True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Because without proper cleansing, your skin will never (we repeat, never) live its best life.

Cleansing: not really that important in the grand scheme of things, right? Wrong. Very wrong. In fact, cleansing is just as important as moisturizing, treating and protecting your skin. Maybe even more so. Not convinced? Then ask yourself this: how is your skin supposed to function properly if it’s being ‘suffocated’ by layers of oil, dirt, makeup, sunscreen, sweat and bacteria? Answer: It can’t. Not only that, but how’s the rest of your skincare routine supposed to go about its business if it has all that nasty, pore-clogging stuff to get through? Again, it can’t.

So, if you feel like your cleansing routine isn't up to scratch, now’s the time to change that. Here’s what you need to know to ensure you get it spot-on.

The Three Golden Rules Of Cleansing

Before we get into the best cleansing tricks for your skin type, there are a few important rules to have up your sleeves…

Rule 1. Cleanse Twice A Day

Always cleanse your face and neck every morning and every evening – stat. Your morning cleanse is important to prep your skin for what’s to come from the rest of your daily skincare routine, while the nighttime one is essential for whisking away the woes of the day. If you go to the gym during the day, it’s also a wise move to cleanse after exercising, so all that sweat doesn’t sit on your skin and clog up your pores.

And where do we stand on double cleansing? Truthfully? We don’t believe it’s necessary unless you have super oily skin or wear a lot of heavy makeup. We said it!

Rule 2. Make Good Product Choices

Whether you choose a lotion, micellar water, foam or face wash is up to you and your skin type (more on that in a minute), but to get the best results, choose a gentle formulation that isn’t jammed with unnecessary chemicals and synthetic fragrance.

Sulfates, for example, are often found in cleansing formulations because they do a great job of cleaning your skin. But they can also strip away skin's natural oils, which ends up drying out your skin and causing irritation. We don’t like sulfates. Neither should you.

Rule 3. Perfect Your Cleansing Technique

When washing your face with water, never go too hot. Just like nasty chemicals, hot water sucks away natural oils and upsets your skin’s barrier function. It’s one of the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) biggest cleansing no-nos and we totally agree.

Finally, take your time when you cleanse. Apply your product all over your face (not forgetting your neck) and work it all over for at least two minutes. Use gentle, circular motions and think of it as a mini-massage – your skin will love you for that.

How To Choose The Best Cleanser For Your Skin Type

Now that you have a basic understanding of the best cleansing practices for ALL skin types, here's how to tailor-make them for your own personal needs...

Dry Skin

As we just mentioned, our number one rule for all skin types is to choose the gentlest cleanser you can. And this is never more important than if you have dry skin. Dry skin has little to do with water (that’s dehydration rather than dryness), but rather it lacks the natural oils needed to lock in said moisture to keep your skin soft and supple.

When choosing the right cleansing formula for dry skin, look for soothing products that contain humectants to draw moisture to the surface, and emollients to hold it there. Ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and fatty acid-rich oils are perfect for helping to reduce dryness, dehydration and irritation.

Try: Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser

Balanced Skin

Good on you if you have balanced skin. (Jealous, much? Us?)

But seriously, very few people have perfectly balanced skin, so if you count yourself in this elite group, you’re very lucky. This skin type can get away with using foams, lotions, micellar waters or gels (whatever floats your boat). Just remember to look for antioxidant-enriched cleansers to help protect your skin from environmental damage, and continue to avoid harsh ingredients. Otherwise, you might find your balanced skin pays you back – and not in kind.

Try: Any one of our awesome cleansers!

Oily Skin

Oily skin is due to overactive sebaceous glands that produce more sebum than your skin really needs. Sebum is super important because it contains several types of complex oils and lipids such as triglycerides, fatty acids, cholesterol and squalene, which work together to lubricate and support the health of your skin. It also plays an essential role in maintaining a slightly acidic pH level to prevent bacteria and viruses from penetrating the skin. But that being said, overly oily skin can be a real pain in the butt to deal with.

Good news and bad. Oily skin is usually genetic (sorry about that), but while you can’t change what you were born with, you can manage and control it. And cleansers are probably one of, if not the most important ways to do that. The biggest mistake is to strip your skin of oil which, contrary to popular belief, will exacerbate oil production. So, don’t do that. Instead, look for ingredients that whisk away dirt, oil and impurities without sucking every last drop of life from your complexion. We love tea tree oil, which does all that while purifying and nurturing skin to reduce inflammation and minimize pesky breakouts.

Try: Tea Tree Super Cleanser+

Combination Skin

Combination skin is oily in certain areas and dry in others due to unbalanced sebum production. Again, it’s hereditary and never the same for everyone, but the excess oil is often concentrated around your t-zone where the sebaceous glands are usually more active. Dry patches, meanwhile, tend to be found on the cheeks or around the eyes.

Depending on your ratio of oiliness to dryness, you’ll probably have a tendency to concentrate on oily areas while you cleanse, and dry areas when you moisturize. Try to avoid this. Instead, use pH-balanced cleansers and light, non-comedogenic moisturizers all over to help stabilize your skin.

Also, make sure to steer clear of drying alcohols and unnecessary fragrances which will do nothing but dry out your skin further and exacerbate oil production around your t-zone.

Try: Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser

What are holistic skincare ingredients and what can they honestly do for your skin?

Don't get us wrong, we love safe and effective synthetically-created skincare ingredients here at TruSkin. After all, without them our lives would be devoid of some true powerhouses like retinol and vitamin C. And frankly, we’re not willing to give those up.

At our core, however, we’re all about combining science-bred substances with natural, holistic ingredients sourced directly from our planet. Why? Because not only does this avoid overloading skin with unnecessary additives and irritants, but it’s better for the world AND, we wholeheartedly believe, better for your skin.

But first, what does holistic mean? According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of ‘holistic’ is ‘relating to or concerned with whole or complete systems rather than the treatment of parts.’ You’ve heard the phrase, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,’ right? This is the essence of holism (or ‘wholism’ as it’s also known… *penny drops). 

In terms of skincare, holism is all about using natural and/or organic ingredients to improve your mind, body and spirit and help create a feeling of total wellness across the entire body. It’s not simply about treating the surface of your skin for a quick, but often short-term, fix. It’s deeper than that and looks at the bigger picture in a bid to understand and address the root cause of your skin concerns to yield better, longer-term improvements.

As you know, your skin is a major reflection on your mental and physical health as a whole. Stress, for one, can wreak havoc on your complexion, causing inflammation, dryness and breakouts, to name just a few. Ditto when it comes to things like wayward hormones and food allergies. Holistic skincare aims to work in harmony with better lifestyle habits to counteract any internal and external forces that may be affecting your skin. By tackling your concerns from both the inside and the outside, holistic therapy aims to create a better balance, which not only improves your health… but also your skin.

Hopefully that all makes sense, but if it’s still a tad confusing, just remember this: holistic skincare ingredients are centered around improving your entire being and they’re always defined by nature. Essential oils, plant extracts, herbs and phytonutrients, all of these are holistic ingredients.

So, what are some of the best? Good question. Here are our current top five.

1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is steam-distilled from the leaves of the Australian melaleuca alternifolia tree. Native Aborigines have used it for centuries to heal their skin, and over the years it’s become a trusted favorite among holistic therapists. Why is it so revered? Because as acne-clearing, skin-purifying ingredients go, tea tree oil is pretty hard to beat. It’s naturally chock-full of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which means it not only fights off acne-causing bacteria at skin's surface, but also helps reduce the oiliness, facial redness and irritation that always come as part of the acne deal.

Try our truly unique new Tea Tree Super Cleanser + to see and feel the benefits of this awesome essential oil.

2. Chamomile

A real superstar in the holistic skincare world, chamomile (anthemis nobilis) contains powerful antioxidants, making it a beauty for fighting off damaging free radicals and helping keep your skin strong, soft, youthful and radiant. Just like the calming benefits of a nighttime cup of chamomile tea, topical chamomile is also super-soothing on your skin. Oh, and it’s an anti-inflammatory thanks to its abundance of flavonoids, meaning it doesn’t merely offer immediate comfort for irritated or sensitized skin, it also helps fight inflammation in the long run.

Chamomile is part of the magic of Tea Tree Super Cleanser+, and it's also blended into our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream – because chamomile in a night cream totally figures, right?

3. Aloe

We heart aloe and formulate it into all of our skincare products except one (more on that particular product later). Aloe’s piece de resistance is the juicy, water-rich gel found in its leaves, which is brimming with skin-loving enzymes, minerals, vitamins and amino acids, plus anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial compounds.

Similar to tea tree, aloe has been used for eons, in this case to help hydrate and soothe skin. But it’s not just a healing champ primarily used for sunburn and chaffing (although it’s pretty darn great at that). Aloe also contains phytosterols which are cholesterol-like molecules that help strengthen skin’s barrier function. And your barrier function lays the foundation for healthy, strong skin, so it’s super important, especially in holistic skincare. Check out the ingredients list of your favorite TruSkin product – chances are it’ll be somewhere near the top. Because yes, it’s that good.

4. Dead Sea Salt

Another healing superpower that’s incredible for countering inflammation, redness and dry skin, there are no prizes for guessing where Dead Sea salt comes from. Yes, it’s extracted from the Dead Sea in Israel which is known as one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth.

Unlike most sea salt which consists primarily of sodium chloride, Dead Sea salt contains a higher concentration of more beneficial minerals such as magnesium, potassium, zinc, calcium and sulfur. Magnesium, for example, is great for hydrating your skin, boosting cellular turnover and strengthening that all-important barrier function. Meanwhile, sulfur works a little like salicylic acid to reduce excess sebum and fight acne breakouts. Along with many other fabulous holistic ingredients, you’ll find Dead Sea salt in Tea Tree Super Cleanser +.

5. Rose Water

Remember that one single product we mentioned earlier that doesn’t contain aloe? Well, Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner is it. And the reason it doesn’t harness the skin-soothing powers of aloe? Because it contains just one, pure, unadulterated ingredient: rose water.

Rose water is created by steaming rose petals in water and it’s frequently used in skincare because of its antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Of course, this makes it a shoo-in for red, itchy or sensitive skin, but it’s not just a one-trick pony. Rose water is also super-hydrating, making it ideal for parched skin. It’s also great at balancing skin’s pH levels and controlling wayward sebum production, which is excellent news for anyone looking to improve the appearance of enlarged pores.

Of course, a truly holistic skincare regime also encompasses other positive lifestyle habits to further balance your skin and body while improving your emotional wellbeing. This means stress, cruddy sleep, an unhealthy diet and smoking are all major no-nos. Try to work on these if any of them ring true.

Skin in total freak-out mode right now? Then it’s time to de-stress and give your poor complexion a break.

Stressed skin is one of life’s vicious circles. First, emotional stress sends your hormones out of whack, making your skin dry, oily, itchy or break out. Sad times, indeed. Then, to add insult to injury, you get the 'pleasure' of having to deal with cruddy skin and, heck, that just ruins your self-esteem and makes you feel even more stressed. As we said, a vicious circle.

It’s true, emotional anxiety has a massive impact on the look, feel and health of your skin. This is because when you feel stressed, your brain stimulates the release of various hormones (cortisol, to name just one) which upset the equilibrium of your body, disrupting your immune system, wreaking havoc on your skin’s barrier function, interfering with the healing process and triggering all sorts of problems, mainly irritation and inflammation.

If this is ringing too many bells in your head right now, chances are your skin and, more importantly, your emotional wellbeing are crying out for some much-needed TLC. Not sure where to start? No problem, we’re on it…

1. First, Try To De-Stress Your Mind

Chilling the heck out is easier said than done, but reducing (or at least attempting to reduce) your levels of emotional stress is a major step to mirroring the same effects for your skin. If things are all too much at work, for example, speak out, delegate tasks or learn how to say no. According to the Mayo Clinic, asserting yourself in the workplace – or, in fact, any situation – is one of the best ways to de-stress because it reduces internal conflict and helps you more successfully manage everyday life.

You could also keep a journal. It’s amazing how much of a relief it is to write stuff down and get things off your chest. And if you’re worried someone might get hold of your pent-up thoughts? Easy, write them down on a scrap of paper instead of a proper journal, then when you’re done, you can toss it in the trash.

Of course, these are just a couple of the many ways to help manage stress. There are many tricks for calming your mind and improving your emotional wellness, so if life is kind of overwhelming right now, please make sure you seek professional advice to identify its causes and help you learn to cope.

2. Practice Some True Self-Care

Can you honestly say you’ve been looking after yourself recently? Maaaybe… but probably not. The thing is, exercise and a healthy, balanced diet are awesome stress relievers.

Exercise stimulates endorphins which are known as ‘feel-good’ chemicals for good reason. Hint: they make you feel good! Try to up your levels of daily physical activity as much as possible. You might not be up for a 10-mile run at 6 a.m. every morning, but small things like a brisk walk, gardening, swimming, cycling or even doing some household chores will get those endorphins pumping and help lift your mood.

Yoga and pilates are also awesome stress relievers because they help dial back your sympathetic nervous system. This is your body’s ‘quick response’ system which produces that pesky stress hormone, cortisol. If you can, try to combine a mixture of heart-pumping exercise with more relaxing, muscle-strengthening activities for a complete, all-round regimen.

When it comes to your diet, too much sugar, salt, processed carbs and fried foods are absolute devils on your skin, causing harmful free radicals that break down collagen and accelerate inflammation. Instead, feed your skin with stuff it loves – namely antioxidant-rich fruit and veggies, oily fish, nuts and lean protein. Oh, and as tempting as it may be to deal with stressful situations with coffee and doughnuts, try not to make this a habit.

3. Give Your Barrier Function A Break

Your skin’s barrier function is its uppermost layer – the very top of your epidermis, which acts like a security guard to protect you from the outside world. It works super hard to stop moisture from getting out and nasty irritants from getting in.

When your skin is suffering, this is a sure-fire indication that your barrier function has been compromised. Many things contribute to this, not least of all stress itself, which depletes your skin’s natural production of healthy oils and alters its pH level.

Your skincare routine also has a vital role to play here.

Harsh cleansing with chemical-fueled products can completely strip your protective barrier of important proteins and lipids, so this is a massive no-no, for starters. Cleanse gently with mild, sulfate-free formulations like our Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser and only ever use lukewarm, never hot, water to wash your face.

Another thing: don't forget to moisturize after cleansing, which is VITAL for healthy, stress-free barrier function. Dryness is seriously damaging to your skin’s barrier, leaving it vulnerable to transepidermal water loss (TEWL) as well as external aggressors like pollution, UV radiation and the like. Choose smart, all-round moisturizers that combine ingredients to not only help draw water into your skin (eg. aloe, glycerin and hyaluronic acid) but also lock moisture in (eg. shea butter and stearic acid). Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer is always a great shout.

4. Think About Everything You Put On Your Skin

Bombarding your skin with active ingredients like retinoids and glycolic acid can be way too much for some skin types to cope with. Sure, these ingredients are awesome for tackling lines, wrinkles, dark spots and acne, but you can most definitely have too much of a good thing.

If your complexion is feeling totally out of whack, it’s worth looking at your routine to see if it contains too many active ingredients that are potentially fighting against each other or are simply proving too potent for your complexion. Pare back on treatment serums (you really only need one in the morning and one at night, anyway) and consider dropping down your usage to two or three times a week. You never know, this could easily de-stress your skin with very little effort.

On the flipside, ingredients to include in your routine are those crammed with calming, hydrating or soothing benefits. Aloe, vitamin E and niacinamide are three that immediately come to mind and – bonus – you’ll find all of these ingredients in our Niacinamide Facial Serum. Just saying.

5. Optimize Bedtime

Getting your beauty sleep is essential for the health of your skin because overnight is when it repairs and heals itself from the slings and arrows of the day. Skip too many zzzs and your skin misses out on all that vital time in which collagen production ramps up to boost regeneration and antioxidants kick in to reduce damage and revitalize your skin.

As you know, eight hours of sleep is the recommended amount (or somewhere between seven and nine hours, according to the National Sleep Foundation) but it’s not all about quantity. In fact, the quality of your sleep is just as important.

To totally boss your best night’s sleep, ensure you nail this checklist:

• Go to bed at roughly the same time each night.
• Don’t go to bed hungry, full or having just drank a ton of caffeine or alcohol.
• Ensure your bedroom is dark, quiet and at a comfortable, slightly cool temperature.
• Avoid using your phone, laptop or tablet for at least an hour before bedtime.
• Take a few deep breaths as soon as you get into bed to lower your heart rate and make you feel relaxed.
• Gently cleanse, tone, treat and then moisturize your skin with Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to give your skin the best chance to rejuvenate itself.

Finally, remind yourself how well you’re doing at life – every single day. And when you look in the mirror, try to see the good stuff. A positive outlook on life is absolutely priceless for stress-free skin.

Inflammation and facial redness? Good. Bye. 

Whether your inflamed skin is self-inflicted (here’s looking at you, sunshine) or down to more underlying concerns such as rosacea, eczema or acne, there’s no denying the frustration of having to deal with red, angry skin. We’re talking mild annoyance at best, true discomfort at worst.

What’s more, inflammation can occur at any time, often with zero warning. So, if you’re noticing unusual changes in your skin right now, including things like redness, itching, chapping and/or stinging, your skin is clearly crying out for help.

Thankfully, we’ve got your back because here’s a deep dive into skin inflammation, including what to look out for, plus how to treat upset skin with some simple lifestyle choices and anti-inflammatory skincare.

What Is Skin Inflammation?

Inflammation (of any type) is your body’s way of reacting to some kind of unwanted disruption. It’s basically an immune response that occurs when your body is subjected to an injury, infection, allergen or existing disease or internal condition.

When it comes to your skin, inflammation causes blood vessels beneath the surface to dilate. This allows your immune system to be able to reach, and therefore deal with, the affected area quicker and more easily. Pretty smart, granted, but not a nice experience because skin inflammation often manifests itself as some kind of rash that goes hand in hand with redness, itching, flaking or burning.

No. Fun.

What Causes Skin Inflammation?

Skin inflammation comes in two guises: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is the quick-fire (no pun intended) version that develops quickly and is your body’s response to a certain trigger. These triggers can be anything from overexposure to the sun to an ill-advised skincare ingredient. And good news: this kind of inflammation is usually short-term.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is a more long-term kind of inflammation that builds up over time and hangs around longer than it really should. It often occurs as an autoimmune response to stress or something in your diet but can also be genetic, manifesting as chronic skin conditions like rosacea, eczema or psoriasis.

Chronic inflammation can last months or even years, so if your skin inflammation isn’t going away, see your doctor or a dermatologist to try to get to the root of the problem. Diagnosing chronic inflammation? Priceless.

Acute inflammation, on the other hand, typically goes away after a few days or weeks. You just need to make a few smart tweaks to your lifestyle like avoiding overexposure to the sun, sleeping well, simplifying your skincare routine and eating an antioxidant-rich diet. And it’s imperative to include some gentle, anti-inflammatory ingredients in your skincare routine.

Let’s look at some of the best, shall we?

6 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients Your Skin Will Love

1. Aloe

Used for centuries to soothe and calm the skin, aloe is one of our all-time favorites – in fact we love it so much, we pack it into almost all of our products. The good stuff comes from its leaves, which contain a water-rich, medicinal gel that’s packed with skin-loving enzymes, minerals, amino acids, vitamins and a whole bunch of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds. Together, these are known for helping to reduce swelling, minimize itching, accelerate healing and even fight breakouts.

Aloe also contains phytosterols – cholesterol-like molecules that reinforce the structure of cell membranes by increasing collagen and hyaluronic acid production. This strengthens the skin’s barrier function and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL), making it an ideal way to hydrate and moisturize your skin.

Try: Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer

2. Green Tea

Not only is it great as your morning brew, but green tea (aka camellia sinensis) also makes for an awesome skincare ingredient thanks to its high concentration of polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that work to protect plants from UV damage. They also have anti-inflammatory properties, which make them a shoo-in when it comes to soothing and protecting your skin from unwanted redness and irritation.

Try: Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

3. MSM

Otherwise known as dimethyl sulfone or methylsulfonylmethane which, granted, are both a bit of a mouthful, MSM is a naturally-occurring sulfur compound. Sulfur is often called ‘nature’s beauty mineral’ because it’s somewhat of an overachiever when applied to your skin. How so? Well, it’s been shown to boost circulation, fight inflammation and accelerate collagen and keratin production. Its anti-inflammatory qualities, in particular, are great for reducing puffiness and swelling and it’s often used to help conditions like acne, eczema and rosacea.

Try: Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser

4. Niacinamide

Here we have another fabulous anti-inflammatory vitamin (B3, to be exact). Studies show that niacinamide is super effective for treating inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. It happens to be very well tolerated by most skin types and works hard to reduce redness, dryness and itching.

Research also shows that applying topical niacinamide may help increase the production of ceramides in the top layers of your skin. What are ceramides? Well, they’re waxy lipids that are an essential part of your skin’s barrier function, holding it together to help retain moisture, reduce irritation and protect your skin from external nasties. Of course, like all good things in your skin, ceramides deplete with age, so anything you can do to improve levels is a win-win. Hello niacinamide!

Try: Niacinamide Facial Serum

5. Vitamin E

Every anti-inflammatory skincare routine must contain antioxidants to help skin fight inflammation caused by free radicals. And vitamin E is up there as one of the best. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that supports cellular function and improves the health of your skin. Thanks to its awesome emollient and humectant properties, it’s also naturally moisturizing and super healing. Very important qualities in any skincare ingredient, we think you’ll agree.

But that’s not all. Studies suggest that vitamin E helps shield your skin from UV damage. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are partly to thank for this, but experts agree that vitamin E has the innate ability to physically absorb some of the energy from UV radiation itself. This means there’s less of it available to do its dirty work on your skin. You've got to love that.

Try: Vitamin C Facial Serum

6. Witch Hazel

A natural astringent, witch hazel is harvested from the bark and leaves of the witch hazel plant, a small tree that grows wild in Asia and the east coast of North America. Witch hazel extract is full of anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant compounds, including tannins (a type of polyphenol). It can be used topically to treat anything from hemorrhoids and dandruff to bug bites and acne. It’s also wonderfully healing and great for oily skin, as its astringent properties have been shown to reduce sebum and minimize enlarged pores.

Try: Ocean Minerals Daily Face Super Toner

Derms swear by it and we love it. So, what’s the deal with tea tree oil, and should you be incorporating it into your acne-fighting skincare routine? Easy answer: yes.

Breakouts are annoying beasts. Whether your chin flares up on a monthly basis (thanks, hormones) or you simply cannot control your oily T-zone (enough already, overactive sebaceous glands), zits are the worst. And even though you know pimples don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, given the choice between having acne-prone skin or not is a total no-brainer.

One of the most frustrating parts, however, is finding topical skincare that works; something that helps reduce sebum without drying out your skin, accelerates healing and, heck, even minimizes the darn breakouts in the first place. Well, your go-tos might be salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (BPO), but there’s actually another ingredient that’s just as effective: tea tree oil. And here’s the kicker, it’s not only as natural as they come, but it also comes with fewer side effects than BPO.

Here's everything you need to know about tea tree oil…

What Is Tea Tree Oil?

Also known as melaleuca oil (who knew?), tea tree oil is an essential oil that's steam-distilled from the leaves of the tea (melaleuca alternifolia) tree. Tea trees are native to the southeast coast of Australia and their oil has been used for centuries for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Not only did native Aborigines apply it topically to heal the skin, but it’s said they also inhaled it to treat sore throats and coughs.

How Does Tea Tree Oil Work?

As an acne-fighting ingredient, tea tree oil works in two ways. Firstly, it contains awesome antimicrobial properties which help kill certain unwanted acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin. This is super important when trying to control breakouts of all types – blackheads, whiteheads, angry zits, the lot. Sound familiar? That’s because benzoyl peroxide works in a very similar way, albeit slightly quicker but often with more irritating side effects.

Secondly, tea tree oil is anti-inflammatory, so it's a real winner for reducing facial redness and calming your skin while it simultaneously works on killing bacteria. Take that, BPO!

An important sidenote to remember, however, is that tea tree oil should never, ever be swallowed. It can cause all manner of nasty and often serious symptoms including confusion, breathing problems and worse. Just because it’s natural and comes from a plant, this doesn’t mean it’s safe for consumption. Save it for your skin, OK?

How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Acne-Prone Skin

1. Don't Underestimate Its Strength

The most important thing to remember is that tea tree oil is pretty darn potent. This is kinda obvious when you give it a sniff (wow!) but you can still buy it in its straight-up form, so if that's your jam, take care, dilute accordingly, and use it very sparingly.

Always patch test your skin first because, like any active ingredient, tea tree oil can cause sensitivities, itching, swelling and other irritations. If you’re good to go after patch testing, we still recommend diluting it slightly, then using it to spot treat your pimples rather than applying it all over your skin as part of your daily routine.

Simply dampen a Q-tip with water, then swab the inside of your oil’s lid to pick up a small amount. Dab this on clean, moisturized pimples before bed to help zap them overnight.

2. Choose The Right Formulation

Most topical essential oils work better (and safer) when mixed with other ingredients. Carrier oils, for example, are perfect for diluting the strength of an essential oil, allowing it to be better tolerated by the skin. However, some oils can clog your pores, so you really need to know what you’re doing.

Not down with cocktailing your skincare ingredients? Then lower your chances of getting it wrong by sticking with a carefully curated tea tree oil product that’s a.) been specially formulated not to cause excessive dryness or irritation and b.) not packed with occlusive oils that’ll make your acne worse.

Our Tea Tree Super Serum + contains an awesome blend of skin-friendly ingredients to help hydrate and balance your skin while allowing the tea tree oil to go about its skin-clearing business. It’s packed with aloe, hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help skin keep calm and draw in moisture, plus niacinamide to fight post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots). It also contains two other proven acne-fighting ingredients: salicylic acid and retinol to hit breakouts where they really hurt.

Even though it’s well tolerated by the skin, you should always patch test it before use, and just two or three applications a week may be enough to yield visible results within weeks.

3. Know Whether Tea Tree Oil Is Right For You

When diluted with other skincare ingredients in products like serums, cleansers, toners or moisturizers, tea tree oil is pretty safe for most skin types. If you have eczema or extremely sensitive skin, this means your barrier function isn't working at its best, so you should probably give tea tree oil a wide berth, but other than that, you should be OK.

Of course, there’s always the risk of irritation, redness, dryness and peeling for any skin type, but thankfully this is where that all-important patch test comes into its own. Not sure how to patch test your skincare? No problem, we can help with that right here.

Who’s in the market for fresh, revitalized skin for spring? The real question is who isn’t?

If your skin is screaming ‘tired, worn-out and kinda lackluster', the good news is (hold on, there’s some good news?) you’re not alone. Google searches for ‘how to get naturally glowing skin’ and ‘how to keep skin younger and glowing’ continue to trend, proving that when it comes to covetable skin, freshness and radiance are everything.

Which figures. After all, fine lines, wrinkles, pimples and dark spots immediately appear less obvious if your overall complexion looks good. Refreshed, clean, glowy skin also knocks years off you, and don’t even get us started on how simply looking more wide-awake makes you immediately feel better and more raring to go. Oh, the power of being happy in your own skin…

So, how can you up your radiance game? Well, exfoliating your skin with a gentle scrub or rinsing your face with cold water are decent places to start. But to really get ‘under your skin’, if you will, and reap lasting benefits, you should think about incorporating some kind of active ingredient into your daily routine. Specifically, one that’s known for accelerating cell turnover and loaded with skin-renewing powers.

So, just what are these masterful ingredients? Let’s see, shall we?

Retinol

We could go on for weeks about the benefits of retinol on both aging and acne-prone skin (don’t worry, we won’t), but when it comes to skin renewal, we do have a few things to say. First, retinol is the best. And second? Well, do you need a second?

A derivative of vitamin A, retinol gets converted into retinoic acid when absorbed by your skin. And it’s this retinoic acid that works hard at a cellular level, kickstarting collagen and elastin production, boosting cell turnover and stimulating blood circulation to help make your skin thicker, firmer, stronger and brighter.

Of course, every silver lining has its cloud and retinol is a potent little beast that needs to be used with caution and care. The number one rule is that any new retinol product should be patch tested first to check for adverse reactions. Then, and only then, should you introduce it slowly into your skincare routine, starting with once a week and building to daily as your skin acclimates. This helps avoid irritation and gives your skin time to adjust to turning over at a faster rate.

Looking to refresh and revive your skin long-term? Then retinol has to be top of the list. It just has to.

Try: Retinol Facial Serum

Glycolic Acid

Exfoliating acids are another must for fresh, renewed skin and if you’re looking for the absolute queen, look no further than glycolic acid.

Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane and belongs to a group of acids called alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs. When applied to the skin, AHAs work by softening the bonds between dead skin cells, which encourages them to slough away more easily and make way for the newer, healthier cells underneath. Kind of like physically exfoliating your skin with a scrub... but minus the effort!

By improving desquamation (the fancy term for the shedding of dead skin cells), glycolic acid also stimulates cell regeneration, making your skin look and feel way better over time.

Glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size of all AHAs, making it one of the most effective and potent exfoliating acids out there. It’s trusted by pros and often used in chemical peels, but you can also find it in lower concentrations in loads of skincare serums and treatments. But remember, just like retinol, glycolic acid packs a punch, so it should always be applied with caution.

Try: Ocean Mineral Super Toner

Peptides

Peptides are a bit trickier to get your head around, but bear with us because they’re an absolute must for skin renewal.

Made up of short chains of amino acids, peptides help your skin produce proteins like collagen and elastin. How so? Proteins are similarly comprised of amino acids, which allows peptides to act like little messengers, searching out depleted proteins and ‘telling’ your skin to produce more collagen and elastin where it needs them most. Think of peptides as building blocks for the structure, firmness and elasticity of your skin.

There are hundreds of peptides out there – some of which are awesome and some which, frankly, aren't even close. Good ones to look out for are Matrixyl 3000 and palmitoyl tripeptides, which have been proven to boost collagen production in aging skin. Studies have even suggested that Matrixyl 3000 has the potential to almost double the amount of collagen your skin produces. Impressive stuff, don’t you agree?

Try: Peptide Anti-Aging Eye Gel

Vitamin C

You’re probably aware of how much we love vitamin C here at TruSkin HQ. After all, our entire skincare range stemmed from our award-winning Vitamin C Serum, which continues to be a fan favorite. And rightly so.

Vitamin C is one of the most researched and trusted antioxidants in skincare, but it’s so much more than a free radical neutralizer and fighter of environmental (cough, sun) damage. Of course, all this is super important for the feel, look and health of your skin because nixing free radicals helps keep your collagen and elastin levels at their peak, which simultaneously maintains efficient cellular turnover. But vitamin C has another trick up its sleeve for giving your skin that extra glow factor. And this is its ability to inhibit melanin production.

As we’re sure you know, melanin is the pigment that gives your skin (as well as your hair and eyes) its unique color. Sun exposure ramps up melanin production, which is why you tan. However, melanin can get a little out of whack sometimes, producing dark, uneven spots known as hyperpigmentation: bad news if fresh-looking skin is your mojo. Vitamin C helps keep melanin under control by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme which catalyzes melanin production. Clever vitamin C.

Try: Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer

Niacinamide

Otherwise known as vitamin B3, niacinamide is one of the gentlest active ingredients in skincare. But don’t let its gentle nature fool you because it more than holds its own when it comes to strengthening, renewing and energizing your skin.

Like vitamin C, topical niacinamide is another hardworking antioxidant that keeps skin-damaging free radicals in check. It also increases ceramide production in the uppermost layers of your skin to help strengthen your barrier function (very important, btw) and improve your skin’s resiliency. Ceramides are waxy lipids that work like glue to hold your skin together, keeping toxins out and moisture in. Like most of the good stuff in your skin, your natural levels of ceramides deplete as you get older, which is why boosting production is so important. In a nutshell, more ceramides = better hydration and fewer issues like dryness and itchy skin.

Niacinamide has also been proven to help brighten skin, although exactly how it does this is still not entirely known. Ooh, a mysterious one, we like that.

Try: Niacinamide Facial Serum