True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Because removing full-on foundation, budge-proof mascara and long-lasting lip stain can be tricky business.

Here at TruSkin, we love makeup almost as much as we love skincare. Skincare is the true foundation to great skin ­– the clue is in the name, after all – but we also love to enhance our retinol-infused, antioxidant-rich regime with a little foundation here and some waterproof mascara there. They’re like the backup singers to our skincare routine’s Taylor Swift, if you will.

Sometimes, however, despite your best efforts, removing your makeup at the end of the day can feel like a ridiculously tricky task. Because no matter how much face wash you use or how hard you scrub it into your skin (which, in itself, is a major no-no), it seems like you can never remove that last scrap. 

Sounds familiar? Then you’re probably doing something wrong. Because, yes, there is absolutely a right and a wrong way to cleanse your skin of makeup and all the other surface debris that builds up on your skin throughout the day. The wrong way? Scrub your skin like your life depended on it. And the right way? Two words: double cleansing. 

Below, we walk you through how to double cleanse like the pro we know you are (or, at least, could be).

Why Thorough Night Time Cleansing Is Crucial For Healthy Skin

Every day your skin spends the best part of 16 hours exposed to the world. You probably spent some time outside, maybe you went to the gym or popped to the supermarket. Heck, even if you simply sat at your desk all day, surface dirt will have built up on the surface of your skin during that time. Your skin will also have sweated and produced oils to help keep it moisturized. And even if you don’t wear a huge amount of makeup on the reg, you’ll have likely applied serum, face cream and SPF to your face and neck first thing in the morning. 

No matter how you look at it, that’s a lot of ‘stuff’ for your skin to deal with on a regular basis. Of course it can and it does – every, single, day – but leave all this surface debris sitting on your skin throughout the night and you’re pushing it way past its limits, potentially clogging up your pores, causing congestion, dryness, dehydration and even accelerating the visible signs of aging.

The truth is, you have to thoroughly cleanse your skin before bed, every night, makeup or no makeup. And to truly cut through heavy makeup, the best way to do this is with some double cleansing.

What Is Double Cleansing?

Regular face wash alone doesn’t always cut it with heavy makeup because most makeup formulations are oil-based, meaning water-based cleansers aren’t up to the task. It’s like trying to wash greasy saucepans with tepid water and precious little else. Pretty useless.

Instead, to effectively break down oily products like makeup and sunscreen, your skin needs an oil-based cleanser. Oil dissolves oil. Simple as.

Once you’ve dissolved all the oily stuff, you then apply a water-based cleanser to further treat your skin and remove other, water-based surface debris like sweat and environmental pollutants.

And that's double cleansing in a nutshell. It's simply cleansing your skin twice.

How To Double Cleanse In Two Simple Steps

Step 1. Start Strong With An Oil-Based Cleanser

Wash your hands first – important stuff right there ­­– then grab a cleansing oil or balm to melt away everything from creamy foundation to matte lipstick.

Using your hands and the pads of your fingers, massage your cleanser all over dry skin (yes dry, not damp) in gentle circular motions. It’s important not to rush, so spend a good minute or so really working the product into your skin, paying extra attention to often overlooked areas like around your hairline, around your nose, over your neck and in the corners of your eyes.

Once you’ve given your face and neck a good cleansing massage, rinse your skin with clean, lukewarm water. Hot water might feel good on your skin in the moment but it can strip it of natural oils and nutrients, leaving it feeling tight, dry, dehydrated and irritated. And that’s no fun for anyone. Lukewarm water is always the way to go.

Step 2. Finish With A Water-Based Cleanser

Next, follow up with a water-based cleanser to finish up the job and get rid of any leftover surface enemies. We have some fabulous formulations to choose from right here, depending on your skin type and concerns, but to really detoxify your skin and whisk away residue and impurities our go-to is Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser. This little gem contains coconut-derived activated charcoal which draws out dirt and decongests your pores. It also combines aloe vera, ylang ylang oil and reishi mushroom to keep your skin hydrated, protected, soft and strong. It’s the whiskers when it comes to clean, healthy skin.

Again, massage this into your skin for a good minute, but this time apply it while your skin is damp, then rinse and pat dry with a clean, cotton towel.

Done.

Beyond Cleansing: 3 Extra Tips for Makeup Lovers

1. Cleansing oils can work wonders on stubborn eye makeup but, oftentimes, a dedicated oil-based eye makeup remover is best. Saturate a cotton pad with your remover first, then hold it over your eye for a good 20 seconds before swiping it away. This gives the remover time to start dissolving your makeup which cuts down on any scrubbing you might be tempted to do.

2. Don’t forget to exfoliate. Exfoliation doesn’t replace cleansing but it’s a great addition to your routine once or twice a week, especially if you cleanse first, then exfoliate to boost turnover and really brighten up the surface of your skin. Just remember to always go gently and use a kind-to-skin formulation that won’t cause irritation. We love Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub.

3. Invest in some gentle makeup wipes, but remember, they’re for emergencies only. Cleansing wipes are OK in a pinch and, sure, they’re better than nothing, but they should never replace proper cleansing. Also, they often contain chemicals, fragrance and harsh alcohols that can be tough on your delicate skin. And deep down, you know this. Use them only when you really have to.

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

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

You can’t argue with that, right?

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

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

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

Your Skincare Goal: To Fight The Signs Of Aging

Try: Vitamin A

Namely: Retinol Facial Serum

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

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

Your Skincare Goal: To Brighten Dull Skin

Try: Vitamin C

Namely: Vitamin C Facial Serum

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

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

Learn everything you need to know about vitamin C here.

Your Skincare Goal: To Minimize Redness Or Sensitivities

Try: Vitamin B3

Namely: Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum

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

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

Your Skincare Goal: To Boost Moisture

Try: Vitamin E

Namely: Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

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

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

Learn more about this skin-loving powerhouse right here.

Your Skincare Goal: To Reduce Acne Breakouts

Try: Vitamin A (yes, again!)

Namely: Retinol Facial Serum

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

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

Your Skincare Goal: To Boost Overall Skin Health

Try: A Multivitamin

Namely: Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum

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

No idea why you’re getting an influx of acne right now? Many lifestyle habits can trigger your breakouts ­­­­­– and sometimes they’re found in the most unsuspecting places.

As you know, acne is caused by one thing and one thing alone: an excess of sebum that causes your pores to become blocked with oil, dead skin cells, bacteria and other impurities. Eating too much chocolate doesn’t give you pimples. Neither does moisturizer. Sure, they can trigger breakouts if you’re genetically susceptible to them, but acne isn’t caused by uncleanliness, a poor diet or crummy skincare routine. It’s caused by blocked pores. End of.

OK, so this begs the question: why bother trying to cure them if your breakouts are totally out of your control? Well, here’s the thing. You can’t change your genes, that’s for certain. However, what you can do is keep acne-triggering factors under control to help lessen the blow. Sleeping well, reducing emotional stress and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet; all these things are important for maintaining balanced sebum and therefore reducing the likelihood of you breaking out week after week.

But there are also some less obvious reasons why you face might be suffering with regular breakouts. So if you’ve already dispensed with things like smoking, poor cleansing and too much exfoliation, but you’re still getting pimples on the reg, it might be time to look at some of the more unexpected areas of your life.

On that note, read on for five slightly more unusual causes for your breakouts.

1. Your Pillowcase

Getting enough beauty sleep is crucial for the health of your skin, but if you’re sleeping on a dirty pillowcase for a solid eight hours every night dirt and bacteria is inevitably going to build up and irritate your pores. This is especially true if you sleep on a synthetic pillowcase because man-made fibers don’t absorb sweat as effectively as natural fibres like cotton or linen.

The answer? Go natural all the way, for starters. Also, cleanse and moisturize your skin before bed to reduce the amount of grime getting on your pillowcase. Tea Tree Super Cleanser+ is a great acne-fighting cleanser that balances and clarifies your pores. Follow this with Retinol Moisturizer to lightly hydrate and moisturize your skin while boosting cellular turnover to keep your pores free of dead skin cells.

Finally, wash your pillowcase every three or four days. And ditto, your face towel. Old, dirty towels that are used by the whole family for drying their hands and who-knows-what-else are another breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Do you really want to be swiping this all over your freshly cleansed skin? Thought not. So, invest in a couple of cotton face towels for you and you alone and wash them every other day.

2. Your Makeup & Hair Products

Your skincare routine might be spot on, but what about your makeup and hair products? Rich hair conditioners, for example, are notorious for containing heavy ingredients like cocoa butter and coconut oil which, granted, are incredible for moisturizing your precious locks, but are not so great for acne-prone skin. Of course, we know you’re not smothering your face with conditioner but still, it can settle on your face when you rinse your hair so always cleanse your skin after, never before conditioning.

Makeup can similarly clog up your pores, especially if you use formulations that contain oil. So don’t do that. Instead, look out for noncomedogenic products (this means they’re less likely to block pores) and use powder rather than liquid formulations whenever possible.

3. Your Workout Routine

Do you love to get a good sweat on when you’re working out? High fives to you. However, allow all that sweat and grime to sit on your skin and your pores are going to clog up quicker than your instructor can say ‘hit the floor for ten push-ups.’

Cleanse your skin thoroughly and swiftly after exercising (the longer you leave your skin doused in sweat and grimy workout gear, the more bacteria is likely to breed), and always use a mild but effective cleanser that helps to detoxify your skin without drying it out. Our Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser is a goodie as it harnesses the powers of coconut-derived activated charcoal which destroys skin-smothering impurities to offer a deep, gently purifying clean every time.

4. Your Winter Cover-Ups

Any fabric that rubs against your skin can lead to unwanted issues in the long-term. Remember how face masks were causing ‘maskne’ back in the pandemic? This was all due to friction from the mask combining with the obvious culprits of sweat, dirt, oil, bacteria and humidity which caused dryness, irritation and pimples.

Thankfully, for most of us, the days of having to wear a mask 24/7 are over. However, if you spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter and like to wrap yourself up in woollen hats and thick, heavy scarves, these can cause similar problems, trapping sweat and increasing friction around your chin, jaw, neck and forehead.

To help reduce breakouts caused by beanies, scarves (and even turtleneck sweaters), avoid synthetic fabrics and launder your winter cover-ups regularly. Weekly, at least.

5. Your Laundry Detergent

Speaking of laundry, your choice of detergent is also imperative. Just like your beauty routine, certain ingredients in your laundry detergent can be super irritating – especially if you have extremely sensitive or acne-prone skin. Fragrance, for example, can be a real Debbie Downer, as can harsh dyes, essentials oils, strong surfactants and preservatives.

To reduce the likelihood of your laundry detergent triggering those pesky breakouts, first up, choose liquid over powder detergents. Why? Because these leave behind less residue on your clothes and fabrics (who knew?!). Also, never use more detergent than is recommended on the label, avoid fabric softeners and try double rinsing your laundry after washing to remove as much residue as possible.

Not lucky enough to have been born with perfect, flawless skin? Er, who is? Truth is, glowing, makeup-free skin isn’t a given, but requires work with a consistent skincare routine.

Makeup is great. It covers a multitude of sins, makes our best features way better and helps create the illusion of a chiselled jawline or defined cheekbones – even if you were right at the back of the queue when those were handed out.

However, makeup is not a permanent solution for healthy skin. And, heck, sometimes you don’t even want to apply foundation, anyway. Just look at Hollywood right now. The ‘no makeup’ movement is becoming a real thing thanks to stars like Pamela Anderson who, frankly, is looking more gorgeous than ever while showing off her clean, natural skin on the red carpet. And we’re sure she would attest to the fact that the real solution for healthy skin is to find a good, consistent skincare routine.

So, if you’re looking to pare back your makeup routine by cutting out foundation or ditching the bronzer, your skincare needs to be absolutely spot on. Read on for the important steps we believe are the key to getting you there…

Your Daily Must-Dos

The morning might be your busiest, most frantic time but it’s not one in which to skip essential parts of your skincare routine. A regular morning routine is extremely important for your skin because it sets you up for the rest of the day, giving your skin protection from environmental aggressors while maintaining much-needed moisturization.

Set aside ten minutes or so to crush these five crucial steps every morning, without fail.

Cleanse

Everyone’s skin is different, so how you cleanse your skin and with which formulations you choose to do it are totally up to you. There are a few important rules to follow, however.

Number one, don’t think facial wipes will give you a thorough cleanse. Hands down, they won't. Proper cleansers are always best. Number two, spend an extra minute massaging your skin as you cleanse – it's a great way to boost circulation and help lymphatic drainage. And number three, never use scolding hot water as this’ll strip important oils and lipids from the surface of your skin, upsetting the balance of your barrier function and potentially causing dehydration.

We have some fantastic cleansers to suit most skin types, wants and needs but to really help get your morning glow on, we recommend Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser.

Tone

Not everything can be bothered to tone, and that’s OK. But, truthfully, if you want to do the best you can for your skin and want your complexion to really shine without makeup, toning is a great step that literally takes seconds. Not only do toners often contain incredible ingredients to help hydrate, sooth and brighten your skin, but they also help the rest of your skincare penetrate better into your skin. And who can say no to that?

Try our Ocean Minerals Super Toner which contains vitamin C and glycolic acid to protect, brighten and improve skin turnover.

Treat

After toning and prepping your skin, it would be remiss not to apply some kind of treatment to your face and eyes. We like to apply serum then eye cream to really get the skin going for the day. Again, the products you use are totally in your court but mornings are made for collagen-boosting peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, energizing caffeine or antioxidant ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E and niacinamide.

Our current favorite morning combo is our new Caffeine Facial Serum followed by Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream which helps deal with morning eye bags. No concealer required!

Moisturize

A great moisturizer is one of the most important ways to keep your skin ticking along nicely all day long. It’ll help seal in your serum so all of its ingredients get to do what they’re supposed to, plus it strengthens and fortifies your barrier function to help your skin retain water and repel toxins. And all this plays nicely into the hands of gorgeous skin that’s ready to take on the world – with or without makeup!

Your choice of moisturizer will depend on your skin type but Firming Collagen Day Lotion is a great option for almost anyone as it does everything a moisturizer is supposed to do, with the added extras of boosting collagen and enhancing your skin’s youthful good looks.

Protect

Finally, what kind of morning doesn’t call for sunscreen? Answer: no mornings, literally none of them. In fact, sunscreen shouldn’t even have to be something you think about, you should just do it. Applying sunscreen every day will improve the tone and texture of your skin like nobody’s business. Plus, it’ll ward off the signs of premature aging like no other skincare product can even dream of.

The good news is that daily sunscreens have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. Current formulations are extremely lightweight while maintaining effective, broad-spectrum protection, and they fit seamlessly into your skincare routine with zero effort. Saying that, we can only speak on behalf of our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C which checks all those boxes with flying colors.

The Nighttime Secrets

Day routine, sorted. But what about bedtime? Should your skincare stay the same before you hit the sack or does it need turning up a notch?

Well, as you sleep your skin goes into regeneration mode. Blood flow increases, collagen synthesis accelerates, your skin’s natural antioxidant system kicks in and cell turnover steps up. This means that, yes, you still need to cleanse and tone as you would in the morning to rid your skin of an entire day’s worth of sweat, oil and grime. However, your treatments and moisturizers can definitely benefit from a change of pace…

Treat

When it comes to your nighttime serum, sure you can stick with the same one you used in the morning, but to really up the ante and help boost the natural rejuvenation process your skin undertakes at night, we like to switch things up.

With what, we hear you ask? With retinol, of course (or bakuchiol!). Retinol is a smart little cookie because it has this innate ability to ‘communicate’ with your skin at a cellular level, accelerating the production of collagen and elastin, improving cell turnover and strengthening your skin to help refine lines and wrinkles and reduce dark spots and acne breakouts. It’s extremely potent, however, which is why it's often advised for nighttime use only. And this is when we like to apply it. Retinol in the evening... brightening antioxidants in the morning, FTW!

Give our Retinol Facial Serum a go for a fabulous overnight skin revamp, or try the equally as awesome Rejuvenating Longevity Serum with Bakuchiol (that’s nature’s gentler alternative to retinol if you didn’t know!).

Moisturize (With More Intensity)

Intense moisturizing in the morning is not everybody’s jam. And we’re sure that especially rings true if you have oily, combination or acne-prone skin. But rich moisturizers at night that offer an intense boost of hydration and nourishment without clogging up the skin? Now that is something we should all get on board with. And it’s what night creams were made for.

Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is a great way to support your skin as you sleep. Fueling your skin’s overnight renewal process with antioxidant-rich vitamin C and B5, plus aloe and MSM to hydrate and improve the overall health of your skin, we call it our 'smooth skin secret' because it truly helps give us the confidence to go bare-faced and makeup-free.

The Extra Add-On

Now you’ve got the daily stuff nailed down, there’s just one more addition you mustn’t forget: exfoliation. Regular exfoliation boosts cell turnover and reduces dead skin cell build-up at the surface of your skin. And that’s crucial if you want your skin to look naturally radiant and healthy.

Of course, if your skin can handle it and you use a super gentle formulation like our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub, you can potentially get away with exfoliating daily. But that’s not for everyone, so listen to your skin and find your exfoliation sweet spot – be that daily, weekly or somewhere in between.

Keep up this routine and you’ll soon notice healthier-looking skin that needs no help from makeup.

That’s not to say you should never wear makeup again, of course. We don’t know about you but we’d hate to give that up. But still, options.

Good news: there are tons of ways to make your skin feel smoother and healthier.

Thankfully, you don’t remember the skin you were born with. If you did, you would seriously long for its plump, bouncy, softer-than-clouds feel. Because that’s how skin generally is at birth, before it’s touched by pollution, battered by the sun and generally subjected to the slings and arrows of modern life. Everyday wear and tear, however, is inevitable so it’s no use trying to resurrect your 6-month old skin. It’s simply never going to happen.

All is not lost, however, because what you can do is make the most of the skin you’re in right now by looking after it to the best of your abilities. The motto is, treat it right and it will repay you in kind. Granted, it will never feel as soft and smooth as it did way back when, but give yourself a break, EVERYONE has textured skin to some degree and, heck, you can only do so much, right?

On that note, here are some of the most effective ways to get your smoothest skin ever. And more good news: they’re easier than you might think.

Pay Attention To Your Pores

More often than not, rough texture is down to blocked pores. Oil-producing pores are tiny openings found at the top of your hair follicles and sebaceous glands where they release sebum to help moisturize and soften the skin at a surface level. They’re extremely important for keeping your skin healthy but, like all things are life, they’re not perfect. Some people have sebaceous glands that produce too much sebum, others have those that don’t produce anywhere near enough, causing everything from extreme dryness to super-oily skin that’s prone to acne breakouts.

Whatever your pore persuasion, it’s crucial to keep them cleansed, and clear of debris like makeup, dirt and skincare products. This reduces their likelihood of becoming clogged, thus expanding and creating tiny bumps at the surface of your skin. Common sense, right? Instead of stripping your skin with chemical-rich, harsh products, however, it’s important to cleanse right with gentle formulations and warm, never hot water. Our Soothing Cleansing Milk is fantastic for the job - especially if you have dry or sensitive skin – or you could also try Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser which is fantastic for detoxifying your pores and balancing oilier skin types. Cleanse twice daily, no arguments, and again after working out.

It’s Great To Exfoliate

As skin ages, cell turnover slows down and dead skin cells have a tendency to outstay their welcome. It’s kind of inevitable, so to help keep this process from causing rough texture at the surface (and the dullness that inevitably comes as part of the deal!), it’s wise to exfoliate regularly.

Exfoliation encourages dead cells to slough away quicker, so that all the fresh, younger ones have a chance to reveal themselves to the world. And you can do it in a number of ways. Scrubs are the obvious choice, but be wary of harsh formulations that use over-sized particles that feel too sharp on your skin. Chances are, if they feel scratchy, that’s exactly what they’re doing, creating micro-tears on your skin which can cause irritation and long-term sensitivities. Instead, choose a kind-to-skin scrub like our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub which uses ultra-fine Bora Bora white sand to leave you with super soft skin, every time.

Not a scrub fan? Then try a leave-on solution that harnesses exfoliating acids like salicylic or glycolic to break down the glue between dead skin cells, giving them a firm nudge to leave town. Try our awesome 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant after cleansing and before applying serum and moisturizer. It’s the simplest way to even out your skin and smooth up its texture, plus it’s gentle enough for almost all skin types.

Layer With Moisture

Whatever your skin type, moisturizer is essential after every cleanse to support and fortify your skin’s barrier function and allow it to do its job properly – which is to keep good things like moisture in and bad things like irritants out. But, we get it, for some of you moisturizer might not be enough. Dehydration, for example, is a killer on the texture of your skin and that requires more attention than some moisturizers are able to offer.

To really get your smoothness going, we recommend doubling down with a hydrating serum as well as a kick-ass moisturizer like Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream. Serums that contain hyaluronic acid in particular, are incredible for helping to keep your skin plump, smooth and dewy because they draw moisture to the surface of your skin. Apply a couple of drops of Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum after cleansing and before moisturizing every day for a deeper moisturization and, over time, your skin will soon feel way more hydrated and much smoother as a result.

Give Irritants The Cold Shoulder

Word is, something in your skincare routine might actually be the cause of textural changes in your skin like dryness and roughness. Synthetic fragrance, for example, is one of the biggest offenders, and denatured alcohol as well as harsh sulfates like SLS and SLES can all be extremely irritating for certain skin types.

Try to avoid the most common irritants and, while you’re at it, look at your skincare routine as a whole and tame things down if it’s too heavy on active ingredients. Active ingredients like retinol, AHAs, BHAs and vitamin C are fantastic, don’t get us wrong, but too much of a good thing can have disastrous results. Rough, dry, flaky skin being just one of them.

Remember: Sunscreen Is King

UV radiation (which is present all year long) produces skin-damaging free radicals which work hard to break down your collagen and elastin and ruin your skin’s soft, smooth bouncebackability. Not only that, but it’s a killer on your skin’s natural levels of hyaluronic acid, leading to dehydration and, well, you know where we’re going here…

It comes as no surprise, therefore, that daily SPF is non-negotiable. Most experts – us included – recommend a broad-spectrum formulation that contains mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide and offers protection of at least SPF 30. Try our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C which is like the lovechild of your favorite moisturizer and sunscreen, with the added benefits of glow-getting vitamin C and age-defying vegan marine collagen.

This is the last of our September Spotlight series and we’re marking the occasion with the newest member of our TruSkin family: Caffeine Facial Serum.

Caffeine might be one of your biggest vices due to the number of cappuccinos you consume in one day. But as skincare goes, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, caffeine is a fantastic ingredient for energizing your skin and amping up its level of (or more to the point, it’s lack of!) radiance.

You see, while drinking too much caffeine (more than around four cups is considered excessive) can dehydrate your skin, screw up your sleep and trigger stress-induced acne breakouts, applying it to your skin improves blood flow, helps reduce inflammation and works hard to combat the effects of environmental pollution. Nothing but good stuff, we think you’ll agree.

We’ve long since known about the extraordinary benefits of caffeine, as well other powerful antioxidants and nutrients found in abundance in matcha and regular green teas. We just weren’t sure what to do with all that knowledge… nor how to successfully create an effective skincare treatment that put it all into practice.

But that all changed earlier this year when we launched our incredible Caffeine Facial Serum. With ten facial serums in our line-up you’d think we already had it all. And yes, we’re incredibly proud of being able to cater for all skin types, tones, colors and concerns with serums packed with skincare greats like vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid and peptides.

However, who are we to believe we had no room for something new? And what kind of skincare company would we be if we didn’t continue to innovate and create? A pretty lazy one, tbh.

So, today, we introduce you to serum #11, Caffeine Facial Serum.

What Caffeine Facial Serum Is All About

Simply put, Caffeine Facial Serum delivers the boost of energy your skin has been longing for. It’s like the skincare equivalent of a shot of double espresso in the morning – minus the lows, of course.

How does it work? Well, research shows that caffeine has a very small molecular structure which means it’s able to penetrate the top layers of the skin to absorb deeper and get to work quickly, effectively and exactly where it’s needed most. Its benefits are pretty impressive and include boosting collagen, improving blood flow, reducing inflammation and even slowing down the visible signs of skin aging thanks to a whole bunch of hard-working antioxidants that help neutralize collagen-damaging free radicals.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re not the first to harness the powers of caffeine in a facial serum. We know that. However, our Caffeine Facial Serum offers so much more than the competition and has quickly become a fan favorite for tired skin that needs a reboot. And that’s because caffeine is not the only revitalizing ingredient it has to brag about…

What Makes Caffeine Facial Serum Different From The Rest?

1. 5% caffeine combines with EGCG for the ultimate energizing results

Many over-the-counter caffeine serums contain around 3 percent caffeine, which we don’t think is anywhere near enough to truly hit the spot. This is why we added a much more effective concentration of 5 percent, giving your skin more antioxidant protection and a way bigger boost of energy. Any more than 5 percent has the potential to irritate the skin but, don’t worry, five’s just right to make your skin come alive. It’s not like drinking a triple espresso on an empty stomach or anything like that!

Instead of risking sensitivities by going even higher with the caffeine, we figured it was much safer to add another revitalizing ingredient to boost the buzz and help improve hydration at the same time. And we landed on EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), another fantastic antioxidant that’s extracted from green tea and plays super well with caffeine.

2. Caffeine Facial Serum also contains niacinamide to strengthen the skin

Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 that works on the skin in many awesome ways. For one thing, it helps increase the production of ceramides in the uppermost layers which is crucial for maintaining a strong, protective barrier function and improving the overall resiliency of your skin. By strengthening your skin and reducing moisture loss from the surface, it also works hard to reduce the drying effects of active ingredients like caffeine. 

Oh, and it has a whole bunch of antioxidant qualities of its own to further protect your skin from the damaging effects of free radicals.

3. Matcha tea offers an extra boost of nutrients and antioxidants

As if caffeine and EGCG weren’t enough to lift flagging skin, Caffeine Facial Serum also delivers a punchy hit of matcha green tea leaf extract. Unlike regular green tea whose leaves are steeped and then thrown away, we use the entire matcha leaf to ensure your skin gets as much of its goodness as it possibly can. And, full disclosure, it has a lot to give.

Just like regular green tea, matcha is super rich in antioxidants. It also helps regulate sebum production, remove impurities, enhance moisture retention and control inflammation which is great news for oily, sensitive or acne-prone skin.

You've gotta love this stuff.

4. Then there’s ginseng, a traditional medicine favorite for revitalizing the skin

Last but not least comes one of the most revered ingredients in Asian traditional medicine: ginseng. The OG of superfoods, ginseng is a root packed with skin reviving vitamins and minerals that help increase blood flow to really zing up your skin; strengthening at a surface level and ramping up collagen production. But energizing your skin isn’t its only MO. It’s also been shown to inhibit melanin synthesis to help control dark spots and a patchy, uneven skin tone. Love that.

More great news: ginseng contains natural anti-inflammatory properties which are essential if you suffer with facial redness or annoying breakouts.

How To Make Caffeine Facial Serum Work For You

Caffeine Facial Serum has been formulated for all skin types, but no matter how kind and gentle it is, it still contains active ingredients that have the potential to irk super sensitive skin. Patch test it first to check for irritations. That is all.

Once you’re good to go (which, we’re convinced, most of you will be), apply three to five drops to clean hands, then smooth or pat this over cleansed, toned skin. You can even use it under your eyes if this area needs a little extra pep in its step. Just avoid direct contact which your actual eyes, OK?

Caffeine Facial Serum can be used morning, night or both depending on the rest of your skincare routine but don’t mix and match it with other serums as this could overload your skin. Do you like to apply Retinol Facial Serum before bed? Then limit your Caffeine Facial Serum to the mornings only. You get the picture, right?

Finally, give your serum a minute or so to settle then apply moisturizer and sunscreen as normal.

Your skin should feel raring to go and ready take on the world in no time.