True Radical Honesty From Our Community

There are tons of ways to make your moisturizing routine work harder for your skin. And if it’s doing a better job, your skin will look way healthier because of it. 

When it comes to your daily skincare routine, applying cleanser, toner and moisturizer is kind of second nature. But if you’ve become somewhat slap dash with the way in which you use your favorite products – ‘squeeze bottle, shove on skin, done’ –  you’re doing your skin a serious disservice.

Moisturizer, in particular, deserves a little (don’t worry, it’s just a little) care and attention. From the product you use to how and when you apply it, a few tweaks here and there can make the world of difference.

Read on for seven ways to make your moisturizer go that extra mile. With very little effort on your behalf!

Invest In The Right Formulation For Your Skin

Understanding your skin type and knowing how to enhance, balance and complement it is super important when choosing moisturizer. So, first make sure you know your skin type as well as what your skin’s doing right now. Then you can invest accordingly with lighter formulations if your skin is oily, for example, or something richer if it’s feeling dry and parched.

The golden rule for superior moisturizing is to ensure your formulation includes a blend of multi-functioning ingredients that not only draw water into your skin (humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe) but also seal all that moisture in. These include emollients like jojoba oil or shea butter which are lighter and ideal for combination or oily skin; or occlusives which are richer, heavier and include the likes of cocoa butter, olive oil and petroleum jelly.

Apply Moisturizer To Damp Skin

Being a speed demon with your moisturizer? Priceless. Don’t get us wrong, however, by this we don’t mean slapping it on in sixty seconds flat. Instead, this is all about applying it quick smart after the previous step in your routine.

Your skin basically needs water to remain soft, radiant and healthy, so one of the most important things you can do is to use whatever moisture you can get. This means that if you’re a simple cleanser and moisturizer person, you should always apply your moisturizer after cleansing while your skin is still damp. And if you like to tone? Ditto, get your moisturizer on your skin pronto while your toner is still damp on the surface of your skin.

Moisturize AFTER Applying Serum

Serum is an important step for anyone hoping to target skin concerns like dehydration, aging, dark spots or dull skin, but it MUST be applied before your moisturizer, never afterwards.

If you’re into your serums then a) good on you, we love you for that, and b) ensure you apply yours to damp skin after cleansing and toning, but before moisturizing. Serums have a smaller molecular size than moisturizer which means they sink in super fast and don’t require you to wait before applying moisturizer. However, this does mean they have to be applied before moisturizer, otherwise they simply won’t work.

Use The Correct Amount Of Moisturizer

Often wondered how much moisturizer to use? Well, it’s actually quite simple – read the instructions on the packaging! Sure, it’s easy to fall into the trap of applying tons of moisturizer to dry skin, or applying the smallest amount to oily skin, but this shouldn’t be necessary if you’re buying the right product for your skin type.

Most moisturizers will tell you how much is a good amount to use and it’s usually around the size of a dime. Of course, some people have smaller or larger faces than others, so obviously a little leeway is fine, but roughly stick to the directed amount and you won’t waste unnecessary product where it’s not needed.

Massage As You Moisturize

OK, so you don’t need to be the best masseuse in the world in order to reap rewards from your moisturizing routine. But a little hands-on action is an incredible way to improve blood flow to the skin which brings oxygen and nutrients to the surface while helping to flush away nasty toxins.

And all it takes is an extra minute or so. You can manage that, right?

Simply use the pads of your fingers and palms of your hands to work the moisturizer into your skin using circular, upwards movements. Avoid tugging and pulling at your skin (that is a definite no-go area), however. The key is to be fairly firm, but gentle at the same time. We know that sounds bit like a contradiction in terms but hopefully you get where we’re coming from?

Moisturize Morning & Night No Matter What

Moisturizing needs to be done twice daily, after every time you cleanse your skin. This is important because it helps replace natural oils and water that get lost during the cleansing process, ensuring your skin remains healthy and constantly moisturized day and night.

Fun fact: moisturizing before bed is arguably more important than applying it in the morning. How so? Because skin typically produces less sebum at night.

Finally, Don’t Ignore Your Neck

A common moisturizing habit is to treat your face like royalty but completely forget about your poor neck. Big mistake. The skin on your neck actually contains fewer sebaceous glands than your face which means it produces way less sebum to keep it naturally moisturized. When you combine this with the face that your neck is exposed to things like sun damage and pollution just as much as your face, it’s no wonder it becomes dry, dehydrated and ages up lightning fast.

The moral of the story? Treat the skin on your neck with the same amount of TLC as your face. This means cleansing and moisturizing twice a day and, of course, applying SPF every morning.

And that's the least you can do.

Sweatier skin and oilier pores are inevitable as climbing temperatures and higher humidity hits. So get ahead of the game with our tips for preparing your skin for summer…

Summer officially started on June 21. So it’s time to take a close look at your skin to ensure it’s ready for everything that gets thrown at it when warm, sunny weather arrives.

Hotter temperatures and higher levels of humidity have various effects on your skin – some good, some not so good. And when you couple new weather conditions and more time in the great outdoors with the realization that more of your body is about to be on show, it’s easy to let summer skin issues come up and bite you on the butt.

Let’s not that happen, shall we? Here’s what to do over the next few weeks to get your skin summer-ready.  

Invest In Some Chemical Exfoliation

Exfoliation is a tricky game. Do it too much and you chance irritation, redness and sensitivities taking over your skin. But avoid it altogether and you can end up with dull skin, clogged pores and worse yet, pesky breakouts. During the winter months it’s prudent to tone down how often you exfoliate your skin to avoid dryness and dehydration adding to your winter woes. However, as summer approaches, you can definitely up the ante – especially if you have normal, oily or combination skin.

We’re big believers in chemical, rather than physical exfoliation as a much more gentle approach to accelerating cell turnover and encouraging dead skin cells to hop it. Try our awesome Ocean Mineral Super Toner every day before moisturizing which contains glycolic acid to exfoliate as well as minerals and vitamins to nourish and protect your skin.

Go For Light, Hydrating Layers

Rich creams and heavy moisturizer might be your go-tos when it’s cold outside, but come summer you’d be wise to lighten up your moisturizing load. Now, this does NOT mean avoiding moisturizer altogether – that’s crazy talk – but you can definitely trade in the big guns for lighter textures that concentrate on drawing all that extra moisture from the air into your skin.

Great ingredients for hydrating your skin are hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe vera so try the powerhouse combo of Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum followed by Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which is loaded with aloe and glycerin.

Shorten Your Shower Time

Long, hot showers may feel incredible when it’s freezing outside, but they’re terrible for your skin, sucking out all the moisture and compromising your super important barrier function. Also, it should be much warmer outside now, so… really?

Turn the temperature of your water down to lukewarm to limit your skin’s chances of becoming inflamed or irritated, and give yourself five minutes max to shower. Studies show the average shower takes around eight minutes so by reducing this by three minutes will also save more than six gallons of water. Per day. Added bonus for our precious planet right there.

Up Your Cleansing Regimen

We always err towards the gentle side of cleansing, but scorching temps make your skin sweat more and this, coupled with sunscreen and what can often seem like a never ending supply of excess oils, needs to be dealt with – especially before bed.

Invest in a cleanser that means business, but don’t be fooled by oil-stripping formulations that are packed with drying alcohols, synthetic fragrance and harsh sulfates. They’re seriously bad news and will just make your skin even more oily in the long-term. Instead, try our Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser which is the cat’s whiskers at gently mopping away sebum to balance and detoxify your skin. We call it the perfect summer skin prep in one handy little tube.

Give Your Body Some TLC

For most of us, our legs, tums, arms and chests have been hidden away for the past nine months or so. But there’s a chance at least one of these body parts is about to see the warm light of day. So it’s probably time to up your bodycare routine, pronto.

Treat yourself to a body loofah, mitt or scrub and gently buff your skin while in your (five minute!) shower. Concentrate on your arms, elbows, legs and butt but go carefully over your chest area as the skin here is thin and very fragile.

Also, don’t forget to moisturize with a light lotion after showering – preferably while your skin is still damp. Unless you have super dry skin, we recommend avoiding rich butters or heavy oils as these can block your pores and cause breakouts.

Don’t Forget Your C-Vitamins

Pre-summer is literally the best time to introduce our good pal vitamin C into your skincare routine. Packed with antioxidant properties to nip those nasty free radicals in the bud, it’s one of our favorite ways to counteract the damaging effects of the sun. It also helps inhibit melanin production to reduce your risk of annoying summertime dark spots. Finally, research shows it can also help strengthen the power of your sunscreen, giving you a double dose of UV protection.

Try our G.O.A.T. Vitamin C Facial Serum which is a kind of must all year long. But especially now and through the summer months.

Keep Some Tea Tree Oil Up Your Sleeve

Summer pimples and blackheads are downright annoying, but for anyone with oily or hormonal skin, they’re also a given because sweat and oil just can’t help but build-up on the surface of your skin. Regular cleansing is a must, of course, but to really get ahead of face and body breakouts, arm yourself with some tea tree oil.

Our Tea Tree Super Serum+ is ideal to keep in your vanity as it contains not one zit-fighting ingredient, but two: tea tree oil AND salicylic acid. Dab it on cleansed, problem areas before bed or apply it all over two or three times a week after cleansing with Tea Tree Super Cleanser+.

Ensure SPF Is Second Nature

We know you apply facial sunscreen all year round – you do, DON’T YOU? – but if there’s ever a time to ensure you’re doing it, it’s now. UVA rays are present all year long, even on cloudy days, but UVB is much more prevalent in the summertime so this is non-negotiable for the next few months. Then it’ll be part of your routine anyway so you can continue forever more. See what we did there?

Apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C every morning without fail to your face, neck and chest, and invest in a broad-spectrum body sunscreen for any other exposed areas of your skin. Reapply regularly if you’re in the sun all day and try to stay in the shade as much as possible to reduce your risks of short- and long-term sun damage. Neither of those are good. 

Your skincare routine can make or break your skin so if yours doesn’t seem quite right, maybe it’s time for a rethink. Here’s how to spot the tell-tale signs you’re using the wrong products…

We’ve all been there – gotten swept up by some miracle-sounding wonder serum that, rather than giving us ten-years-younger skin, actually made our skin nothing short of a hot mess. And oftentimes it’s not immediately obvious that a certain skincare product is unsuitable for your skin. Instead, irritation creeps up over time or breakouts become more of a norm than the odd occurrence. Ugh!

Here are some of the most common warning signs that it’s time to reconsider what you put on your face...

Skin Issue #1: Weird Breakouts

Breakouts are caused by excess sebum that gets trapped in your pores with no place else to go. This blockage then forms a kind of plug which may or may not become inflamed, causing anything from blackheads and whiteheads through to full-blown zits.

As you know, breakouts can be down to any number of reasons – your genes, hormones, stress, you know the drill – but if your skin is usually clear and acne-free, and has broken out suddenly, with no real reason, then it’s prudent to look at the products you’ve been recently using.

Some products contain occlusive ingredients like cocoa butter, oils and petroleum jelly which are awesome for sealing moisture into the skin, protecting from external irritants and helping to repair a compromised barrier function. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, they also have a thick, heavy consistency which leaves a protective layer on the skin and blocks up your pores.

If you’ve recently invested in a new moisturizer and are breaking out, chances are it contains occlusives that are ‘suffocating’ your pores. Switch it up for a lighter formulation that’s either oil-free or formulated with non pore-clogging oils like jojoba. Good news: our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer checks that box – and then some!

Skin Issue #2: A Burning Sensation

Nothing in your skincare routine should ever make your skin burn. End of story. Sure, some active ingredients can create a mild tingling sensation for a minute or so after application, but tingling and burning are very different things. And the latter is not good news for your skin.

Anything that causes pain is a sign you’re using something way too potent for your skin to handle. AHAs and BHAs like glycolic and salicylic acids are the usual culprits here, but retinoids can also be too strong for certain skin types so stick with retinol rather than tretinoin or retinoic acid. Retinol is a gentler type of retinoid and much better tolerated by the skin. Our Retinol Moisturizer, for example, combines retinol with skin soothing, hydrating ingredients like botanical hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to create a powerful formulation, with less irritation.

Still feeling the burn? Then call time on retinoids altogether and stick with milder anti-aging ingredients like vitamin C, peptides or MSM.

Skin Issue #3: Redness

Inflamed skin is a sure sign something’s not quite right. Of course, facial redness may be down to skin conditions like rosacea, contact dermatitis or psoriasis so it’s always worth getting your skin checked by an expert if you think one of these might be the cause.

And then there’s your skincare routine. One of the most common reasons for facial redness is over-exfoliation. Exfoliating is incredible for accelerating cell turnover and boosting radiant, healthy-looking skin, but too much can weaken your barrier function, stripping away its important layer of ceramides, fatty acids and essential nutrients. And that’s a one-way ticket to red, irritated skin if ever we heard one.

Have you upped your exfoliation game recently or introduced a new exfoliant into your routine? Then pare it back or change to a milder formulation. Chemical exfoliants like our Ocean Minerals Super Toner are a great option for sensitive skin as they contain gentle chemicals to break down dead skin cells rather than abrasive physical elements like crushed up nut shells or fruit seeds.

Skin Issue #4: Tightness or Itchy Skin

Dryness is a common skin type and needs to be looked after with gentle formulations and lots of moisturizing occlusives to help replace the lack of oils in the skin. Problems like tightness and itching generally arise when this is ignored and too many active ingredients are introduced into your routine. So there's a lesson, right there.

Of course, tightness and itching might also be down to dehydration rather than dryness. And yes, these are two very different things. While dry skin is a skin type and thanks to an absence of oils, dehydration is more of a condition and due to a lack of water in the skin. Again, over-exfoliation or over-stimulation can cause dehydration because these break down your skin’s barrier function making it unable to retain water.

Does any of this sound familiar? Then simplify your routine and, if you’ve recently invested in a new facial serum, try using it just once or twice a week rather than daily to see if this helps reduce any discomfort. Niacinamide Facial Serum is a great choice for soothing and balancing sensitive skin or try Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum to amp up your skin's moisture content.

Skin Issue #5: So. Much. Oil.

If oiliness is unusual for you, or you’re noticing your skin is way greasier than normal, something in your skincare regimen could definitely be to blame. Similar to most skin issues, using harsh cleansers or layering too many active ingredients breaks down your skin’s natural protective barrier. And while this often causes dryness, it can also result in the complete opposite – forcing your sebaceous glands to go into overdrive and produce more oils to compensate for those which have been stripped away.

Reckon you could be overdoing it with the oil-reducing skincare products right now? Chances are this is causing your skin to dry out and produce excessive amounts of sebum, so cut back and introduce lightly hydrating and moisturizing formulations into your regime to help stabilize oil production. Rose Water Refreshing Toner is awesome for this and works perfectly with our fabulous Tea Tree Super Cleanser+ to balance, hydrate and clarify oily skin.

One Last Word…

Of course adverse reactions aren’t always down to the products you put on your skin… But they can be. Which is good news and bad. Good because if this is the case you can do something about it. Bad because it’s not always easy to pinpoint exactly which product or ingredient is causing you bother – especially if you’ve invested in a whole new regime.

The solution? Never switch out your entire routine at once. Introduce new products one at a time, patch test them first, then give your skin a good month to adjust before adding in another product. Doing this will allow your skin plenty of time to let you know if it’s right for you.

Or not.

Let’s make 2023 the year to help your skin look and feel its best yet, shall we?

It’s 2023 (can you believe it?) and with a new year comes new beginnings. Out-of-reach resolutions, however, that you’ll never achieve – let alone stick with – are so not our mojo. Instead, we believe in realistic goals that help you enjoy looking after your skin and give you visible, natural-looking results you will love.

Want to know how to set up your skincare routine for success for 2023 and beyond? Then read on for five of the best (and totally achievable) new year’s resolutions for your skin…

Goal #1. Simplify Your Daily Skincare Routine

Nailing a routine that works for you sounds simple enough but it can actually be quite tricky when there are so many awesome (and some not-so-awesome!) products out there to try. What’s important, however, is that you’re completely in tune with your skin. This means knowing your skin type and understanding what your most pressing concerns are. Once you get a hold of these important factors, you can build your skincare routine accordingly.

Of course, the basics (cleanser, moisturizer and SPF) are a must, no matter your skin type. But then it’s all about choosing those supercharged add-ons that really boost your routine and improve your skin without overcomplicating things.

To Do: First up, identify your skin type here. Then really look at your skin in the mirror and touch it with clean hands. What are you thinking right now? Does your skin feel dehydrated? Are you noticing some dark spots in certain areas? Or are those fine lines around your eyes getting super annoying?

Identify your main concern, then build your routine around your skin type and concern. And while you’re at it, toss away all those half-used bottles of ‘false promise’ products hiding in the back of your beauty cabinet. They didn’t work a year ago, so they’re not going to work now.

Try: Our Vitamin C range is the ideal way to crush an effective skincare routine without even thinking about it. From cleansing and moisturizing to skin brightening and SPF protection, it’s a great way to start the year as you mean to go on.

Goal #2. Never Go To Bed Without Giving Your Skin A Little Love

You’ve probably made the ‘I will never go to bed without taking off my makeup’ resolution many times in the past. And good on you, because cleansing your skin at night is one of the most important ways to maintain consistently great skin. After all, a build-up of 16 or so hours of oils, sweat, dirt and goodness-knows-what-else is a lot for your skin (and your pores!) to contend with.

But an effective nighttime skincare routine is so much more than cleansing. While you’re asleep, your skin gets super busy repairing damage from the day and strengthening its all-important barrier function. And this is all well and good, but your skin needs a little help as it gets to work overnight. Which is where your skincare products come to the rescue.

To Do: You don’t necessarily need a huge arsenal of extra products for your bedtime routine, but one or two products, specifically formulated to support the vital functions your skin performs while you sleep, will go a long way.

Try: Retinol Facial Serum followed by Retinol Moisturizer or Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

Goal #3. Get Your Daily Vitamins

There are many topical vitamins that pack a real punch in skincare. But knowing what each one does and which work best for your skin is no mean feat. Do you go for vitamin C which is touted as one of the best brightening ingredients and hardest working antioxidants out there? Or maybe you stick with vitamin E which is up there as one of the most moisturizing, soothing vitamins of all. Then there’s vitamin B3 (AKA niacinamide)… vitamin K… and not to forget vitamin A, or the mighty retinol as it’s usually known.

The choices are endless. But this doesn’t mean you should back away from vitamin-based moisturizers and serums simply because you don’t know which to turn to. Vitamin-enriched formulations are a great addition to your routine – plus there’s at least one out there for you, we just know it.

To Do: Again, this is all about knowing your skin, then deciding what to focus on. Here’s a quick breakdown of your most common skin concerns and the best vitamin choice for you.

If Your Main Concern Is… Aging skin or acne, go for vitamin A (retinol)

If Your Main Concern Is… Dry skin, redness or sensitivities, try vitamin B3 (niacinamide)

If Your Main Concern Is… Dullness, dark spots and premature aging, go for vitamin C

If Your Main Concern Is… Dehydration, poor texture or dryness, try vitamin E 

Try: We have a number of facial serums packed with specific vitamins to enhance, repair and treat your skin concerns, but if you're looking for a multi-functional product that offers an incredible balance of all the good stuff, you’ll love our new Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum. Loaded with vitamins B3, B5, C, D, E, F and K, plus minerals, electrolytes, hyaluronic acid and aloe, it’s ideal for all skin types and a great addition to any ‘new year, new you’ skincare routine.

Goal #4. Protect Your Skin, Rain Or Shine

Sure, sunscreen isn’t the most fun of skincare products. But it is, without doubt, the single most important product to use if you care about warding off the signs of premature aging. How so? Because UV radiation is responsible for somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of all external skin aging. Not only that, but according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, applying SPF 15 every day helps reduce your risk of developing certain skin cancers by as much as 50 percent.

Now we don’t know about you, but that kind of pertinent information makes us want to douse ourselves in sunscreen at every available opportunity. And while that may sound dramatic, this is exactly what we want you to focus on this year… and forever more.

The truth is, the sun’s damaging rays are present even when it’s cold and cloudy outside. So, while you might not ‘feel’ the sun beating down on your skin on gray, wintry days, it’s still there. Otherwise... well, it would be nighttime.

To Do: Make sunscreen an absolute priority every morning. And stick with mineral-based formulations that include zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as these are the only sunscreen ingredients currently deemed safe and effective by the FDA. Get into the habit of applying it as your last skincare step every morning and it’ll quickly become routine.

Try: SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen With Vitamin C which is lightweight enough for most skin types and contains broad-spectrum protection. This means it shields your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. That’s super important, btw.

Goal #5. Don’t Ignore Your Eyes

You may be a total whizz with your facial skincare routine, but are you as vigilant when it comes to the skin around your eyes? Chances are, that’s a big, fat no. Big mistake. The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face which means it ages quicker and therefore needs major love and attention.

To Do: First up, don’t underestimate the healing powers of a good night’s sleep. A lack of zzzs not only makes the blood vessels under your eyes dilate but it also leads to water retention. Neither of which are good news for the fragile skin around your eyes. We’re talking dark circles, puffy bags and fine lines.

Secondly, avoid slapping thick moisturizers and potent serums around your eyes as they could overwhelm or irritate this fragile area. Instead, choose an eye treatment and tap it gently around the orbital bone morning and night, using your ring fingers to reduce pressure and minimize drag.

Try: Peptide Eye Gel or Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream. Both of these anti-aging eye treatments are ideal for protecting the skin around your eyes and helping to promote younger-looking skin. The choice is yours!

Let’s stop your skin from going into cold weather meltdown before it’s too late, shall we?

While winter might be fun for the kids and your wardrobe, when it comes to the state of your skin, it’s no walk in the park. Colder temperatures, biting winds, snow and a serious lack of humidity all combine to throw your skin completely off-kilter, making it tight, red and anything from a tad dry to seriously flaky and dehydrated.

And we’re not just talking about the skin on your face, either. Because, while facial skincare understandably takes precedence over the rest of your body (it is the part you look at the most), skin covers every part of your body – from head-to-toe. And during the wintertime, your body, just like your face, will suffer if it gets neglected.

The answer, of course, is never to leave your skin to its own devices. Because skincare doesn’t work like that. Ever. But especially during winter when it has a tendency to freak out thanks to harsh conditions and extreme temperature changes.

Want to keep breakouts, dryness, flaky skin and unnecessary redness at bay this winter? Then here are eight of the best ways to winter-proof your skin…

1. First Things First: Don’t Overhaul Your Entire Skincare Routine

Healthy skin likes consistency, so while it might be tempting to switch up your whole routine when the seasons change, a few minor tweaks are going to be way more beneficial than a complete overhaul.

Listen to your skin as winter sets in and make changes accordingly. Yes, the weather has turned chilly and sure, your skin may start to feel drier and more dehydrated than normal, but don’t change your entire cleansing, toning, treating and moisturizing routine. This is so not what your skin needs. Small tweaks? Good. Complete overhaul? Not so much.

2. Treat Your Barrier Function Like Royalty

Winter can play hell with your skin’s barrier function so if there’s one thing to be aware of as the weather turns, it’s treating this uppermost layer of your skin with love and respect.

If your skin starts showing signs of sensitivities, this is an indication your barrier function has become compromised thanks to a dastardly combination of a cold, dry outdoors and hot, dry indoors which literally sucks all the moisture out of your skin.

Be kind to your skin by cutting back on exfoliation and choosing super gentle cleansers that are free of skin-drying sulfates which strip your barrier of essential oils and hydration. Try Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser morning and night.

You could also cut back on your treatment serums if you think they might be over-stimulating your barrier function. There’s no shame in using something like our Vitamin C Super Serum + just two or three times a week rather than every day. In fact, we highly recommend it!

3. Buy A Humidifier

Cranking up your indoor heating makes the air inside extremely dry so, while they might not be the most attractive things in the world, a bedroom humidifier is an awesome idea for replenishing dry skin during wintertime.

Humidifiers work by replacing lost moisture in the air. This not only clears your sinuses and helps you breathe better, but extra hydration in the air means extra hydration for your skin. This is super important overnight when your skin goes into regeneration mode and needs all the help it can get. In fact, humidifiers are so great for replenishing your skin’s moisture levels, many skin specialists recommend them for people suffering with chronic dry skin or conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Just remember to apply night cream before bed to help seal all that moisture into your skin. And specifically look out for those containing high levels of humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Why? Because humectants work hard to draw all that extra water from the air into your skin. Bonus! Try Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream which is a big winner for winter skin.

4. Moisturize, Moisturize & Moisturize Some More

Speaking of moisture, one product that might be worth levelling up in winter is your moisturizer. It’s no secret that cold, dry weather and artificially heated homes make your skin more dehydrated than normal so most skin types will benefit from some extra help as fall slips away and winter sets in.

If you love your moisturizer and don’t want to try something richer or heavier just because the weather has turned, we totally respect that. In fact, we celebrate it because there’s an ideal alternative – simply add a hydrating treatment serum into the mix. Our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is an incredible way to boost the moisture levels in your skin. Apply it to damp skin after cleansing, then apply moisturizer over the top.

5. Try An Oatmeal Bath

Itchy skin on your body is a total bummer, but very common in winter when it’s cold outside, warm inside and your skin is often wrapped in layers of clothing.

A great way to soothe dry, itchy skin is to have a warm, oatmeal bath. Oatmeal helps reduce inflammation while protecting, calming, moisturizing and soothing dry, flaky skin. Simply grind a cup of plain oats into a fine powder, add it to your bath and relax. Just don't stay in there for too long...

6. Resist Hot, Hour-Long Soaks

Bathing your skin in hot water is tempting when it’s freezing outside, but it can be pretty detrimental to your skin. You know how your fingers and toes sometimes look all crinkly after too long in a hot bath or shower? This is all thanks to dehydration. Hot water basically strips away the protective lipid layer from your skin’s barrier which means all those lovely fats, proteins and moisture are able to readily escape.

Bathing and showering is great, for sure, but only if you use lukewarm, rather than scorching hot water (with some added oatmeal for extra moisturizing effects!) and limit your time to 10-15 minutes. Also, make sure you apply plenty of moisturizer afterwards, from head-to-toe, to seal water into your skin and help strengthen your barrier function.

7. Stick With The Sunscreen

Sunscreen often gets packed away as soon as temperatures drop below 70. But this is a silly mistake you do not want to make. Of course, you won’t need full body SPF every day when most of your skin is concealed by clothing, but any areas not covered up are going to be exposed to UVA radiation – come rain, shine, snow, whatever.

Apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen to your face and neck as the last step in your morning skincare routine to ensure your delicate skin stays shielded from UV damage every day of the year.

8. Finally, Pay Extra Attention To Your Hands

One of the areas to suffer the most during winter? Your hands. Again, this is all thanks to the cold, dry air – combined with constant hand washing, of course.

Our advice? Don’t stop washing your hands for starters! Instead, use gentle cleansing, sulfate-free products and always apply hand cream afterwards. Wear gloves when you’re doing the dishes, and apply a rich cream to clean hands every night before bed. You could even pop a pair of cotton gloves over the top to really amp up your overnight moisturizing game while helping to heal and calm dry, itchy skin.
 

If not, we can help with that...

Healthy skin might sound like the stuff of pipe dreams, but if you forget about striving for perfection, it’s not so out of reach. It’s really more about looking after your skin as best you can – making good lifestyle choices, nailing an awesome skincare routine and cutting down on the things that might upset your skin both in the short- and long-term.

Your skin is the largest organ of the body and it’s super important for, well, life. It might not help you breathe or pump blood around your body, but it provides essential protection for your entire body and, just like your lungs and heart, it’s darn important. Not only does the skin regulate body temperature and protect your internal organs, but it also prevents potentially toxic germs, viruses and infection from entering the body as well as vital fluids from escaping.

As we said, important stuff.

So, what can you do to look after this essential organ and ensure it’s a) doing its job properly and b) looking its absolute best?

Here, we share our five top tips for healthy skin…

5 Ways To Improve The Health Of Your Skin

1. Keep Your Skin Clean

Dirty skin can’t function properly, so it’s vital to maintain a consistent cleansing routine that removes oil, dirt, sweat and environmental pollutants from the surface.

Whether you prefer a water-based cleanser, oil, cream, lotion or micellar water it’s important to choose a gentle formulation that’s free of parabens and sulfates so that it does a great job without stripping your skin of essential oils. All of our cleansers are dermatologist tested and formulated without the most common nasties. What's more, there’s something for everyone in our range. We’re currently in love with NEW Tea Tree Super Cleanser which is crisp, fresh and perfect for removing impurities without leaving the skin tight or dry.

Cleanse your skin morning and night to remove surface debris, and avoid using scorching hot water (this is just as drying as chemical-laded cleansing products). Use a gentle touch to massage your skin all over – neck included – then gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel. That hand towel everyone uses in the bathroom? Unacceptable.

Finally, while we’re on the subject of cleanliness, it’s just as important to keep anything that touches your face clean. This means laundering your bed linens weekly (more often for pillowcases), cleaning your makeup brushes and smartphone frequently and washing your hands more regularly than you’re already doing. All of these things will keep bacteria away from your skin, helping to reduce breakouts and other skin woes.

2. Eat More Nutritional Food

It’s all well and good looking after your skin from the outside, but aging develops underneath the surface, so truly healthy skin must start from within. And this means you need to think about what you eat.

A well-rounded, balanced diet is the key so make sure you include tons of fresh fruit and veggies to get your daily intake of skin-loving antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Other skin-loving goodies? Omega-3 fatty acids which are fabulous for regulating sebum production while improving the fatty acid composition in your skin. All this is awesome for helping to reduce irritation, dryness and dehydration.

But that’s not all. Things like selenium, zinc and lutein are also great additions to your diet, helping to protect your skin, reduce inflammation and aid healing.

The over-riding rule is thus: avoid things like processed meats, sugar, fried food, carbs and too much salt. And swap them out for fruit, veggies, oily fish, olive oil, nuts, poultry and pulses.

Research has also shown that reducing your calories may be another way to help slow down the rate at which your skin ages. So there's that...

3. Drink Less Wine

While there’s nothing wrong with the odd glass of wine/hard seltzer, too much booze can totally kill your skin’s mojo.

Alcohol expands your blood vessels and inflames the tissue which can make your skin look way redder than normal. Sure, this is temporary to begin with, but keep drinking the hard stuff and after a few years this will turn into facial redness that just won’t go away.

Booze also sucks moisture from your skin causing dehydration and the inevitable fine lines and wrinkles. Furthermore, it causes your sebaceous glands to go into overdrive, which makes your skin look super greasy. Not to mention the added woe of more frequent breakouts.

Our advice? Drink less units of alcohol… and less often. And remember, clearer alcohol is better, so if you’re going to sip on anything go for spirits like vodka, gin or tequila, mixed with soda water (zero sugar, yay!) and a squeeze of lime.

4. Be Kind To Your Skin’s Barrier Function

Your skin is split into three main layers: the subcutaneous layer (the fatty section deep down at the very bottom); the dermis in the middle (where the blood vessels, nerves, sweat and oil glands live) and the epidermis which is the top layer you can see.

Right at the top of the epidermis is what’s called the stratum corneum. Built from around 20 layers of cells this uppermost layer is kind of like a brick wall, made from keratin and held in place by ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. Together with your skin’s NMF (natural moisturizing factor) it’s your body’s first line of defense against the environment. And this is what’s known as your barrier function.

The reason your barrier function is so important for healthy skin is because it works super hard to keep all the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. If it’s in great shape, it helps your skin stay soft, supple, moisturized and free from irritation, dryness and sensitivities.

Everyone’s barrier function is different and it’s one of the main causes of sensitive skin so if this is you, take it as a sign that yours is compromised. But don’t freak out, because there are plenty of ways to look after and strengthen your barrier function to help improve the health of your skin.

Harsh cleansers are a no-no (see above), as is over-exfoliating your skin and showering or bathing in scorching hot water.

Then there’s moisturizer. Moisturizers are extremely important for the skin as they seal in hydration, balance sebum production and keep your barrier function in tip-top shape. Use one after every cleanse (and this includes your body as well as your face) and try applying yours to slightly damp skin to further increase hydration in your skin. We love Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer every morning and Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream before bed.

5. Say A Big NO To The Three ‘S’s – Stress, Smoking & The Sun

Three of the worst things for the health of your skin? Stress, smoking and the sun.

Stress triggers all manner of skin issues as it unbalances your hormones, increases inflammation and impairs your barrier function, reducing its ability to retain moisture and fight off potentially damaging irritants. Of course, stress can be hard to manage but breathing exercises, me-time, good sleep and a well-rounded, balanced diet are all great for your mental wellness.

Smoking, on the other hand, contains a whole barrage of chemicals (more than 4,000!) that destroy collagen and elastin and cause the blood vessels in your skin to narrow, therefore restricting its access to nutrient-rich oxygen. Cue sagging skin, uneven tone, poor texture, dullness and dehydration. The answer? Quit. Need help with that? Check out these tips from former smokers.

And finally, the sun. Ask any skin expert to recommend the single most important thing you could do for the health of your skin and they will all say wear sunscreen. Sunlight causes skin aging and, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, regular use of sunscreen can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer by up to 50 percent. This means it’s not only vital for the health of your skin, but the health of your entire being.

Wear SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen every morning without fail. We’ll end it there.