True Radical Honesty From Our Community

When it comes to new skincare products, patience is a virtue. So, don’t get mad when your vitamin C serum doesn’t give you instantly glowing skin. Just get real and give it a chance.

We bet you’ve all been there: invested in a fancy, new overnight glow-getting serum that’s promised to give you radiant skin just like the advertising campaign portrays. You’ve smoothed it lovingly over your face with nervous excitement and anticipation of the miracle results you ‘know’ you’re going to be faced with after just one application… Then you’ve been sorely disappointed when you wake up with the same, average-looking complexion the next morning. Sigh.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Even the most seasoned beauty editor has put their every hope on a new product being ‘the one.’ But unlike your favorite red lipstick or those sexy black Manolos, skincare rarely offers such instant gratification.

So, how long should it really take before you see results from your new whizz-bang skincare product? Well, it all depends on the job that product is trying to accomplish. Is it a basic moisturizer simply there to relieve surface dryness? Then, yes, it should do that straight away. But if it's a retinol cream you’re hoping will help reduce enlarged pores and fine lines, it’s all about the long game, or more specifically working with your skin’s natural life cycle.

Here’s the deal. Your skin is constantly regenerating itself. Skin cells form within the deepest layers of your epidermis, then as they mature they work their way up to the surface of your skin where they die and shed. (Fun fact: you lose about 50 million skin cells every day. Yes, that's a lot.)

The life cycle of your skin takes around 28 days in an average adult, but it's much quicker when you’re younger and continually slows down as you age – no surprise there. This means any skincare product that works on a deeper, cellular level will also take at least 28 days to take effect and work on every cell that’s reached the surface of your skin. Makes sense? We hope so.

If you’re not sure what to expect from a new skincare product, the general rule of thumb is to give it about a month to do its best work. But let’s break it down a little more, shall we?

The Instant Gratifiers

Products that don’t claim to work on a deeper, cellular level are quite capable of getting the job done instantly. Most cleansers, for example, are simply there to remove dirt, oil and makeup from the surface of your skin so they're able to take care of business without requiring weeks of waiting. Similarly, toners, exfoliators and face masks all offer instant results because they work primarily on the uppermost levels of your skin. And we’re not saying this is a bad thing. Far from it. You just need to know that instant results rarely offer long-term advantages.

There are two main exceptions to this rule, however. Namely chemical exfoliation and moisturizer.

Chemical exfoliators such as those containing glycolic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid offer both short and long-term benefits. A chemical exfoliator’s main job is to help accelerate sluggish cell turnover by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells so they’re able to shed more easily. This not only gives you instantly more radiant skin, but helps improve the strength, thickness, texture and tone of your skin in the long-term. Some may also help prevent congestion and pimples with continued use.

Depending on what you were using before, a new moisturizer might also give you both immediate and long-term benefits. Most moisturizers contain a combination of humectants, emollients and/or occlusives to draw moisture into your skin and hold it there. This offers all manner of instant relief such as immediate hydration and skin softening benefits. But you’ll also reap enhanced results over time (usually between two and six weeks) as all these ingredients work hard to maintain moisture and improve your skin’s barrier function.

Moisturizers (and in some cases, cleansers) may also contain other active ingredients such as retinol or vitamin C, so if this is the case you should always play the slightly longer waiting game for the best results.

Speaking of which…

The Long Game Players

Any formulation that works on a deep, cellular level and causes semi-permanent changes to the biological makeup of your skin will need at least four weeks of patience and continued use. This will allow the active ingredients to work on a whole cycle of skin cells, by which point those cells will be visible on the surface to give you an indication of how effective (or not) the product has been.

Long game players include the likes of retinoids, growth factors, peptides, antioxidants like vitamin C and any ingredient that claims to treat acne. And while we said that 28 days is the sweet spot for the tortoises in this skincare race, sometimes six or seven weeks is required before you’ll see the best results. In fact retinol often only reaps true rewards after two months of continued use. We repeat, patience is a virtue.

When it comes to treating discolorations, be extra sensible with your expectations – especially during summer when those evil rays from the sun will be fighting hard to combat any good you’re doing with your active skincare routine. Give all brightening products (yes, even hydroquinone) two or three months to do their best work and wear a broad-spectrum SPF daily to ensure the sun doesn’t win the pigmentation war.

Finally, Don’t Forget

Introducing new products into your skincare routine should never be rushed. Always perform a patch test first to help reduce irritation, and only ever introduce new products one at a time, giving yourself two weeks before trying another. This will help you understand if there are certain products and ingredients your skin might not tolerate.

Any new product that makes your skin itchy, sore, red, peel or break out means it might not be the right fit for your routine. Granted, some ingredients such as retinol have this kind of ‘purging’ effect in the short-term, but if symptoms persist or get worse, stop using it and visit a board-certified expert for advice.

Are you suffering with flare-ups around your chin and cheeks? Chances are they’re all down to wearing a face mask for prolonged periods of time. The good news is we can help with that.

The world in which we currently live has created so many challenges to our health it’s hard to keep up. But it doesn’t look like Covid-19 is going away any time soon and the impacts of this extremely complicated virus are very real. We’re not qualified to go too deep into this horrible disease, but what we can do is help with one issue that’s become a real struggle for many people: acne on the cheeks, chin and jawline that's caused by the constant mask-wearing we're faced with for the foreseeable future, otherwise known as maskne.

What Is Maskne?

Maskne is not a new phenomenon. Any healthcare worker can tell you that wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) 24/7 can cause nasty reactions on the skin. It’s just that you and we are not used to it and so, with the help of Instagram and Twitter, we’ve given it a new name;)
 
The real medical term for maskne, however, is acne mechanica.
 
Acne mechanica is a term given to localized acne spots caused by pressure, friction and/or continued rubbing against the skin. This stress irritates the hair follicles and results in a build-up of oil, dirt, sweat and bacteria. And there are no prizes for guessing what all those nasties end up doing to the skin. Breakouts galore.

As well as healthcare workers, footballers often feel the brunt of acne mechanica across the tops of their backs and shoulders thanks to constantly wearing shoulder pads. Truck drivers may also suffer with it where their backs rub against their seats. And now, the nation is feeling their pain thanks to the necessity of wearing a face mask in public to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.

But friction isn’t the only cause of maskne. All that warm, moist breath creates a delicious environment for bacteria to breed on your skin. And when you couple this with the synthetic materials most masks are made of (yes, we’re talking to you nylon, rayon, polyester and acrylic)? Well, your skin stands literally no chance of fighting maskne.

Actually, we take that back, because with a little know-how and some top notch skincare swag, you can totally win the maskne war. Here’s how…

5 Ways To Prevent & Treat Maskne

1. Keep Your Skin Clean And Moisturized

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the number one way to prevent mask-related skin irritations is to cleanse and moisturize your skin well and often.

Keep some fragrance-free, biodegradable cleansing wipes in your purse for quick, on-the-go cleansing, and thoroughly wash your skin both morning and night with a gentle, non-pore clogging cleanser. We love our Charcoal Face Wash which contains activated coconut charcoal to absorb oil and balance your complexion, plus soothing aloe and antibacterial lavender.

And word on the street is that you folks love it, too…

“I noticed a big difference after using this for three days,” explains TruSkin customer, Liz Brown.
 
“I had started breaking out in my mask area around my chin and jaw line. I’m 41 and was breaking out like a teenager. <But this> works great! I plan on keeping using this and even made a Facebook post telling all my family and friends,” she adds.

Thanks Liz, we're so glad you love it as much as we do.

For an effective clean, always wash your hands first, then massage the cleanser over your damp face and neck using the pads of your fingers to gently work it all over. Rinse thoroughly and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

After cleansing, whatever other skincare serums and treatments you like to use and however oily your skin is, never forget to moisturize as this will not only strengthen your natural protective barrier, but will help reduce friction and irritation from your mask. Go for light, but effective moisturizers that contain humectants and emollients rather than heavy occlusive ingredients like butters and oils.

2. Be Mask Savvy

Having the right kind of mask to best protect yourself from Covid-19 is obviously the most important thing here and experts agree that those with at least two tightly woven layers of fabric are the most effective.

To help reduce maskne, swap out masks made from synthetic fabric for 100 percent cotton. Cotton is lightweight, washable, breathable and allows moisture and heat to escape way more easily than its synthetic counterparts, so make sure you stock up on a few so you’re never without. Also, ensure your mask fits snugly, but comfortably, as this will offer further protection while reducing irritation at the same time.

Another important piece of mask advice is to clean yours after each use and especially after exercising. This will help get rid of saliva, nasal secretions, dead skin cells and microbes from hanging around in your mask and doing their dirty deeds. Pop yours in the laundry regularly – using a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic detergent – or hand wash it after every use using mild soap or shampoo.

3. Skip The Heavy Makeup

In an ideal sitch, we’d say go makeup-free whenever you need to wear your mask. But we know many of you would rather eat your own toenail clippings than venture into the outside world with no makeup on. Caking your skin in heavy foundation, however, will just exacerbate flare-ups, so try to go light and oil-free all the way.

Tinted moisturizers are great if you like wearing a light dose of color to even out your skin tone, but if your skin craves more coverage, try mineral foundations. These are generally non-pore clogging so are perfect for oily or problematic skin types. They also protect your skin from the sun as an added bonus. Woot.

4. Go Easy With Active Skincare Ingredients

When your skin is irritated and sensitized its barrier function has been compromised. This means strong, active ingredients such as retinol, antioxidants, AHAs and BHAs could cause even further problems to the surface of your skin including redness, itching, dryness and peeling.

To keep irritations to a minimum, curb your actives for a short while by applying them on a less frequent basis (perhaps every two or three days, rather than daily) or choosing gentler formulations that contain lower concentrations of active ingredients.

Also, if your skin is really suffering, the AAD recommends sticking with what you know rather than introducing new, potentially irritating products into your daily routine.

“To reduce skin problems, avoid trying harsh products such as chemical peels, exfoliants or retinoids for the first time,” recommends board-certified dermatologist Daniela Kroshinsky, MD, MPH, FAAD.

5. Remember, No Touching

Avoid transferring even more bacteria, dirt and oil to your skin by keeping your hands well away from your face. Yeah, yeah, we know your hands have probably never been so clean, but still, they have no place touching your skin. End of.

Finally, if you’ve tried everything but your skin is still suffering, please don’t hesitate to contact a skincare professional for advice. It may be that your breakouts are being caused by something other than your face mask, but an expert will be able to diagnose this far better than you.

High on stress and low on rest? The delicate skin around your eyes will be the first to suffer.

With the world dictating some major mask-wearing for the forseeable future, your eyes have never been more important. Annoying, then, that the skin around your eyes is thin, fragile and prone to dryness, meaning it ages super-fast and totally gives the game away when you're tired. Sigh.

So, if you're looking for the best ways to solve inevitable eye issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, puffiness and dark circles, you've come to the right place.

Here are our top three ways to up your anti-aging eyecare game.

1. Don’t Underestimate The Power Of A Good Night’s Sleep

Even though the sleep sweet spot is between seven and nine hours a night, a whopping 40 percent of Americans get less than seven hours. That’s a lot of people not getting enough zzzs, and a lot of you whose appearance is probably suffering because of it. You’ve all been there, right? Woken up after a crappy night’s sleep only to be faced with dark circles and bags under your eyes. So not what the beauty doctor ordered.

The harsh truth is that skipping on sleep does a real number on the skin around your eyes. Lack of sleep makes your blood vessels dilate (hello dark circles), leads to water retention (ditto puffy eyes) and can even decrease moisture levels in your skin (dry skin, be damned). You know that term ‘beauty sleep’? Yeah, that.

The solution? Go to bed earlier, for one; skip caffeine in the evening; don’t eat too late and disconnect yourself from your smartphone at least 30 minutes before you turn in. Words With Friends can wait until the morning.

2. Add An Eye Cream To Your Skincare Routine

As well as it being thinner and more fragile, the skin around the eyes is generally drier than the rest of your face, so it requires extra moisturization and a delicate touch. It also gets a vigorous, daily workout due to constant muscle movement from talking, squinting, frowning, laughing, eye rolling, the works. It’s no wonder, then, that the skin around your eyes is among the first areas to show the visible signs of aging.

And this is where a quality eye cream comes into play. Note, the word ‘quality’ – after all, like most skincare formulations, not all eye creams are created equal. We believe it’s all about key ingredients that have been tried and tested to offer results. And our three favorites for the skin around your eyes? Hyaluronic acid, peptides and antioxidants. 

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

Say hello to the darling of the skincare industry. And rightly so because hyaluronic acid does, for sure, pack a very powerful hydrating punch which is super-important for the dry skin around your eyes. Countless studies prove that HA holds more than 1,000 times its weight in water giving it an amazing ability to draw moisture into the skin. Just remember, however, if a product formulation doesn’t include some kind of occlusive emollient to seal in the moisture, it’ll just evaporate from the surface of your skin rendering all that delicious HA, well, kinda pointless.

Occlusive emollients include things like ceramides, cocoa and shea butter, squalane and various oils such as jojoba and olive.    

Peptides

Peptides are small chemical compounds that create the building blocks of essential proteins such as collagen, elastin and keratin. It’s a little confusing, we know, but bear with us. Without these proteins, skin loses its firmness, smoothness and suppleness, so the objective for peptides in skincare is to help stimulate collagen and elastin production for healthier, more youthful-looking skin. Make sense? Good.

By strengthening the skin, peptides have also been shown to help improve dark circles under the eyes and the appearance of puffiness. Gotta love that.

Antioxidants

If you don’t stop pesky free radicals (caused mostly by environmental damage) from damaging valuable collagen and elastin in your skin, your eyes will pay the price and leave you with any number of concerns including crow’s feet and sagging skin.

And the only way to win the free radical battle? With antioxidants such as vitamins C and E which have the unique capacity to neutralize free radicals before they get the chance to strike.

In case you were wondering, our Anti-Aging Eye Cream and Eye Gel both contain all of the above (group hug).

To make the most from your eye treatment, never use too much and try not to be too heavy-handed with it. This means a tiny dab (less than a pea-size) should be enough for both eyes.

Apply it to one ring finger, then press it between your other ring finger to get an even distribution for each eye. Next, lightly press, don’t rub, each ring finger around each eye, working it around the orbital bones and over your brows as instructed on the label. Using your ring fingers rather than your forefingers means you’ll get a much lighter touch which reduces dragging (read: wrinkles). 

3. Make Better Lifestyle Choices

Whether it’s sugar, salt, alcohol or a combination of all three, your vices are the source of many skin concerns. All three of these oh-so-good, yet oh-so-bad treats are extremely dehydrating and not only exacerbate dryness to your skin but may cause fluid retention, sagging skin and dark circles under your eyes.
 
Sugar, specifically, is seen as the root of many skin evils. One word: glycation. Glycation is the name of the process in which sugar molecules attach themselves to proteins (namely collagen) and fats in your skin, causing them to become stiff and inflexible. The end result is a severe loss in your skin’s elasticity and an acceleration in the visible signs of aging.
 
Instead of constantly over-indulging in salt, sugar and booze, up your intake of beans, oily fish, nuts, tomatoes and leafy green veggies.

Boring, we know, but totally worth it in the long run.

Applying your products in the wrong order or in record-breaking time is asking for serious trouble. So, if dry patches, itchy skin and flare-ups are so not your jam, let’s get this layering malarkey nailed, shall we?

Knowing when (and when not) to apply your skincare products can be something of an art form. Does your antioxidant serum come before or after your moisturizer? And what about sunscreen? Also, are you supposed to wait a few minutes between applications or can you just go for it and layer to your heart’s content?
 
So. Many. Questions.
 
But don’t worry, because we’ve all been faced with the dilemma of which battalion of serum to apply first and thought 'what the heck, I’m gonna apply them both – together.' Instant regret.

So, should you hone down your regime into a couple of key products? Or do you simply need to learn how to play the skincare cocktailing game? Actually, it’s kind of up to you and the concerns you want to address. But if you need a little help getting started, we’ve put together a four-step guide to the art of skincare layering.
 
Here it goes...

1. Understand Your Skin

Some of you can get away with applying product after product with no adverse reaction (lucky you), but this is not the case for everyone. For example, while a nightly dose of 1 percent retinol could be a slam dunk for many of you, it might be way too intense for anyone with sensitive or dry skin.

The key is to understand your skin and learn what it does and does not like. And the best way to do this? Always patch test a new product before trying it all over your face. This way you’ll learn if your skin becomes irritated by a particular ingredient. Also, give new products a chance to work before you write them off completely. Your skin takes between four and six weeks to turnover, so the general rule of thumb is to give new products this amount of time to really do their thing. No judging after 24 hours, OK? Unless you’ve had a negative reaction, of course. Then you’re totally OK to judge. And to stop using it.

One other thing: if you ever become sensitive to one of your favorite serums, but can't bear to trash it, try applying a gentle moisturizer first to reduce its potency and cause less irritation. And if it still causes issues? Then it’s time to say ciao.

2. Get Some Order 

When it comes to knowing what to apply when, obviously you know that cleanser happens first, then toner. But what should come next? Well, if you’re using some kind of treatment serum for acne or pigmentation, for example, this should follow your toner.

Next up would be an antioxidant serum like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide, followed by eye cream, a pimple treatment, moisturizer, face oil and finally a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning.

Obviously, your skin doesn’t need ALL of these, every day, but moisturizer is the one product everybody should use. Reckon your skin is too good, oily or zitty for moisturizer? Think again. Moisturizer not only locks in, er, moisture, but it balances your skin and seals in all those products you’ve applied previously to help them work more effectively and efficiently. You need it. You just do.

Sunscreen is also vital every morning and, without question, always comes last because most (and especially mineral sunscreens) are formulated to sit on the surface of your skin. If you apply sunscreen before your serum, for example, it’ll literally block it from penetrating your skin. That’s just wasteful.

Not sure if your product is a serum or an oil? Then get a feel of its texture, weight and viscosity and compare it to the rest of your skincare line-up. Then all you need to remember is that your thinnest product should be applied first, with the thickest, most dense product going last.

Makes so much more sense now, right?

3. Don’t Overload Your Skin With Actives

While it may be super-tempting to bombard your skin with AHAs, BHAs, retinol and vitamin C, remember, you can have too much of a good thing. And in this case, too many hard-working, active ingredients can cause breakouts, dryness or in worse cases, severe irritation. Most derms agree that three treatment products is the maximum anyone should apply.

We recommend either sticking with actives that have been cleverly formulated in precise concentrations to work synergistically together (oh hi there, C-Plus Super Serum). Or go for just one main, active ingredient in your morning regimen (vitamin C, for example) and a different one in the evening (retinol, of course).

4. Finally, Take Your Time

Remember, your skincare routine should be something you enjoy, not a race to the finish line, so take time when smoothing products onto your skin. And avoid any frantic rubbing. Slowly and gently pat and press products into your skin as this helps minimize friction and allows them to absorb way better. 

Also, try to give yourself a little breather between product applications. If you pile all your products on in quick succession you could wipe away the previous one, therefore a) wasting it and b) increasing your chance of pilling. Instead, stick the coffee machine on between applications or check your FB feed for a few minutes to allow each product to settle into your skin before applying the next.

These extra minutes will not only be beneficial to your skin and give you the perfect base for your makeup, but they'll help you start off your day on the right foot – ie: not in a complete frenzy.

If you’re the type of person who lovingly exfoliates, treats and moisturizes your face religiously… but then stops at your chin, congrats on the former, but shame on you for the latter. The fact is: ageless skin should never begin and end with your face.

Obviously, your face is the first area others see and it’s exposed to environmental stressors on a daily basis, so needs a lot of TLC. And yes, the skin on your face is also thinner than the rest of your body, making it more delicate and sensitive to the elements. But the thing is, there’s so much more to beautiful, healthy skin than just your face.

Think about this: the front of your head accounts for just 4.5 percent of your total surface area. Now, that’s a lot of skin going unloved and uncared for – 95.5 percent of it to be precise. Food for thought, right?

So, if you reckon it's time to pour some attention onto that large expanse of skin from your chin to your toes, then good on you. Here’s how…

1. Exfoliate All Over

Gentle exfoliation is just as important to your body as it is to your face.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), you lose between 30,000 and 40,000 skin cells every day, and if you let these dead skin cells sit around on the surface of your skin, they'll make it look dull and miserable. Nobody wants that. To give your dead skin cells a little nudge in the right direction (ie: down the drain), exfoliate twice a week with a gentle, pH-balanced scrub, or try using a loofah as you cleanse. It really is as simple as that.

2. Try Dry Body Brushing

Dry body brushing is also a great (and inexpensive) way to encourage cell turnover. It works by stimulating both your circulatory and your lymphatic systems. The lymphatic system is what keeps your body’s immune system in check by draining and removing dead cells, metabolic waste and toxins. Allow your lymphatic system and your blood flow to become sluggish and your skin will thank you in the form of dry patches, dullness, cellulite, acne and, well, need we go on? Thought not.

To really work both systems, brush your body daily, before showering, working from your ankles upwards and using long strokes or circular motions. Be gentle (it’s not supposed to be torture) and avoid open wounds, rashes, varicose veins, freshly shaven legs and sunburn. After a few weeks, guaranteed you’ll notice your skin is softer and much more radiant. Plus, any product you apply to your body afterwards is going to be more readily absorbed and therefore way more effective. Gotta love that.

3. Moisturize Daily

Just like the skin on your face, your body becomes drier and itchier in the fall and winter as the climate gets cooler, windier and less humid. So, while you might have been able to ‘get away with’ not moisturizing from head-to-toe in the summer months, that won’t be the case for the rest of the year.

If you buy just one moisturizer this fall, make it TruSkin Vitamin C Moisturizer which is packed with vitamin B5, shea butter, aloe, green tea and pure organic jojoba oil for a lightweight, yet super-effective full body moisturization. Vitamin C also helps fight free radicals and leaves your skin literally glowing. Granted, there’s no such thing as a ‘miracle’ cream, but this one comes darn close. Use it every day after bathing and showering and apply it while your skin is still slightly damp to help lock moisture in.

4. Target Acne

Pimples on your face are bad enough, but when they rear their ugly heads on your back, chest and buttocks? Well, that’s just rude. Again, dry skin is often the culprit, especially at this time of year when skin overcompensates for things like dry, cold weather and indoor heating.

To treat acne gently and effectively, target flare-ups with a balancing cleanser and never forget to moisturize with a non-pore-clogging, light lotion. You could also spot treat pimples with products containing benzoyl peroxide, witch hazel or tea tree oil.

Sweating under heavy coats, panty hose and sweaters won’t help the acne sitch either, so wash your clothes regularly and wear natural fabrics as much as possible to stop sweat and oils from getting trapped on your skin.

5. Protect Your Hands

Let’s get one thing straight, any skin that’s not covered up by clothes needs to be protected from the sun – whatever the weather. Love your tinted, SPF 30 moisturizer and wear it all year round, without fail? High-fives to you. But what about your hands?

Oh.

Hands are exposed to the elements just as much as the skin on your face, yet they rarely get looked after or smothered in SPF. The skin on your hands also contains very few hair follicles and only a very thin layer of fat, making it prone to dryness – especially with all the hand washing you’re doing these days. Poor mitts, they literally stand no chance.

To keep them hydrated and protected, apply moisturizer after washing your hands and slather sunscreen over the top before going outside.

6. Be Skincare Savvy

Don’t be fooled by anti-cellulite or firming creams that over-promise – if they sound too good to be true, they probably are. The fact is, no cream can melt away fat or get rid of your cellulite: that’s what surgery and aesthetic treatments are for.

If you are looking to help firm, tone and smooth the skin on your legs and booty, however, dry body brushing (see above) is a great play. Moisturizing your skin daily with an antioxidant-rich lotion that’s pumped full of ingredients to boost collagen and elastin production will also go a long way in helping reduce orange peel thighs.

7. Avoid Hot Baths

Although super-tempting on a Sunday night with a glass of red and some relaxing beats, a long soak in a hot bath is bad, BAD news for your skin. Hot water strips the skin of its naturally protective lipid layer, making it super-dehydrated and more susceptible to irritation and sensitivities. And if you’re an eczema or rosacea sufferer? Don’t even go there.

The longer you’re in hot water, the worse it is for your skin, so either stick with warm showers or if you can’t give up your weekly soak, limit your bathing time to 10 minutes and add a little lavender or chamomile oil to your tub to help reduce dehydration. Essential oils can be unpredictable, however, so if you’ve got sensitive skin, tread carefully.

8. Nix Annoying Bumps

Do you suffer with pesky, sometimes itchy little bumps that like to hang out at the tops of your arms or thighs? This is called keratosis pilaris ('chicken skin' to its frenemies) and is caused by a build-up of keratin in the hair follicles.

The best way to treat keratosis pilaris is three-fold. First, avoid abrasive body scrubs in favor of a weekly chemical exfoliation – scrubs will just aggravate the skin and potentially make the situation worse. Second, always moisturize after showering or bathing. And third, try a gentle, topical retinol treatment. Derived from vitamin A, retinol helps increase cell turnover which will prevent keratin from clogging up your skin.

9. Pamper Your Neck & Chest

While the skin on most of your body is thicker than your face, this is the opposite when it comes to the skin on your neck and décolletage. And not only is it thinner, but it has fewer sebaceous glands, so if you leave it to its own devices it’ll feel dry and age quicker than you can say, ‘time for a neck lift.’

The trick is to treat these areas as you would your face. Whenever cleansing or exfoliating, smooth any extra product down your neck and over your chest area. Similarly, treat them to a little of your facial serum every now and again, especially if it's a brightening one – the décolletage is particularly prone to dark spots.

Lastly, moisturize both your neck and chest area daily with an antioxidant-rich moisturizer containing hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides.

10. Add A Little Glow

A vacay tan might not be an option right now, but that doesn’t mean your skin can’t have a little bit of a glow. Granted most of your skin is going to be covered up during fall and winter but that ‘aint necessarily so, so if you fancy self-tanning (especially for the holidays), we say go for it.

If you’ve followed these tips, you’ll already have the ideal base for a flawless tan, so grab a tanning mitt to protect your hands and go. Just remember to work on clean, dry skin and other than your knees and elbows, leave your skin unmoisturized because oily residue will cause the color to streak.

If your skin is feeling a bit ‘meh’ but you’ve neither the time nor the energy to hit up your go-to skincare guru, it’s time to amp up your at-home facial skills.

Nothing beats the feeling of indulging your skin for an hour at the hands of a true professional. Whether you’re a chemical peel lover, a microdermabrasion fan or a lymphatic drainage facial kinda girl, having someone else dedicate their time to improving the quality and health of your skin? That’s priceless.

But if only things were that simple. Life, work, finances, even the world (here’s looking at you, Covid-19) can often get in the way of your monthly me-time. And that’s kind of annoying. The good news is there is something you can do about it… and all in the comfort of your own home. We’re not saying you can take the place of a truly qualified facialist, dermatologist or esthetician – far from it – but once a week, set aside some quality time out, then arm yourself with the right intel and some clinically-proven skincare products and it’s possible to recreate a spa-level facial in no time.

Here's how.

Step 1: Set The Mood

Slapping a sheet mask on your face while rushing around doing the laundry does not make for the most ideal moment of zen. And we know you know that, so why don’t you put it into practice? Ever been to see a beauty therapist only for her to stop half-way through your HydraFacial to check her Insta feed? Thought not.

So, to create the perfect setting for your at-home pampering sesh, make sure you treat it as if it were a true professional job. First up, put your phone away, set aside an hour and tell anyone you live with – roommates, S.O.s, family, whoever – to leave you alone. End of.

Next, choose some relaxing beats, light a candle or two, pop on a clean fluffy bathrobe, wash your hands (important) and get ready for the real deal. Better still, have a pre-facial soak in a warm, lavender oil-infused bath. Now, we’re talking.

And if this all sounds too much like frivolous nonsense, remember, it’s not. Setting the perfect scene is vital for helping you to relax, de-stress and give you the right frame of mind to concentrate on what matters: your complexion, not your chores.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Step 2: Deep Cleanse

Clean, perfectly prepped skin is the only way to start, so choose a gentle cleanser that has your skin type written all over it. Not sure of your skin type? Then think about how it feels after you’ve cleansed and left your skin free of product or makeup for a few hours. If it feels greasy and looks shiny, it’s most probably oily, whereas if it feels tight, it’s dry. If it’s a bit of both, then it’s combination and if it’s neither one nor the other, then lucky you, you probably have normal skin.

Great cleansing takes a little time, so don’t just slap water and cleanser on your face then hope for the best. Instead, take a minute or two to massage your skin with the pads of your fingers as you work the cleanser into your face and neck. Focus on areas of excess oil or congestion, but be extra gentle around your eyes to avoid tugging the skin in this thin, delicate area.

All this takes a matter of minutes but will help boost circulation, remove toxins and give you the perfect canvas to continue to the next step.

Step 3: Let Off Steam

Back in grandma’s day, steaming was everything and while we love exciting new beauty tools and modern techniques, sometimes the old tricks are the best ones. Even better news? Steaming is something everybody can do, for literally zero dollars.

Steaming is one of the most beneficial skincare tricks for boosting circulation, softening the skin, opening your pores and loosening trapped oil and debris. The heat also makes you sweat, which further promotes a good clear-out of unwanted toxins. Just remember to leave the extractions to the pros to prevent damaging your skin. It’s honestly not worth it, people.

For the perfect steam, simply fill a sink or bowl with hot water, then cover your head with a towel and hover your face about 12 inches above the water for 10 minutes to trap the steam in. You could even add some fresh herbs, essential oils or tea to the water to help detoxify or soothe your skin. To finish, gently pat your face dry with a clean towel, then tone your skin to cool and whisk away all those impurities the steam has loosened from your pores.

Important note: super-hot temperatures cause the blood vessels in your skin to dilate which leads to redness and flushing. Therefore, if you suffer with dryness or sensitivities like eczema or rosacea you might want to give this step a miss.

Step 4: Time To Exfoliate

Ever had a facial that didn’t involve some kind of exfoliation? Us neither because little beats it for sloughing away dead skin cells and accelerating cell turnover ­– the key to a glowing, healthy complexion.

Don't get us wrong, physical exfoliators can be super-effective if they're gentle and avoid using nasty things like ground nutshells to scrub and often damage the skin. But here at TruSkin, we believe chemical exfoliators are superior.

Chemical exfoliators harness the power of active ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to ditch dead skin and encourage the fresh new stuff to take its place. Spend a couple of minutes after steaming to massage a gentle chemical exfoliant all over your face and this will really help leave it polished and clean.

Rushed for time? Then our Daily Super Toner, which contains glycolic acid (an AHA) will take care of business in seconds.

Step 5: Master A Mask

Now for the best bit when you can apply a face mask and become horizontal for 10 minutes (ssh, don’t tell your kids/roomie/lover).

Masks come in many different guises, so the only piece of advice we have here is to choose yours wisely, depending on your skin type or concerns, and avoid anything that’s brimming with alcohol or other skin irritants.

Clay and charcoal are awesome ingredients to look out for if you have oily or acne-prone skin as these are super-effective at detoxifying and cleaning out your pores. If you feel like your skin needs a serious hydration boost, however, try masks that contain vitamin E, B5 or aloe vera. And if you want to help reduce the signs of aging such as fine lines or pigmentation? Then go for mask that’s been formulated with antioxidants like vitamin C. It’s literally the best.

Step 6: Treat And Moisturize

The best way to finish any type of facial is with a carefully curated serum and moisturizer combo to lock in all that good work you’ve just done. You’ve got this, we’re confident of that, but to remind you, look for formulations that contain hyaluronic acid which is one of the most effective moisturizing ingredients out there and ideal for all skin types.

Your serum should be applied first, then leave it a minute or so (time to pour a glass of wine, maybe?) before applying moisturizer. Again, spend a few moments massaging your face and neck as you moisturize to help de-puff the skin while boosting circulation and collagen production. You could even invest in a jade facial roller if you’re feeling really fancy;)

And you're done.