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True Radical Honesty From Our Community

  • Why Your Morning & Bedtime Skincare Routines Should Be Different
    Knowing how to switch things up to get your skin ready for the day as opposed to ready for bed? Life-changing. Well, skin-changing at the very least.

    There’s something to be said for nailing a consistent skincare routine. However, it’s not always easy to find your perfect product match. In fact, it requires much nurturing and tweaking – often over many years – to get your routine exactly where you want it. Whether you prefer to keep things basic or like to go all-out with every potion you can get your hands on, skincare is a very personal thing. But there are some fundamentals that every successful regime should abide by.

    One of these is the importance of variation. And by this we don’t mean owning 75 moisturizers and just as many facial serums that you switch out more often than your underwear. Because, frankly, this is not the kind of consistency skin strives for. No, by variation we mean having a few different products in your arsenal that are tailored to your skin’s needs as they change from AM to PM.

    Often brushed off as marketing hype, morning and night time skincare is, in fact, quite different. Do you really need separate cleansers, toners, eye treatments and exfoliators for morning and night? Absolutely not. These products are important, for sure, but they can definitely remain the same, no matter what time of day they’re being used. However, other products require a little thoughtful adjustment so they’re able to offer exactly what your skin needs as it transitions from day to night.

    Never quite sure how to approach your morning and bedtime skincare routines? Then read on for the three most important products you need for each of these skinfluential times of day.

    Your Morning Skincare Routine

    Life often gets in the way of awesome skin. Things like emotional stress, pollution, the sun, your diet, they all have their own ways of upsetting the health of your skin and throwing things way off whack. This means your morning skincare routine must, most important of all, set your skin up for a daily battle against everything life throws at you.

    Morning Skincare Musts

    1. Environmental Protection

    So, life. As awesome as it is, it batters your skin with daily aggressors that encourage the formation of free radicals. Free radicals are few and far between at night when you’re asleep, but during daylight hours, they can overrun your skin, compromising your collagen supplies, screwing up your elastin and even messing with your DNA. This is seriously bad news for the health of your skin as it can accelerate fine lines and wrinkles as well as other skin peskies like dark spots, sagging, dullness and poor texture and tone.

    Keeping your skin protected from free radicals, therefore, should be an absolute priority for your morning routine. And the best way to do this? With an antioxidant facial serum. Unlike other skincare ingredients, antioxidants work hard to neutralize free radicals, allowing your skin to go about its business without the risk of damage from things like the sun and environmental pollution.

    Topical antioxidants include the likes of vitamin E, niacinamide and green tea but the real biggie is vitamin C – something we know rather a lot about, here at TruSkin HQ! Universally loved and clinically-proven to nix free radicals in the bud while also brightening the skin, we think of it as a non-negotiable morning essential. You should, too. So try our fan-favorite Vitamin C Facial Serum and get on that, this second.

    2. Hydration

    As well as to protect itself from the outside world, your skin’s other main job is to keep itself hydrated and moisturised all day so that its barrier function remains in optimum condition. Your skin’s barrier function is what keeps toxins and pollution out and moisture in so it’s vital to moisturize daily to keep it strong and in great working order. Otherwise, you’re asking for trouble in the way of dehydration, dryness, breakouts and potential irritation.

    We believe daily moisturizing should be about lightweight formulations that you can layer without overloading your skin. Look out for serums that harness ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera which help to draw moisture into the skin’s top layers. Then follow with a light lotion that locks all that moisture in. We love the winning combination of Niacinamide Facial Serum followed by Firming Collagen Day Lotion which is deeply moisturizing but light enough for everyday wear.

    3. And The Most Important Product Of All: SPF

    Of course, sunscreen is futile before bed, but your morning skincare routine is nothing without SPF. You just can’t ignore the fact that the sun is the biggest skin ager and responsible for somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of external skin aging.

    If you want to ward off fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin for as long as humanly possible you need to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning – rain or shine. Broad-spectrum formulations protect your skin from both UVA and UVB so that’s important to look out for on your product labels. Also, make sure to go with nothing below SPF 30 and stick with mineral formulations that are much kinder to your skin. Our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C checks all those boxes, so no probs there.

    Your Bedtime Skincare Routine

    As your body and brain go into rest mode, your skin goes into reset mode. Your environment has completely changed and gone are all the elements that have been going at your skin all day long. This makes night time the best time for your skin to heal and rejuvenate itself, ready to do it again tomorrow.

    Bedtime Skincare Musts

    1. Thorough Cleansing

    Cleansing your skin is essential, morning and night, but at night time, after subjecting your skin to a whole day of sweat, makeup, oil, sunscreen, dirt, pollution and, well you get the picture, cleansing is everything.

    Your product choices are down to you and your skin type, but always stick with gentle formulations that are free of harsh ingredients like sulfates and parabens. Sure, effective cleansing is important, but you don’t want to strip your skin completely dry or irritate your delicate barrier function. Our current favorite is our Soothing Cleansing Milk but, like we said, the ball is in your court.

    When cleansing, take your time to thoroughly massage your skin to remove all traces of daily grime, and use lukewarm (never hot!) water to rinse well.

    Double cleansing can also be a good idea before bed – especially if you like to wear a good amount of makeup during the day or are prone to oily skin that feels pretty dirty by the evening. And double cleansing is exactly what it sounds like. First, you use an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, then you followed this with a water-based formulation to wash away other surface debris and help target your skin type or concerns.

    2. Rejuvenation & Repair

    Unlike the rest of your body which takes a well-deserved break as you sleep, night time is when your skin gets busy. All the excitement from the day shifts your skin into regeneration mode, repairing damage and preparing it for the next day. During this time blood flow increases, collagen production accelerates, cell turnover doubles and your skin’s natural antioxidant system amps up. It’s like a well-oiled machine that really kicks into gear as the rest of you catches your zzzs.

    The products you choose to help all this move along seamlessly are endless, so it’s really a matter of choice. Do you want to help target fine lines and wrinkles as you sleep? Then Retinol Facial Serum might be the one for you. Perhaps you want to concentrate on looking after your collagen? In which case, Smoothing Collagen Serum has your name on it. Then there’s Peptide Facial Serum which strengthens and protects your barrier function to help your skin rejuvenate.

    We know they all sound amazing (and that’s because they are!) but try to resist applying more than one at a time. Helping your skin during the overnight regeneration process is great. Overloading it with too many actives? Not so much.

    3. Deep Moisturization

    Did you know, your skin produces less sebum while you’re asleep? Well, now you do. And hopefully this also makes you better understand the importance of deeper, more intense moisturizing at night.

    You might, like us, hate the feeling of heavy creams during the daytime but there’s no better feeling than slathering your face (and neck, of course!) in a beautifully intense moisturizing cream that will nourish your skin and have you waking up with a soft, plump complexion.

    Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is perfect for the job. It has that extra sprinkling of vitamin C to add a bit of antioxidant prowess to the party. Plus, it contains aloe to hydrate and our favorite beautifying compound, MSM to soothe, strengthen, firm and revitalize your skin. No effort required.

    We love that for you.

    Skincare Routine
    Why Your Morning & Bedtime Skincare Routines Should Be Different
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  • How A Face Mist Is Guaranteed To Change Your Skin For The Better
    Sure, face mists are less revered than their spotlight-loving facial serum friends, but choose the right formulation for your skin type and you’ll never want to live without it.

    There are very few products in your skincare routine you can successfully apply to uncleansed skin. Name three. You can’t, can you? Of course, there’s sunscreen which should be reapplied every couple of hours if you’re going to be outside for long periods of time. But, in all honesty the only other product we can think of is a face mist/spritz/toning spray. And call it what you like, but there’s no denying that this multi-tasking great deserves way more praise than it actually gets.

    So we’re here to change that.

    Whether you’re looking to amp up your skincare routine, boost the efficacy of your facial serum or grab a quick mid-afternoon skin refresh, a facial mist has your back. Read on for 10 reasons why we’re in love with face mists right now. Guaranteed by around #4, you’ll be just as smitten (*TruSkin team rushes to stock up on Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner and Ocean Minerals Super Toner).

    1. First up, what actually is a face mist? Fairly new to the skincare game, face mists are little sprays of skincare gold that are water-based and contain ingredients to help hydrate, calm, and revitalize your skin. They’re awesome as part of your morning or bedtime routine, but equally, can be used any time during the day, on top of your moisturizer or makeup.

    2. So hold on, isn’t a face mist the same as a toner? Yes, and no. Most toners are astringent and designed to whisk away any last traces of cleanser or impurities post-cleansing, to help prepare your skin for the next steps in your skincare routine. Some face mists can also do this, but they usually contain fewer astringents and more skin-loving nutrients, moisturizing ingredients or antioxidants which means they can be spritzed on your skin at any time.

    The upshot is that some toners may double up as face mists (delivery system depending, of course!) but a face mist will rarely double up as a toner. Makes sense? Phew.

    3. One of our favorite things about face mists is that they're quick, easy and offer instant gratification. No rinsing is required, no massage is needed, nothing. And in our crazy, busy world, there’s a lot to be said for that.

    4. Face mists can be used in a variety of ways. The most obvious is to prepare your skin between cleansing and moisturizing. Most of us towel dry our skin pretty well after cleansing, giving your serum or moisturizer a pretty arid surface to work with. And this is far from ideal. How so? Well, serums and moisturizers prefer damp skin because this allows them to penetrate and absorb into the skin much more efficiently. By spritzing your face with a mist after cleansing, you up its moisture factor, therefore giving the rest of your skincare routine a much better start in life.

    5. Mists can also be used whenever you need a quick pick-me-up. You can give your face a quick spritz before applying makeup for an extra smoothing boost of hydration. And you can even use them throughout the day if your skin feels dehydrated or generally kinda ‘meh.’ Just grab your mist and lightly spray it all over your face – and no, it doesn’t matter if you’re wearing makeup – for an instant wake-up call.

    6. Speaking of pick-me-ups we always recommend cleansing your skin after working out at the gym. However, sometimes time just does not permit, right? On those occasions a good face mist can be a total lifesaver, calming redness, refreshing your skin and even offering mild cleansing benefits.

    All this is doable in seconds – and with no need for even one drop of water. As we said, lifesaver.

    7. Other than to help refresh your skin for instant gratification, face mists can offer a whole host of other, longer-lasting benefits. This depends on the ingredients, of course, but you can expect to experience anything from more radiant, glowing skin through to extra protection from the slings and arrows of the sun and everyday pollution.

    But again, this all depends on what’s inside your facial mist so make sure you read your labels and check out the ingredients to look out for the good stuff.

    8. Not sure which ingredients fit into the category of ‘good stuff’? Well, one of our absolute favorites, and a very popular choice in the face mist space, is rose water.

    Rose water dates back to ancient Egyptian times when it was used topically for its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-redness properties. Rose water is a natural cleanser and it simultaneously helps to promote healing while balancing, hydrating and strengthening the skin’s barrier function. What’s more, it can be used to control excess sebum and works hard to soothe the symptoms of acne, eczema and dermatitis.

    You see why it’s such a big deal? Rose water can literally do no wrong, so try our Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner which contains nothing but pure Moroccan rose water and can be spritzed on your skin day in, day out. Heaven.

    9. Other face mist favorites include the obvious hydrating humectants of the world: glycerin, aloe and hyaluronic acid. At least one, or a combination of these ingredients is an absolute must when you want to add much-needed moisture to flagging skin. Because, honestly, that’s when you’re going to use a face mist the most.

    We’re also massive fans of vitamin C which stimulates collagen and offers that little extra antioxidant protection from everyone’s favorite love-to-hate environmental bad boys, the sun and pollution. Our Ocean Minerals Super Toner, for example, contains just the right amount of sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a gentle and very stable derivative of pure vitamin C) alongside other favorites like exfoliating glycolic acid and strengthening MSM.

    10. Lastly, despite their name, face mists aren't just for your face but can be applied over your entire body to help cool, calm, refresh and hydrate your skin from head-to-toe. They’re great for keeping in your beach bag to help cool your body temperature while nourishing your skin at the same time. Just remember, face mists rarely offer an acceptable amount of protection from the sun’s powerful rays so always apply sunscreen over the top.

    And when we say always, we mean always.

    Skincare Routine
    How A Face Mist Is Guaranteed To Change Your Skin For The Better
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  • 5 Ways To Take Your Bedtime Skincare To The Next Level
    Are you looking to give your skin more than the basic (but vital) nighttime cleanse and moisturize? Goody, then you’ve come to the right place.

    Picture the scene: you’re getting ready to turn in for the night and going through your pre-bedtime motions. PJs are on, teeth are cleaned, hair is brushed (just us then?) and your face and neck have been cleansed and moisturized. All good stuff. But is a basic cleanse and moisturize really enough to encourage great skin? Or can you do more?

    Nighttime is actually a super important time for your skin because while the rest of your body is at rest your skin gets crazy busy trying to heal itself from the pressures of daily life. Day after day things like pollution, stress, a less-than-ideal diet and UV radiation produce damaging free radicals in your skin which, if left to their own devices, attack collagen and elastin and ruin your skin’s youthful mojo. Of course, topical antioxidants like vitamin C plus that all-important sunscreen are great ways to ward off free radicals but still, some of them are going to get through, and your skin needs time to recuperate.

    The good news is that all of this rejuvenation and reparation happens overnight when you’re sleeping. When your body rests, blood flow to your skin increases, collagen production accelerates, your natural antioxidant system kicks in and your skin’s barrier function restores itself ready to fight another day. If you miss out on your valuable sleep, therefore, your skin is starved of enough time to get all of this important work done. And your skin will suffer because of it. Studies show that people who get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night generally have way healthier skin than those who sleep for five hours or less.

    There is no one perfect nighttime skincare routine that suits all, but you can definitely do more for your skin than wash your face and slap moisturizer on before you hit the sack. Don’t get us wrong, cleansing and moisturizing morning and night is great – and extremely important – but why stop there when just a couple of extra minutes could result in so much more for your skin?

    Read on for five ways to up the ante in your nighttime skincare routine… and enjoy way better skin as a result.

    1. Give Double Cleansing A Go

    Let’s get one thing straight: double cleansing isn’t always necessary and can actually be too stimulating if you use harsh, overly drying products. However, if you choose your products wisely and like to wear a good amount of makeup during the day or are prone to particularly oily skin that feels pretty grimy by the evening, double cleansing can be a very effective way to give your skin the clean slate it deserves before bed.

    What is double cleansing? Well, it simply means cleansing your skin twice. First, you use an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, then you followed this with a water-based formulation to wash away other surface debris and help target your skin type or concerns.

    Being gentle is always the preferred way to cleanse and it’s even more important when you’re doing the job twice. So avoid harsh ingredients like sulfates and parabens because these can really over-do it, leading to excessive dryness, irritation and even breakouts. All of our cleansers are free of such nasties, so don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

    Also, don’t forget your neck. It’s just as important as the rest of your face and often goes unloved. That’s a mistake you don’t want to make.

    2. Try An Exfoliating Treatment

    Most people exfoliate in the morning in a bid to freshen up and brighten their skin ready for the day. And this is great. However, exfoliating in the evening is also a fabulous way to help lift away any impurities from your skin to allow the rest of your nighttime skincare routine to penetrate your skin more effectively. It’ll also kick-start the regeneration process which happens overnight, encouraging cell turnover and boosting collagen production. Nice touch.

    After cleansing, try our new 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which is totally non-abrasive and specifically formulated with sensitive skin types in mind. It combines three of the best exfoliating acids for brightening skin tone, unclogging your pores and creating a more even, smoother texture. What’s not to love?

    Apply it two or three times a week, but remember not to use it on evenings when you’re applying a retinol product – that combo can be way too stimulating for your delicate skin!

    3. Target Your Biggest Skin Concerns

    OK, now it's over to you to think about what your skin really needs. And this is where targeted facial serums come into their own. Do you want to nix pesky breakouts? There’s a serum for that. Maybe you have some pigmentation you’d like to get to grips with? Yeah, there’s a serum for that, too. Basically, whatever your needs, a facial serum has you covered.

    Serums are an incredible way to incorporate potent, active ingredients into your skincare routine because they’re thinner and more lightweight than regular moisturizers. This means they’re able to deliver ingredients way more effectively, targeting your specific issues by getting underneath the surface where all the good stuff happens.

    We have plant-powered, science-backed serums to cater for all tastes, skin types and concerns. From our awesome Peptide Facial Serum which is perfect for hydrating the skin and targeting premature aging through to our Tea Tree Super Serum+ for brightening and clearing out your pores, rest assured, we’re here for you.

    4. Show Your Eyes Some Love

    The skin around your eyes is thinner and far more fragile than the rest of your face. It also contains fewer sebaceous glands so it can feel and look pretty dry without due care. This is why eye creams are such a great choice for helping to nourish and hydrate the skin while warding off fine lines in this delicate area. And applying one at night is very wise.

    Tapping eye cream around your eyes before bed gives your skin something to help kickstart the regeneration and rejuvenation process. Big thumbs up for that. Not only that, but if you apply it in the morning, it can interfere with your under eye concealer and makeup, whereas there’s no chance of that at bedtime.

    Sure, you’re welcome to apply an eye cream both morning and night – as long as you give it a good few minutes in the morning to sink in before applying makeup – but if you prefer one or the other, nighttime is your best bet.

    Try our new Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream to target aging and help reduce dark circles and pesky under eye baggage.

    5. Moisturize Your Lips & Hands

    Taking care of the skin on your face and neck is obviously vital before bed. But it doesn’t stop there. In fact, nighttime is an incredible time to give your hands, lips and even your feet a little extra attention. They’re going to be still (for the most part) as you sleep, plus they're totally surplus to requirement for at least the next seven hours, so what better time to lavish them with moisture?

    Apply a rich, buttery cream or lotion to cleansed hands and feet just before you jump into bed, and smear your favorite lip balm over your lips. Make sure to apply it just over the edges of your lips as this area can often feel the driest.

    And we're done here.

    Skincare Routine
    5 Ways To Take Your Bedtime Skincare To The Next Level
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  • What Happens To Your Skin When You’re Asleep?
    It's easy to forget about your skin before bed – after all, you’re just going to sleep, right? Nothing to see here!
    Wrong. So very wrong.

    We like to think that taking good care your skin as part of your morning routine is a done deal. Cleansing, moisturizing, using a treatment serum, applying a dab of eye cream here and a good slathering of sunscreen there? All standard practice. But when it comes to sticking to a regular nighttime skincare routine, things often go a little awry.

    Of course, we’ve all encountered the odd occasion when we’ve been too tired/lazy/tipsy to fully cleanse, tone and moisturize before bed. And that's just about OK when it doesn’t happen too often. But neglecting a nighttime skincare routine on the reg can have serious repercussions on the health of your skin.

    Read on to find out exactly what goes on with your skin while you’re sleeping

    1. Cell Regeneration Hits Its Busiest Time

    Day and night, your skin is constantly turning over as part of a natural shedding process called desquamation. During this process, skin cells are created at the base of your epidermis where they mature, get pushed up to the surface and finally slough away. This system allows your skin to remain strong and healthy, and works pretty efficiently.

    Until it doesn’t.

    Many things upset the rate at which your skin turns over. For one thing, it naturally slows down as you age (surprise, surprise) and there’s nothing you can do about that. However, there are SO many other things you can control to help cell regeneration go about its business in the most efficient way possible.

    Sleep is one of the biggest factors. During this important time of rest skin turnover speeds up – potentially working up to three times faster than during the day. This is, in part due to a hormone called the human growth hormone (HGH) which is stimulated by sleep. As its name cunningly reveals, HGH stimulates growth in both the tissues and organs in your body. And when it comes to your skin, it helps accelerate cell regeneration, thus promoting repair and increasing turnover.

    How To Aid Cell Regeneration

    The obvious way to boost cell turnover? Get more quality sleep! On top of that, give it an extra helping hand by applying a gentle exfoliating formulation to clean skin before you hit the sack. Try AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant.

    2. Collagen Production Accelerates

    Various studies show that if you consistently skimp on beauty sleep, your collagen will suffer as a result. This is because your skin is constantly producing fresh collagen (although this process seriously slows down as you age), but it really amps up when you’re in the land of nods.

    When you don’t get enough sleep, however, the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol kicks in, which puts unwanted stress on your skin, playing havoc with collagen production and wrecking its ability to heal and regenerate. This often results in weaker, thinner, less springy skin that highlights fine lines, accelerates the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin, and starts to look generally a bit ‘meh.’

    Too much cortisol in your system can also cause flare-ups in chronic skin conditions like rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. So there’s that.

    How To Enhance Collagen Production

    You’ll soon get bored of this… but go to bed earlier! Also, apply an overnight treatment that contains retinol. Retinol has been proven time and again to accelerate collagen synthesis and help you achieve the heady heights of stronger, healthier skin. We love Retinol Facial Serum or you could switch it up with Rejuvenating Longevity Serum which contains bakuchiol – nature’s gentle alternative to retinol.

    3. Water Loss Becomes A Thing

    Skin becomes warmer and more permeable when you’re asleep as blood flow increases to the surface. This is great news for your skincare routine because it allows your products to go about their business super efficiently and way more effectively.

    But it’s not so good for your skin’s hydration levels. A more permeable barrier function, you see, loses water at a quicker rate than normal, leaving it feeling dryer and more dehydrated than you’d like.

    How To Reduce Overnight Water Loss

    Do NOT stay awake longer, thinking this will keep your skin hydrated. Big mistake. Instead, treat your skin to plenty of moisture before bedtime. Cleanse gently to remove debris, then apply a hydrating serum followed by a nourishing moisturizer. We’re currently all over Smoothing Collagen Serum and Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

    4. Your Body’s Defense System Kicks In

    Free radicals are constantly trying to attack your skin’s valuable proteins throughout the day thanks to things like pollution, UV radiation, smoking and stress. So, what happens to all these free radicals at night, when you’re asleep? Well, let’s talk about melatonin for a minute.

    Not just a sleeping aid you might take before a long-haul flight, melatonin is a hormone produced by your body on a daily (well, evening!) basis. Your body makes melatonin when it’s dark to make you feel sleepy and ready to turn in for the night. It's also vital in helping to counteract environmental skin damage. It’s kind of like your body’s own natural antioxidant system, boosting repair, nixing all those pesky free rads and rebooting your skin ready for the next day of inevitable pollution and the like…  

    How To Boost Free Radical Protection  

    Two words: topical antioxidants. Our favorite antioxidant is vitamin C which is one of the hardest-working and clinically proven antioxidants in skincare. It figures, therefore that a vitamin C boost before bedtime is just what the beauty doctor ordered. Try Vitamin C Super Serum + which also contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and collagen-boosting retinol.

    Skincare Routine
    What Happens To Your Skin When You’re Asleep?
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  • Why Dull Weather Shouldn’t Mean Dull Skin
    Summer may be history (for now), but dull weather doesn’t mean your skin has to look equally as cruddy.

    It’s only November and we’re already missing those long, sunny days when our skin automatically glowed with health. Dang. But here’s the thing: just because the weather has become duller, colder and a little gray around the edges, your skin can still be as radiant as a balmy, July day. You just need to know how to boost your circulation, encourage healthy skin turnover and maintain clean, clear, hydrated skin.

    Sounds too much like hard work? On the contrary. Below, ten quick and easy tips for glowing skin ­– all year long.

    1. Exfoliate, Baby!

    Exfoliation is definitely ‘the one’ when it comes to quick fixes for brighter, happier-looking skin. And the reasons are simple. Exfoliating your skin – whether you use a scrub, mitt, cleansing brush or chemical treatment – encourages your cells to turn over more efficiently, ridding the surface of dulling dead skin cells and allowing all of the fresh stuff to take their place.

    Over-exfoliating can have the opposite effect, however, breaking down your skin’s important barrier function and causing your skin to become angry, red, irritated, dry, pimply or any number of other things that aren’t top of your skin’s wish list. The key, therefore, is to go gently – we recommend using a kind-to-skin chemical treatment like our new AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant – and start out just once or twice a week until your skin acclimates. Sure, you can slowly build up to daily use but listen to your skin and don’t push it. Less is best.

    2. Embrace The Upside Down

    Want to immediately get blood flowing to your skin with absolutely zero effort? Simple: hang your head upside down for a couple of minutes each day. This immediately rushes circulation to your face and neck, flooding your skin with radiance-boosting oxygen and nutrients. And don’t worry if you can no longer contort your body into a headstand. Just lie back on your bed, face up, and tip your head back over the edge. Everyone can do that. Stick with two or three minutes, max, however. Any longer might make you feel funny. And yes, ‘funny’ is the scientific word for it!

    3. Go Big On Hydration

    Dehydrated skin is a major cause of dullness because thirsty skin is unable to reflect light as well as soft, hydrated skin.

    So word of warning: never let your skin get too parched, people. Drink plenty of water and layer a hydrating serum under your moisturizer to ensure you draw lots of moisture to your skin’s uppermost layers. We’re all over the epic combo of Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum, followed by Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer.

    More on the mighty vitamin C in a sec…

    4. Try A Quick-Fix, DIY Face Mask

    Blending your own, DIY face mask may remind you way too much of your teenage years, but get the right formula and you’ll be on to a real winner. We’re big fans of mixing together plain yogurt, avocado and a teaspoon of honey and slathering this all over our face and neck for around 10 minutes. Yogurt is great for soothing inflammation and gently exfoliating the skin while honey and avocado add that vital hydration and moisturization. 

    Needless to say, remember to rinse thoroughly. Well, dur.

    5. Moisturize Before Bed

    Of course you’re not going to skip moisturizer in the morning (ARE YOU NOW!?) but before bed, certain skincare practices often go out of the window. Because tiredness, laziness, a few too many wines… things get in the way.

    However, if you really want your skin to be happy, healthy and glowing, neglecting your night time routine is a big mistake. And no, swooshing a cleansing wipe over your skin does not count.

    Every night – without fail – cleanse your face and neck, apply your favorite serum and never forget to moisturize with a gentle but high-powered night cream. Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is awesome for refueling your skin as you sleep – literally wrapping your skin in nutrients, antioxidants and rich botanical extracts. It’s a must if you want to wake up with radiant skin before you even look in the mirror.

    6. Eat Your Way To Radiant Skin

    Antioxidants are a super important part of your diet, whatever your health and skincare goals. But for a brighter, more radiant complexion, they are everything. Of course, we’re never going to deprive you of your favorite treats every now and again, but as a rule, try to include more nuts, seeds and colorful fresh fruit and veggies in your diet. Specifically, reach for things like strawberries, broccoli, grapes, walnuts and almonds.

    7. Get Up Close & Personal With Vitamin C

    Vitamin C is non-negotiable in the search for glowy skin. It just is. With decades of research under its belt, it’s been proven time and again for protecting your skin from the nasty effects of environmental free radical damage. And if you weren’t aware of just how damaging free radicals can be, know this. They’re seriously bad news for your collagen, breaking it down and killing your skin’s plump, radiant mojo.

    But that’s not all, vitamin C also helps inhibit melanin production to help keep dark spots and patchy skin in check. Honestly, it’s a skin brightening shoo-in.

    If you’re worried about the potential irritating effects of vitamin C on your sensitive skin, you're right to. But it's not out of the question for any skin type, as long as you look out for gentler derivatives like sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP). We only ever use SAP in our vitamin C products because it’s effective, for one, and way less irritating, for another. What’s not to love?

    8. Kickstart Circulation With Gua Sha

    Massaging your skin with your hands and fingers is a great way to give circulation a kick up the booty. But if you fancy going the extra mile, try a little facial gua sha.

    Fast becoming a given in many a proficient skincare routine, gua sha is an East Asian massage technique that involves working a flat, rounded gua sha tool over the skin to relax your facial muscles, encourage microcirculation and help reduce puffiness while boosting radiance and firming the skin. You simply hold the tool (usually made from jade or rose quartz) flat against your skin and then stroke the curved side in one direction over your face and neck. We like to apply a facial oil first to help it glide over your skin more smoothly. You could also do it while your skin is wet, after cleansing.

    9. Don’t Skip Toner

    Many people can give or take toner but if you’re looking to really amp up your glow, a great toning product can prove an awesome tool to have in your skincare arsenal. Of course, it’s all about choosing the right one but go for deeply hydrating formulations or anything with gentle, skin-nourishing ingredients and you’ll find your skin instantly looks perkier. Added bonus is that toners can help the rest of your regime penetrate your skin more effectively.

    10. Fake It, Till You Make It

    Of course, makeup can be a true friend when your skin is not playing fair. Illuminating lotions or ‘glotions’ that combine moisturizing benefits with subtle color and highlighting shimmer are great for faking lit-from-within skin. But they can be little too shimmery for some – especially if you have oily skin. A great trick? Mix a drop with your regular foundation or moisturizer to dilute the shimmer.

    You could also try dusting a mineral highlighting powder over the high plains of your face to draw attention and reflect light. Just don’t go too ‘bronze’ with the shade as warm, dark tones can age you up lightning fast.
     
     

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  • PSA: Here’s How To Look After Your Skin During Movember
    Committed to growing out your facial hair for Movember? Then a) good on you. And b) this is the perfect time to get on top of your skincare and grooming routine.

    Movember (and it’s cousin, No-Shave November) are here and if you’re keen to raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues such as colon cancer, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, mental health and suicide prevention, chances are you’re ditching your razor and forgoing your usual shaving routine for a little extra facial hair right now.

    Growing a beard, moustache or goatee from scratch, however, comes with its challenges. For starters, growing and maintaining facial hair can be a bit of a chore – especially if you’re used to a more clean shaven look. And then there are the issues your skin must contend with: beard itch, blocked pores, breakouts, the struggles are all too real.

    If you’re on board with Movember or No-Shave November and want to, not only do your bit, but make sure your skin doesn’t feel the hit for the next 30 days, here are four important grooming tips to help you maintain healthier skin.

    1. Keep Your Skin Clean

    When it comes to cleansing your skin, this is not the time to be slap-dash. Sure, you can just about get away with a speedy ‘splash of water and done’ philosophy when you’re tired or feeling lazy, but it won’t do your skin any favors. And when you’re growing out your facial hair? Frankly, it’s asking for trouble.

    Skin secretes sebum all day and, to a lesser extent, throughout the night, helping to keep it healthy and moisturized. All good stuff. However, if your skin is not cleansed regularly, this sebum builds on the surface of your skin, combining with dirt, sweat, pollution and dead skin cells. Leave all this debris to continue building up and it will eventually block up your pores like there’s no tomorrow. Best case scenario? You might end up with slightly irritated skin and a few blackheads. Worse case? Serious acne.

    Breakouts around and under facial hair are very common because, even if you think you’re pretty strict with your cleansing routine, the skin under your beard or moustache often gets looked over. Don’t let that happen, people! Cleanse your face, chin and neck thoroughly, morning and night, using balancing products that help to control sebum and detoxify your skin, without sucking all the life out of it.

    Our recommendations? Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser or Tea Tree Super Cleanser+. Both of these work hard to deeply cleanse the skin and decongest your pores. Just remember to soften the skin and hairs first with a little warm (but not too hot!) water, then work the cleanser over your skin in circular motions, use a little extra manpower over any hairy, harder-to-reach areas.

    2. Exfoliate While You’re At It

    Facial scrubs can be a bit of a pain when dealing with facial hair as all those pesky ‘bits’ can get stuck in your hairs. But exfoliation is still as important (maybe even more so) when you’re growing a beard or ‘stache as it helps to regulate cell turnover and get rid of unwanted dead skin cells. This will reduce your chances of irritation and help to keep your pores clear from unwanted blockages.

    The good news is we have just the product to keep your skin turning over nicely during this tricky time: AHA/BHA/PHA Liquid Exfoliant. Perfect for all skin types, but particularly awesome for oilier complexions, this non-abrasive, leave-on exfoliant contains three of the best ingredients for breaking down dead skin cells and getting rid of excess sebum: glycolic acid, salicylic acid and gluconolactone. Apply it all over your skin – beard and ‘stache included – after cleansing and before moisturizing, using your fingers or a cotton pad.

    3. Keep Your Hands Off

    Scratching your beard or touching your facial hair may feel good at the time, but this will transfer even more dirt, sweat and oils from your hands to your face. No matter how often you wash your hands. This might seem innocent enough, but overloading your skin with excess debris will just add to the likelihood of your skin breaking out. It could also aggravate your skin and exacerbate irritation. Nobody wants that.

    4. Moisturize Twice Daily

    Just as important as keeping your face and neck clean during Movember and No-Shave November is to keep your skin moisturized. Dry, dehydrated skin, coupled with new facial hair can be a killer combination for itchy, irritated skin. And with it also being winter – when the air lacks humidity and is naturally very drying on your skin – your face and neck are going to need that hydration more than ever.

    Rich, heavy moisturizers can get ‘stuck’ in facial hair (especially if your beard and ‘stache are dense or thick). This means they’re unable to fully penetrate down to the surface of your skin. Instead of butters or thick creams, therefore, we recommend sticking with lighter lotions or gel formulations whose smaller molecules are able to work between those hairs much more effectively. Our new Firming Collagen Day Lotion is a great choice, or you could try a classic favorite, Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer. Both will keep your skin (and your hairs!) in great condition.

    For even deeper hydration, you could even layer your moisturizer on top of a nourishing facial serum. Try Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum, one of our newest all-singing, all-dancing treatments that’s perfect for delivering everything your skin needs to remain strong and healthy. Apply just a couple of drops after cleansing and exfoliating, and before moisturizing, morning and night.

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