True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Feel like you might be overloading and stressing out your skin? Then the best ways to get results from your skincare is to go low and slow. Say hello to skincare microdosing...

Many skincare fads come and go and oftentimes they’re not worth the time of day (here’s looking at you ‘slugging’). But every now and again, something crops up that actually does your skin the world of good.

One such thing is microdosing. To be honest, skincare microdosing isn’t a new phenomenon, but something we’ve advocated forever – it’s simply been given a name. So, what does it mean? Simple: it’s the process of using lower concentrations of active ingredients in your routine, so as not to irritate your skin with potent skin-changers like retinol, vitamin C and exfoliating acids like glycolic and salicylic. These kind of active ingredients are extremely effective on the skin, but they can be a little too effective and intimidating for some folks, causing no end of problems like unwanted redness, dryness or irritation.

Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, your skin can only take so much before it will start freaking out and reacting to this bombardment of ingredients. Take exfoliating acids, for example. Use these in high strengths every day and you skin’s natural renewal system simply won’t be able to keep up, risking flaking, peeling, redness and dryness. Continue on this ‘no pain, no gain’ road and you could even risk longer-term damage such as dermatitis and sun damage.

Applying such ingredients in smaller doses, however, is a much better way to treat your skin with respect. It’s all about paring back your regime to avoid overloading your skin with a complicated cocktail of powerful ingredients and products. This gives your skin time to accept and better tolerate these potent, active ingredients, allowing you to safely use retinol and friends more regularly while avoiding damage to your skin’s all-important barrier function.

Your skin’s barrier is the absolute foundation to a healthy complexion. This is the very top layer (the stratum corneum) which works hard to defend your skin from environmental toxins and damage, while simultaneously retaining water to keep it soft, supple and well moisturized. If you upset your barrier with a super harsh skincare routine, beware because it will thank you with dryness, redness, breakouts, itching, inflammation, sensitivities and no end of other problems. So, you gotta treat it with respect. This means gentle cleansing, no hot water, exfoliating with care and never overloading it with too many active ingredients, lotions and potions – aka microdosing.

The 3 Rules Of Skincare Microdosing

Is your skin feeling overwhelmed by an over-zealous daily routine right now? Then here’s how to cut back and nail this microdosing malarkey…

1. Refine Your Skincare Regime

Microdosing traditionally takes on the form of using low rather than high concentrations of active ingredients. This means you don’t need to waste time hunting down the latest, super potent anti-aging serum that promises a massive hit of 5 percent retinol. Instead, look for products that contain smaller amounts (even 0.1 percent of retinol can offer great benefits).

A great trick here is to try a moisturizer instead of a serum. Moisturizers usually contain less active ingredients and don’t penetrate your skin as deeply as serums, meaning they’re kinder to sensitive skin. Try our Retinol Moisturizer for a gentle hit of retinol with much less chances of causing irritation.

You could also think about swapping out some potent ingredients for their gentler alternatives. Pure vitamin C, for example, is known as l-ascorbic acid and, while this provides awesome brightening and antioxidant protection for your skin, l-ascorbic acid is extremely powerful and can irritate some skin types. Instead, we use a vitamin C derivative called sodium ascorbyl phosphate in our Vitamin C Facial Serum and, in fact, across all of our C products. Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is way kinder to your skin and much safer to use daily as long as your skin can tolerate it. Not sure it can? Then carry out a patch test first. In fact, even if you think your skin will be OK, it’s always prudent to patch test, just in case.

Other ways to successfully microdose? Pare down your routine to just the essentials you know are good for your skin. The three absolute musts are cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen, then you can add in one or two treatments, an eye cream and you should be golden.

Finally, always use your products as directed and never apply too much – this is literally the opposite of what microdosing is trying to achieve! For help on how much product you need, check out our handy guide, right here.

2. Be Patient

Of course, there has to be a trade-off from using lower concentrations of active ingredients rather than going for the heavy-hitters. And this is, it will take a little longer for your products to show visible results.

But come on now, if you’re noticing some skin sensitivities, waiting a few extra weeks (around six to eight is probably the sweet spot) will be so worth it in the long-run. And hey, if your skin adapts to ingredients pretty swiftly, you can always up your dosage accordingly. It’s all about listening to your skin.

3. NEVER Microdose SPF

If there’s one product you should never scrimp on, it’s sunscreen. Too much of a good thing simply does not apply here. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) you should apply a sun protection with at least SPF 30 to your face every morning to block a good 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. You must also look for broad-spectrum formulations that offer UVA as well as UVB protection. UVA rays are the ones that age you up (think A for aging), while UVB rays are responsible for burning (B for burning). And they can both lead to skin cancer, so it’s vital to protect your skin from the works.

Apply your sunscreen generously (again, no microdosing, please) and don’t give up in winter. The sun can damage your skin just a much when the weather’s lousy as when the sun is at its best. End of discussion.

Taking a break from your skincare routine: a good thing for your complexion or more harm than it's worth?

Skin fasting is a real thing right now. But could you give up your entire skincare routine or even just part of it for a week? Maybe even longer? More importantly, should you? Here, we take a deep dive into this challenging beauty trend to see if it lives up to the hype…

What Is Skin Fasting?

Just like it sounds, skin fasting is when you give up part or the whole of your skincare routine in order to allow your skin time to 'rest.' You might forego your moisturizer for a day or so, or you could stop using your entire routine for weeks at a time if that floats your boat. This all counts as skin fasting; it’s simply the extent to which you fast that’s in your hands.

‘OK, but what’s the point?’ we hear you ask. Well, the idea is that your skin can become reliant on skincare products and so, after a while, it kind of stops functioning properly. By taking products away, the theory is that your skin can get back to business on its own, detoxifying itself and fixing its own problems without relying on countless serums and moisturizers to bear the load for it.

Another thought process is that it’s way too tempting to pile on a whole army of skincare products which can be pretty grating on your skin, breaking down your barrier function and resulting in a whole host of unwanted issues like redness, irritation, dryness and breakouts. By hitting the reset button on a weighty routine, you shift your skin back to its original state, allowing your barrier function to get back to doing what it does naturally – protecting, moisturizing, balancing and hydrating your skin.

Sounds Fair. So, Does Skin Fasting Work?

This all depends on who you ask. Speak to the latest skin fasting influencer and they might tell you their skin has never looked better after a week of being free from skincare products. Ask another and they’ll tell you in no uncertain words that it was the worst thing they ever did for their skin.

Which side of the fence do we sit? Well, the truth is, there’s no evidence that shows skin ‘gets used to’ products and then stops functioning properly. Nor is there any proof that taking a break from your skincare routine truly benefits your skin. None whatsoever. Zilch. Nada. It's an interesting idea, for sure, but in terms of scientific proof? We're yet to see any.

We like to think we know a fair bit about how the skin works and correct us if we’re wrong but if you stop cleansing and/or exfoliating, how can your skin remove the daily build-up of dirt, oil, debris and makeup all by itself? Magic? Because that’s the only thing we can think of. Also, let’s think about moisturizing for a hot minute. You moisturize your skin to seal in hydration and balance oils, right? And this is especially important as you get older when sebum production slows down. Well, if you stop moisturizing, do you really think your skin is going to miraculously start producing its own natural oils? It won’t. Instead you’ll probably just end up with dry, itchy skin and more pronounced lines.

In fact, there are SO many better ways to look after your skin’s barrier function and care for your complexion than starving it of essential oils, hydration and antioxidants from your skincare routine. Here are five of the best…

5 (Much Better) Ways To Rejuvenate Your Skin’s Barrier Function

1. Pare Back Your Skincare Routine

Instead of fasting, think about giving your skin a little diet instead – especially if your arsenal of products has been getting out of hand recently. It’s tempting to slap on retinol, vitamin C and glycolic acid all over your skin day and night, but too many active ingredients is hell on your barrier function.

If this sounds familiar, streamline your routine to the essentials (cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen), then add in a few targeted eye treatments and facial serums to work on any concerns you may have. This will do your skin much more good in the long run than applying 15 (or in fact, zero) products on the reg.

3. Patch Test Your Products

Whenever you add a new product into your routine, don’t dive in head first and expect your skin to be cool with that. This is especially important if said product contains potent, active ingredients that have been included to work on specific conditions like dark spots, wrinkles or acne.

Everyone’s skin is different, and while every bit of research goes into products to make them safe to use, who’s to say your skin won’t be irritated by a certain ingredient or formulation? The best way to avoid irritation is to patch test ALL new products before applying them for the first time.

We have everything you need to know about patch testing, right here.

3. Review Your Cleansing Game

Cleansing is extremely important for healthy, clear skin, but if you cleanse too often, too vigorously or with super strong ingredients, your skin will hate you for it. In fact, one of the worst things you can do for your barrier function is to strip away all of its natural oils with a harsh cleansing routine.

That being said, don’t ditch cleansing altogether. Just be kind to your skin by using lukewarm, never hot water and avoiding skin-drying chemicals like sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES). These surfactants are often used in cleansers because they’re great at cleaning your skin. The problem is, they’re a little too good and can end up leaving your skin's barrier dry and compromised. We use gentler, more skin-friendly surfactants like and disodium 2-sulfolaurate in our Vitamin C and Charcoal Face Washes. Just saying.

4. Help Out Your Skin’s NMF

Your skin’s NMF is its natural moisturizing factor, an important part of the barrier function that consists of a clever blend of amino acids, minerals, peptides and other ingredients to help keep your skin soft, supple, hydrated and healthy. As you age and subject yourself to the daily grinds of life, your NMF slowly breaks down which is often why your skin becomes drier, more flaky and itchy over time.

So, what can you do to help out your NMF? You ply it with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients thanks to a fabulous skincare routine. Most dermatologists agree that ceramides are some of the most important ingredients for strengthening and restoring your NMF, so keep your eyes peeled for ceramides on your skincare labels. And of course, ensure your moisturizers contain a blend of humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe to draw water into the skin, plus emollient or occlusives like jojoba oil, shea butter and colloidal oatmeal to seal it all in. Try our TruSkin Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer if you want to nail all that... and then some.

5. Protect Your Skin 24/7

Finally, but just as, if not more importantly than anything else, you must protect your skin from that pesky sun. Studies show that UV radiation is responsible for 80 percent of the visible signs of skin aging and it can seriously damage the barrier function of your skin.

Protect your skin daily with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 + sunscreen and make sure you include plenty of antioxidants in both your skincare routine and your diet. Antioxidants are the bomb at quashing free radical damage caused by the sun and environmental pollution. They can’t and shouldn’t replace sunscreen, but they’re the ideal add-on. Topical vitamin C, for example, not only hits free radicals where they hurt, but can also boost the effectiveness of your sunscreen, so a C-enhanced serum is a great shout to add to your morning regime. Try our Vitamin C Facial Serum before moisturizing. Neither you, nor your skin’s barrier will regret it.

Now, what was that about skin fasting? No thanks. 

Because now is the best time to plan for party-ready skin. Panicking the night before a big event? Asking for trouble…

We know it’s only November, but Thanksgiving is imminent and December is officially party time. And to be honest, last-minute skincare miracles are all well and good, but when you go into panic mode and overload your skin with lasers, peels, scrubs and potent skincare all at once your skin will repay you not by looking glowing and gorgeous, but with the exact opposite – redness, rawness, inflammation and irritation. Now, we don’t like to be presumptuous, but we don’t reckon any of those are high on your party skin wish list. Are we right or are we right?

So, if your skin is feeling a bit drab right now, a long-term party prep regime is exactly what you need to set your skin up for success. And don’t worry, you don’t need to spend hours preening your face every morning and every night. Just a few extra minutes here and there will make the world of difference. Then when those invites start pouring in, you will be 100 percent ready.

Now, let’s get started, shall we? The countdown is on…

Party Skin Prep Tip #1: Get Your Daily Fix Of Vitamin C

You might have noticed we’re major fans of vitamin C. Our whole brand was born from our Vitamin C Facial Serum and since its launch in 2013 it’s grown to be America’s highest-rated serum with over 50,000 five-star reviews on Amazon (and counting!). Not that we like to brag, but… OK, we do, just a little bit.

One of the most important ingredients for strong, radiant, healthy skin, vitamin C is an absolute must in the run up to the party season. Not on board yet? Then now’s the time to start reaping its countless benefits (which you can read about right here). Do a patch test first (so important!), then apply your serum to dry, clean skin before moisturizing for the best results. This is so all those active ingredients can get straight into your skin, exactly where it’s needed, rather than sitting on top of your moisturizer, fighting to get through.

We recommend applying our Vitamin C Facial Serum every day for the best results. If you’re new to vitamin C, however, and have sensitive skin, start by using it just two or three times a week to ensure your skin has time to get used to it. Then you can build up to daily, maybe even twice daily if your skin can tolerate it.

Party Skin Prep Tip #2: Drink Plenty Of Water

Let’s get one thing straight, there’s very little research to prove that drinking oceans of water directly hydrates your skin. Yes, dehydrated skin lacks water, but there’s no proof that what you drink goes straight to your skin. In fact, your skin is probably the last organ to benefit from water consumption because other organs are far more important and will always get preferential treatment.

This being said, constant dehydration thanks to very little water and way too many sugary, boozy cocktails will do nothing for the state of your skin, highlighting lines and wrinkles and making them look deeper and more pronounced. So, there’s that.

The truth is, water is essential for your overall health, driving your kidneys, brain and literally every single cell and organ to function properly. And when your body is hydrated and on top form, your skin reaps the benefits. So, the answer is simple. Start drinking plenty of water and eating water-rich foods now to get your body in the best possible place before you starting hitting the red wine and egg nog every night. Keep a bottle of water on your desk, another by your bed and don’t dismiss decaffeinated teas and fresh juices – these all go a long way to keeping you hydrated.

But remember, the best to hydrate your skin is through moisturizing every morning and night with a blend of humectants, emollients and/or occlusives. Try our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which covers all those bases nicely.

Party Skin Prep Tip #3: Enjoy Some Regular Facial Pampering

Rather than diving head first into pre-party panic mode, applying a mask the night before and scrubbing your face the day of, introduce your facial treatments weekly – starting now. Depending on the products you choose and the concerns you’re trying to address, nailing down a weekly pampering routine will help gradually balance sebum, hydrate your skin, calm redness and reduce breakouts. Whereas overloading your skin all at once in a bid to transform it overnight is more likely to irritate your skin and make matters worse.

You have been warned.

We suggest a weekly face mask, using clay or charcoal based products to detox your skin and prepare it for the party season. You could also use this time to steam your face (unless you suffer with redness, eczema or rosacea) to help boost circulation, soften your skin and loosen trapped oil and bacteria.

Finally, don’t forget to exfoliate at least once a week to increase cell turnover and get your glow on. You could even do this two or three times a week if your skin isn’t too sensitive. And good news, this is easy with our Ocean Minerals Super Toner which contains one of the best exfoliating ingredients, glycolic acid, and can be spritzed over cleansed skin in just a few seconds. Done.

Party Skin Prep Tip #4: Apply A Retinol Treatment Two Or Three Times A Week

Oh retinol, how we love thee. A literal BFF to your skin, retinol is a topical form of vitamin A and it has so many benefits, we’ve started to lose count. It works by ‘communicating’ with your skin on a deep, cellular level to increase collagen production, stimulate blood flow, repair connective tissue and boost your antioxidant defense system. The result? Healthier, glowy skin with fewer visible lines, wrinkles, breakouts and dark spots.

The one small issue is that retinol’s amazing skin-regenerating powers are also its downfall. Due to its strength, it can be too much for some people’s skin, causing redness, dryness and irritation if not used wisely. But this doesn’t mean you should be put off. Instead, be smart and build it slowly into your regime. First off, do a patch test to test for any adverse reactions. If, after 48 hours, your skin is OK, proceed with caution. Apply a small amount of Retinol Facial Serum to clean, dry skin just once a week until your skin acclimates. Then, after a few weeks, you can build up to two, three, maybe even six or seven times a week depending on your skin's level of toleration. Just remember to listen to your skin and adjust accordingly.

Retinol takes a while to show true results, so be patient because the most visible benefits won’t be visible until around the six week mark. But hey, that’s perfect timing for party o’clock!

Party Skin Prep Tip #5: Don’t Forget The Rest Of Your Body

Your body may be covered up for the next month or so, but come party season, you’re likely to show a bit of cleavage or maybe a shoulder here or there. So, don’t be too slack with your bodycare routine.

Exfoliate two or three times in the shower, using a pH-balanced scrub or a loofah, and take extra care over your delicate décolletage area. Do you suffer with body breakouts? Then try using our detoxifying Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser on problem areas – it's pretty awesome, even if we do say so ourselves! 

The skin on your body gets drier and itchier during fall and winter as the climate gets colder, windier and less humid, so avoid showering or bathing in scorching hot water as this strips your skin of lipids making it dry, dehydrated and susceptible to irritation. After cleansing and gently towel-drying your body, make sure to moisturize from head-to-toe while your skin is still damp. This will help lock in vital moisture and keep your skin soft and smooth all winter long.

Include all this into your weekly routine and we guarantee, by the holidays, your skin will be good to glow. No last-minute panic treatments necessary.

Halloween’s always a great excuse to scoff candy, but processed sugar can have dire effects on your skin…

Stuffing mealtimes with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and good fats goes a long way to maintaining glowing, healthy skin. But treating your body like a temple is easier said than done when all the naughty stuff tastes so darn good.

Well, do you know what? A little of the bad stuff is not going to do that much damage in the long run. It’s all about everything in moderation, right? Ha, moderation! That’s all well and good throughout most of the year, but there are certain times when temptation is just too hard to resist. And Halloween is one of them.

From candy corn and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to ghoulishly decorated cupcakes and super sweet cocktails, there is literally no getting away from sugar at this time of year. Even when October 31 has passed, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, then the holidays and, well, you might as well right off the entire rest of the year because your willpower stands zero chance against all of that sweet stuff.

But here’s the thing, while a little sugar is fine, overloading your body with tons of processed sugar is hell on your skin and can lead to inflammation, premature aging, even pimples and blackheads. Not down with that? Then here’s everything you need to know about the disastrous effects excess sugar has on your poor complexion. And hopefully a little intel will make you think twice about living by the ‘one for them, one for me’ rule next time those trick or treaters come knocking on your door…

Why Sugar Is Bad News For Your Skin

Studies show that overloading your body with sugar accelerates the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) through a process called glycation. Glycation is a reaction that occurs when excessive amounts of sugar become too much for your natural insulin levels to handle. It then attacks your skin cells, latching onto fats and important proteins like collagen and elastin, breaking them down and causing them to stiffen, weaken and performing poorly. The result? Harmful compounds called AGEs that kill your radiant, youthful complexion by causing dryness, exacerbating fine lines, deepening wrinkles and making your skin look kind of ‘meh.’

But that’s not all. Sugar is also an inflammatory, so not only does it play a huge part in the speed in which your skin ages, but it can also be a major trigger for acne, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis flare-ups. Especially if you like to overindulge on the reg. 

How To Cut Down On Your Sugar Intake

Did you know, the average American consumes about 17 teaspoons of sugar every day – and who knows how much that spikes over Halloween and the holiday season? So, try to remember, Halloween candy should ideally be for the kids, not you! You probably wouldn’t give the likes of Skittles, M&Ms and Hershey’s Kisses a second look throughout the rest of the year, so just because they’re in the house now, this doesn’t mean you should scoff the lot.

A great tip is not to buy your trick or treat stash until the last minute – preferably the day of Halloween – then temptation won’t get in the way. And if you have leftovers you don’t know what to do with? Give them to a neighbor or take them to work so they’re well out of temptation’s reach.

When it comes to your regular, day-to-day eating habits, avoid adding extra sugar to your food and drinks, and limit packaged, processed foods that contain hidden sugars like corn syrup, fructose, molasses and invert sugar. Make small changes like replacing cookies and ice cream with fresh fruit and unsweetened yogurt, and swap sugary cereals for unsweetened oatmeal or granola. Simple tweaks like these won’t be too painful to stick to, but can make the world of difference to the look and feel of your skin.

5 Ways To Counteract The Negative Effects Of Sugar On Your Skin

Great skincare is also essential if you want to stop sugar from doing a real number on your complexion. Here are our top five ways to beat ‘sugar face.’

1. Load Up On Antioxidants

Pesky AGEs are a real killer on your body’s antioxidant system, deactivating your natural enzymes which work hard to fight against free radicals and all the damage they cause to your skin. To combat premature aging and limit oxidative stress, up your topical antioxidants. Vitamins A, C and E are fabulous antioxidants for your skin, as are niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Not sure which to choose? Then you can’t go wrong with our fan-favorite, Vitamin C Serum For Face.

2. Up Your Intake Of Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is another antioxidant that helps protect your skin from free radical damage. It’s also an anti-inflammatory and, according to Diabetes Action, has been shown to help reduce levels of sugar and lipids in the blood by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. ALA is found in spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, beets, carrots and red meat, but you can also find it in dietary supplements.

3. Get Plenty Of Zzzs

Your body does most of its damage limitation overnight while you’re catching valuable zzzs, so don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep for reducing the aging effects of glycation. Studies show that the sleep hormone, melatonin can reduce damage caused by glycation by up to 50 percent. Sleep also helps curb inflammation and regulates your blood sugar levels to reduce sugar cravings throughout the day. Win win.

4. Use Anti-Inflammatory Skincare

Skincare that reduces redness and inflammation is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. And our favorite, anti-inflammatory go-to? MSM. Otherwise known as methylsulfonylmethane, MSM is a sulfur compound that helps increase your body’s natural production of glutathione, a super important antioxidant that works hard to boost collagen, quash environmental damage and fight inflammation. Try Vitamin C Super Serum+ to get your daily fill of MSM.

5. Reduce Your Levels Of Stress

Stress is bad news on so many levels, not least of all its effects on a post sugar high complexion. How so? Because, for one thing it causes spikes in cortisol, which accelerates glycation, increases inflammation, mucks up your collagen and interferes with healing. It can also affect sebum production, making dry skin drier and oily skin even oilier. Try to manage your stress by taking some time for yourself at least once a day. Read a book, go for a walk or take a bath – in fact, anything that helps clear your mind of the daily grind will go a long way to improving your skin – and, of course, your well being. 

From classic cucumber slices to the latest beauty tool sweeping Instagram, it’s time to take action against your unwanted eye baggage.

What is it with puffy eyes? Sure, they might not be your biggest skincare concern – frown lines and hormonal breakouts can fight for that crown – but waking up with bags under your eyes that would put the Kardashians’ weekend luggage to shame is not how we like to start the day.

Like many skin issues, there are a number of reasons you might be blighted by under eye bags. Think genes, lack of sleep, allergies and smoking. But one thing’s for sure, puffy eyes become much more common as you age. How so? Because skin becomes looser thanks to a lack of collagen, while supporting tissues and muscles around your eyes weaken, allowing fat and fluid to accumulate.

OK, so that’s the bad news. But it’s not all doom and bloom because there are countless ways you can quickly and simply improve bags under your eyes...

1. Invest In A Depuffing Eye Treatment

Skincare is a very personal thing and if there’s one product that consistently splits opinion, it’s eye cream. If you’re a bit of a cynic in this department, hear us out for a minute. Sure, regular moisturizer is just about passable for the skin around your eyes. Until it’s not. And the reasons are simple. The skin in this area is way thinner and more fragile than the skin on the rest of your face which makes it extremely susceptible to the visible signs of aging such as lines, wrinkles and sagging. It also has fewer sebaceous glands, so it can quickly feel dry and irritated unless it’s looked after. Then there are more specific eye issues like dark circles and bags – both of which don’t need to be addressed on the rest of your face.

This is why a specific eye treatment – one that’s been carefully created to deal with issues around your eyes – is so important.

When it comes to reducing eye bags, look for ingredients like caffeine, licorice, cucumber, hyaluronic acid and green tea which all help to hydrate the skin and reduce puffiness. Both Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream and Peptide Eye Gel are also formulated with an ingredient cunningly called eyebright. This is a herbal extract that contains tannin to naturally tighten and refresh the skin while helping to reduce inflammation.

Apply your eye treatment to cleansed skin every morning and night and use your ring fingers to tap a small amount around both eyes. Using your ring fingers rather than your forefingers lessens the amount of pressure you put on your skin which reduces dragging. Meanwhile, the gentle tapping motion helps encourage lymphatic drainage.

2. Chill Out

One of the most effective and cheapest ways to instantly reduce puffiness is to apply something cold over your eyes. Cold temperatures make your blood vessels contract which reduces blood flow and immediately reduces swelling and inflammation. It’s simple science.

Of course, you could place two teaspoons (taken straight out of the refrigerator), a couple of cucumber slices or even some cold, used teabags over each eye for 10 minutes. These will all do the job nicely. But, if you love to embrace beauty tools, you might want to try out some facial ice globes.

Ice globes are a little bit like jade rollers but, as their name suggests, they have balls on the ends and are designed to be kept in your fridge or freezer. They can be used over your entire face to minimize inflammation and puffiness, but they’re particularly awesome for the eye area as their globe-like shape makes them easy to negotiate around the orbital bone. Use them in the morning to help waken up tired, puffy eyes, but be sure not to press too hard as this could drag and damage your skin. A gentle touch is all you need.

3. Be A Better Sleeper

Puffy eyes can be the result of many things, but more often than not poor or not enough sleep are the major culprits. The exact science behind this is kind of hazy but a lack of sleep causes the skin around your eyes to become dry and irritated, so there’s that. It also dilates the blood vessels which increases blood retention, and increases your levels of cortisol which makes your skin retain water.

The answer is simple. Get. More. Sleep. The American Sleep Association recommends between seven and nine hours. Not only that, but try to optimize any shut-eye you do get by sleeping on your back with your head slightly raised. Sleeping on your back helps reduce friction and any consequent inflammation and irritation to your skin from your pillowcase, while keeping your head elevated reduces fluid retention.

4. Embrace In A Little Gua Sha Therapy

You may have seen gua sha crystals popping up on your Insta feeds over the last year or so, but this ancient Chinese therapy has been around for hundreds of years. Using flat, smooth crystals like jade or rose quartz to massage your skin, gua sha is known to help remove a build-up of lymphatic fluids from the face.

To specifically work on puffy eyes, you basically hold your crystal almost flat against cleansed skin, then sweep it under your eye and out to your temple area. Repeat this three or four times, then do the same thing on the other eye and finally repeat the whole process above each eye, working just underneath your brow area. For even better results, always apply eye cream first.

5. Drink More Water, Eat Less Salt

While drinking water doesn’t directly hydrate your skin, if your body is dehydrated it will hold on to all the fluid it can, making your eye bags ten times worse. This means it’s super important to drink plenty of fluids. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, a healthy adult female should consume around 2.7 liters of fluids every day, while men need around 3.7 liters. That may sound like a lot, but some of this will come from your food, with 80 percent being required from drinks like water, milk, juices and herbal teas. Still confused? Then go for eight glasses a day - it's much easier to remember!

One last thing before we go: try to reduce the amount of salt in your diet. Salt is just as dehydrating to your body as a lack of fluids because excess sodium causes it to retain water. This is bad news not only for puffy eyes, but for bloating as well, so decrease your salt intake, especially in the evenings. Fancy a cheeky packet of Cheetos before bed? Nope.

Glowing skin is a sure sign your complexion is happy. But what about when things don’t look or feel as good as you’d like? Chances are your routine could be the very reason your skin is having a mini meltdown…

Happy skin is something everybody strives for. And if only we were all blessed with the type of complexion that permanently behaved itself and looked downright perfect. But life’s not like that – no matter how famous you are or how much money you throw at your skin. Call it Murphy’s law if you like, but as soon as you accept that flawless skin is rarely achieved, the happy we know you (and your skin) will be.

That being said, while you can’t change your genes or suddenly transform your skin type from oily to normal overnight, what you can do is give your skin its best shot at happiness by ensuring your skincare routine is on the right path.

As you know, a great routine consists of gentle cleansing, an antioxidant treatment, regular moisturization and broad-spectrum sun protection. Then there are all the added extras like toner, exfoliation, extra hydration and eye treatments. Reckon you’ve got these down to a tee? Well, we hope that’s true. However, your skin might think otherwise and if it’s showing signs of grief – redness, itching, dry patches, breakouts etc. – chances are, you’re somehow upsetting your skin’s important barrier function. Let’s have a look into that a bit more…

Skin Barrier 101

Your skin has three main layers. The lowest is the hypodermis, followed by the dermis and on the very top, the epidermis. Each of these layers is split into even more layers which are super complex and all play a very important part in the health of your skin and body.

Right at the top of your epidermis is the uppermost layer, the stratum corneum, otherwise known as your skin's barrier. The stratum corneum is kind of like a brick wall of around 20 layers of cells, held together by essential lipids such as ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. This brick wall is your body’s first line of defense against the outside world and works hard to protect you from the slings and arrows of everyday life like pollution, toxins and chemicals. It also stops TEWL (transepidermal water loss) to retain the right balance of moisture in your skin and help keep it soft, supple and healthy.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Yes, in theory. it is. However, your skin’s barrier naturally weakens with age, a cruddy skincare routine and poor lifestyle choices. And if your barrier is not functioning to the best of its abilities, moisture can escape from the surface of your skin far too easily – bad news for things like lines, wrinkles, dehydration, sensitivities and irritation. It also means your skin becomes more sensitive to things like active skincare ingredients and other environmental irritants.

So, how can you ensure your skincare is barrier-friendly and your complexion is in a much happier place?

5 Simple Ways To Avoid Upsetting Your Skin

1. Always Perform A Skincare Patch Test

One of the most vital, and often overlooked ways to ensure everything you put on your skin is a-okay is to patch test it first. We can see you rolling your eyes, but hold on there because your skin is a very delicate organ and there’s always the possibility of it not liking a certain ingredient in your skincare.

The worrying truth is that other than color additives, cosmetic ingredients don’t have to be tested or approved by the FDA to be allowed into a beauty product. Scary huh? Of course, most reputable manufacturers (us included) ensure that everything is safe when used correctly, but still, that’s a worrying thought…

Your only option, therefore, is to test a product on a discreet area of skin and leave it for at least 48 hours before using it properly for the first time. Not sure how to patch test? We can help with that right here.

2. Go Slow With Your Active Ingredients

Piling on vitamin C, retinol, glycolic acid and anything else you can put your hands on is a recipe for skin barrier disaster. So, go steady. Check all of your skincare labels and write down any active ingredients you come across. Actives include any ingredient that has been proven to change the skin in some way – whether it be to improve acne, discolorations, dryness, fine lines or wrinkles. Think AHAs, BHAs, antioxidants, retinol, urea, hyaluronic acid and so on.

Once you’ve made your list, have a look at it and make a note of any major repetitions and how your skin is feeling right now. If your skin feels red and dry, for example, and you notice every single product in your regime contains some kind of exfoliating acid, think about ditching one or two of these products for more calming, moisturizing options.

Similarly, you shouldn't need to apply more than one serum, so if you're doubling up, well, stop that. All of our serums have been formulated with at least one active ingredient, but they’ve been carefully blended to cause as little irritation to your skin barrier as possible. Niacinamide Facial Serum, for example, contains vitamin E and hyaluronic acid as well as strengthening niacinamide, so it’s the perfect choice for a healthy barrier function.

3. Don’t Double Cleanse

Double cleansing is fine if you wear tons of makeup or have oily skin that rarely feels clean after a single cleanse, but for most of you, we think it’s kind of pointless. Worse than that, it can strip away all of your essential oils and fatty acids which disrupts your barrier function and can cause long-term dryness, dehydration and irritation.

Instead, gently cleanse your skin morning and night with Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser to wash away impurities without sucking your skin dry. Massage it gently over moist skin and rinse with lukewarm, but never hot water.

4. Be Mindful Of How Much You Exfoliate

Hands down, one of the most common skincare sins is to over exfoliate. And this is a big mistake for your skin’s moisture barrier. Sure, exfoliation is great for boosting cell turnover and ensuring a radiant glow, but too much strips your protective barrier and is a one-way ticket to red, inflamed, excessively dry skin. Which is probably not what you were hoping for when you embarked on your kick-ass exfoliation regime, right?

If your skin is particularly unhappy right now, pare back on any kind of exfoliation – and yes, that means everything from scrubs and cleansing brushes to glycolic and lactic acid treatments. Stay away from these for at least 10 days then slowly introduce one form of exfoliation into your routine just once or twice a week. Cleansing using a soft facecloth is a great way to reintroduce light exfoliation into your life. We’re also big fans of glycolic acid so try our Ocean Minerals Super Toner which contains peptides and MSM to strengthen and rebuild your skin.

5. Moisturize Every Morning & Night

Never, we repeat, NEVER forget to moisturize your skin twice a day. Hydration is the absolute key for rebuilding and strengthening your skin’s barrier, so, even if your skin is oily, you need to apply a hydrating moisturizer after cleansing, toning and treating your skin to lock in moisture and stop water from evaporating from the surface.

When choosing a great moisturizer to support your barrier function it’s all about the right ingredients, and a truly balanced and effective moisturizer has to include at least two of three types of ingredient. 1. A humectant. 2. An emollient. And 3. An occlusive.

Humectants such as glycerin, aloe and hyaluronic acid draw water into the skin like a sponge; emollients like jojoba oil and squalane soften the skin and smooth over cracks, while occlusives like shea and cocoa butters form a physical barrier on the surface of your skin. Our awesome trio of moisturizers (Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer, Deep Hydration Night Cream and Retinol Moisturizer) all contain a fabulous combination of humectants, emollients and occlusives. Win. Win. Win.

Finally, Don’t Expect Your Skin To Cheer Up Overnight

Healing your skin barrier isn’t something that can be achieved with the click of your fingers. Far from it. It’ll more likely take somewhere between two and four weeks to truly see stronger, happier skin.

Patience is a virtue, people.