True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Choosing the right skincare is extremely important. Especially when it comes to moisturizing.

Reckon you’re doing everything you can to help your skin stay healthy and strong… yet it still seems unhappy? It could be something as simple as using the wrong moisturizer. Because while it’s common to concentrate on the potent retinol, glycolic acid or vitamin C treatments in your routine, moisturizers are often given little thought. They’re all the same, right? Wrong. In fact, slapping ‘any old cream’ on your face can do more harm than good.

The good news is if your moisturizer is all kinds of wrong, your skin will not be shy in coming forward. You just need to look out for the red flags. 

Why Your Choice Of Moisturizer Matters

Moisturizing keeps dryness and flaky patches away and, of course, that’s super important – whatever your skin type. However, your moisturizer’s true role is to strengthen your skin’s barrier function so it’s able to naturally protect itself by holding in moisture while repelling environmental nasties that might, otherwise, cause irritation.

Of course, back in the day, the best moisturizer was thought to be petroleum jelly. And fair’s fair, things like Vaseline are pretty unbeatable when it comes to sealing moisture into the skin – just ask all those slugging fans on TikTok! But creating a seal on the surface of your skin is about all they offer. Nowadays, moisturizers are so much more than that, furnishing your skin with all kinds of goodness like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, natural botanicals and antioxidants. Combined with emollients and occlusives like shea butter and jojoba oil, these ingredients not only to help reduce water loss but they bring extra moisture, nutrients and environmental protection to the table. 

So, how to find the right moisturizer for you? Well, we believe that first and foremost you must look for the gentlest formula for your skin type; one that avoids common irritants like synthetic fragrance or parabens. Then it’s about listening to your skin and switching things up when your moisturizer isn’t quite hitting the mark.

Finally, remember that your skin changes all the time, so what worked for you in the summer might not be enough come the cold, dry winter months. Similarly, an age-old favorite you’ve been using since 2005 is not going to deliver the same moisturization your skin needs 20 years later. And your skin will give you fair warning with some not-so-subtle hints.

5 Signs Your Skin Is Begging For A Moisturizer Update

1. Your Skin Feels Crazy Dry – Even After Applying Moisturizer

If you experience tightness, peeling skin, flaky patches or tiny cracks in your makeup these are all tell-tale signs that your moisturizer is not offering the amount of water and oil-boosting TLC your skin is crying out for. 

Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin is short on water so make sure your moisturizer contains ingredients that work hard to replenish both. Avoid strong actives such as retinol and exfoliating acids, and stick with humectants like hyaluronic acid which draw water to the surface of your skin. These should ideally be combined with ingredients that balance sebum and help repair tiny cracks in the skin in order to keep TEWL (transepidermal water loss) to a minimum.

Our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer and Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream are particularly great as they offer all-day AND all-night moisture replenishment while bringing harmony to dry, unbalanced skin. 

2. Oiliness Is Taking Over Your Face

If you have oily skin that’s way greasier than normal, or normal (ish!) skin that’s feeling kind of slick, your moisturizer could definitely be to blame. But don’t give up on it altogether. Do this and your skin will keep on producing more and more sebum to counteract the lack of moisturizer you’re offering. Bad move.

The key to successfully moisturizing oily skin is to keep your products light – gels and lightweight lotions are always winners. Avoid heavy ingredients like cocoa butter and coconut oil because these will trap oil at a surface level, making your skin feel sticky and greasy. Not to mention the havoc it can potentially create in your pores. One word: breakouts.

Again, go big on humectants and choose products containing jojoba oil which helps seal in moisture without blocking your pores. It’s also wise to layer up with a lightweight hydrating serum like Smoothing Collagen Serum if your skin needs a little extra love. 

3. Your Skin Is Red & Itchy

Facial redness can be down to all manner of issues, from chronic skin conditions like rosacea and psoriasis, to more temporary concerns like breakouts and irritation. 

If you feel like your red skin is thanks to the latter, you’re going to want to reduce the number of active ingredients in your skincare routine. Stop exfoliating for a while and lay off the retinol to see if that helps. You should also check the ingredients in your moisturizer because chances are there’s something in there of which your skin is not a fan. The most common irritants in moisturizers are fragrance, preservatives (notably parabens), benzyl alcohols and propylene glycol so avoid these if you can. Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream is a good choice because it contains a gentle, retinol alternative called bakuchiol and is specifically formulated for sensitive skin.

4. You’re Breaking Out More Than Normal

Instincts tell us not to moisturize the skin when it’s oily and breaking out, but this is a mistake. As previously mentioned, oily skin still needs moisture replenishment in order to remain balanced and healthy.

Of course, you must avoid rich, heavy balms, butters and creams as these can worsen acne by clogging up your pores. But look for water-based formulas that are oil-free or contain only the ‘right’ kind of oils – aka those that are noncomedogenic (less likely to block your pores) – and you’ll be on a much better path to balanced, harmonized skin. Noncomedogenic oils include jojoba, sunflower, grapeseed and rosehip seed. Niacinamide, retinol and salicylic acid are also awesome for balancing sebum and accelerating sluggish cell turnover. Try Retinol Moisturizer.

5. Sun Damage Is So Very Real

If dark spots are becoming more and more noticeable (heck, even if they’re not!), you should seriously think about upgrading your moisturizer to one that contains broad-spectrum SPF and, even better, protective antioxidants. There are some fantastic formulas out there that not only shield your skin from UV radiation but add moisturization, boost collagen production or help to brighten dull skin. And they’re a far cry from the thick, hard-to-apply formulas you may remember from years gone by.

Our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen, for example, is beautifully wearable and goes on like a dream. It can also be applied alone or over your favorite day cream depending on the level of moisture your skin needs.

(PS: Big sun protection news is coming from us real soon. One word: serum. We literally can’t wait.)

A well-designed skincare routine can transform the look and feel of your skin. And it really doesn’t have to be as complicated as you think.

Dealing with countless shelves of products, complex ingredients lists and advice from practically everyone you know makes navigating the world of skincare can feel like a daunting task. Especially if you’ve never previously given it much thought.

So, first things first, well done for being here and realizing that a consistent skincare routine is a great way to not only look after your precious complexion, but to also feel good about yourself. Secondly, know this: skincare does not have to be hard. Or overwhelming. Because although you could literally smother your skin with lotions, potions, oils and tinctures morning and night, you really don’t have to. In fact, it’s often better to stick with a handful of key, effective products that harness tried and trusted ingredients… and get the job done – without all the fuss and nonsense you’re led to believe you need.

Whether you’re unsure where to start or have suddenly found yourself drowning in an overly curated 15-step routine, here’s how to build a basic, effective skincare routine.

Why Skincare Matters

Your skin is your largest organ and, while it doesn’t pump blood around your body or enable you to breathe, it’s not just there to annoy you with all of its wrinkles and pimples. In fact, it’s extremely important for the health of your entire body. You see, skin regulates body temperature and hydration. It also allows you to perceive touch and detect pain. Not to mention it’s key role in protecting you from environmental stressors, infections, pollutants and harmful bacteria.

Just like the rest of your body, your skin needs help in order to remain healthy and functional – especially as it ages and its strength and stability becomes compromised. And that’s where skincare comes to the rescue. More specifically a well-designed skincare routine that helps to boost your skin’s protective barrier while maintaining optimum hydration and heck, even slowing down the visible signs of premature aging.

How To Figure Out Your Skin Type

Everyone has different skin – as well as varying goals and budgets – so before you start buying every skincare product you’ve ever heard of, it’s essential to know what you’re working with.

Your skin type fits into one of four categories: normal (ha, if only!), dry, oily and combination. Anything else (sensitive, acne-prone, mature skin etc.) is a skin condition, not a type. Of course, the condition of your skin is important too, but your skin type is the first place to start because this will determine the products that’ll suit you best. 

If you’re not sure of your skin type, wash your face and neck with a mild cleanser, then gently pat it dry with a clean towel. Don't apply moisturizer or, in fact, anything at all, just leave it alone for an hour or so. Then, go to a mirror and study your skin, using clean hands to touch and feel your skin as you scrutinize it.

OK, now what's your skin doing? If it feels tight and/or itchy and looks flaky in places, that means you have dry skin. If it's shiny and feels greasy – especially around the t-zone – then you have oily skin. Maybe it's a bit of both? If so, you have combination skin. And finally, if it's just peachy in each and every way then you're one of the lucky few with normal skin.

Once you know your skin type, it's way easier to build a routine that's in line with what your skin needs.

The 4 Essential Skincare Steps

No matter your skin type, everyone’s skin requires four core products for it to be as healthy and radiant as possible. Then, once you’ve got these nailed, you can expand your repertoire as you see fit. Just remember, less is generally more. Sure it’s smart to add toner, eye treatment and you can even alternate between two serums, but don’t overload your skin. It can have disastrous results. 

1. Cleanse

Cleansing is one of the most important parts of your routine as it removes potentially pore-clogging impurities like excess sebum, dead skin cells, sweat, sunscreen, pollution, makeup and, well, you get the picture. Cleansing also gives your skin a fresh start, creating a clean canvas for the rest of your routine to function better. If you miss out on this important step all that grime will build up, causing blocked pores and potential breakouts and irritation. It’ll also create a barrier of debris that other products like serum and moisturizer will find almost impossible to penetrate. Not cool.

Our favorite cleansers are those that are void of skin-stripping alcohols and sulfates like SLS. These can be too harsh for all skin types, making dry skin drier and oily skin oilier. Instead, choose pH-balanced cleansers that remove the nasties without stripping away all the good stuff. We have four fabulous cleansers to choose from, all of which are kind to the skin but get the job done.

Final word on cleansing: always cleanse your skin with lukewarm, not too hot nor too cold, water and use gentle circular motions as you massage your cleanser all over your face and neck.

2. Treat 

Whether you choose to tone, apply liquid exfoliant or smooth on a serum next is totally up to you. In fact, you might even want to do a couple of the above if you’re really serious about tackling certain conditions or areas of your skin. Just remember not to overdo it with countless products between cleansing and moisturizing. Listen to your skin and find your sweet spot – we recommend two products at most.

The best way to truly target specific concerns is with a facial serum. Serums are light, fast-absorbing treatments that are usually clear and either gel- or liquid-based. Applied after cleansing and toning but before moisturizing, serums are made up of much smaller molecules than regular lotions or creams. This means they’re able to penetrate your skin faster and deeper than other, thicker products, helping to hydrate, protect, reduce breakouts, minimize the signs of aging and all sorts.

Check out our vast range of incredible serums right here and definitely give our new Caffeine Facial Serum a look. It’s a great one for all skin types, containing a fantastic blend of ingredients to rev up tired skin.

3. Moisturize

Moisturizing your skin is non-negotiable, whatever your skin type. If you have oily skin you might be fooled into thinking you don’t need it, but how wrong you would be. You see, without moisturizer, oily skin produces even more oil to compensate creating a whole vicious circle of oiliness. 

Look out for fragrance-free formulations, especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin and make sure your moisturizer includes some classic humectant powerhouses like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or aloe – these draw water to the surface of the skin – as well as emollients or occlusives. Emollients like jojoba oil and shea butter are awesome for smoothing the surface of your skin and helping to seal in moisture, while occlusives like cocoa butter and lanolin create a thin barrier over the skin, again to seal in water. Occlusives are great if you have dry skin but if you’re prone to breakouts, you’d be wise to give them a miss and stick with emollients. Occlusives are notorious for blocking up your pores. 

Beyond this, keep your eyes peeled for brightening vitamin C, ceramides for strengthening your barrier function and retinol or bakuchiol for targeting aging. Oh, and btw, our range of awesome moisturizers cover all these… and more. 

4. Protect

Last, but not least, is sunscreen – the single, most important product you can use to seriously halt premature aging. Repeated exposure to UV radiation totally screws up your skin by degrading collagen and elastin and accelerating the onslaught of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging and dark spots. In fact, UV is responsible for somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of all external skin aging. Ouch.

Experts agree that for full daily protection you should stick with products that have an SPF of 30 or above and, equally, always choose a formula that uses the phrase ‘broad-spectrum’ on the label. This means it protects from both UVA and UVB. Important stuff, right there.

If you can’t be bothered to moisturize and apply sunscreen in the morning, no problem, our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C does the job of both. If you have dry skin, you might need a moisturizer underneath, but give it a go, it’s darn good! And remember, sunscreen should always be the last product you apply in your morning routine.

Finally, Don’t Forget These Important Skincare Dos & Don'ts

* Do exfoliate once or twice a week. This will keep your skin ticking over nicely, removing dead skin cells and brightening at a surface level.

* Do listen to your skin. It might not like retinol, for example or maybe it can’t cope with it every night. Tweak your routine as needed, you’ll get there in the end.

* Don’t over-complicate your routine. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, less is more.

* Do be patient. Products that work on a deep, cellular level (eg. serums) take time, so give them a month at least, preferably more.

* Don’t try a bunch of new products all at once. Gradually introduce them one at a time.

* Do patch test products first. Not sure how? No problem, we can help with that right here.

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.