True Radical Honesty From Our Community

What’s the deal with vitamins in skincare and do they really work? Here’s what we know about our ABCs…

Drink plenty of water… get a good night’s sleep… don’t forget to take your vitamins. This stuff has been drummed into you for years, but are you aware that topical vitamins are just as important to your skin’s health as the ones you eat?

Skincare ingredients frequently come and go, and some (yes, we’re talking to you snail mucus) just seem downright insane. But in an often confusing beauty world, there are plenty of ingredients that make absolute sense. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin in your moisturizer? Hell yes. Salicylic acid for exfoliating the skin? Count us in.

And then there are topical vitamins. From A through K, vitamins are an essential part of an effective skincare routine and they offer so many benefits to your skin, it’s hard to write them all down in one blog post. But don’t worry, we’re going to nail it because whether you’re looking to brighten and strengthen or nourish and soothe, you’re going to need at least one skincare vitamin in your life.

Here, we talk you through six of the best…

The Anti-Aging Must-Have: Vitamin A

Vitamin A is rarely mentioned on skincare products, but it’s one of the most important and highly effective ingredients in skincare. Confused? Don’t be, you simply know it as retinol – or the prescription version, tretinoin. Penny. Drops.

Retinol and tretinoin are the topical forms of vitamin A and are two of the absolute darlings of skincare ingredients, without question. We know that’s a bold statement, but ask any derm to name their number one skincare ingredient and we bet retinol would come up more than anything else.

When absorbed by the skin, retinol gets converted into retinoic acid which is super smart acid because it’s able to ‘communicate’ with your skin cells to active collagen production and stimulate cell turnover. This offers a whole host of benefits to aging skin, namely reducing lines, wrinkles and dark spots. As a sidenote, it may also be used to treat acne. 

Retinol can be a little irritating if not used wisely, but we combine it with hyaluronic acid in our Retinol Serum to help hydrate the skin as it works. Because we're clever like that.

The Sensitive Skin Solution: Vitamin B3

We love a bit of vitamin B3. So much so that we recently launched a whole new serum dedicated to it in the form of Niacinamide Serum – vitamin B3’s other, more common name.

Vitamin B3 is fast gaining momentum in skincare for its multiple benefits for all skin types. For one, it’s a potent antioxidant so great for limiting damage caused to the skin by lifestyle and environmental aggressors (sun, booze, pollution etc.).

Vitamin B3 also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties which means it’s ideal for reducing redness, swelling and irritation. Couple all this with the fact that it’s very well tolerated by most skin types and you’ve got the perfect ingredient for anyone with sensitive or acne-prone skin. And that’s not all. It may also be a valid option for soothing rosacea or eczema – just remember to always seek expert advice from your skincare professional first.

The Hydrating Healer: Vitamin B5

While we’re on the subject of the mighty B vitamins, we can’t move on without a shout-out to vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid or panthenol, the alcohol form of pantothenic acid.

Great for most skin types, vitamin B5 is a humectant like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. This means it has the power to draw water into the skin to help keep it hydrated. But it’s hydrating powers don’t end there, because vitamin B5 is also an emollient, so it not only attracts water to the skin, but it also seals and locks it all in. This is one of the main reasons we use it in our Eye Cream, FYI.

Research also shows that vitamin B5 helps strengthen and heal the skin’s barrier function, making it perfect for aiding in the treatment of sun burn, eczema and itchy skin. Nice work, B5.

The Glow-Getter: Vitamin C

You’ll be no stranger to vitamin C, we’re sure of it. But do you know exactly how darn good this stuff is for your skin? No? Then here we go.

Vitamin C is one of the most popular antioxidants used in skincare. It’s mildly exfoliating, inhibits melanin production and has the ability to help reverse sun damage. This makes it a super popular choice for anyone looking to include a hard-working antioxidant serum in their routine, but particularly for those seeking to help lighten hyperpigmentation and add radiance to their skin.

Vitamin C can be listed in your skincare ingredients in many forms, including l-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate. We know that’s a lot to remember, but just look for some kind of ascorbic/ascorbyl/ascorbate term and you’ll know that's some kind of C vit. BTW, we use sodium ascorbyl phosphate in our vitamin C range because it offers all the benefits with very little irritation. Winner.

The Master Of Moisturizing: Vitamin E

Vitamin E has been used in skincare for 50 years and counting – and as you know, you should never dismiss your elders, right?

Often seen on your ingredients label as tocopherol, tocopheryl acetate or alpha-tocopheryl acetate, vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that’s naturally produced by your skin where it helps support, strengthen and maintain its overall health.

Levels of vitamin E deplete over time, however, so adding it to your skincare routine is a darn fine idea – especially if you notice your skin getting drier with age. Why? Because on top of its ability to fight free radicals and protect your skin from the sun, vitamin E has awesome emollient properties which means it’s the bomb at helping to repair and smooth cracks in your skin. And anyone with dryness or dehydration will know exactly how annoying and itchy cracked skin can be.

Try our Hyaluronic Acid Serum for a potent moisturizing hit of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E.

The Skin Strengthener: Vitamin F

A member of the omega-6 family, vitamin F is a blend of essential fatty acids, hence the ‘F’. No, honestly, that’s where it gets its name. You see, sometimes skincare really is quite simple…

Vitamin F is also known as linoleic acid and unlike most of our favorite vits, it can’t be produced naturally by the body, so including it in your diet (olive oil and leafy greens will take care of that) and skincare is vital.

So, what are its benefits for your skin? Well, vitamin F promotes ceramide production which are some of, if not the most important components of your skin’s barrier. Ceramides make up around 50 percent of your skin’s composition and basically hold everything together to keep your skin healthy and strong – kind of like the mortar in a brick wall. Like all the other good stuff in your skin, however, ceramides deplete with age, so anything you can do to help keep them replenished is a great shout. Oh hi there, vitamin F.

The Undereye Brightener: Vitamin K

Vitamin K is relatively new to the skincare world and much research is needed to prove its effects on the skin. That being said, it has definite potential – specifically for helping to reduce dark circles around the eyes. And here’s why.

A fat soluble vitamin produced by the liver, vitamin K is also known as phytonadione. It's essential to your overall health and plays an important role in blood clotting. Because of its role within the blood clotting process many skincare experts and manufacturers believe vitamin K can offer similar effects when applied topically to things like bruising, swelling, redness and excess blood that pools under your eyes. Yes, that's the stuff that causes unwanted dark circles.

The jury's still out on vitamin K, but it's one to keep an eye on. No pun intended.

So, what do you reckon? Time to add a vitamin or two to your skincare routine? We think so. 

It's time to wave goodbye to unwanted dark spots that spring up on your face from literally nowhere. Agreed? Then let’s do this.

What a pain in the butt dark spots are. Just when you’ve finally learnt to embrace your crow’s feet and gotten to grips with pesky hormonal acne spots, an unidentified patch of dark skin shows up on your forehead or cheek. What the heck is that all about?

Dark spots are known in the skincare industry as hyperpigmentation and while they’re rarely harmful to your health, they’re super, like super annoying. They’re also extremely common and are caused by an overproduction of melanin – the pigment that gives your skin (as well as your eyes and hair) its color. If you have dark skin and hair, this is because they contain more melanin and if you’re blonde and fair, well, you get our drift.

This is all simple enough, but when melanin production gets a little wayward and unwanted patchy areas of darker-than-normal skin crop up on your face (of all places), things get a little more complicated…

Not All Dark Spots Are Created Equal

There are three main reasons for uneven melanin production: the sun which, frankly, is to blame for a LOT of skin concerns; your hormones (ditto), and some kind of trauma to the skin such as acne spots or a burn. Diagnosing the exact type of hyperpigmentation you have might not be in your skillset, but here’s what you need to know to help you get an idea.

The Sun Spots: Solar Lentigines

You may be under the impression that melanin naturally protects your skin against UV damage and yes, it’s true darker skin is less likely to burn or suffer from photodamage. However, anyone can be affected by sun damage warn experts at the American Cancer Society. If you think, therefore, that you’re actually helping to protect your skin by tanning, think again – when you tan, this is simply a sign that your skin is releasing melanin to try to protect itself. And it can only do so much before your skin inevitably becomes prematurely damaged and shows signs of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.

In some cases too much sun causes melanin production to become uneven and this is when irregular dark patches appear on the skin, called solar lentigines. According to the Mayo Clinic, solar lentigines are usually small brown, black or gray spots and appear on the most exposed areas of your body such as your face, hands, arms and upper back. Unlike moles they can’t turn cancerous, but if you’re a total sun worshipper watch your back (literally) because these are bound to get you in the end. You have been warned.

The Hormonal Spots: Melasma

Melasma is light brown or gray-ish brown in color and is most commonly experienced on the forehead, around the lips or over the cheeks and nose. It’s usually triggered by an imbalance of hormones which, just like the sun, send your melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin) wild.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), women are far more likely to get melasma than men due to hormonal life changes such as pregnancy, menopause, taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Melasma is also more commonly seen on people with darker skin tones due to their skin containing more active melanocytes.

The good news is that melasma often fades of its own accord once your hormones balance themselves out, but this is not always the case so it's always wise to treat it as best you can. Oh, and that devilish sun will make it ten times worse. We told you the sun was an evil beast.

The Trauma Spots: Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)

Unlike solar lentigines and melasma, post-inflammatory inflammation can be red, pink, brown or black depending on the tone of your skin and the depth of the pigmentation.

PIH happens when your skin becomes inflamed and consequently scars due to some kind of trauma or injury. This trauma can include anything from acne and eczema through to bug bites and burns. You know how experts are always telling you not to squeeze spots or scratch at your eczema? Well, PIH is one of the main reasons why. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can also be triggered by improper use of skin treatments like laser therapy or dermabrasion which is why we recommend only ever letting a board-certified skin expert loose with such high-powered treatments on your skin. 

Anyone can get PIH at any time in their lives although it’s most common in darker skin tones. And no prizes for guessing what makes it worse. It begins with an ‘s’ and ends with an ‘n’…

Prevention Is The Best Cure

The Sun: not only does it cause a whole crop of hyperpigmentation issues, but it makes every single kind so much worse. This is why sun protection is the single most important way to improve it.

Invest in a physical sunscreen containing zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or a mixture of both and apply this every day to help prevent sun-induced discoloration. And yes, we mean every single day of the year – even on cold, gray days when you might not feel it, but that sun is still there doing a number on your skin. Not keen on adding yet another step to your daily routine? Then look for a moisturizer, primer or even a foundation that contains a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30+.

3 Awesome Ways To Treat Dark Spots At Home

High-tech options like professional chemical peels, intense pulsed light treatments (IPL) and microdermabrasion are awesome ways to target dark spots at the doctor’s office, but there are also plenty of effective skincare solutions that have been proven to work. Just remember, the below are all potent, active ingredients so you should patch test all new products first and avoid overloading your skin with too much at once.

1. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)

AHAs such as glycolic and lactic acids are great for increasing cell turnover and ridding your complexion of dead, discolored skin cells that may lurk around on the surface of your skin longer than you’d like.

Glycolic acid is ideal for treating melasma in particular, but lactic acid is more moisturizing and better tolerated by the skin. So, take your pick. Or better still, look for a gentle but effective treatment that contains a combination of AHAs like our Eye Cream – perfect for brightening the skin around your eyes.

2. Vitamin C

Including a vitamin C antioxidant serum in your daily routine is another great shout for fading dark spots. How so? Research shows that vitamin C may help decrease melanin synthesis. So, there’s that. Vitamin C is also mildly exfoliating, works hard to minimize redness and helps prevent sun damage by battling damaging free radicals that form in the skin due to overexposure to the sun.

You’re probably well aware of what big fans of vitamin C we are ­– after all, TruSkin was born from our famous Vitamin C Serum. But don’t just take our word for it. Check out the never-ending reviews on Amazon to see what everyone has to say about this amazing, skin brightening formulation.

3. Retinol

Any dermatologist will agree: topical retinoids such as tretinoin (prescription-only) and retinol (over-the-counter) are fabulous for minimizing unwanted discolorations.

Retinoids work by turning into retinoic acid when they’re applied to the skin. Retinoic acid is the active form of vitamin A and is basically the special sauce that ‘communicates’ with your cells to increase turnover, boost collagen and therefore reduce hyperpigmentation. Retinol can also help treat acne and reduce fine lines and wrinkles but that’s a different story for another day.

The Serious Side Of Dark Spots

We don’t like to cause alarm, but some pigmentation issues are not to be treated lightly. Moles that change in color, shape, texture or just start to feel or look wrong should always be checked out by a doctor or qualified expert to rule out serious concerns such as melanoma. Similarly, patches of odd-colored skin that are itchy, dry, start bleeding or become inflamed should also be seen by a professional immediately.

The chances are your discolorations can be easily treated, but better to be safe than sorry, right?

Climate change is a massive concern for everyone, so what better time to clean up your beauty regime than now?

You may think that by recycling glass bottles and composting food waste you’re more than doing your bit for the environment, but did you know that your skincare routine could be causing just as much damage to the world as what does (or more importantly, does not) go in your trash?

Thankfully, a little beauty diligence goes a long way to helping make your world a better place. And great news: the following tips make it easy for you to switch to smarter ingredients and eco-savvy skincare habits.

Let's do this.

1. Steer Clear Of Parabens

Parabens are preservatives that prevent harmful stuff growing in your beauty products – think bacteria, fungi, mold and the like. Granted, this may sound like the kind of ingredient you should totally get on board with, but the problem with parabens is they have way too many faults up their sleeves for their preservative powers to be worth it.

Often found in beauty products containing a significant amount of water (eg. shampoo, conditioner, cleanser and moisturizer), parabens can be very irritating to the skin, but more worryingly they’ve been linked to serious health concerns including thyroid issues, hormone-related cancers, reproductive disruptions and obesity. So, there’s the first red light, right there.

Parabens are also nasty little beasts when it comes to the environment. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), parabens have been detected in surface waters, fish and sediments. Even the lowest levels of butylparaben – one of the most commonly used parabens in cosmetics – can cause significant harm and even kill coral.

The good news is many beauty companies have switched out parabens for cleaner alternatives, but they’re still out there so keep your eyes peeled for any ingredient containing the word paraben in its name. BTW, we’re a totally paraben-free company and use much cleaner preservatives like sodium benzoate and ethylhexylglycerin in our skincare products. You can thank us later.

2. Recycle As Much As Possible

Before you throw your empty boxes, bottles, tubs and tubes in the trash, take a minute to check whether or not they're recyclable. There are many different symbols to look for which indicate a product's recycling capabilities and we know they can be confusing, but a couple of minutes is all it takes to ensure your empties end up in the right place.

Glass is always an awesome, eco-friendly option and all of our serums are packaged in glass bottles that are full recyclable. Not sure about your other beauty products? Then head to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the lowdown on plastics, cardboard and more.

3. Reduce Your Beauty Miles

You might love your K-Beauty skincare creams more than life itself, but has it ever crossed your mind how many thousands of miles those products might have travelled in order to beautify your skin? The answer is many. In fact, it’s just over 6,500 miles from Korea to the US, which equates to a helluva lot of fuel consumption and consequent air pollution.

To help reduce your carbon footprint and lessen the impact of your skincare choices on the environment, stick with home-grown beauty products. Not to blow our own trumpets (again!) but all TruSkin products are formulated and bottled in the US. Group hug.

4. Ditch Those Cotton Rounds

While we’re on the subject of beauty miles, it’s not just those lotions and potions you need to evaluate. Chances are, your trusty cotton rounds have also taken a pretty long trip to reach your vanity. Not ideal. Also, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), it takes around 20,000 liters of water to produce just over 2lbs of cotton. Add all this to the fact that cotton rounds are not compostable and that cotton farming is responsible for around 24 percent of insecticides worldwide and suddenly that innocent looking fluffy stuff starts to look like one hot mess for the environment.

So, what’s the answer to this little conundrum? First up, use spray toners like our Daily Facial Rose Water Toner or Daily Facial Toner because these don’t require the use of cotton rounds (clever, right?). You could also invest in some eco-friendly, reusable makeup remover pads that can be thrown in the laundry after each use. Amazon has plenty of options to choose from or you could try Ecoroots Organic Reusable Facial Rounds.

5. Be A Cruelty-Free, Beauty Vegan

If you care about animals as much as you care about the world (and in fact, don’t they kind of come as a package, anyway?), you have to avoid products that contain animal by-products and ingredients, or have been tested on animals. No question.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), animal products are the key cause of climate change due to the amount of water, land and energy animals require to be farmed, killed, processed and transported. If you'd like to steer clear of animal by-products and ingredients, here's a list of those to avoid, courtesy of People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Meanwhile, around half a million animals suffer and die each year through cosmetic testing according to Humane Society International (HSI).

Frankly, we think this is unacceptable which is why we’re proud to be Leaping Bunny approved – and that includes every single one of our skincare products. The Leaping Bunny logo (below) is the only internationally recognized symbol which guarantees that no animal tests were carried out in the development of any product displaying it.

6. Give Oxybenzone & Octinoxate A Wide Berth

When it comes to ingredients that affect both your health and the environment, oxybenzone and octinoxate are double trouble.

Oxybenzone and octinoxate are organic compounds that absorb light very effectively. This makes them two of the most common UV filters used in chemical sunscreens. They’ve been used and approved by the FDA since the early ‘80s, but after a bill to ban their sale and distribution in Hawai’i was passed in 2018, the world became blatantly aware of their potential damage to marine life and in particular, coral reefs.

“Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality in developing coral, increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress… and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms,” cites the bill. Yikes.

Furthermore, oxybenzone is just as nasty to your health as it is to marine life. For one thing, it’s the most common skin irritant in suncare, but even more scary is that it may seriously disrupt hormone production, potentially causing all manner of problems like thyroid issues, certain cancers and reproductive harm. The fact that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that oxybenzone can be detected in the urine of almost all the population makes this a very worrying prospect indeed.

The good news is the FDA are continually working towards confirming (or rejecting) the safety of oxybenzone, octinoxate and 10 other chemical sunscreen ingredients. In the meantime, stick with products containing zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These are the only two active sunscreen ingredients currently deemed safe and effective.

7. Reduce Your Shower Time

Climate changes like soaring temperatures and rising sea levels play havoc with the world’s water supplies, so do your bit to conserve water and you’ll be helping to protect the future of your planet – just like that.

Fun fact: the average shower uses around two gallons of water per minute. This means an eight minute shower (the average duration for an American adult) uses a solid 16 gallons per day, or 480 gallons per month. Now, let’s say you were to cut your shower time by one minute – just one minute, that’s all we ask. This would save 60 gallons of water every month, which is a significant amount of water for one person to save, if you ask us. Set the timer on your phone to seven minutes next time you take a shower and see if it's manageable. We bet it totally is.

Come on people, your world needs you.

Winter’s a cruddy time for your skin, so if you’re feeling pretty bummed about your dull complexion, it’s time to get your glow on.

Glowing skin is very much ‘in’ right now. It’s always of huge importance if you ask us, but it seems that natural radiance, rather than full-on makeup, is a major beauty prediction for the new year. 'Prove it,' we hear you shout. Sure. The Pinterest Predicts annual report was recently released and guess what topped the list for upcoming beauty trends for 2021? Yes, ‘effortlessly chic,’ radiant skin – aptly being coined Skinimalism. This is all thanks to a massive increase in Pinterest searches for terms like ‘glowing skin how to get naturally,’ ‘face yoga exercises’ and ‘natural everyday makeup’ which shows that maybe (just maybe) the years of facial contouring and graphic brows might be coming to an end.

All hail real, glowing skin. Yay. Gotta love that.

The problem with this trend, however, is that skin radiance doesn’t always come easy – especially when cold temperatures and low humidity are totally working against you. Yes, natural skin means you can say goodbye to hours of makeup application, but if you want to allow your skin to really shine through, you’d better start looking after it. So, if you’re craving ways to enhance the complexion nature gave you, here are some trusted tricks for ditching winter dullness and amping up your dewy skin game.

Work Out Your Skin

Facial massage is one of the simplest and most important things you can do to boost radiance as it instantly improves circulation and encourages the removal of waste and toxins through a process called lymphatic drainage. And the best time to do it? While cleansing your skin in the morning (two birds and all that). Here’s how:

1. First, wash your hands, then wet your skin with lukewarm (never hot) water.

2. Squeeze your favorite cleanser into the palm of your hand, then smooth it all over your face and neck.

3. Place your fingers in the middle of your forehead, spreading them from your eyebrows up your forehead. Work your fingers out towards your hairline a few times, pressing the skin gently.

4. Next, place your fingers over the center of your nose and work them out along your cheeks, rubbing the cleanser into your skin in large circles. Do this a few times, then continue with the same motion over your chin and jawline.

5. Finish by smoothing your fingertips up your neck a few times, then rinse thoroughly and gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel.

Another great way to give your skin a bit of a morning workout is to try your hand at facial yoga. And excellent news: not only will a committed routine of morning exercises boost circulation and add radiance to your skin, but it’ll help strengthen facial muscles to reduce sagging and make your skin look firmer and more youthful in the long-term.

One of our favorite facial yoga exercises (mainly because it’s so easy!) is to pout then smile repeatedly as fast as you can and for as long as you can stand it. Just do it in private, yes? You don’t want to scare the neighbors.

Get Your Vitamin C

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that, here at TruSkin HQ, we think vitamin C is the absolute cat’s whiskers as a skincare ingredient. A clinically-proven antioxidant, vitamin C is well-known for helping prevent accumulated skin damage by neutralizing attacks from environmental and lifestyle nasties. Think sun, pollution and cigarette smoke that love to do a real number on your skin, causing everything from fine lines and wrinkles to dullness and discoloration.

Vitamin C is also mildly exfoliating, so when you apply it topically and regularly, it works to effectively reboot collagen and elastin production to help strengthen, firm and smooth your complexion. Couple all this with its ability to help reverse UV-related skin damage and it’s a big fat ciao to uneven skin tone and dark spots. Boom.

The thing is, not all topical vitamin Cs are created equal. This means you could see it listed on your skincare label in many forms including l-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate. We use sodium ascorbyl phosphate – or SAP as we like to call it – in our popular vitamin C products because it’s a) stable, b) less irritating and c) very effective. Literally everything we want in a skincare ingredient, right there.

Try A Professional Chemical Peel

For an extra high-powered boost of radiance, treating your complexion to a professional chemical peel is a great shout.

Chemical peels work by using potent (but safe) skin acids to injure the top layers of your skin which makes them fall off – taking any dead, dull skin cells and unwanted dark patches with them. The first three to five days following a chemical peel procedure aren’t pretty because your skin literally does flake and peel away, but after a week your skin will be visibly smoother, clearer and your glow factor will have gone through the roof. Trust us, we’ve been there.  

Ask your skincare expert about medical-grade peels that contain hard-working, glow-inducing ingredients such as salicylic, trichloroacetic or glycolic acids as these are particularly effective for fading discolorations and brightening an uneven skin tone. We love truly professional chemical peels from medical-grade skincare companies like SkinMedica or PCA Skin as these have been proven to offer results and can often eliminate new discoloration issues in just one session. If you have older, deeper pigmentation issues, however, a series of three or four appointments is usually recommended, followed by maintenance treatments on a less regular basis.

Use Makeup To Enhance (Not Hide Behind)

Embracing the Skinimalism trend is all about making your skin look lit from within, but that’s not to say you should dismiss those extra finishing touches. Makeup, after all, is a great way to enhance your natural glow, so if you’ve already nailed your radiance-boosting skincare routine, invest in a brightening primer to apply after your skincare and before (or even instead of) makeup. A great primer will help blur fine lines, smooth pores and add instant radiance without looking like you’re caked in makeup.

If you’re in the market for a natural-looking base, we suggest choosing a mineral, powder foundation that you can buff and swirl over your skin, rather than a cream or liquid-based formulation. How so? Because creams and liquids are often more tricky to keep light and streak-free.

And for a little extra red-carpet glow? Try a subtly shimmering highlighter. But we mean subtle shimmer, people  – full-on glitter is never cool. Apply this to the parts of your face that naturally catch the light such as your cheekbones and brow bones and keep it as natural-looking as possible by going for warmer, golden shades if you have olive or dark skin, and pinker tones if you’re pale.

Gorgeous.

Pores are super important, but if yours are way too big for their britches they can really kill that ‘flawless complexion’ vibe you’re trying to give off. The good news is, with the right skincare tricks, you can significantly improve any enlarged pore situation.

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. According to the National Geographic Society, an average adult’s skin weighs in at around 8 pounds, measures a grand total of 22 square feet and without this vital protective barrier? Well, you’d literally cease to exist. Your skin is continually battling pollution, controlling your body temperature, fighting infection and protecting your body from injuries. And that’s just the start of it.

It’s no wonder then, that your skin is the cause of so many concerns. From dryness and itching, through to acne, fine lines, wrinkles and annoying dark spots that seem to creep up on you literally overnight, skin has a lot to contend with. Not least of which are pesky, enlarged pores.

Enlarged pores might not be up there with more serious skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, but if you’re a sufferer you’ll know just how annoying they can be.

But first, let's have a look at what they are and why you need them.

What Are Pores?

Pores are tiny openings in your skin’s surface that allow microscopic particles to pass in and out. The human body has two types of pores: ones that produce sebum and others than produce sweat. Let’s stick a pin in the sweat-producers for now and concentrate on the ones that produce sebum (AKA oil) because these are the ones that get clogged and can ruin your notions of a smooth complexion.

Oil-producing pores are the openings found at the top of your hair follicles and sebaceous glands where they release sebum at a surface level to help naturally moisturize and soften the skin. Sounds important, right? Well, yes, it is. The problem, however, starts when your sebaceous glands get over-excited and produce way too much sebum than your skin really needs. This excess can cause blockages (more on that later) which stretches your pores and leads to breakouts. Sigh.

While your pore size is determined by genetics and you can neither shrink them (sorry about that) nor make them physically grow, many factors come into play where their general appearance is concerned. And yes, the following will sound super familiar because they’re everything in life that your skin truly hates – namely aging, sun damage and other lifestyle and environmental nasties such as a poor diet, lack of sleep and pollution. All of these contribute to enlarged-looking pores by breaking down collagen and compromising the strength, firmness and suppleness of your skin.

But all is not lost because, thankfully, you can take steps to keep your pores looking as trim as the day they were born. OK, that might be pushing it, but you know what we mean…

Herein, our five favorite tricks for climbing the ladder to pore perfection.

1. Make Good Cleansing Choices

Keeping your skin clean is one of the most important steps for maintaining good pore health. How so? Because oil loves to bind itself to bacteria, dirt and makeup, so if you let excess sebum sit around on the surface of your skin your pores end up stretching to make room for all of that extra debris. This is seriously bad news for the appearance of your complexion and can raise total havoc for acne-prone skin.

That being said, over-cleansing your skin with a routine that’s packed with chemicals is never a good idea, either. It’ll do nothing but compromise your skin’s natural protective barrier and dry out your complexion. Yes, it may strip away all those oils in the short-term, but in the long-term it’ll simply make your sebaceous glands think your skin needs more oil, so they'll continue to produce more and more of it. Vicious circle.

Instead of stripping your skin of every last inch of oil, choose gentle, effective cleansing products that harness the power of ingredients like tea tree oil, coconut charcoal and kaolin. Wash your face in lukewarm, never hot water, and use a light massaging technique to thoroughly cleanse without over-stimulating your pores.

2. Don’t Dismiss Toner

Potent, alcohol-laced toners that promise to rid you of oily skin forever often just suck all the life out of it. So one word: avoid. Gentle, balancing treatments, however, that are formulated to help unclog your pores and prevent breakouts should never be written off.

Our Daily Super Toner, for example, contains one of the best ingredients for cleaning and exfoliating your skin, glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that works by loosening the ‘glue’ that binds dead skin cells together and holds them to the surface of your skin. Dead skin cells that hang around for too long spell disaster for your pores, so gently sloughing them off is key for avoiding any excess flakes that block your pores and cause inevitable breakouts.

Keep your eyes peeled for toners and products containing salicylic acid as well. Salicyclic acid is another great choice for keeping your skin clean and clear while boosting cell turnover at the same time. It can be a little drying, however, so make sure it’s either blended with lightweight moisturizing ingredients, or follow with a non pore-clogging moisturizer…

3. Never Forget To Moisturize

Adding more moisture to an already-oily complexion might seem foolhardy, but it’s actually vital for balancing your skin and stopping your sebaceous glands from filling up your pores with even more excess oil. Obviously heavy oils, waxes and butters are out of the question, but a light moisturizing routine will work wonders for the health of your pores and skin.

Awesome ingredients to look out for are ceramides, glycerin and one of our favorites, hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a super lightweight but powerful humectant that draws water into your skin like a sponge. It’s clever and very effective – especially for oily complexions, enlarged pores and acne-prone skin.

4. Choose Non-Comedogenic Makeup

Your skincare isn’t the only part of your routine that might need a little adjustment if your pores are giving you real grief. In fact, pore-clogging makeup can be just as much to blame.

Most liquid foundations, for example, contain a whole bunch of oils that pores loathe. Creamy concealers, blushers and bronzers can also have a similar effect, so our advice? Stick with mineral, powder formulations and look for the term non-comedogenic on the label of all your cosmetics. Non-comedogenic means a product and its ingredients have been formulated and tested to reduce its risk of clogging your pores. It doesn’t mean it hands-down won’t clog your pores, but it’s less likely to.

We’ll take that.

5. Be Super Sun Savvy

As you all know, overexposure to the sun breaks down collagen in your skin and is a killer for fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and sagging. Well, the damage does not stop there as it also causes the walls of your pores to lose elasticity, sag and appear much bigger as a result.

To combat UV damage, apply an antioxidant serum every morning (we love vitamin C), then after moisturizing, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Just remember, as with your makeup, choose sun protection that’s oil-free and non-comedogenic to avoid any chances of clogging your perfectly protected pores.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could turn back the clocks and retain the skin you had in 2005? Well, sadly we live in the real world and time machines just aren’t an option. However, with some effective skincare and a few tweaks to your lifestyle habits you can definitely delay the visible signs of aging.

Wrinkles, dark spots, dullness and sagging skin are four of the most common signs of aging skin. And while the likes of Botox, dermal fillers and microneedling are extremely effective ways to reduce these concerns and nail younger-looking skin, needles aren’t everyone’s jam. But skincare is. Granted, you’ll never get the same dramatic results from skincare that you would from aesthetic treatments at the doctor’s office but that’s OK, because we know some of you don’t even want such dramatic results. Just to soften those fine lines, add radiance and fade discoloration would be nice, right?

Done. Here’s how.

1. Wear Sunscreen ALL YEAR ROUND

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation around 90 percent of all external skin damage is caused by the sun. Scary, huh? And the main culprits? UVA and UVB radiation. UVA radiation is the real skin ager as it penetrates deep into the skin where it breaks down and damages vital proteins such as collagen and elastin. UVA can also increase your risk of developing melanoma skin cancer which is nasty business. Meanwhile, UVB is the one that tans and burns your skin while potentially increasing your chances of developing non-melanoma skin cancers like basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

All in all, there may be no better feeling than the sun on your skin, but it's seriously bad news so we cannot stress enough the importance of year-round sun protection. We like to think you’re savvy enough to slap it on every day during the summer months when that big ball of fire in the sky is a constant reminder to look after your skin. But fess up, are you as vigilant in the winter when the days are cold and miserable? Thought not.

The thing is, the sun can be just as intense on cold days as it is in summertime. Yes, clouds work to partially block the sun’s damaging rays, but according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), up to 80 percent of UV radiation can still penetrate your skin on cloudy days. And that’s a lot. 

Most derms will agree that your best defense against aging is to wear sunscreen every day. And not just any sunscreen. Stick with a formulation that’s broad-spectrum (this means it offers protect from UVA and UVB), never go lower than SPF 30, apply it vigilantly and you’ll be golden. Oh, and don’t scrimp when you apply. You’ll need a dime-size amount for your face and another one for your neck, chest and hands if these are going to be exposed.

2. Get On The Retinol Train

After sunscreen, a retinol product is arguably the second most important weapon you can have in your skincare arsenal. Especially if you’re in the market for an ageless complexion and, well, who isn’t?

Retinol is an active form of vitamin A that gets converted into retinoic acid by the skin. Here, it works to fight environmental damage, increase collagen production and stimulate cell turnover. It’s one of the most researched ingredients in skincare and is a huge favorite with dermatologists, skin experts and beauty editors alike for its powers to thicken, firm and brighten the skin. In fact, studies have shown that regular use of retinol offers a significant improvement in fine lines after just 12 weeks of use.

Full disclosure: retinol is a potent, active ingredient so it requires a lot of respect. Always do a patch test before applying then introduce it slowly into your routine. Retinol is best applied at night to reduce dryness and redness from exposure to the sun, so start by applying a low concentration such as 0.5 or 1 percent every third night to clean skin before bed. As your skin acclimates, you can up your application to every other night, then after a few weeks, if your skin is tolerating it well, move to every night. If you start to experience redness or peeling, go back to twice a week, or try layering your favorite moisturizer on top.  

3. Fight Free Radical Damage With Antioxidants

After years of abuse from the environment, it’s no wonder the skin you had in your teens is not what it used to be. Overexposure to light, heat and pollution produces free radicals which work like demons to damage everything from DNA to collagen and elastin.

One of the most effective ways to battle the effects of environmental skin damage such as dark spots and wrinkles is to add an antioxidant serum into your daily routine. Antioxidants fight free radicals by diverting their attention away from damaging the good stuff in your skin. And they work. Boy do they work. Super effective antioxidants include vitamins C, E and B3 (niacinamide) – all of which you’ll find in our fabulous serums. Again, just make sure you patch test any new product before getting too slap happy with it.

Also, don’t forget to include as many antioxidant-rich foods in your diet to help your skin and body fight free radicals from the inside. We’re talking berries, kale, spinach, asparagus, carrots, beans and (let’s have a round of applause for…) dark chocolate.

4. Stop Eating All That Sugar

OK, so you know that sugar’s the actual devil when it comes to dental health and your weight, right? Well, it’s also a real contender for skin enemy of the year. And here’s why: it ages your skin like crazy through a process called glycation.

Glycation is a natural process in which sugar in your bloodstream attaches itself to collagen and elastin to produce free radicals called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs which is a clever acronym in itself, don’t you think? These nasty little AGEs cause your collagen and elastin to become weak, stiff and rigid which ends up manifesting itself in dullness, sagging, fine lines and wrinkles. Before you put every ounce of the glycation blame on sugar, however, it’s worth nothing that glycation is a fact of life and always happening within your skin as you age thanks to hormones, sun damage and the other usual suspects. It’s just that a high sugar diet unnecessarily speeds up this process and prematurely ages you up with little to no warning.

The obvious answer is to avoid refined white sugar and simple carbs, but don’t forget the more hidden sweet stuff like high-fructose corn syrup which is often used to sweeten soda, bread, breakfast cereals and salad dressings. Corn syrup is quite possibly the worst of the lot.

5. Look After Your Eyes

Never forget, the skin around your eyes is way thinner, drier and more fragile than the rest of your face which means it’s one of the first areas to show signs of aging such as fine lines (crow’s feet), puffiness and dark circles.

To be honest, crow’s feet are kind of inevitable, but this doesn’t mean you should admit defeat and let nature take its course because there are many way to slow down this particular aging journey. How so? Stop squinting at your computer (maybe an eye test is in order?), wear sunglasses as much as possible, get more sleep (preferably on your back) and up your skincare game with a targeted, moisturizing eye cream that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, green tea, ceramides, peptides and antioxidants – yes, those again.

One last thing: remember to apply your eye cream with as little force as possible – rubbing it in too heavily will do nothing but drag and damage the skin. Instead, use your ring fingers to tap it gently around the orbital bone and then let it sink in on its own.
 
Who needs Botox, anyway?