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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.

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.