True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Listen up, y’all. It’s time to step up your protective skincare game to ensure your regimen is doing its best to protect your complexion against the woes of blue light damage.

Knowledge of UV radiation and its damaging effects on your skin are pretty well-known among all you skincare aficionados. But while UVA and UVB continue to do their worst on your lines and wrinkles, another type of light has been brought to, er, light recently.

Say hello to high energy visible light, otherwise known as blue light. But what is this mysterious blue light all about and what does exposure to it mean for the health of your skin?

Here’s what we know…

What Is Blue Light?

Known in the biz as high energy visible (HEV) light, blue light is part of the visible light spectrum (think ROY G BIV). This means that unlike ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the naked eye, you can see it.

Blue light has the shortest wavelength and highest energy of all the colors in the visible spectrum and has been proven to boost your mood, improve memory and increase mental alertness. However, it has also been linked to eye damage and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you expose your body to blue light late at night, it throws off your circadian rhythms, affecting your sleeping patterns and making it difficult to fall and stay asleep.

Of course, blue light also affects your skin. More on that in a minute…

Where Does Blue Light Come From?

The majority of blue light you're exposed to comes from the sun. However, it's not the only thing at work here because smartphones, computers, TVs and other digital devices are also major sources of artificial blue light.

Now, don’t get us wrong, being in the great outdoors and experiencing the benefits of natural blue light during the day is awesome for your mental wellness. Some experts even go so far as to say it’s something you should try to get more of. But as you know, when it comes to your skin, the sun is not such good news. In fact, it's one of the main offenders when it comes to aging concerns like dark spots, premature wrinkles and sagging skin.

The thing is, artificial blue light is just as worrying for your skin as the natural stuff. Recent statistics from DataReportal show that the average American spends more than seven hours looking at some kind of screen every day. What’s more, an average adult looks at their smartphone around 60 times a day, and 40 percent check their phones in the middle of the night.

All this adds up to a helluva lot of unnecessary blue light exposure. All. Day. Long. So, it’s no wonder that it's become a bit of a concern.

How Does Blue Light Affect Your Skin?

Just like UV radiation, research shows that blue light causes oxidative stress in the skin thanks to rogue free radicals overwhelming your skin cells, damaging DNA and compromising the production of collagen and elastin. This is a major concern for your skin because free radical damage leads to inflammation, weakens your barrier function and accelerates aging, causing your skin to lose elasticity, strength, firmness and its smooth, even tone and texture.

Some experts even believe that because blue light’s high energy allows it to penetrate more deeply into the skin, it has the potential to be way more damaging to your collagen and elastin fibers than UV radiation.

Mic drop.

What Are The Best Ways To Protect Your Skin From Blue Light Damage?

Blue light skin damage isn't an immediate thing, but with more time being spent in front of digital devices than ever before, it could easily catch up with you.

Unless you get ahead of the game, of course. Here's how...

1. Limit Your Screen Time

The modern world makes it difficult not to be in front of a screen all day long but if you work at a computer from 9 to 5, ensure you take plenty of breaks. And during these breaks, don’t head straight for your phone. Instead, get outside for 10 minutes, make some coffee or read a book. And no, reading something on your Kindle does not count!

2. Avoid Using Digital Devices Before Bed

Studies show that exposing your skin to blue light late at night throws it out of whack, making it ‘think’ it’s still daytime. This compromises your overnight skin regeneration process which is a valuable time for healing and repairing.

Try to avoid looking at your smartphone, laptop or tablet for at least two hours before you go to sleep. Come on, your skin needs you.

3. Make The Most Of Night Mode

While light mode is the default setting for most phones and laptops, night (or dark) mode is a great way to reduce the amount of blue light emitted, so set your phone to night mode right this minute – it should be pretty easy to find in your settings. Also, if you work long hours at a computer, think about investing in a blue light screen filter. It'll really help minimize exposure.

4. Apply Topical Antioxidants Morning & Night

When it comes to your skincare routine, topical antioxidants like niacinamide, retinol and vitamins C and E offer awesome protection from blue light.

Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress because they’re able to neutralize damaging free radicals before they get a chance to do a number on all those essential proteins your skin needs.

We have a whole bunch of fabulous antioxidant serums for all skin types but if you’re looking for a real goodie that specifically targets blue light damage as well as other environmental nasties, try our Rejuvenating Longevity Serum. This beautifully lightweight serum contains lingonberry stem cells which have been shown to offer a fantastic shield against the perils of blue light.

5. Continue With Broad-Spectrum Sun Protection

Sunscreen will always remain your BFF when it comes to protecting your skin from any kind of photodamage.

Apply a high factor, broad-spectrum formulation like our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen generously and daily. Our sunscreen contains physical blockers like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are currently the only two active sunscreen ingredients deemed safe and effective by the FDA.

Experts also believe physical sunscreens like these are more likely to reflect blue light from the skin’s surface than chemical sunscreen ingredients. Good enough for us.

It’s time to be grateful for the now and show love for the future by embracing and appreciating the skin you’re in. 

Hands up if you can’t help but focus on your skin’s so-called ‘flaws’ rather than its many amazing strengths. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. For some reason, it’s much easier to look in the mirror and see an oily t-zone, crow’s feet and sagging jawline staring you back in the face, rather than all the good stuff like your smooth forehead, even skin tone and very few wrinkles. Human nature: it’s a funny old thing.

But today, we're here to flip this whole lack of skin-appreciation – and consequent self-appreciation – on its head. It is the season of love, after all. And that means unconditional love.

Not sure where to start on this journey of self-love? Then read on for some simple ways to change your mindset and show your skin how much you value it.

First, Write A List Of Your Skin’s Good Points

Sure, it’s easy to make a list of everything you hate about your skin, but the target here is to take note of some of the stuff you love, or at least like, about it. This list can include anything, such as the fact that your skin doesn’t break out every month or that having oily skin means you have very few fine lines or wrinkles. Literally, anything.

Grab a pen and paper (come on, let’s do this right now), stand in front of a mirror and make a list of five skin positives without thinking too much about it. And remember, this isn’t bragging. Far from it. It’s simply about acknowledging all the good stuff your skin has blessed you with. And doing this automatically helps you stop sweating about the so-called ‘bad’ stuff.

Learn How To Take Compliments

Are you guilty of answering back with ‘this old thing?’ whenever someone compliments your outfit? Or muttering something along the lines of ‘you should see me without makeup on’ when another person comments on how young you look? Why do we do that? What is it that stops us from taking the compliment and graciously saying ‘thank you’?

People give compliments because they genuinely like or appreciate something about you, and they want to make you feel good by telling you so. Simple as that. So, next time someone pays you a compliment, smile, enjoy it and be grateful. You’ll feel so much better for it.

Boost Self-Love With A Little Self-Care

One of the best ways to show yourself how much you care is to treat your skin (and your world) with love and respect. This means avoiding harmful chemicals, saying no to animal testing and trying to adopt a cleaner, greener skincare regimen by reducing wasteful packaging, using reusable cotton pads and recycling your bottles as much as possible.

Also, how about a little pampering me-time every now and again? Giving yourself a facial is the ideal way to spend some quality time on yourself and enjoy the healing power of touch. Experts agree that self-massage helps lift your spirits and alleviate mental anxieties. Not to mention the immediate boost to your complexion, of course.

Here’s one of our favorite facials you can easily do at home…

1. First, set the scene to promote a stress-free zone. Lock your bathroom door to keep your housemates/partner/children away, light a scented candle and pop on a relaxing playlist. Oh, and do NOT take your smartphone into the bathroom with you – TikTok can wait.

2. A clean base is key, so wash your hands first, then deep cleanse your skin with Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser, taking two or three minutes to massage this all over your face and neck.

Starting at your forehead, place your fingers just above your brows then press them up toward your hairline in a smooth, sweeping motion. Repeat this a few times, then place your hands on either side of your nose in a prayer-like position and smooth them across your cheeks to your temples. Again, repeat this a few times before working in a similar motion over your chin and jawline. Finish by smoothing your hands up from the base of your neck to your jaw a few times. Heaven.

Rinse with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry with a clean (VERY IMPORTANT) towel.

3. After cleansing, spritz your face with Ocean Minerals Super Toner, which contains exfoliating glycolic acid, as well as MSM, peptides, antioxidants and botanical oils to hydrate, nourish, and promote firmer-looking skin.

4. Next comes your treatment serum. Depending on your skin type and needs (not 'concerns,' remember?), we have a whole collection of plant-powered serums packed with skin-loving ingredients. What’s more, many of them are now available in your favorite Target, Walmart and CVS stores, as well as online at Amazon.com.

Our bestselling serum and fan favorite is Vitamin C Facial Serum, which you can find in most Target and CVS stores. What’s more, check out Walmart for the mini travel-sized version, which doubles as a cute trial size and allows you to access your favorite serum on-the-go!

Apply a few drops of serum to your face and neck after toning by applying it to your fingertips and patting or smoothing it gently into your skin.

5. To finish, apply Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream around your eyes (a tiny amount is all you’ll need), then smooth your favorite moisturizer all over. We love to show our skin the most amount of love before bed, so our go-to post-facial moisturizer is Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream. But if you’re a morning kinda gal or guy, try Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer, also available at CVS. 

Last, But Not Least... Smile!

Research shows that people who smile more often look younger and infinitely better than those who are, well, a tad grumpy. Smiling not only uses fewer muscles than frowning, it raises your cheekbones, lifts sagging skin and adds a sparkle to your eyes. Smiling also releases endorphins and serotonin which immediately help relieve stress, calm your body and elevate your mood.

Gotta love that.

Because caring for dry skin requires so much more than moisturizer alone…

From knowing what kind of showers can damage dry skin to understanding the rules when it comes to barrier-bothering skincare ingredients, here are 10 tried-and-trusted ways to win the dry skin war.

1. Use Hydrating AND Moisturizing Skincare

Moisturizing dry skin is a given, but did you know the type of moisturizer you choose can make a huge difference? And we’re not simply talking about going for rich creams over lightweight gels (again, a given) because it's more than this – it's what’s inside that counts.

The best moisturizers for dry skin should include a combination of hydrating ingredients (aka humectants), as well as moisturizing ingredients (aka emollients and occlusives) which help lock water into the skin. Our favorite humectants are glycerin, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, which draw water to the skin’s surface. Meanwhile, some of the best moisturizing ingredients include jojoba oil, shea butter and squalane. The good news is our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer contains the best of both worlds, making it an awesome choice for dry skin.

2. Protect Your Skin From The Wind

Windy conditions are terribly drying on your skin, so if you’re outside on a blustery day, make sure you cover up any and all areas of exposed skin. Wear gloves in winter and wrap a large scarf around your face to protect your cheeks.

3. Rethink Your Laundry Routine

Dry skin on your body is often caused by irritating laundry detergents, so if this sounds familiar, maybe it’s time to reassess the products you use to wash your clothes and bed linen. First up, choose fragrance-free formulations and avoid common preservatives like methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and benzisothiazolinone. Mouthfuls much?

Also steer clear of fabric softeners and dryer sheets, and stick with liquid rather than powder formulations. Why so? Because liquids leave less soap residue on your clothing. To be doubly sure, rinse your laundry twice after washing.

4. Don’t Over-Dry Your Skin

After cleansing, never scrub away with a towel in an attempt to dry your skin to within an inch of its life. Not only can vigorous towel-drying potentially damage your skin’s super important barrier function, but it will also remove every last drop of water your skin actually wants to keep. Instead, gently pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel, then immediately apply your moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. Even better, apply Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum first for an extra boost of hydration, then lock it all in with your face cream.

5. Avoid Open Fires

This may sound like parental advice given to a small child, but sitting too close to a fire or, in fact, any kind of heat source will suck all the moisture from your skin, making it feel even more dry and dehydrated than normal.

If you’re feeling the cold, stay warm by wrapping up with extra clothing, but try to sit a few extra feet away from direct heat.

6. Turn Down Your Heating

Speaking of warmth, make sure your house isn’t too hot. Forced air heat reduces the levels of moisture in the air, which adds an extra level of stress to your skin, decreasing moisture and essential lipids, and potentially leading to sensitivities and peeling.

Keep your thermostat at a comfortable 67 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and turn it off, or at least down to 57, at night. This is especially important if you suffer with eczema, which is susceptible to temperature changes and a reduction in humidity. 

7. Exfoliate, For Real

Dry skin types often avoid exfoliation, thinking it will cause further dryness and redness. But it’s actually an important step in any skincare routine. Dead skin cells can build up on the surface of your skin, whatever your skin type, and if you already have dryness, this can make flaking and dullness even worse.

The answer isn't to scrub your skin daily, but to gently encourage exfoliation with a treatment serum or toner that contains exfoliating acids like lactic or glycolic acid. These acids work by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells so they’re able to shed more easily.

After cleansing, try our Ocean Minerals Super Toner, which contains glycolic acid to encourage cell turnover, plus hydrating aloe vera and botanical oils for extra moisturization.

8. Take Shorter, Cooler Showers

Hot showers and long soaks in the bath might feel fabulous, but they’re bad news for dry skin. Hot water melts away your skin’s essential lipids, impairing your barrier function and resulting in dry, dehydrated skin. And when you add bubble bath or highly fragranced cleansers into the mix? Disaster.

Stick with lukewarm showers and baths, and keep them short so you minimize your exposure to water. Oh, and you know that hot tub you love? One word: chlorine. Don’t even go there.

9. Check Your Skincare Ingredients

For all the good ingredients to look out for in your skincare products, there are also plenty to avoid. Synthetic fragrances and dyes, for a start, are major no-nos, as are sulfates, parabens, soy and gluten, which are all common allergens that can cause dryness and sensitivities.

Alcohol is also extremely drying on your skin. But, and it’s a big but, not all alcohols are created equal. Cetyl and stearyl alcohols, for example, are very skin-friendly and unlike the big bad alcohol denat (which you should DEFINITELY avoid), cetyl and stearyl alcohols help keep your skin moisturized by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Our Retinol Moisturizer avoids all the bad stuff but is packed with humectants and emollients, as well as a touch of cetyl alcohol, making it a great choice for anyone with dry skin who wants to dip their toes into the awesome powers of retinol…

10. Invest In A Humidifier

Forced air heat and air conditioning both create a serious lack of moisture in the air, which actively sucks water out of your skin. But this is easily rectified by buying a plug-in humidifier for your home. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a humidifier is one of the best ways to level-up your skincare routine and create extra moisture for skin to lap up.

Of course, buying one for every room in your house is a little excessive, but do get one for your bedroom, as this is the room you spend most of your time in. Set it to somewhere between 40 and 60 percent for the perfect humidity sweet spot. Trust us, your skin will love this extra moisture in the air while it repairs and rejuvenates itself overnight.

Of course, if your skin is in seriously dry shape, seek help from a skincare professional. But in the meantime, hopefully some or all of these tips will help you create a little bit of harmony for your skin.

Ramp up your skincare tools by knowing exactly which skincare products to use with them… and when.

These last few years have seen a massive rise in sales of at-home skincare tools and treatments that give you all the benefits of a spa-like facial without leaving the comfort of your own home. Figures, right? For the most part of 2020 and 2021 your home became your office, your school, your gym, even your hair salon (come on, fess up if you attempted a bad trim/root touch-up last year?). All this meant that popping to your favorite dermatologist or beauty therapist for an hour-long facial simply wasn’t an option. So, you started buying stuff to use at home that could help recreate the treatments you’d become accustomed to. And it turned out, most of you quite liked being your own beauty boss. Some of you also became pretty good at using your new skin tool BFF.

However, it’s not easy to transform yourself into a whizz at professional-style home treatments. So, if you’re yet to figure out how to use your gua sha or derma roller alongside your favorite skincare products, here’s our guide to getting it right.

The At-Home Skincare Tool: Cleansing Brush

What It Does: Sonic cleansing brushes and tools use powered bristles that vibrate and pulsate over the surface of your skin. Some use circular motions while others move back and forth, but whatever the technology, this repetitive, time-controlled movement offers similar results: to deeply cleanse your skin, break down dirt and oil, and keep your pores clean and clear. The massaging action has also been shown to help promote a toned, lifted and firmer-looking complexion.

How To Use: Cleansing brushes are extremely simple to use. Moisten your face with lukewarm water and apply cleanser all over your skin – you might need a little more than normal so don’t be shy. Next, grab your brush and work it over your face for around a minute. Anything more than light pressure will prevent the bristles from moving properly, however, so go easy. Rinse, dry and you’re done. Oh, and we don’t recommend using them more than once a day. Too much, people. Way too much.

The Best Skincare To Maximize Results: Of course, a great face wash is your go-to here and we think our Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser is the absolute bomb because it’s gentle enough for most skin types and formulated with vitamin C and other potent antioxidants for bright, radiant skin. Exfoliating scrubs should be avoided as these could over-stimulate your skin and cause irritation, dryness and sensitivities.

The At-Home Skincare Tool: Derma Roller

What It Does: Derma rollers are used in microneedling treatments. Microneedling works by using tiny, high-speed needles to produce tiny puncture wounds in your skin. This creates a controlled injury which triggers collagen and elastin production, nudging your skin to renew itself. By doing this, microneedling is said to help reduce acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles and even dark spots. But remember, at-home derma rollers are generally manufactured using shorter needles than the medical-grade ones used by the pros, so be patient with results.

How To Use: Shoving needles into your skin at home might sound like a crazy notion, but derma rollers can be extremely safe to use if you’re super careful and follow the instructions to the absolute letter. The first thing to remember is to make sure both your skin and derma roller are totally clean before your treatment, then mentally divide your face into four sections and gently work the roller over small areas within that section two or three times. Rinse your skin afterwards and gently pat it dry.

The Best Skincare To Maximize Results: Microneedling is a great way to help moisturizer and serum penetrate deeper into your skin. Which is good and bad news. First, the bad: microneedling can make your skin sensitive to potent, active ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid – especially if you’ve not used them before – so tread carefully with anything that could cause a reaction. The great news, however, is that microneedling will really ramp up the effects of some of your less sensitizing, more hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, MSM and vitamin C. We recommend following a derma roller sesh with Niacinamide Facial Serum.

The At-Home Skincare Tool: Ice Globes

What They Do: Ice globes are a bit like jade rollers but, as their name suggests, they’re glass or metal wands that have balls on the ends which are designed to be kept in the fridge or freezer. Kind of like rubbing ice cubes all over your skin without the watery mess, ice globes are awesome for the eye area as their globe-like shape makes them easy to negotiate around the orbital bone. However, they’re great for soothing redness, minimizing inflammation, boosting circulation and reducing puffiness all over your face. Experts also believe they may help boost collagen to tighten and firm your skin. So, there’s that.

How To Use: These are best used in the morning to really wake up your skin and help reduce tired, puffy eyes and skin. Simply grab yours from the fridge or freezer and work it over cleansed, dry skin for 10 minutes or so. Use upwards movements to lift your skin and add radiance, or downwards strokes to encourage lymphatic drainage and reduce swelling, making sure you don’t press too hard as this could drag and damage your skin. 

The Best Skincare To Maximize Results: Apply your favorite serum or eye cream before massaging to really super charge all those delicious, skin-loving ingredients. Try Vitamin C Facial Serum to help protect your skin throughout the day.

The At-Home Skincare Tool: LED Facial Mask

What It Does: Loved by the likes of Julia Roberts, Victoria Beckham and Olivia Munn, LED face masks might not be cheap, but, depending on the type of light involved, they’ve been proven to work on all manner of skin woes including fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and even acne. They work by using waves of light (usually blue or red) to penetrate your skin and kick-start it to function more efficiently. Red light, for example, promotes collagen production so is great for anti-aging the skin, whereas blue light targets excess sebum to work on reducing acne breakouts.

How To Use: Again, they’re all different, but you basically cleanse, tone and moisturize as normal, then power up your mask, select the light you prefer (if there are options), pop the mask over your face and relax. What’s more, most masks switch off automatically after 15-20 minutes. What could be easier? Two or three times a week should be about right to give you decent results in just a few weeks.

The Best Skincare To Maximize Results: LED can cause your skin to feel a little dry to begin with so make sure you look after your skin’s barrier to prevent unnecessary water loss and help your skin stay hydrated and healthy. Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is a great shout to apply before bed as this will really enrich your skin with moisture. Perfect the night before (and after) using your mask.

The At-Home Skincare Tool: Facial Gua Sha

What It Does: Pronounced ‘gwah shah’, this East Asian therapy has been around for hundreds of years and uses a flat, smooth crystal like jade or rose quartz to scrape the skin and move energy (or chi) around the face or body. This form of massage is known to help remove a build-up of lymphatic fluids from the face and around your eyes. It also boosts circulation and relieves muscle tension.

How To Use: Unlike body gua sha therapy which is firm and can cause bruising, using it on your face requires a more gentle approach. Simply place the tool flat against your skin and use the different angles and curves of the tool to fit the contours of your face. Apply gentle pressure and use a combination of long and short strokes across the surface to stimulate lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness. Start once a week and then build up to more frequent use as you get more into a routine.

The Best Skincare To Maximize Results: To get the most from gua sha, cleanse and tone your skin first, then apply a small amount of facial oil to reduce drag and maintain a smooth surface as you massage your skin. If you want to concentrate on puffy eyes, firstly: great idea. And secondly: apply Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream first for awesome, eye-rejuvenating benefits.

The holiday season is over, so now's the time to say goodbye to dull, exhausted-looking skin and hello to a brand new year.

December is known for many things – cold, blustery weather; chestnuts roasting on an open fire (although who even does that!) and panic shopping for holiday gifts to name just a few. It’s a great time of year for most of us, but when it comes to your skin? Well, not so much. In fact, boozy parties and sleepless nights can ruin your skin’s mojo. So, now the festive fun is over, the last thing you want to be stuck with is sleepy skin that looks and feels as tuckered out as you feel.

While nothing beats the magical powers of eight hours of beauty sleep, there are plenty of ways to put a pep in your complexion’s step. Here are five of our utmost faves. And no, finishing off your cleansing routine with blasts of freezing cold water is not one of them. Because that’s downright torture at this time of year. And we’re not quite that mean…

1. Exfoliate Your Skin

Dead, dulling skin cells can really pile up if you’ve had little to no zzzs and your skin has lost out on its vital regeneration time. Couple this with too much partying (read salty snacks and Prosecco) and it’s no wonder the festive season goes hand-in-hand with burnt-out skin.

The best way to amp up cell turnover and improve radiance is to exfoliate your skin. And exfoliation comes in two forms: physical and chemical.

Physical exfoliation includes all the obvious stuff like face scrubs, cleansing brushes and loofahs – basically anything that requires some kind of physical movement in order for it to work.

Chemical exfoliation is just as good as physical exfoliation, and can actually be a much better choice if you have sensitive skin that gets easily irritated by abrasive scrubs and the like. Chemical exfoliators are products that contain some kind of ingredient (usually acids like glycolic, salicylic or lactic) that help loosen the bonds between skin cells to encourage them to naturally slough away more efficiently. They don't require pressure or massage, they just do the job as par for the course. Clever, right?

Try our Vitamin C Super Serum+ which not only contains salicylic acid, but antioxidants galore. Apply it to cleansed, dry skin before moisturizing to help get your party glow on.

2. Get Your Daily Vitamin C Fix

Speaking of antioxidants, they’re vital at this time of year (and any time of year for that matter. Antioxidants work by nixing free radicals caused by stress, a less-than-ideal diet, alcohol and exposure to things like pollution and cigarette smoke.

Most experts agree that the absolute queen of skincare antioxidants is vitamin C. Why’s it so great? Ha, how long have you got? Seriously though, in a nutshell, vitamin C has not only been proven to slow aging by working on free radical-induced wrinkles, but it accelerates collagen production and is a bit of show-off when it comes to warding off dull, tired-looking skin. How so? Because it inhibits wayward melanin production which is what causes dark spots and patchy skin. So, there you go.

Apply Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to cleansed skin before hitting the sack to promote healthier, brighter skin as you sleep – no effort required. Got to love that, right?

3. Exercise More

An hour at the gym is not only good for your abs and pecs, but it stimulates blood flow to your skin, providing oxygen and nutrients to your cells and helping to give your complexion a fabulously healthy glow. And if gym sessions aren’t your jam, don’t fret because anything that gets you moving and your heart rate up will take care of business nicely. A brisk walk, Zumba class, even dancing around the kitchen… all good.

4. Stay Away From Smoking (And Smokers!)

You know smoking’s bad for you. We know you know that. But let’s just have a refresher course on just how tragic it is for your skin, shall we?

There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, many of which destroy your collagen and elastin fibers, which, as you know, are the key players when it comes to maintaining awesome skin. Cue lines, wrinkles, puffiness and an uneven skin tone. Nicotine, in particular, causes your blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow and depriving your skin of all the oxygen and nutrients it needs to stay bright and healthy-looking. And yes, secondhand smoke is just as damaging to your skin, maybe even more so, because the levels of nasties like nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and nitric oxide are at least double the numbers found in firsthand smoke. Mic. Drop.

If you ever find yourself surrounded by a bunch of smokers, counteract the damaging effects of all those collagen-destroying enzymes by applying products that contain proven ingredients to increase collagen production in your skin. Things like vitamin C, retinol, MSM and peptides are the mutt’s nuts for this. In steps Retinol Facial Serum...

5. Try Your Hands At Facial Massage

There’s nothing better for waking up your skin in the morning than by giving yourself a two-minute facial massage as you cleanse. And honestly, a few minutes is all it takes to majorly boost your circulation and encourage toxin drainage.

Apply Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser to damp skin and work it all over your face and neck, using the pads of your fingers. Sweep your fingers down your nose a few times, across your cheeks from the center outwards, up and around your forehead, then from the middle of your chin out towards your ears. Finish with your neck, using the palms of your hands to perform light strokes from the base of your neck up to your jawline.

Little known fact: what you eat can seriously impact your skin.

There will always be a place for chocolate lava cake and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in our lives, but if you’re worried that your sweet tooth/savory snack addiction is ruining your skin, it might be time to make some changes to your diet. And the best way to get the job done without feeling like you’re completely torturing your tastebuds? Simply employ a few smart food swaps. And luckily for you, we’ve done the hard work right here…

Smart Swap #1: Sugar For Agave

As a nation, we consume about 17 teaspoons of sugar every day which is about five more than the maximum recommended amount. And sugar doesn’t just pile on the pounds. Studies show that a sugar-heavy diet produces what are known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the skin. This happens through a process called glycation, which occurs when excessive amounts of sugar become too much for your natural insulin levels to handle. These sugars then end up attacking your vulnerable skin cells, latching onto collagen and elastin and causing them to become stiff and weak. The result? Harmful compounds called AGEs that cause dryness, exacerbate fine lines, deepen wrinkles and age you up lightning fast – as the name suggests!

Instead of using sugar to sweeten your food and drinks, try agave or monk fruit sweetener which both have lower glycemic index values, so they get absorbed more slowly into your bloodstream, causing less damage as they go. And don’t forget those devilish sodas, also. Soda is packed with sugar, often more than the entire daily recommendation, so switch them out for water wherever possible.

Smart Swap #2: Red Meat For Fish

Most red meats are high in saturated fats and cholesterol which can lead to inflammation in your body. And you all know what inflammation does to your skin. Cue irritation, redness, acne flare-ups and damage to your valuable collagen levels which can lead to premature aging in the form of lines, wrinkles, dark spots and dull skin.

Rather than pack your diet with red meat, choose wild fish like salmon which is low in cholesterol but high in good fats – namely omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are great for the complexion as they help regulate sebum production, soothe irritation, improve healing and increase hydration. A major plus for your skin.

Smart Swap #3: Chips For Nuts

Anything fried is bad for your skin, and there’s a very simple reason for that. Just like sugar, fried food increases free radicals and AGEs in your skin. Fried potato chips, for example contain almost 900 AGEs per serving compared to baked chips which only contain around 150. Now, correct us if we’re wrong, but that feels like a pretty major difference to us. Frying foods also kills essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients which your skin need to remain healthy, glowing and youthful-looking.

Regular, store-bought chips are not only fried, but they’re covered in salt which is vital for your health, but when consumed in large amounts, is a devil on your skin’s barrier function, sucking all the moisture out of it and making your skin feel dry, dehydrated and sensitized. Salt also causes inflammation, weakens your collagen and exacerbates conditions like eczema and acne.

Word to the wise? Ditch the bumper bags of Kettle Chips and Nacho Cheese Doritos in favor of unsalted nuts like walnuts, almonds and cashews. These are not only salt-free but packed with antioxidants. Win-win.

Smart Swap #4: Refined Carbs For Low GI Carbs

Thought you were done with AGEs? Think again. Refined carbs like white bread, pasta and rice are high-glycemic foods which means that, just like sugar, they get turned into glucose by your body, causing a spike in your blood sugar levels and a serious amount of skin-wrecking AGEs. Dang.

Breads and grains are also high in gluten which can aggravate your skin and cause inflammation and breakouts if you have a gluten intolerance. So, there’s that.

Ditching bread and pizzas may sound like absolute hell but try to at least cut down on the white ones if you can bear it. Friendlier alternatives are wholemeal breads, brown rice and when it comes to pasta, try zoodles (zucchini noodles), spiralized carrots or eggplant lasagne. Delicious and way better for your skin.

Smart Swap #5: Cow’s Milk for Nut Milks

Dairy products are essential for the health of your entire body, but for lactose intolerant people, it can wreak skin havoc. When your body can’t digest a certain food group, you see, it starts to ferment and breed bacteria – terrible for your gut, just as bad for your skin. Dairy cows are also frequently treated with hormones which can throw yours off balance and trigger acne breakouts.

If you’re lactose intolerant and are having trouble with dairy, replace cow’s milk with organic milks made from nuts or seeds such as coconut, flaxseed, hazelnut or cashew.