True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Who knew your smartphone was yet another thing to be concerned about in the war against aging skin?

There are many arguments against allowing your smartphone to rule your life 24/7. Stopping you from living in the moment, making you have a crappy night’s sleep, the lack of real-life social interaction (although that’s not happening much right now) and so on.

Well, here’s another one to add to the list: wrinkles.

If you can remember life before cell phones, chances are you’re currently in the throngs of middle age when fine lines and wrinkles are already a given. And even if you were born in the ‘90s and don’t legitimately recall a time in adult life when you didn’t own some kind of mobile device, you may still be concerned about the visible signs of skin aging. And good on you – prevention is better than cure, after all.

So, just how is your phone adding to your aging woes? Well, firstly, it’s all about the way in which you look at your phone while texting, browsing social media or playing Words With Friends etc. Constantly looking down is a repetitive movement and you all know what repetitive movements mean? Yes, fine lines and wrinkles. In this case, we're talking about those annoying creases or bands around the circumference of your neck, aka ‘tech neck.’ Similarly, squinting and frowning at your phone will do nothing for the lines on your forehead and around your eyes. Sigh.

But your actions aren’t the only thing to blame for this premature aging battle with technology. Your smartphone also has a lot to answer for: namely high-energy visible (HEV) light.

HEV light is a high-frequency, high-energy light that sits in the violet-blue part of the visible spectrum and is basically what gives off that blue glare from your phone (as well as your computer, tablet and laptop). Studies have suggested that HEV may have similar, perhaps even more damaging effects on your skin as UV radiation, having the potential to disrupt your skin’s natural barrier function and causing inflammation, pigmentation, collagen damage, premature wrinkles and more. *Swiftly puts phone down.

It’s not all bad news though, people. You just need to think more about how you can protect your skin from your smartphone habits. And here are three simple ways to do just that...

1. Assess How & When You Use Your Phone

It's an obvious one, but take a little digital detox to limit the number of hours you spend on your phone. Put it down after 8 pm, for example, or give yourself one morning off every week. Time out will give your skin the breathing space it needs to regenerate and heal itself.

You could also invest in an earpiece and turn on your Bluetooth setting to minimize the amount of HEV light that hits your skin.

Oh, and make sure you look up (or at least straight ahead), rather than down at your phone all the time. By holding your phone at eye-level, you’ll stop your neck from becoming scrunched up and prematurely wrinkled.

2. Always Protect Your Skin

Great skincare is the foundation to awesome skin, so invest in an effective antioxidant serum that’ll help protect and heal your skin. Vitamins A and E are great options, as is niacinamide which is a winner for more sensitive skin types. Our antioxidants usually contain a combination of at least two antioxidants making them 100 percent up for the challenge of anything you throw at your skin – HEV light included. Try our best-selling Vitamin C Serum for added brightening benefits.

Next, never forget to apply sun protection. There are many sun protective products out there that shout about protecting your skin from HEV light, but in all honesty, any mineral-based broad-spectrum sunscreen (they're the ones containing ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) will do the job nicely. Apply it liberally every morning to your face and neck.

Last but not least, turn on the night or dark mode on your phone. This reduces the amount of blue light your device emits in favor of yellow light which is way less damaging.

3. Up Your Overnight Skincare Game

It's literally impossible to have your head in your phone while you’re sleeping, so this is a great time to apply hard-working skincare products to help heal any damage your phone may have caused your complexion throughout the day.

Retinol is a great shout for promoting cell renewal, as are hydroxy acids such as lactic, glycolic and salicylic. And don’t forget to moisturize both your face and neck before bed, using a combination of emollients and humectants such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter and jojoba oil.

Before we go, one final word on acne.

Cell phones are a total grime magnet, so if you’re a traditionalist and like to use your phone for actually speaking to people (shock, horror!), all that bacteria, oil and dirt will be transmitted straight to your skin where it'll clog pores and possibly lead to irritation and acne flare-ups.

If you suffer with super oily skin that has a tendency to break out, ensure you keep your phone clean. Easy.

Sensitive skin can appear anywhere on your body, at any point in your life (dang). Which is why knowing what causes it and how to avoid your triggers are key.

According to research, 60-70 percent of women and 50-60 percent of men claim to have sensitive skin. Now, we don’t know about you, but that sounds like a helluva lot of people. Right?

Sensitive skin comes in many guises and can mean anything from a persistent reaction to a certain skincare ingredient or environmental trigger, to full-blown rosacea, eczema or in worse cases, a severe allergic reaction.

Think you might have sensitive skin, but aren’t sure why or what’s causing it? Here's what we know…

What Is Sensitive Skin?

According to the International Forum for the Study of Itch (IFSI), sensitive skin is defined as ‘a syndrome defined by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations – stinging, burning, pain, pruritus (itchiness) and tingling sensations – in response to stimuli that normally should not provoke such sensations.’

When your skin is exposed to something it doesn’t like nerve endings in the top layer become irritated, which is what causes your skin to burn, flush, feel itchy or become flaky.

These stimuli are usually things like chemicals, fragrance or active ingredients in your skincare products, as well as extremes in temperature or even certain types of metal in your jewelry. And watch out for your hormones, diet, stress levels and sleep patterns as these can also have a major effect on inflammation and dry skin.

But why do some people have sensitive skin and others don’t? Well, it’s mainly down to genetics which is a shame because there’s not a lot you can do about that. However, a weakened or compromised barrier function is another major factor in your level of sensitivities, so make sure you skin’s natural protective layer is strong, protected and cared for and this will go a long way into reducing irritation. More on that later...

What Are The Most Common Causes Of Sensitive Skin?

There are many different levels of skin sensitivities and some can be a sign of more serious, underlying conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and rosacea. That being said, most sensitivities are caused by a reaction to something topical that your skin’s not a fan of. This is known as contact dermatitis and comes in varying degrees of severity, from slight redness and itching through to burning and blistering of the skin.

Environmentally sensitive skin is also fairly common and is caused by environmental factors (the clue's in the name!) such as pollution and sun exposure.

Lastly, your skin becomes more sensitive as it ages because it naturally becomes thinner, weaker and therefore more easily irritated. There's a surprise. Sigh.

How Can You Tell If You Have Sensitive Skin?

Self-diagnosing skin sensitivities is all well and good if your reactions aren’t too severe and you have plenty of time and patience to eliminate certain products, then wait and repeat until you find the culprit. But we think life’s too short for that, so your best bet is to have a dermatologist check your skin. They’ll ask you questions about your family history to rule out or diagnose underlying conditions or they may carry out a number of skin or patch tests to determine if a certain ingredient or food is the root of your problem. Either way, allow the professionals to deal with this one. It’s way easier and quicker than taking it on yourself.

Which Ingredients Should Sensitive Skin Avoid?

Learning about your triggers from your doctor is the most important factor in avoiding skin irritation and inflammation but there are many common allergens in skincare (and laundry detergents, don’t forget those) that you should give a miss.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) natural rubber, fragrances, dyes, preservatives and metals are the most common allergens in cosmetics. Things like parabens, which you won’t find in any TruSkin product btw, are preservatives that prevent harmful stuff growing in products such as cleansers, shampoo and moisturizers. However, they’re super irritating to the skin so should really be avoided if you have any kind of skin sensitivities. Formaldehyde is another nasty preservative that sensitive skin hates. Leave. Well. Alone.

This may sound a tad confusing but just try to avoid unnecessary fragrances, preservatives and dyes in your products and that'll help no end. And if you still find your skin is causing you grief? Then get thee to the derm’s office.

How Else Can You Manage Sensitive Skin?

Another simple way to reduce your chances of developing or aggravating sensitive skin is to strengthen and care for its natural barrier which is the uppermost layer of your skin, AKA the stratum corneum.

The stratum corneum is kind of like a brick wall that works like a defense shield to retain moisture and protect your skin from the environment and anything else you subject it to. Everyone’s is different and it will naturally weaken as you age, but care for your stratum corneum with savvy skincare and it will repay you by maintaining strong, healthy skin that is free from irritation.

To best improve your skin’s barrier function, avoid harsh chemicals in your skincare, go gently as you exfoliate, and moisturize every morning and night. Great ingredients to look out for in your moisturizers are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, colloidal oatmeal, ceramides and shea butter as these are well tolerated and work hard to maintain and nourish your natural moisturizing factor (NMF).

You'd also be wise to protect your skin daily with an antioxidant serum such as our potent but gentle Niacinamide Facial Serum, and don’t forget that all-important daily sunscreen.

Those age-old skincare tricks of eating well, sleeping well and keeping stress to a minimum are also super important ways of keeping skin irritations to a minimum.

Oh, and take a look at all of your beauty products (makeup included) and trash anything that’s either out of date or looks or smells funky. Products that have been hanging around forever are likely to have become spoiled or contaminated by bacteria and other nasties. Your skin does not want to come into contact with those. Gross.

Excellent news: these genius skincare tricks will literally cost you nothing.

A consistent skincare routine is the first step to awesome skin, but did you know there are further ways to help make the most of what nature gave you? What’s more, some of the most effective skincare hacks are totally free.

So, without further ado, let’s check them out, shall we?

1. Wash Your Hands Before Cleansing

Cleansing is one of the most important steps in your skincare routine, but are you guilty of washing your face without washing your hands first? Yeah, you’re not the only ones. But do you really want to be transferring all that grime from your hands to your face? Thought not. Even if your hands don’t look dirty, chances are they’ll have recently touched any number of surfaces since you last washed them, so just give them a quick clean before cleansing or touching your face to reduce your chances of transferring bacteria, oils, dirt and other chemicals from one place to another. Fail to do this and you could increase your risk of sensitivities, irritation and acne flare-ups. 

Similarly, if you like to use a face cloth, make sure you wash it every day. Without fail.

2. Brave A Cool Rinse

Speaking of cleansing, a final rinse with cool water is an old but great Hollywood trick that helps soothe, tighten and depuff your skin. Charlize Theron is apparently a big fan of this hack (erm, we’d all love skin like hers, right?) and the legendary Joan Crawford swore by running an ice cube all over her face.

Cold water not only improves circulation to the skin to give you a fabulous, instant glow, but it acts like an astringent to help keep your pores in great shape. But remember, using cold water for your whole cleansing routine might not offer the level of cleanliness you’re after. We recommend (as does the American Academy of Dermatology) using lukewarm water along with an effective but gentle cleanser like our Skin Clearing Charcoal Face Wash to cut through oils and remove makeup and pollutants that may have built up on your skin throughout the day. Rinse thoroughly and then turn on the cold faucet for a quick final rinse with cool water.

3. Sleep On Your Back

When it comes to bedtime, one thing is almost as important as getting your eight hours of zzzs. And that’s the position in which you sleep. Lying on your front is the biggest no-no since smushing your face into your pillow is asking for wrinkles (aka sleep lines) to become permanently etched into your skin. This friction between your pillow and your skin can also trigger acne mechanica which is when skin flares up due to continued rubbing and pressure.

Your best bet is to sleep on your back as this keeps your face, and in fact your neck, well away from constant friction from your pillow. It also allows your night creams and serums free to do all their good work without fear of being absorbed right into your pillowcase – which is so not cool. Lastly, sleeping on your back helps minimize puffiness around the eyes as it reduces excess fluid from pooling. You know, gravity and all that.

4. Apply Skincare To Damp Skin

Applying serums and moisturizers to dry skin is fine and you’ll reap their benefits, for sure, but if you want to really get the most from your treatments, apply them when your skin is still slightly damp after cleansing. By applying serum or moisturizer to damp skin you help lock in extra moisture. Damp skin is also more receptive to skincare ingredients, allowing them to penetrate quicker and more effectively. It figures, therefore, that by improving absorption you get way more bang for your beauty buck. 

If you have sensitive skin, however, you should tread carefully with this one. Active ingredients like vitamin C and retinol are pretty powerful, so if your skin is reactive you might not want to up their potency. Instead, stick to applying them to dry skin – always performing a patch test first, of course. 

5. Try A Facial Steam

If you’re prone to acne, redness and flushing, you can skip this one as steaming will make your conditions worse. But for the rest of you, if you’re looking for a super cheap (read: free) radiance boost, you can’t go wrong with a facial steaming sesh.

Steaming increases perspiration to help remove toxins while simultaneously enhancing circulation to boost the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your skin. Win-win. It also helps hydrate your skin as long as you immediately (within a minute) apply serum and/or moisturizer to seal all that water in.

Don’t bother spending your hard-earned dollars on a high-tech facial steaming machine, however, simply place your face over a bowl of recently boiled water for 5-10 minutes, placing a towel over your head to trap in the steam. Just remember not to get too close to the surface of the water (ouch) and give it a minute or so to slightly cool down after boiling.

If this doesn’t sound like your jam, another option is to submerge a clean towel in hot water, then wring it out slightly, lie on your back and drape it over your face.  

Limit steaming to once or twice a week as any more than this could make your skin dry and dehydrated which is literally the opposite of your goal.

6. Keep Your Eye Gel In The Fridge

We don't subscribe to the ‘keep all your skincare products in the refrigerator’ idea, and would never recommend you waste your money on those cute, Insta-worthy beauty fridges that can set you back a couple of hundred dollars. Yes, they’re adorable, but quite honestly, they’re kinda pointless. After all, skincare products have to go through vigorous shelf-life testing before they’re released to market, so why should they need refrigerating? Answer: they usually don't.

There are two exceptions to this rule, however. After-sun, for obvious reasons, and eye gel.

Keeping your eye gel in the fridge will offer a delicious cooling sensation to the skin around your eyes, giving a doubly soothing effect. As an added bonus, the coolness will also constrict the blood vessels to reduce puffiness or swelling and help revitalize tired eyes.

If you suffer with morning puffy eyes, you should 100 percent try this trick. You won’t regret it.

Looking to ward off lines and wrinkles for as long as possible? Unfortunately, you can’t turn back time or stop the natural aging process, but a few lifestyle changes can make a whole world of difference.

Skin aging is a fact of life – and in all honestly, you should feel privileged to have all those years of wisdom under your belt. But natural aging (known in the biz as intrinsic aging) is OK, right? Because, unless you’re some kind of Hermione Granger, this is inevitable and all down to your genes and your body’s natural ability to heal and repair itself as you get older. Extrinsic aging, on the other hand, now that’s a whole different story…

Extrinsic aging is the term for anything that affects how your skin ages, other than your genetic clock. Smoking, sun worshipping, boozing, you know the drill. And it’s all this perfectly preventable stuff you need to work on if you want to maintain youthful-looking skin for as long as possible.

Here are ten easy lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent your skin aging up way before it should.

1. Don’t Over-Cleanse

Cleansing your skin is super-important, for sure, but if you scrub your face morning and night with products that contain harsh ingredients like sulfates, you’ll strip away all those good oils. You could also compromise your skin’s natural barrier function, causing dryness, irritation and all manner of other complaints that will accelerate skin aging. Instead, be kind as you cleanse, choosing products that balance and hydrate your skin, rather than leaving it high and dry.

If you’re in the market for a gentle, yet effective cleanser, our Vitamin C Daily Facial Cleanser is perfect for the job. It also contains 15 percent vitamin C for added age-busting, antioxidant powers. 

2. Buy A Humidifier

Living in a home that’s void of moisture is a terrible idea for your skin. How so? Because science. More to the point, dry air (particularly in winter) will suck every last drop of moisture from your skin. To counteract the effects of cranking up the heating or air conditioning, invest in a humidifier for your bedroom and/or home office – these are the rooms you spend most of your time in, after all.

Can’t afford a humidifier right now? Just place a bowl of water in your room to help add moisture back into the air.

3. Practice A Little Facial Yoga

Working out your face is a great way to improve circulation, build tone and help reduce sagging skin or unwanted expression lines. It’s also free and can be easily done while you’re at your desk, making dinner or watching TV.

Some of our favorite exercises include: puffing out your cheeks repeatedly; looking towards the ceiling and pouting for a few seconds; or opening your mouth super-wide, sticking your tongue out and roaring like a lion. Repeat each of these, five times a day and you’ll start to notice a real difference in the clarity and firmness of your skin.

4. Wear SPF Every Day

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the sun plays a major role in the way and speed in which your skin prematurely ages. And we have to agree, the sun is a complete disaster area. The problem is UV radiation – specifically UVA and UVB radiation. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin where they cause free radical damage and break down collagen and elastin. Meanwhile, UVB rays are responsible for tanning and burning which is just as bad for both your skin and your overall health – two words: skin cancer.

Stay out of the midday sun, for sure, and protect your skin whenever you spend time outdoors. We always recommend applying a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ to exposed areas, including your hands.

5. Eat A Healthy Diet

While anything in moderation is OK, a diet that’s super high in the likes of sugar, salt, processed meats, bad fats and refined carbs will be pretty rough on your complexion. Sugar and refined carbs, for example, attach themselves to proteins in your skin in a process called glycation which damages valuable collagen and can result in any number of aging concerns like wrinkles, dark circles, enlarged pores, the works. Meanwhile, an overload of salt draws water from your skin, making it more prone to dryness, dehydration and everything that goes with it.

Make sure you don’t overdo the bad stuff, while upping your intake of antioxidant-rich, collagen-preserving fruit and veggies. Avocados, broccoli, red bell peppers, watercress, blueberries and pomegranates all have powerful anti-aging properties. Also, don’t forget your omega 3 fatty acids – found in nuts and oily fish – to help keep your skin soft, supple and plump.

6. Never Forget To Moisturize

Just like gentle cleansing and sun protection, moisturizing your skin is one step in your routine that should never be dismissed. Yes, even if you have oily skin. Water (especially hot water) strips your skin of its natural oils, so always apply a lotion or cream after washing to reduce dryness.

Look for moisturizers that contain a clever combination of humectants (these draw water to the skin) and emollients (which lock it in) for the best results. We love our Vitamin C Daily Facial Moisturizer which contains jojoba oil, glycerin, shea butter and vitamin E, so it literally checks all those boxes. And more.

7. Quit Smoking

Do we seriously need to go here? OK, well if you are a smoker and the damage it can cause to your health isn't enough to make you stop, hopefully this will.  

“The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more likely you are to develop wrinkles and other age-associated changes to your face,” explain experts at the Mayo Clinic.

Tobacco affects the elasticity, texture, tone and even the color of your skin. It also impairs healing and may worsen conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Not. Good.

8. Turn Your Frown Upside Down

Frowning contracts the underlying muscles on your forehead, so if you frown repeatedly it’ll cause annoying lines beneath your brows (AKA ‘elevens’) to become prematurely etched in. 

To reduce your chances of getting frown lines early in life, wear sunglasses whenever you’re outside to stop you from squinting. And if you find yourself frowning or squinting when you read, type or watch TV, it could be time for an eye test. Just saying.

9. Sleep. Lots.

Insufficient or poor sleep is one of the biggest beauty no-nos because overnight is when collagen production peaks to help heal, restore and repair your skin. The National Sleep Foundation recommends between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. So, come on y’all, Netflix will still be there tomorrow.

For some quality zzzs, make sure your bedroom isn’t too hot or cold, never eat a big meal before bed and… Put. Your. Smartphone. Down. The National Sleep Foundation also recommends using essential oils like lavender to help calm your mind and ease you into a good night’s sleep. Oh, and try not to sleep with your face smushed into the pillow night after night as this can exacerbate crease lines. And they might not spring back like they used to ten years ago.

10. Apply A Nightly Retinol

Last but not least, if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to embrace the mightiest of anti-aging skincare ingredients, retinol.

Retinol has an almost magical way of ‘communicating’ with your skin cells to make them produce more collagen and turn over more efficiently. This is excellent news for your skin because more collagen equals younger, firmer, plumper skin, while efficient cell turnover results in more radiance, healthier pores and fewer issues with pigmentation. This might sound too good to be true, but derms, beauty editors and every other skin expert you can think of swear by the powers of retinol (and its prescription-only cousin, tretinoin).

Retinol is a potent ingredient however, so you should always perform a patch test first, before slowly introducing it into your routine.

Just one last thing before we go. Remember, we don’t expect you to make every single one of these changes immediately (we’re not complete savages). But a little tweak here and there will make a whole world of difference. That is all.

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?