through of the four main peptide types to know…

Signal Peptides: the most common peptides found in skincare, these send signals to specific cells prompting them to produce collagen, elastin and other important proteins. Examples include Matrixyl 3000, palmitoyl tripeptides and palmitoyl oligopeptide.

Carrier Peptides: these peptides work by transporting essential minerals and nutrients to the skin to aid healing and encourage collagen synthesis. They’re like the delivery systems of the peptide world. The most common and well-researched are copper peptides.

Neurotransmitter Peptides: by targeting muscle contractions, these peptides are thought to relax the facial muscles thus helping to soften expression lines and delay etched-in wrinkles. Acetyl hexapeptide-8 (aka Argireline) and tripeptide-3 (aka Syn-Ake) are popular examples.

Enzyme-Inhibitor Peptides: great for strengthening and preserving the skin, these work by blocking certain enzymes that are known to break down collagen and elastin. Matrixyl 3000 also comes under this umbrella, as does acetyl hexapepetide-8.

The Power Of Peptides In Skincare

The great thing about peptides is that, unlike larger proteins which are unable to penetrate the top layers of the skin, they're small enough to communicate with the skin at a much deeper, cellular level. This makes them a must in any skincare routine because the benefits are huge. Keep scrolling to learn about the most important benefits of peptides.

1. All The Collagen Love

Undoubtedly the biggest draw for including peptides in your skincare routine is for their proven abilities for boosting collagen production. With the exception of neurotransmitter peptides, they all work hard to increase collagen synthesis, some by more than 100 percent.

Signal peptides, for example, send direct messages to the dermal fibroblasts – the fibrous connective tissue cells that, among other things, are responsible for producing collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. They basically give these cells a gentle nudge to work harder and faster. What does that mean for your skin? Strength, structure, radiance, lift, smoothness and youthfulness. Need we go on?

2. Softer-Looking Wrinkles

Of course, more quality collagen in your skin automatically means you will age more slowly so signal peptides, carrier peptides and enzyme-inhibitor peptides are the bee’s knees for keeping your fine lines and wrinkles under control. But don’t forget neurotransmitter peptides like acetyl hexapepetide-8. While these don’t improve collagen production, per se, they temporarily work to relax your facial muscles – kind of like Botox without the needles.

Don’t get us wrong, topical skincare is never going to offer the kind of dramatic wrinkle reduction effects you’ll get from injectable treatments, but with consistent use, neurotransmitter peptides show great promise for helping to soften the visible appearance of expression lines.

3. A Better Barrier Function

Carrier peptides are incredible for improving wound healing and strengthening the skin’s barrier function. Quick reminder: your barrier function is the super important but extremely fragile uppermost layer of the skin, aka the stratum corneum. This protective layer works relentlessly to help your skin retain moisture, while keeping nasty things like allergens, irritants and pollutants from penetrating through the skin and causing a negative reaction. As skin ages and life (stress, UV radiation, pollution) gets in the way, this barrier can become compromised, allowing moisture to escape and irritants to get in. Cue dryness, dehydration, sensitivities and all sorts.

All this is why barrier care skin formulations are so important. And peptides check that box with bells on. Copper peptides, in particular, have shown to significantly increase skin thickness and elasticity while encouraging the skin’s natural repair process.

4. Youthful Skin That Snaps Right Back

While collagen is vital for the look and feel of healthy skin, elastin is equally as important. Elastin is another structural protein in the skin but while collagen gives strength and stability, elastin allows it to stretch, flex and bounce back with your face and body's movements and expressions. It basically ensures that your skin remains firm and smooth, rather than saggy and lax. 

Elastin production also decreases with age (no surprises there!), causing your skin to lose its natural, bounce-back quality. But good news: signal peptides stimulate elastin synthesis, encouraging your skin to retain its plump youthfulness.

5. Awesome Pore Control

Your pores are a crucial part of the structure of your skin. They allow important liquids, particles and gases to pass through the surface, helping to regulate body temperature and lubricate the skin. They can also (annoyingly!) stretch and appear larger with age as collagen and elastin fibers become weak and the walls of the pores become equally slack and kind of baggy-looking.

Enter the collagen and elastin-boosting powers of peptides. Stronger proteins in the skin = tighter-looking pores. Makes sense, right?

How To Work Peptides Into Your Skincare Routine

The key to getting visible results from peptides in your daily regime is to go for leave-on formulations that can be layered underneath your moisturizer. AKA, the mighty serum.

Search out peptide serums that contain a few different types in order to maximize their benefits. Our Peptide Facial Serum, for example, is crafted with an incredible peptide complex blend including palmitoyl tripeptides-1 and -5, plus palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, all of which are lauded for their collagen-pumping, elastin-boosting, hyaluronic acid-enhancing abilities. Oh, and Peptide Eye Gel is another skincare great that shouldn’t be ignored.

Because neither should the skin around your eyes.

Hydration is something every skin type needs – whether it’s dry, oily or somewhere in between. Not sure how to up the moisture levels in your skin? Then here are the hydrating skincare heroes you need to know.

If you want healthy skin that feels good and looks even better, moisture is everything. Without it, you can simply say goodbye to an even skin tone, smooth texture and a radiant glow. Because it just ‘aint gonna happen.

You see, skin dehydration is real. And it doesn’t only hit those of you with dry skin, but can strike even the oiliest of skin types. How so? Simple: your skin type has nothing to do with the levels of water in your skin, it’s just a gauge of the amount of sebum your skin produces. If you have oily skin, for example, your sebaceous glands are super active and therefore produce a lot of sebum – sometimes a little too much if we’re being honest. If your skin is dry, however, sebum is often in serious short supply. Dehydration is a whole different kettle of fish because this means your skin is lacking in water, not oil. And yes, this also means that any skin type, however oily it is, can be dehydrated.

Once you get your head around all this, it becomes easier to understand why hydrating your skin is different to moisturizing it. Skin hydration is all about drawing moisture into the skin, while moisturization concentrates on sealing all that moisture in place to help prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Dry skin needs a lot of help in the latter department because it often has a more delicate barrier function thanks to such a short supply of sebum. That’s why dry skin benefits from richer, thicker moisturizing formulas. And oily skin? Not so much. Oily skin generally has a stronger barrier function, helped along nicely by all that sebum.

Moisturizers usually contain a combination of moisturizing and hydrating ingredients to deliver a complete regimen for softer, stronger, healthier skin. But if you’re specifically looking to up your skin’s hydration levels, look out for these humectant powerhouses…

What Are Humectants?

Humectants are substances that attract and retain water from their surroundings, kind of like bath sponges. In skincare, they’re used to draw water either from the air or from deeper layers of the skin to replenish lost moisture at a surface level. This helps to keep the skin soft, firm, plump and healthy while strengthening the uppermost layers to reduce irritation and calm sensitive skin.

When it comes to hydrating the skin, humectants are the be-all and end-all. Below, feast your eyes on five of the best humectants we know…

1. Aloe Vera

A fully signed-up member of the humectant family, aloe vera is an evergreen succulent that’s been used around the world for centuries to treat everything from tooth cavities and feet ulcers to depression and IBS. Its benefits for the skin, however, are by far its biggest and most well-known superpower.

Often referred to as the ‘wonder plant,’ the leaves of the aloe vera plant are where all the action takes place. More specifically, it’s the watery, nutrient-rich medicinal gel that’s found inside these leaves that delivers so much goodness to the skin. Rich in polysaccharides which draw in water, it’s also high in antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This means it not only hydrates the skin like a boss, but it also aids healing, reduces free radical damage and helps to soothe facial redness. What’s not to love?

Try: Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream

2. Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic and lactic acid might not be the most obvious choices for hydrating your skin, but don’t count them out. Because on top of their exfoliating prowess, AHAs also have humectant qualities. This helps to keep your skin healthy and hydrated as they go about their main job, which is to stimulate cellular turnover and rid your skin of dulling dead skin cells.

Ingredients that deliver more than one benefit? Love that.

Try: 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant

3. Glycerin

Glycerin is one of those quiet, unassuming skincare ingredients that goes about its business without needing to be in the spotlight or steal the headlines. But do not underestimate this clever ingredient because, if certain studies are to be believed, it may be one of the most effective humectants in skincare. This is because it has a very low molecular weight which allows it to penetrate deep into the skin where it hydrates, strengthens and replenishes the skin’s natural moisturizing factor.

Like most humectants, glycerin is very well tolerated by the skin and is often prescribed to help treat extreme dryness, itching and cracked, dehydrated skin. It's a win-win.

Try: Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum

4. Hyaluronic Acid

When it comes to the spotlight, at the exact opposite end of the spectrum to glycerin comes hyaluronic acid, one of the buzziest skincare ingredients of the past decade.

Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin’s structure when it lubricates and hydrates the skin 24/7. This water-loving ingredient is estimated to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water which means just one gram is able to hold up to six liters of water. There’s your headline right there!

But this begs the question: shouldn’t that amount of water be enough for your skin on a daily basis? Well it is… until it isn’t. As skin ages its levels of hyaluronic acid significantly depletes – often by up to 50 percent once you hit age 40 and beyond. This encourages dehydration and all the signs of skin aging that come with it; aka fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

The solution? Lots of fabulous hyaluronic acid in your skincare routine. Simple as that.

Try: Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream

5. Vitamin E

Another classic skincare ingredient that has stood the test of time is vitamin E, one of the true good guys in the beauty world. 

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that’s also found naturally in your skin’s structure where it maintains moisture, supports cell function and protects the skin from environmental stressors. Unfortunately, just like collagen, hyaluronic acid and friends, vitamin E also decreases as you age. Big surprise.

To help keep your levels high it’s smart to include vitamin E in your skincare routine. Vitamin E is generally thought of as an emollient which is a substance that helps soften, smooth and trap moisture into the skin but, little known fact, it also has awesome humectant properties. This makes it one of the best all-rounders for hydrating and moisturizing the skin.

Can’t see it on any of your skincare labels? Look out for alpha-tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate – two of vitamin E’s fancy alter egos.

Try: Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream

The debate surrounding natural vs synthetic skincare ingredients can become seriously heated. But we believe the fence is the best place to be on this topic. And here’s why…

It can be a struggle to decide whether you want to stick with holistic skincare ingredients or go down the ‘science is best’ route. On the one hand, a natural skincare program feels like it should be gentler on the skin and kinder to the environment. But on the other hand, don't scientifically formulated ingredients have the edge over their natural counterparts when it comes to benefiting the skin and delivering visible results? After all, most of them have undergone years of clinical research, alongside rigorous testing and quality control to ensure their absolute safety and efficacy.

Yes. And no.

The truth is there are tons of benefits to using both natural and synthetic skincare ingredients. Minerals and plant extracts, for example, can be awesome for the skin and cause little harm to the world we live in. But certain essential oils can irritate sensitive skin so you have to do your homework and choose wisely. Meanwhile, synthetic ingredients aren’t always harmful or ‘toxic’ but can offer incredible rewards for the look and feel of your skin.

We believe that instead of sticking with one skincare philosophy and completely writing off the other, it’s more important to focus on each individual ingredient on its own merit. Natural or synthetic aside, does it truly benefit the health of your skin and, above all, does it suit your own individual needs?

On that note, here are three of our favorite duos from both camps.

The Collagen Boosters: Retinol & Bakuchiol

Collagen means the world to healthy skin. And we mean that literally because its dense, fiber-like structure acts like a kind of glue, helping the skin to remain strong, supple and resilient. The big problem is that as skin ages its collagen content drops by around 1-1.5 percent every year. And since this can start as early as in your 20s that really adds up. It’s basically why your skin starts to thin, wrinkle, sag and show all the other signs of aging you probably don’t love.

The good news is there are many ingredients in skincare whose main purpose in life is to help your skin’s collagen levels stay healthy and plentiful. And two of the big guns are retinol and bakuchiol.

You’ll have heard of retinol. It’s pretty much the gold standard in skincare, improving everything from wrinkles to acne breakouts by communicating with the skin at a cellular level to accelerate turnover and rev up its production of collagen and elastin. Derms love it,  beauty editors love it, celebs love it. Everyone loves it. Actually that’s not strictly true because as fabulous as retinol is, its strength is also its drawback, sometimes causing dryness and irritation to sensitive skin types.

And that’s where it’s natural alternative, bakuchiol, enters the equation. Whereas retinol is a synthetically created form of vitamin A, bakuchiol is extracted from the leaves and seeds of the babchi plant. It’s been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities and clinical studies show that it offers similar benefits to retinol but is more stable and well tolerated by almost all skin types.

Try them both, your skin will tell you which it prefers...

The Environmental Protectors: Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate & Green Tea

Dull, tired-looking skin is no fun. But it can be inevitable thanks to two words: free radicals. Free radicals form in the skin when it’s exposed to things it doesn’t like. Think UV radiation, pollution etc.

One of the best ways to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals – which can seriously ruin your skin’s strength and structure – is to keep exposed skin protected with topical antioxidants. These help to neutralize free radical damage before it gets a chance to really take hold of all the good stuff in your skin.

As antioxidants go, you have many choices. Some awesome, others not so much. Two you can’t go wrong with, however, are vitamin C, notably sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and green tea.

We never tire of shouting about the benefits of sodium ascorbyl phosphate. It may sound like a scary, lab-created ingredient but it’s simply a derivative of vitamin C that’s stable and kinder to the skin. As well as its free radical-fighting prowess, vitamin C helps your sunscreen work more efficiently AND it helps to minimize dark spots and patchy skin by keeping melanin production on an even keel. It’s a great way to shield your skin from damage while brightening and lifting the complexion.

And then there’s green tea, another big favorite in the antioxidant world. Widely thought of as one of the best natural antioxidants in skincare, green tea contains plant polyphenols like EGCG which protect the skin from UV damage, balance oil production, increase moisture retention, reduce inflammation and minimize the visible signs of aging. It also plays well with other skincare ingredients like caffeine to really supercharge your radiance game.

Sodium ascorbly phosphate? Green tea? You decide.

The Hydrating Heroes: Hyaluronic Acid & Aloe Vera

Achieving the heady heights of super hydrated skin might feel like an impossible task. But add some over-achieving humectants into your skincare routine and you’ll be well on the way.

What are humectants? In skincare, humectants are substances that attract water from their surroundings, drawing moisture to the skin to keep it hydrated and healthy. They’re like magnets, or bath sponges if you will. Some humectants also promote cell turnover by gently breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. Others have antioxidant properties to protect the skin from environmental aggressors. Yes, they're that good.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is arguably the biggest humectant in skincare, because it claims to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Which is quite a number. HA occurs naturally in the body but because it depletes through age (big surprise there!) it’s produced in a lab through a process called biofermentation. HA works for most skin types and blends well with other active ingredients, but if it’s not your mojo, aloe vera is just as fantastic. Maybe even more so.

Otherwise known as aloe barbadensis, aloe vera is a cactus-like succulent that’s just one of 400 species of aloe. It’s cultivated worldwide for its water-rich, medicinal gel which has tons of uses, many which are skin-related. Like HA, it draws in moisture to offer supreme hydration. And, also similar to HA, it has awesome antioxidant properties to help fight free radicals.

Aloe vera also acts as a gentle exfoliant thanks to its salicylic acid content which works to gently remove dead skin cells. Couple that with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and you’ve also got yourself an extremely kind-to-skin acne-fighting ingredient on your hands.

A Few Final Words

Hopefully this has proven to you that there’s a place for both natural and synthetic ingredients in skincare. Rather than view them as opposing forces, therefore, try to embrace the best of both worlds, focussing on quality and formulation, regardless of whether they came from the ground or were created in a laboratory. Choose ingredients that address your specific needs and look for brands (er, hello!) that invest in innovation, research and testing. 

Effective skincare is about choosing products that work harmoniously with your skin’s unique needs and characteristics. And we truly believe that, together, natural skincare ingredients and synthetic skincare ingredients are able to provide this.

Is your barrier function letting your skin down? Causing irritation, dryness, redness and itching? Then it’s time to introduce some gentle, strengthening ingredients into your daily routine.

From totally killing the look of your makeup (hello flaky foundation!) to making your face feel so itchy you could cry, sensitive skin is a real bore. It’s also a massive chore – especially when you have to deal with it on a daily basis. Are we right, or are we right????

But the thing is, while certain sensitivities are down to your genetic makeup and therefore kind of tricky to deal with off your own back, others are perfectly treatable. And it’s all about concentrating on your skin’s barrier function.

The Skin’s Barrier: A Quick Recap 

Officially known as the stratum corneum, the skin’s barrier is its uppermost layer which sits right on the surface of the epidermis like a protective shield. It’s made up of vital components including ceramides, cholesterol, amino acids and fatty acids and is one of, if not the most important layers of the skin.

The job of the skin’s barrier is to keep certain things in, namely water, and other stuff like pollutants, irritants and allergens out. And when it’s strong and healthy it works like clockwork. However, if it becomes weakened thanks to chronic skin conditions like eczema, high-strength skincare formulations or extreme weather breaking down the barrier’s vital substances, it stops being able to do its job properly. This allows water to escape far too easily while simultaneously allowing the bad guys front row seats to do their worst. Cue dryness, dehydration, irritation, redness, itching, the works.

There are many ways to repair and care for a damaged skin barrier, not least of which is to focus on the ingredients in your daily routine. Be mindful to avoid using too many active ingredients for starters. And hone in on topicals that hydrate, protect and nourish the skin. Not sure what those ingredients are? Then here are a few to guide you along the way.

5 Must-Try Skincare Ingredients For Stronger, Healthier Skin

1. Ceramides

Ceramides are important lipids that make up around 50 percent of your skin’s composition. They’re a crucial component in the barrier because they work tirelessly to ‘glue’ together the cells, creating that all-important shield which holds moisture in and potentially harmful aggressors out. 

Of course, with age, your skin naturally loses ceramides so this is why it’s essential to replace them with ceramide-rich skincare formulas in your daily routine. Look out for ceramides EOP (1), NP (3) and AP (6011) which are the most clinically studied and thus widely viewed as the most effective.

Try: Firming Collagen Day Lotion

2. Hyaluronic Acid

When it comes to skin hydration, hyaluronic acid (HA) is the obvious go-to. A very effective humectant, it works by drawing in water like a sponge. And that’s vital for hydrating the skin (on every level!) because as you age, its natural supplies of HA deplete at lightning speeds, causing dullness, dehydration and irritation.

Studies show that hyaluronic acid has the ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Which is very impressive. Of course, HA is not the only humectant out there and ingredients like glycerin and aloe vera are just as effective and similarly deserve a massive shout-out for helping you to achieve the heady heights of a healthy skin barrier.

Try: Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

3. Niacinamide 

A form of vitamin B3, niacinamide is a pretty big deal in skincare right now, rising in Google searches and flooding the beauty shelves. But frankly, we’ve always known how incredible this water-soluble skin nutrient truly is. Not to blow our own trumpets, of course.

All jokes aside, topical niacinamide has some pretty impressive talents. For starters, it has a smart way (you don't need to know the science) of being able to increase the production of ceramides in the uppermost layers of your skin. And, as mentioned, ceramides are super important for the barrier function so keeping them at an all-time high is vital for improving the resiliency of your skin. 

Niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory qualities and is a powerful antioxidant. This helps to protect your skin from everyday life and specifically works hard to shield it from environmental damage caused by UV radiation and pollution. All that adds up to music to the ears of sensitive skin, don’t you agree?

Try: Niaciamide (B3) Facial Serum

4. Milk

We’re huge advocates of oat and rice milk here at TruSkin. How so? Because they’re proven to be up there as some of nature’s finest skincare ingredients for dry or sensitive skin.

Chock full of antioxidants, these non-dairy milks are a great way to provide protection from free radical damage (which can be a killer on your barrier function), plus they’re extremely moisturizing. Rice milk, for example, contains a vitamin-like component called inositol which has similar humectant qualities to big-hitters like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Both rice and oat milk also have anti-inflammatory and skin-smoothing emollient properties to help reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and keep your skin calm, soft and smooth. 

Try: Soothing Cleansing Milk 

5. Panthenol

Panthenol might not steal the headlines like retinol and HA, but its role in skincare is absolutely crucial. Especially when it comes to soothing and strengthening compromised skin. Similar to HA, panthenol (aka pro-vitamin B5) is a humectant and draws moisture to the top layers of the skin. But it has another string to its bow: it’s an emollient, too. This means it not only brings extra water to the table, but it also works to seal moisture in by smoothing over the top layers and filling in tiny cracks that often appear in dry or dehydrated skin.

A shoo-in for sensitive skin, panthenol is easily tolerated and ideal for calming sensitivities and visibly reducing the facial redness that’s often triggered by irritation. Do not underestimate it.

Try: Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream

Witch hazel has been a skincare staple for centuries, but have you ever wondered why it crops up in so many products? Here’s what we know about this natural beauty.

We love a good botanical extract here at TruSkin. Combined with expert knowhow, awesome technology and other tried and tested ingredients (natural AND synthetic) botanicals truly furnish the skin with the best nature has to offer.

And witch hazel is no different. Found in all kinds of different skincare formulations, from cleansers and toners through to serums and moisturizers, unless you’re allergic (which is rare) it can be an extremely effective addition to any skincare routine.

Here’s why witch hazel deserves pride of place in your skincare routine.

What Is Witch Hazel?

A flowering shrub native to parts of Asia and the Atlantic coast of North America, witch hazel (whose scientific name is hamamelis virginiana) has been used for medicinal purposes for, like, ever. And the twigs, bark and leaves are where the magic happens. You see, when these are extracted and distilled from the plant, they become a natural astringent with tons of anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant qualities. 

How Exactly Witch Hazel Benefits The Skin

Have an annoying zit to deal with? Witch hazel’s got your back. Want to minimize the appearance of pores? Witch hazel is here for you. In fact, when it comes to relieving irritation, inflammation and tightening the skin, witch hazel is hard to beat. Read on for five of our favorite witch hazel benefits...

* It Keeps Enlarged Pores In Check

Witch hazel has a high tannin content which gives it natural astringent properties. What does that mean? Well, an astringent is a substance that draws out water, causing a restricting and tightening effect on the skin. This, in turn, helps to temporarily minimize the appearance of enlarged pores. You must tread carefully, however, because astringents also have a drying effect which can stimulate oil production and make your skin feel greasy. The solution? Make sure you stick with a balanced formulation like 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant, which won’t dry out your skin entirely. And always follow with moisturizer. 

* It’s A Trusted Ally For Oily Skin

Witch hazel can be an effective way to keep sebum production under control. By compressing proteins in the skin, the tannins create a kind of invisible shield on the skin’s surface which makes the skin look and feel less oily. Of course, this makes it tempting to douse your oily skin with witch hazel on the reg, but do this and you could cause all sorts of irritating skin issues. Dryness and actual irritation being odds-on favorites.

Our advice is to use carefully crafted skincare formulations that use just the right amount of witch hazel to help keep oil under control without stripping your skin completely dry. Our Ocean Minerals Super Toner is a great choice post-cleanse as it’s blended with powerful peptides and MSM to boost your bid for healthy, balanced skin. It also contains double-distilled witch hazel which produces a richer witch hazel that contains less alcohol.

* It’s A Big Deal In the Acne-Fighting World

Acne occurs when excess sebum hooks up with dead skin cells and bacteria, then gets stuck at the surface of your skin where it sits in your pores and clogs them up. It makes sense, there, that if you apply a product containing witch hazel (which works to keep sebum under control), you’ll simultaneously help minimize breakouts.

But that's not even the half of it because another good thing about witch hazel is that it has antibacterial properties which which work hard to eliminate acne-causing bacteria. And then there are its anti-inflammatory qualities which help to reduce the angry redness that often comes hand-in-hand with breakouts.

Be afraid, pimples and blackheads, be very afraid.

* It Helps Minimize Facial Redness 

Speaking of inflammation, if you suffer with facial redness, the soothing and anti-inflammatory properties of witch hazel can be a real life saver. Just know that it’s best used in conjunction with soothing and/or moisture-boosting ingredients.

(As a sidenote, some people swear by witch hazel for sunburn relief. But we know you never get sunburn so we figure that's a moot point.)

* It's Great For Reducing Puffy Eyes

Great news if you suffer with under eye bags: witch hazel’s astringent and soothing properties can work wonders on this often frustrating area, reducing fluid retention under the eyes and also minimizing redness. The skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive, however, so make sure you go slow and low with a gentle formula like Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream.

Puffiness often doesn’t stop around the eyes, so if you also suffer elsewhere on your face thanks to a build-up of excess fluids below the surface of your skin, look out for witch hazel in your daily facial serum. Our Caffeine Facial Serum, for example, contains a smidge of witch hazel, combined with caffeine, EGCG, ginseng, matcha tea and niacinamide to strengthen, energize, tighten and brighten tired, puffy skin. It’s a new fan favorite and a must-try if you’re yet to feel the love.

Before You Leave, Here's 5 Witch Hazel Facts To Remember

1. Pure witch hazel is mega potent. Sure, it can be applied direct to the skin in its pure, undiluted form to spot-treat pimples, but it’s often better to use formulations that blend witch hazel with other ingredients for a more all-round approach to skincare.

2. If you have sensitive skin, opt for products that blend witch hazel with calming, soothing and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and vitamin E. Try Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum.

3. While generally safe for everyday use, witch hazel has the potential to dry out or irritate the skin if used too often. Listen to your skin when introducing it to your routine and if it feels drier or more sensitive than normal, apply it less frequently.

4. Look for alcohol-free, or at the very least low-alcohol, formulations to minimize dryness.

5. Always patch test before using products containing witch hazel. Apply a small amount to a discreet area of your skin and allow it to sit for 24-48 hours. If you don’t have a reaction in that time, you’re good to go.

Ready to discover which powerhouse vitamins and minerals will ‘actually’ make your skin look and feel better than ever? Here's the lowdown on ten of the best… 

Skincare ingredients are ten-a-penny these days with all manner of alleged miracle workers available to spread and massage over your precious complexion. But the thing is, you can splash out hundreds of bucks on products, then you wait… and wait… and well, nothing really changes. ‘Disappointing’ doesn’t even touch the surface.

So which ingredients offer true, visible results and therefore deserve their coveted spot in your routine? Well, we believe the classics are rarely beaten. And in this case, the true classics are vitamins and minerals. 

Read on for ten of the most elite vitamins and minerals we have the pleasure to know. And, just so you know, we don’t like to play favorites, so we’ve listed them in alphabetical order. Because fair’s fair.

The Mineral Masters

1. Calcium

Calcium rarely gets shouted about in skincare but it’s actually a bit of an unsung hero. You’re well aware of calcium’s benefits for your teeth and bones, right? Well, it’s also a key component of the skin – reinforcing and strengthening its natural resilience by fortifying the barrier function. 

As skin ages, its barrier function can become compromised due to daily wear and tear (UV radiation is a huge offender, of course), plus poor skincare choices and unhealthy lifestyle habits. This can make the skin feel, dry and dehydrated because moisture is able to more easily escape from the surface of the skin. But not only that; a weak barrier function also encourages irritation and sensitivities that weren’t there before. Which is no fun.

The good news is there are many awesome ingredients out there that help counteract a substandard barrier function – calcium being one of them. Added bonus: it’s also been shown to encourage healthy cell turnover for brighter, clearer skin.

2. Magnesium

Like calcium, magnesium often goes under the radar as a skincare ingredient, but it’s a very important, stress-relieving mineral that works both inside and out.

While essential for regulating various important bodily functions (think blood pressure and nerve function to name just two), in skincare, magnesium has been shown to reduce irritation and inflammation. It does this by strengthening cell growth, lowering cortisol (the stress hormone), supporting DNA repair, protecting the skin’s barrier function and regulating important proteins that play a key role in the body’s inflammatory response.

Magnesium has also been found to be a pretty nifty skin hydrator, helping to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while also driving extra moisture into the skin thanks to its electrolyte properties.  (PS: calcium and potassium are also electrolytes)

3. MSM

We have the utmost respect for MSM – which stands for methylsulfonylmethane in case you were wondering. You can see why we shorten it to MSM now, right?

MSM is a naturally-occurring sulfur compound that encourages your skin to produce healthy, plentiful collagen (a vital protein for strong, plump skin). It also works to protect it from environmental damage by increasing glutathione synthesis, one of the body’s most important, naturally-occurring antioxidants. Another thing: MSM has anti-inflammatory qualities which enable it to help decrease damage to the skin caused by other lifestyle baddies such as stress, lack of sleep and a poor diet. This makes it a shoo-in if you’re looking to win the battle against premature aging. 

4. Potassium

Another super important electroyte for boosting your skin’s natural moisturizing factor, potassium works hard to ensure balance and harmony at a surface level. We’ve mentioned electrolytes already (hi there calcium and magnesium) but just so you’re aware, electrolytes are minerals that carry a small electric charge. In skincare formulations, this charge helps to regulate pH, transfer nutrients throughout the skin and attract water in order to facilitate optimum hydration. All this ensures the skin cells function at their very best. And the result? Healthier-looking and healthier-feeling skin. Love.

5. Zinc

An awesome ingredient for angry or acne-prone skin, zinc, in its purest form, is known for its healing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s extremely well tolerated by sensitive skin and helps to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized by balancing sebum, fortifying the skin’s barrier function and significantly reducing TEWL.

Zinc also has incredible protective qualities which is why zinc oxide is such a powerhouse in the sun care market. In fact, according to a 2019 proposal by the FDA, zinc oxide is one of only two sun filters undeniably proven to be a safe and effective barrier against the sun’s damaging UV rays (titanium dioxide is the other). Unlike chemical sunscreens which kind of absorb UV radiation and then break it down in the skin, mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide create a physical barrier which reflects UV rays away from the surface of your skin. We’re obsessed. 

The Vitamin Kings

1. Vitamin A

In the world of skincare, vitamin A likes to go by the name of something else: retinol. 

One of the most valuable ingredients you could have in your arsenal, retinol is the gold standard of skincare powerhouses and constantly recommended by anyone who knows anything about the skin. The reason? Simple, it works.

Retinol has been proven time and again to speed up cell turnover while stimulating collagen and elastin production and helping to keep the visible signs of aging (wrinkles, dark spots etc.) under wraps. However, its power is also its downfall so remember to always patch test a new retinol product before using it regularly, then introduce it slowly into your routine to give your skin time to acclimate.

2. Vitamin B3

Another skin nutrient that has a stage name, vitamin B3 is also known as niacinamide. And, we have to admit, niacinamide is a bit of a show-off, boasting a list of benefits as long as your arm.

Niacinamide is a very effective antioxidant which means it helps to neutralize skin-damaging free radicals. It also helps to boost ceramides in the uppermost layers of your skin which helps to maintain a strong, protective barrier function. Add to this the fact that niacinamide has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and it then becomes a great tool for reducing unwanted facial redness and pesky breakouts. If that wasn’t enough, its do-it-all attitude includes regulating oil production, minimizing the appearance of pores and reducing the appearance of dark spots. Phew.

And the best news of all? As powerful as niacinamide is, it’s also a softie at heart and suits even the most sensitive skin types.

3. Vitamin C

We’d be nowhere without the undeniable skin hero that is vitamin C. Our first baby was our Vitamin C Facial Serum which launched in the fall of 2013 and is still our best-selling serum to date – trust us, almost 150,000 Amazon reviews do not lie!

The thing about vitamin C is that it’s a proven antioxidant which makes it a great addition to your sun-busting morning routine. It’s also a mild exfoliant and has been shown to inhibit melanin production so is a fabulous choice for anyone seeking to boost radiance and help reduce the appearance of dark spots.

Vitamin C can be listed in your skincare ingredients in many forms, including l-ascorbic acid (the pure stuff), ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate. We know that’s a lot to remember, but our advice is this. Stick with sodium ascorbyl phosphate. Why? Because it’s one of the most stable, kind-to-skin versions so is able to offer all of the benefits with very little irritation.

4. Vitamin E

While it rarely grabs the headlines, vitamin E has been quietly looking after skin for decades.

Often seen on your ingredients list as tocopherol, tocopheryl acetate or alpha-tocopheryl acetate, vitamin E is another antioxidant that helps keep your skin safe from environmental harm. However, its main MO is to strengthen the skin’s barrier function by locking in moisture, soothing inflammation and calming irritated skin. And what makes this baby truly special? It plays nicely with almost every other skincare ingredient out there. In fact, pair it with vitamin C and you’ve got one of the most unstoppable protective power duos on your hands. 

5. Vitamin K

Last, but not least, comes probably the least known of the vitamin family, vitamin K. A fat soluble vitamin produced by the liver, vitamin K is also known as phytonadione and it plays an important role in heart health, bone growth and blood clotting, making it vital to your overall health. 

In skincare, vitamin K hasn’t undergone anywhere near the amount of clinical research as your As, Bs, Cs and Es. However, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. Because of its role within the blood clotting process some skincare experts believe that vitamin K has the ability to offer similar effects when applied topically to things like bruising, swelling, redness and excess blood that can pool under your eyes. This makes it an interesting one to watch if you suffer with dark circles.