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Drinking ten cups of coffee each day might not be great for your skin, but caffeine in your skincare products? Now, that’s what we’re talking about…

Do you have a love-hate relationship with caffeine? Turns out, so does your skin. As a skincare ingredient, caffeine is filled with brightening properties and free radical-fighting promise. But consume too much of it in your daily fix of coffee and caffeine can have much less desirable effects.

Confused? Don’t be. Here’s what you need to know about caffeine and your skin.

Caffeine: The Darker Side

It’s true, we’re a nation of avid coffee drinkers. According to research, around three in four Americans drink coffee every single day. What’s more, over a third of these consume more than three cups on a daily basis.

But as great as this beloved, caffeine-powered beverage of ours is for boosting your energy levels, enhancing your mood, aiding performance and potentially lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke, caffeine has a certain dark side. Especially when it comes to the health of your skin. And, btw, tea is no innocent party here. Granted, teas might not contain quite the same levels of caffeine as brewed coffee, but it’s still there, so bear that in mind if you feel saintly because you prefer tea over coffee.

How Drinking Caffeine Affects Your Skin

1. Caffeine Dehydrates Your Skin

Just like two of our other guilty pleasures, salt and alcohol, caffeine can cause dehydration in your skin. Caffeine is a mild diuretic, you see, which means it increases urine production in your kidneys, causing you to pee more and therefore get rid of vital moisture. As you know, water is crucial to the health of your skin, helping it to stay plump, soft, supple and strong. Without it, your skin can become dull, itchy and sensitive; bags can appear around your eyes, and any fine lines and wrinkles you have will become more pronounced.

Of course, if your chosen brew is more water than coffee this can counteract the diuretic effects of the caffeine, but if you’re an espresso drinker you might want to think about the number of cups you have in a day. Studies show that roughly four cups of regular, brewed coffee is a safe amount for most healthy adults. 

2. Caffeine Interferes With Your Sleep

According to the Sleep Foundation consuming caffeine negatively affects your sleep by blocking adenosine receptors. Adenosine is an important chemical that builds up in the brain while you’re awake to make you feel tired and help promote prolonged, quality sleep when you need it. Blocking the receptors that detect adenosine means your brain, instead, will continue to release chemicals to keep you awake. The result? Cruddy sleep.

Sleep is extremely important for the health of your skin because as your brain goes into rest mode, your skin does the exact opposite. Blood flow increases to nourish it with valuable nutrients; cell turnover accelerates to bring fresh, healthy skin cells to the surface, and collagen production speeds up to keep your skin strong and supple. Lose out on this valuable skin regeneration time and you can say goodbye to fabulous-looking skin and, in turn, welcome all the signs of premature aging you did not want to invite to the party.

3. Caffeine Can Make Breakouts Worse

Of course, caffeine doesn’t cause acne. But it has the potential to make your breakouts worse by heightening stress and causing an overproduction of cortisol which stimulates your sebaceous glands to go into overdrive. The result? Excess sebum which gets blocked in your pores and, well, you know the rest.

Caffeine: The Skincare Great

Of course, drinking caffeine isn’t all bad (it contains tons of antioxidants for starters!) and if you consume it in moderation – and never before bedtime – it can have its real perks.

What’s more, for all its pros and cons in the coffee and tea world, caffeine is extremely buzzy in skincare right now (pun 100% intended).

So, what’s the deal with topical caffeine? Well, for one thing, it has a very small molecular structure which means it’s able to penetrate the top layers of the skin and really dig into where it’s needed most. Major points, right there. It’s also thought to help slow down aging, boost collagen, brighten your skin and reduce redness and puffiness. Here’s how…

How Applying Topical Caffeine Affects Your Skin

1. Caffeine Is A Powerful Antioxidant

Like berries and other botanicals, tea and coffee beans both contain antioxidants to help protect your skin from free radical damage. Free radicals are the result of exposure to light, heat, pollution or other external aggressors and they’re highly reactive, unstable atoms. Due to their instability they snatch electrons from other atoms or molecules like collagen and elastin in an attempt to stabilize themselves, causing all manner of harm in their wake. Whereas collagen and elastin become damaged when they lose electrons, antioxidants are able to donate them freely without losing their own stability. This is why they’re so important for preserving your skin and warding off the signs of premature aging – especially those caused by UV radiation.

Of course, staying out of the sun, wearing a high, broad-spectrum sunscreen and having a healthy, balanced diet are all important ways to protect your skin from the visible effects of free radical damage. But topical antioxidants in your daily routine are also a very smart move. And caffeine is right up there with the likes of vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide. 

2. Caffeine Enhances Circulation

Caffeine is consumed primarily for its energizing benefits, right? Well, when you apply it to your skin it has similar invigorating effects by tightening your blood vessels and stimulating blood flow. It’s called a vasoconstrictor if it happens to come up at your next trivia night!

So how does that benefit the skin? Well, this improves circulation to help make your skin look brighter and firmer. It can work to reduce puffiness and under eye bags, so there’s also that.

Kinda makes sense when you think about it, doesn’t it?

3. Caffeine Has Anti-Inflammatory Powers

Caffeine also contains anti-inflammatory properties which can work to help reduce facial redness and soothe irritated skin. Inflammation occurs when your skin reacts to some kind of unwanted disruption like over-exposure to the sun, an injury, infection, allergen or existing skin condition. Most skin inflammation typically goes away after a few days or weeks – but if you apply topical anti-inflammatories you may be able to speed up this process.

Why do we care so much about caffeine, you may be wondering. Ha, we actually care about most skincare ingredients – whether we use them in our formulations or not – because, when it comes to what goes on your skin, knowledge is everything. But since you asked, caffeine is also the star of our new, aptly named Caffeine Facial Serum!

This incredible, daily serum combines the energizing, brightening effects of caffeine with other skincare greats including niacinamide, EGCG, matcha green tea and ginseng. It’s basically your ticket to even-looking, tighter-looking, brighter-looking, smoother-looking, here’s-looking-at-you fabulous skin. 

Learn all about it, right here!

Minerals have historically taken a backseat in skincare, but they truly deserve a place in your daily routine.

Vitamins and minerals: they’re like PB and J, gin and tonic, Rachel and Ross. But are they? Really? While we often talk about vitamins and minerals in the same breath, it’s frequently the vitamins we concentrate on. Especially in terms of skincare ingredients. Vitamin A, aka retinol, needs no introduction, being the absolute gold standard in skincare, while vitamin C is everything when it comes to providing antioxidant protection and brightening powers. Then you’ve got the classic favorite, vitamin E which has been used and loved for years for its nurturing, soothing qualities. Even vitamin B3 has become a regular in the quest for gorgeous skin – that’s niacinamide, btw.

So, where are all the minerals in this list of skincare greats? Well, up until recently, they’ve been somewhat absent. But thanks to some serious innovations from major skincare brands (us included!), they’re now being utilized across a whole host of formulations. And how!

Read on for everything you need to know about these unassuming but potent ingredients.

What Are Minerals?

Minerals are naturally-occurring elements or compounds that each have a unique chemical composition. Not only are they present everywhere in nature, but they’re also found in foods and are prevalent in the human body where they’re essential for development and everyday functioning. Of course, minerals like magnesium, calcium, silica and potassium are crucial for bone, tissue and organ formation, but they’re also among many minerals that are super important for healthy skin.

What Are The Benefits Of Minerals In Skincare?

There are a ton of minerals that can be used to great advantage within a well-rounded skincare routine, and they each offer different benefits to skin health. By encouraging better communication between the skin cells, they improve efficiency at this vital cellular level which results in stronger, firmer, brighter-looking skin. Think improved moisturization, better elasticity, accelerated healing, the works.

The premise is not unlike taking a multivitamin supplement. These commonly contain minerals as well as vitamins (although why minerals don’t get credit in the name, we’ll never know!) and are a great way to improve your internal health. Similarly, a multi-pronged approach to your skincare routine that is full of well-curated vitamins and minerals is just as beneficial to the health of your skin. It’s pretty simple, when you think about it.

5 Of Our Favorite Minerals In Skincare

So which minerals should you be looking out for? Well, below are five beauties we think deserve pride of place in your skincare routine.

1. Zinc

Zinc is extremely well studied and possibly one of the most important minerals for your skin. For starters, it helps regulate sebum production, encourages collagen production and supports better healing. It also reduces inflammation which makes it fantastic for helping to reduce acne-causing bacteria from the surface of your skin. And that’s great news for anyone who deals with breakouts on a regular basis.

Zinc is also known to help other inflammatory conditions like eczema by strengthening the skin’s barrier function and helping to reduce transepidermal water loss.

And, then, of course, there are its sun protective properties. One of two important mineral sunscreens (along with titanium dioxide), zinc oxide reflects the sun’s damaging UV rays from your skin, creating a protective shield to keep your skin safe from harm. And we don’t need to tell you how important protecting your skin from the sun is, do we? DO WE? Apply SP30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C every day, people. It could not be more important.

2. Magnesium

As the fourth most common mineral in the human body, magnesium is another useful one for saying ‘no way’ to acne, rosacea or facial redness. It does its stuff by reducing cortisol levels in your skin (the ‘stress’ hormone) and improving cell communication which, in turn, keeps your sebum levels in check and helps reduce irritation. It also works hard to strengthen your barrier function which enhances hydration by keeping all the good stuff in your skin and the bad stuff out.

Our Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum is a fantastic way to up the magnesium levels in your skin as it contains a smart electrolyte blend which includes potassium and calcium as well as magnesium. It also contains zinc. It’s literally a shoo-in for getting your daily fill of minerals and vitamins!

Speaking of potassium…

3. Potassium

Potassium’s main MO is to regulate water content in every cell of your body. It makes total sense, therefore that it’s vital for helping your skin to retain water and thus combat the effects of dehydration.

How can you tell if your skin is dehydrated? Well, dehydrated skin feels tight like dry skin, but it can be oily at the same time. It will also appear duller than normal and any fine lines or wrinkles will look more prominent thanks to the lack of water keeping your skin plump and healthy-looking. Sounds familiar? Then you would be wise to look for skincare that contains potassium as well as other hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera.

4. Calcium

An essential mineral well-known for keeping your teeth and bones strong and firm, calcium is another goodie for your skin. It’s important because it helps your skin turn over efficiently.

As you know, your skin renews itself by producing new cells that move up to the surface, then die and naturally slough away. This process is great for keeping your skin in top-top shape. However, as you age, the whole thing slows down and dead skin cells end up staying on the surface for longer than necessary, contributing to dull skin, poor texture and all manner of aging issues.

Of course, exfoliation is a great way to improve cellular turnover, but applying topical calcium is another helpful way to replenish new cells and reinforce the resilience and firmness of your skin. That’s why it’s another key ingredient in our Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum.

5. Silver

Finally, we have silver, or more specifically, colloidal silver which is a liquid solution containing nano-particles of silver.

Colloidal silver has been used for centuries to aid healing due to its fantastic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s extremely soothing and often used to deal with breakouts of acne, eczema and rosacea. Experts also believe that it helps to target environmental stress by combating free radical damage, which makes it a smart choice for anyone looking to rejuvenate their skin and hold off on those visible signs of premature aging that we all know and don’t love.

If you fancy adding a little silver to your skincare life, try our incredible Ocean Minerals Super Toner which is packed with colloidal silver as well as more than 90 nutrient-rich marine minerals. And yes, you read that correctly, 90 whole minerals!

Retinol is arguably one of the most lauded skincare ingredients out there. We don’t dispute that. But if you don’t get on with retinol, what are the alternatives? Read on for eight other skincare greats that can be just as effective for aging skin.

Retinol? We approve. In fact we have a whole bunch of skincare formulations, including an awesome serum and moisturizer, based around this skincare powerhouse. However, while its benefits to your skin are undeniable, it’s not the only ingredient that helps aging skin. Sure, it’s been proven time and again to nudge collagen synthesis and encourage faster cellular turnover. And yes, this simultaneously works to improve the visible appearance of pimples, dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. But retinol is not without its faults. Ask anyone with sensitive skin and they will attest to its sometimes irritating, redness-inducing qualities.

The good news is that when retinol isn’t playing ball, there are tons of other incredible ingredients that can help deal with your skin woes just as well. Some might even be a more effective option for you – depending on your skin goals, of course. So let’s check them out, shall we?

1. Bakuchiol

New (ish) to the skincare game, but already giving retinol run for its money, bakuchiol is your guy if you’re looking to replicate the effects of retinol, but are so not in the market for dryness, redness, peeling or irritation.

Bakuchiol (pronounced bah-koo-chee-awl) is nature’s best alternative to retinol. Extracted from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant, it’s been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and, if recent clinical studies are anything to go by, it’s shown real promise for dramatically improving the surface of the skin. How does it do this? By stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating cellular turnover at a deep, below-the-surface level. And if this sounds familiar, that’s because this is exactly what retinol does. The difference is that bakuchiol is more gentle on the skin so has way fewer side effects. If any at all.

We’re big fans of bakuchiol (if you couldn’t tell!) and based an entire range of healthy aging formulations on this awesome ingredient. Try the lot with our Longevity Regimen Bundle which includes Renewing Moisturizing Cream, Depuffing Eye Cream and Rejuvenating Serum to tackle the signs of aging from all angles.

2. Ceramides

We know you’ve heard of ceramides, but do you know what they actually are? Well, ceramides are important lipids found naturally in your skin’s structure where they play a major role in the efficiency of your barrier function, binding your cells together while helping your skin to maintain strength, stability and protection from the outside world.

Unfortunately, skin loses ceramides as it ages and this compromises your barrier function, resulting in anything from the odd bit of dryness through to rough texture and some serious premature aging. Not cool.

Topical ceramides, however, can be a great addition to your skincare routine, boosting moisture, strengthening your BFF (barrier function friend, that is!) and, in turn, helping to fight back against wrinkles and sagging skin. Try our fabulous Firming Collagen Day Lotion and Smoothing Collagen Serum dynamic duo to get your fill.

3. Glycolic Acid

As a fully paid up member of the AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) club, glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant that helps accelerate cell turnover by breaking the bonds between dead skin cells and encouraging them to split. Retinol does the same, albeit it in a very different way.

Full disclosure, glycolic acid’s potency is on a par with retinol so it does have a tendency to overpower certain sensitive skin types. But as long as you use it carefully, introducing it slowly and not overdoing it, it can be a great way to brighten and smooth the skin while helping to fade dark spots.

Glycolic acid is also a smart choice if you’re looking to reduce acne breakouts. (Ha, no thanks we’ll keep them as they are, thanks – said nobody, ever!). It works by helping to keep your pores clean and free of dead skin cells, which makes them appear tighter and stops them from becoming blocked and inflamed. Want in on some of that? Then treat your skin with 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant two or three times a week. You won’t regret it.

4. Hyaluronic Acid

Without a decent amount of hydration, skin is nothing. Moisture helps keep your skin plump, soft, smooth and youthful-looking, reducing the appearance of redness, fine lines and wrinkles while smoothing rough texture and firming sagging skin. It figures, therefore, that if you don’t keep your well hydrated it will age up in no time. And no amount of retinol will be able to stop it!

Enter hyaluronic acid (HA) to the skincare scene. A master of hydration, HA can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, drawing moisture to the surface of your skin when applied topically. It’s also very well tolerated by all skin types (your skin naturally contains HA so, of course it loves it!).

Granted, hyaluronic acid doesn’t have the ability to boost skin turnover, but don’t hold that against it because it does have antioxidant powers to protect your skin against environmental free radicals and safeguard your all-important collagen and elastin supplies. We’ll take that. Try our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum and see for yourself what a fantastic ingredient it really is.

5. MSM

Otherwise known as methylsulfonylmethane, MSM is a naturally-occurring form of sulfur that’s regularly used in skincare. It often gets overlooked, however, because big guns like retinol, vitamin C and glycolic acid like to take all the glory. Pretty unfair if you ask us – especially because it’s so freakin’ good!

Sulfur is one of the most important elements in the human body and it’s often touted as the ‘beauty’ or ‘healing’ mineral because it accelerates healthy blood flow, reduces inflammation, and plays a key role in the production of collagen and keratin. MSM does all this AND works hard to fight environmental damage by helping to increase your production of glutathione, one of the body’s most important, naturally occurring antioxidants.

MSM also gets extra bonus points for increasing your skin’s permeability. This allows toxins to escape more easily and enhances your skin’s ability to absorb all those delicious, active ingredients in your skincare products, allowing them to penetrate the skin quicker and deeper. AKA better. Try our turbo powered Vitamin C Super Serum+ for your fix of MSM… as well as other skin-restoring greats.

6. Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and a total powerhouse for mature skin, helping to address all manner of concerns including dehydration, discoloration, dryness, poor texture, fine lines, wrinkles and even redness and irritation.

An absolute go-to for sensitive souls, niacinamide is an awesome alternative to retinol because it’s well tolerated by all skin types and even helps to calm and soothe irritation caused by chronic skin conditions like rosacea and eczema. It works by increasing the production of ceramides in the top layers, helping to look after that all-important barrier function and improving the strength, resiliency and moisture levels of your delicate skin. As you know, dry skin is terrible for the appearance of line and wrinkles so anything you can do to help maintain a legitimate amount of hydration will simultaneously help your skin look more youthful and glowy.

Niacinamide also fights free radicals and regulates oil production so it’s a pretty fabulous choice for oily, aging skin. But that being said, it’s a pretty fabulous choice for ALL skin types. Which is why our Niacinamide Facial Serum is such a baller.

7. Peptides

When it comes to boosting your supplies of skin-loving collagen and elastin, peptides have your back. How so? Well, just like proteins, peptides are chemical compounds made up of amino acids. And because they’re so closely related – peptides are short chains of no more than 50 amino acids, whereas proteins are much longer molecules of multiple peptides – peptides signal your skin to be more efficient in its synthesis of vital proteins like collagen and elastin. Some peptides also encourage your skin to produce more hyaluronic acid which is great for hydration and free radical protection.

Of course, some peptides are better than others. Many are unstable, some are too large to be able to penetrate your skin and others just don’t perform that well. So make sure you’re looking for the good ones when choosing your anti-aging weapon.

Matrixyl 3000, for example, is a combination of two peptides that has been independently proven to boost collagen in your skin, offering true results for a whole host of skin concerns including fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and hormonal breakouts. We also love palmitoyl tripeptides-1 and -5, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 which combine to offer a true force for pumping up your much-needed supplies of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Find them in our incredible Peptide Facial Serum.

8. Vitamin C

Last, but never least, is vitamin C which, as you know, means the world to us at TruSkin. With no less than eight skincare formulations based on the prowess of this antioxidant dreamboat, we basically live and breathe vitamin C. No word of a lie!

The reason we love it so? Simple. Vitamin C is one of the most trusted and clinically-proven ingredients known to skin. It provides the very best in environmental protection (read stronger, healthier skin), controls melanin production (hello brighter skin and a more even skin tone) and gives your sunscreen an extra helping hand to shield your skin from the daily onslaught of damaging UV radiation. All of this adds up to stronger, youthful-looking skin that maintains its firmness, radiance, smoothness and evenness. Yes, even if you are closer to 80 than 20 ;)

Our classic Vitamin C Facial Serum is always a winner, no matter your skin type, but you must also try the divine Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream before bed each night to restore your skin as you sleep and power it up for another day.

Packed with some of the most forward-thinking (and super effective) ingredients in skincare, our Longevity range is everything for healthy, aging skin. So, let’s get acquainted, shall we?

It’s not often we pat ourselves on the backs, but at the end of 2023 we launched a complete new range of awesome, healthy aging products called Longevity. Brimming with incredible ingredients and with three expertly formulated products, we’re super proud of this range. It’s also been getting some excellent feedback on Amazon with reviews like: “This eye cream has truly been a game-changer for me,” and “I’m sensitive to retinol products, but this makes my skin feel so soft and hydrated.”

True praise indeed.

We figured, therefore, that it was time to tell you a little more about the range. Consisting of three products, Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream, Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream and Rejuvenating Longevity Serum this collection is all about its innovative ingredients which are specifically formulated to help skin age healthily and beautifully. We know how much you love to learn about skincare ingredients so we figured you’d love to hear more about the five powerhouses that make Longevity so unique and effective.

So, here we go…

1. Bakuchiol: The Retinol Alternative

Bakuchiol has made headlines over the last five years, but if you’re still none the wiser, here’s the lowdown.

A botanical extract derived from the leaves and seeds of the Psoralea Corylifolia plant (commonly known as babchi), bakuchiol has been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for years to treat skin ailments and diseases. Thanks to its popularity in Ayurvedic practices, it started making its way into western skincare around 2007. And it quickly showed a lot of promise because of its similarities to the gold standard of skincare, retinol.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for your entire life, you’ll be well aware that retinol is one of the most highly regarded ingredients for improving the tone and texture of the skin. It works at a cellular level to rev up turnover and encourage healthy collagen production, making it a shoo-in for both aging and acne-prone skin. But the thing with retinol is that it’s potent. Like, really potent. So much so that it doesn’t suit all skin types, often causing facial redness, excess dryness, irritation and itching. Which is no one’s idea of a good time.

Of course, there are plenty of alternatives out there that work on similar issues (ceramides, peptides, antioxidants and exfoliating acids to name just a few) but nothing before has ever been compared so closely to retinol as bakuchiol.

This is why we simply had to base our corrective, aging products around this absolute gem of a skincare ingredient. All the powers of wrinkle-reducing, skin-smoothing retinol with way fewer side effects? We’d have been fools not to.

2. Coffeeberry: The Free Radical Terminator

One of skin’s biggest enemies is the free radical. Free radicals are nasty components that form in your skin when it’s exposed to external aggressors like UV radiation, pollution, stress and cigarette smoke. They’re bad news because they screw up your collagen and elastin supplies, having the knock-on effect of encouraging premature lines, wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin. As we said, bad news.

A proven way to combat free radical damage is to throw topical antioxidants at your skin. And, while we’re huge fans of vitamin C (*understatement of the year, right there!), we’re nothing if not open to other antioxidant ingredients. And coffeeberry extract fits firmly into this camp.

Derived from the fruit that surrounds the coffee bean, coffeeberry extract is chock full of antioxidants and some studies suggest that it has up to 10x the antioxidant powers of other topical ingredients. We call that a pretty strong argument for using it in skincare products for mature skin. So that’s exactly what we did! And you’re welcome.

3. Glycerin: The Hydrating Classic

While we love being at the forefront of skincare technology and exploring nature’s finest new ingredients, we loathe to ignore the classics. And glycerin might be an oldie… but it’s a real goodie.

Sometimes known as glycerol, glycerin is one of the most effective humectants in skincare. In fact, research suggests it’s the most effective humectant you can use on your skin. Even better than hyaluronic acid (HA). This is because it has a lower molecular weight than HA which allows it to penetrate the skin deeper and quicker.

But wait, what do humectants do? Well, they’re the wonderkids of hydration, drawing water to the top layers of the skin like tiny little magnets. This helps to replenish your skin’s natural moisturizing factor, increasing hydration and minimizing water loss while also encouraging healing and better protection from that bad old world we live in. For such an unassuming ingredient, it's pretty powerful stuff… and something you’ll find not only in our Longevity range but across a whole bunch of TruSkin favorites. We salute you, glycerin.

4. Lingonberry Stem Cells: The Anti Blue Light Hero

Berries are big in the superfood world, but few pack the punch of lingonberries which are literally loaded with active plant compounds such as vitamins and polyphenols (basically super-charged antioxidants).

With small, bright red berries and glossy green leaves, the lingonberry plant is a hardy evergreen that’s commonly found in northern American forests as well as northern Europe and Canada. Again, it’s not as common in skincare as other fruits, but it’s great for adding hydration and blocking those pesky free radicals that love to cause havoc deep within your skin. In particular, these smart stem cells have been shown to protect the skin against blue light damage (aka high energy visible, or HEV light) which surrounds us everyday thanks to the sun as well as your smartphones, computers, TVs and other digital devices.

Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum which means that, unlike UV radiation, you can see it. It’s pretty good stuff because it’s high in energy and proven to boost your mood, improve memory and increase mental alertness. However, it’s been linked to eye damage and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you expose your body to blue light late at night, it throws your sleep way out of whack. It’s also seen as a real enemy to your skin because, just like UV rays, it produces free radicals which damage DNA and destroy collagen and elastin.

Protection is key, people, and lingonberry stem cells are your gals.

5. Snow Algae: The Pink Powerhouse

You might not have seen snow algae on the skincare shelves before (or in your local park for that matter!), but don’t let that fool you, because it's a true force to be reckoned with.

Snow algae is found in the ice caps and mountain tops of some of the coldest, most extreme climates in the world. Although it’s green at warmer temperatures, snow algae turns pink when the mercury drops and levels of UV radiation increase. This is why it’s often referred to as pink, red or watermelon snow. Why the color change? Well, this produces a clever defense system which protects snow algae from harmful UV radiation and allows it to thrive in such extreme, frigid conditions where most plants would stand no chance.

Pretty cool, right? Well, it’s just as cool for your skin. In fact, research shows that when applied topically and regularly, snow algae not only offers amazing antioxidant properties (take that, free radicals) but also activates certain enzymes and genes to restrict energy to your skin. This encourages them to work more efficiently which, in turn, accelerates DNA repair, boosts collagen production and slows down the aging process to help fortify your skin’s barrier function and strengthen your skin.

Fancy getting in on all these skin-regenerating, age-loving ingredients? Then you must try our fantastic Longevity range, right here.

The truth is, glowing skin will always be in.

Oh, the heady heights of glowing, healthy skin. Whether you prefer to use the term ‘bright,’ ‘glowy,’ ‘dewy’ or ‘radiant’: we can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t want their skin to be described by one (or all!) of these words. Why is it such an elusive and lusted-after skin condition? Because no matter your skin type or how many wrinkles you do or don’t have, nail that radiant glow and everything else pales into insignificance.

But, how to get glowing skin? Now there’s a question that has as many answers as we’ve had hot dinners.

You can start with what goes in your body, of course, taking a look at your diet and ensuring you chow down on plenty of antioxidant-rich fruit and veggies and cut back on things like booze, sugar, salt and processed carbs. This helps nix skin-damaging free radicals to ensure your skin turns over efficiently and remains healthy from the inside out, making it a great place to start.

There are also things like exercising outdoors to get your blood flowing, massaging your skin as you cleanse, getting plenty of shut-eye and faking it with highlighting makeup and shimmering face powders.

But skincare is our thing, so today we’re going to focus on that.

There are many awesome ingredients and products out there that claim to rejuvenate your skin and freshen up your complexion, but what are the true tried and tested contenders? Keep scrolling for, what we believe, are five of the best products for glowing skin.

1. The Definitive Glow-Giving Facial Serum 

Let’s get one thing straight, there’s no better skincare ingredient for boosting a radiant glow than vitamin C. Vitamin C (otherwise known as l-ascorbic acid) has been researched to death over the years and it’s been proven to offer all manner of skin-boosting benefits – glowier skin being just one of them.

So how does this powerhouse work? Well, further to its antioxidant powers, which in themselves are great for strengthening your collagen supplies and improving cell turnover, it also helps slow down melanin production. Melanin, as you know, is what gives your skin its individual color and, when you expose your skin to UV radiation, it’s also what makes you tan. However, melanin production isn’t always smooth sailing. In fact, many triggers such as unbalanced hormones and too much sun can make your melanin go all over the place, resulting in patchy skin, dark spots and hyperpigmentation. No fun. No fun at all.

We believe vitamin C should be a staple in anyone’s skincare regime, but we also understand that it’s a potent ingredient that can cause sensitivities in certain skin types. This is why we infuse all of our vitamin C products with a milder version called sodium ascorbyl phosphate.

When it comes to looking for your perfect match for brightening your skin, you could literally take your pick of our entire vitamin C range, but for a classic favorite, you can’t go wrong with Vitamin C Facial Serum. We believe it’s a winner. Over 140,000 people on Amazon agree with us. We rest our case.

2. The Moisturizer With The Most

If you’re yet to try our new Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream you are missing out. It doesn’t contain vitamin C – because choices – but it is powered up by another ingredient that’s already making headlines for all the right reasons: bakuchiol.

Bakuchiol is nature’s alternative to the mighty retinol. Extracted from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant, it’s fast becoming hot property in the skincare world due to its extraordinary skin benefits (just like retinol) and lack of irritating side-effects (unlike retinol!). We mean no offense to retinol, of course, because it’s still one of, if not THE gold standard of skincare. However, it’s not for everyone and bakuchiol has undergone plenty of studies that show it’s right up there, stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating cellular turnover in a very similar way to rid your skin of unwanted dead skin cells and help improve your radiance factor.

We have a whole collection of products that harness the powers of bakuchiol but for a great introduction to the range, try this deliciously smooth moisturizer that’s ideal for all skin persuasions, including sensitive skin.

3. The One That’s In It For The Long Game

Admittedly this one might not make your skin look immediately radiant but c’mon now, patience is everything. And in all honesty, this is unarguably the single most important product you could use for glowing skin, healthy skin, smooth skin, strong skin, the works.

So what is this too-good-to-be-true product we speak so highly off? Simple. Sunscreen. Now don’t roll your eyes at us in a ‘not that old chestnut’ fashion because we don’t bang on about sunscreen just to pee you off. We do it because we care about your skin.

The simple truth is that if you don’t protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays, your collagen supplies will dwindle, elastin will get destroyed, dark spots will appear and cell turnover will decrease. This all leads to dull, lackluster, sad-looking skin. And that’s just touching the surface. 

Ensure you apply a quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning without fail to make sure your skin doesn’t get caught up in all that damaging nonsense.

Try our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen which also comes packed with sodium ascorbyl phosphate (that supercool vitamin C derivative we spoke of earlier) on top of hydrating ingredients like squalane and cucumber, plus vegan marine collagen to help target fine lines and sagging skin.

4. The All-Important Skin Exfoliator

If your pores are filled to the brim with sebum, sunscreen, makeup and dead skin cells, your skin stands no chance of being smooth and radiant. Dead skin cells, in particular, create the perfect storm for dull skin.

One of the simplest ways to keep your skin clear from complexion-killing pore plugs is to use a chemical exfoliator like 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant two or three times a week. Chemical exfoliation works by using certain ingredients –commonly fruit acids – to break down the glue that holds dead skin cells together. By doing so, they’re an incredible way of forcing these unwanted cells to sling their hook so that the fresher, brighter ones can make their way to the surface. And unlike physical exfoliation which uses pressure and movement (like scrubs and cleansing brushes), chemical exfoliation, when done correctly, is far less damaging and irritating.

Our fabulous 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant combines a carefully crafted blend of three exfoliating acids along with organic reishi mushroom and hyaluronic acid to combat dehydration and help soothe and nourish the skin. Because, btw, dehydration will also kill your glowy skin vibes.

5. The Dewy Skin Spritz

Convenient and effective, our Ocean Minerals Super Toner is often glossed over in our line-up of skincare greats, but it’s a real goodie in the quest for a revamped complexion. Not only is it formulated with two key skin-brightening players – vitamin C and glycolic acid – but it also contains power-packed peptides, collagen-boosting MSM and over 90 revitalizing marine minerals. All this adds up to some serious love which helps to remove dull, dead skin cells, detox your pores and smooth the surface for a more balanced, even skin tone.

It's an awesome addition to your skincare routine and takes just seconds of your time to apply. So, why not?

Why not indeed.

Here, we take a look at everything ‘collagen’ to see how supplements, along with smart skincare and better lifestyle choices can help preserve your skin’s most important protein.

With layer upon layer of intricate cells, alongside nerves, veins, fat and glands, the structure of your skin is not easy to get your head around. And that’s OK, because you don’t need to know the ins and outs of every inch of your skin. One thing you will be fairly familiar with, however, is collagen.

Not only is collagen a huge player in your skin (more on that in a minute) but it’s an extremely big deal in the skincare world. From creams and serums to pills and powders, collagen supplements and topical formulations are often touted as the ‘fountain of youth.’ Now, that might be exaggerating just a tad – after all, nothing can stop the sands of time! – but there’s definitely something to be said for using collagen-enhancing products to keep your skin looking and feeling its absolute best. In fact, we believe in it so much we have an entire range of collagen products designed to strengthen, protect and encourage healthy aging – inside AND out.

Here's everything you need to know about your skin’s vital protein, plus exactly how supplements, skincare and lifestyle habits can be collagen-transformingly good!

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is, without question, the most abundant protein in the human body. Ever present in your bones, cartilage, tendons, blood, muscles, hair and, of course, your skin, it’s made up of a combination of amino acids and has a dense, fiber-like structure which acts like a kind of glue to give tissue the strength it needs to function.

As skin goes, collagen is produced just beneath the surface of the dermis and it works with all the other good stuff like elastin, ceramides and hyaluronic acid to support and reinforce your skin’s structure while maintaining elasticity, suppleness, volume and hydration.

What Happens To Collagen As You Age

Collagen is great, making your skin look plump, soft and youthful. Then, one day, it starts leaving town. Studies show that from around your mid-to-late 20s collagen production starts to slow down at a rate of 1 percent (give or take) every year. This might not sound like a massive deal, but it starts to seriously add up as you hit your 40s and 50s, resulting in significantly thinner, more fragile skin that can become lined, wrinkled and saggy as you continue to age.

This is why it’s prudent to do everything you can to boost your collagen supplies – both internally and externally…

So, Firstly, How Do Collagen Supplements Help?

Collagen supplements usually take the form of powders, pills or drinks that are regularly ingested to help promote natural collagen production in the skin. The good news is they’re considered safe and are thought to not only promote healthier skin, but hair and nails as well. Many experts also believe they show promise for treating ailments such as arthritis and other joint mobility issues. However, the bad news is that most of the collagen used in these supplements is extracted from animal skin, bones or fish scales.

Gross.

Our new Collagen Boosting Skin Supplement, however, shuns animal-derived collagen and is formulated with vegetarian collagen only, thanks to two clinically-proven, patented ingredients called Dermaval® and Ovoderm®.

Dermaval® is derived from marine collagen, while Ovoderm® contains eggshell membrane which is literally chock-full of collagen as well as hyaluronic acid and powerful nutrients. These patented ingredients combine with other skin-loving classics like vitamins C and E, plus biotin, a form of vitamin B known to promote cell growth and repair. All this (plus the considered omission of unnecessary fillers, binders or artificial ingredients) makes for a powerful blend that works in perfect harmony with your skincare routine, significantly and safely helping to improve your skin’s natural production of quality collagen. We’re talking a marked reduction in the appearance of wrinkles, better elasticity, superior hydration and, all-in-all, brighter, healthier-looking skin. Check, check, check.

3 Other Ways To Improve Your Collagen

Of course, collagen supplements aren’t going to miraculously make you look instantly younger on their own. They’re not magic pills. But if you regularly include Collagen Boosting Skincare Supplement alongside other mindful lifestyle practices and skincare choices, you'll see some pretty impressive results.

Below, three of the best ways to get your collagen ship-shape. And our final piece of advice? Combine the lot!

1. Use Your Skincare Routine To Your Advantage

First up, what about what your put ‘on’ your skin? Well, in our opinion, the best skincare ingredients for collagen are peptides, retinol, MSM and vitamin C which have all been studied and proven to stimulate your skin’s natural collagen production and inhibit its breakdown. Retinol, in particular, has been loved by dermatologists all over the world for decades and has an awesome track record when it comes to the quality and quantity of collagen in the skin.
Some goodies to try include the combination of our new Smoothing Collagen Serum, followed by Firming Collagen Day Lotion or you could try some classic favorites like Retinol Facial Serum, Peptide Facial Serum or Vitamin C Super Serum +.

Just ensure NEVER to forget to apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C every morning to reduce the formation of free radicals in your skin and keep collateral collagen damage to an absolute minimum. 

2. Think About What You Eat

Protein-rich foods are key to helping your body naturally produce collagen so make these a priority in your daily diet. Up your intake of wild-caught fish, red meat, poultry, eggs, dairy and legumes.

3. Your Lifestyle Habits

The rate at which your collagen synthesis slows down is greatly affected by your lifestyle. Emotional stress, excessive alcohol consumption, UV exposure and poor sleep all play their role in screwing up your collagen, causing damaging free radicals to wreak havoc. 

So, if you want to really look after your collagen you need to take care of yourself by looking after number one. Try to get into a better routine with your sleep, exercise more regularly and test out different ways to keep your emotional stress in check. Yoga is a big winner, in our opinion.

Oh, and If you’re a smoker, quit.

Like now.