True Radical Honesty From Our Community

It’s time to celebrate all those awesome women in your life with facials, fun and maybe even a tipple (or two!) of your choice…

Galentine’s Day is just around the corner (February 13 in case you didn’t know!) and we firmly believe this is the perfect excuse to gather your besties and host a pampering get-together to celebrate.

Any excuse, right? ;)

Here’s how to transform a regular girls’ night in into something a little bit special – for your skin and your soul…

First, Do Your Prep Work

Preparation is key for a successful spa night, so start as you mean to go on by creating the right vibe for a relaxing, but fun evening. Here are a few tried and tested tips we’ve honed over the years…

1. Keep It Small. We believe an intimate do is better than a full-on party for this kind of get-together, so invite somewhere between one and five fabulous people to celebrate with.

2. No Need For Formalities. Do away with stuffy invites. Instead, send your guests a funny gif or selfie alongside a few words about what you’re planning – plus where and when it’s going to happen, of course.

3. Comfort Values. Make sure your girls come dressed in comfy loungewear or better yet, fluffy robes and slippers. And have a lovely clean stack of white towels ready for everyone to use.

4. Candles Are Everything. What type of spa are you creating if you don’t have a few of your favorite scented candles lit around the house? You could also spritz your home with a little aromatherapy spray or arrange some gorgeous flowers for the center of the room.

5. Feel The Music. If you have time, create an awesome playlist beforehand. Think about the type of music you and your peeps love; maybe some tunes that bring back fond memories. As long as it puts you all in a happy place, that’s good enough for us.

6. Lovely Libations. While this gathering is more about pampering than eating and drinking, a few snacks and a couple of bottles of bubbles are great for getting the party started. If you’re feeling adventurous you could even create and name a cocktail in honor of the night! Coconut water, pineapple, cucumber and berries are all great for your skin so something that incorporates one or more of these ingredients is going to be a real winner.

And For The Main Event

Once everyone’s arrived and you’ve had time to have a good chat/nibble/sip, let’s do some facials, shall we? Facials are so easy to do and everyone’s skin can benefit from a little love – whether it’s dry, dehydrated, oily or just plain exhausted.

Cleanse First

To start, place a few different cleansing options around the bathroom sink, pile up those fluffy towels and give everyone time to thoroughly wash their skin. We have three awesome cleansers to suit most skin types, and all of them work even better if you spend time giving yourself a facial massage. Not convinced your gal group is clued up on that kind of thing? Not a problem. Be an incredible host and show them how it’s done!

Moisten your skin with lukewarm water first, then apply a dime-sized amount of cleanser (Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser is a great all-rounder for clear, healthy skin) all over your face and neck. Next, use your hands and the pads of your fingers to really work it in to your skin. Avoid tugging at the skin (especially around your eyes), but pay special attention to your jawline, around the nose and up along your cheekbones. This helps boost circulation to bring fresh oxygen to the surface of your skin while draining away unwanted toxins.

Steaming & Face Mask Time

Next, give your ladies the option of steaming their face or relaxing with a face mask – or both! Steaming is excellent for increasing blood flow, loosening excess oils and clearing the pores. But it’s not for everyone and is best avoided if anyone has dry, sensitive skin; are prone to facial flushing or have existing conditions such as rosacea or eczema.

That being said, fill some bowls with hot, but not boiling water for those who wants to get involved. You could also add some essential oils like lavender, chamomile or geranium. Then give everyone a towel to cover their heads while hovering their faces about 12 inches above the water for 10 minutes. The rest of the team can relax with a face mask of their choice. Or pour drinks. Or just kick back and chill – no pressure!

When you’re done, sweep a reusable makeup pad over your face to remove any loosened dirt and debris, then spritz your skin with Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner to hydrate and soothe or try Ocean Minerals Super Toner to boost cell turnover and power up the skin with vitamins and minerals.

Impress With A Serum Bar

Moisturizer is the only way to finish your facial, but before that comes a very important step in anyone’s skincare routine: the mighty serum. Your gal pals will probably have a favorite serum up their sleeves – and by all means, they’re welcome to bring theirs, especially if they have sensitive or reactive skin – but you could also create a cool serum bar showcasing our awesome collection of eight serums. With everything from the classic Vitamin C Facial Serum to our brand new Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum, we’re proud to be able to offer something for everyone. They also look super cute when lined up next to each other on a glass tray or your bathroom shelf.

And we know that’s not important in the grand scheme of things. But still…

Apply just a couple of drops of your favorite serum to your face and neck, patting it gently into your skin rather than rubbing it too vigorously. Then wait a few seconds before finishing with Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

To end the evening, light a fire (unless it’s 80 degrees outside, then don’t do that!), grab some blankets (ditto!) and curl up together with one of your favorite chick flicks. 

What could be better?

Because one small change to your skincare routine = a giant step for the look and feel of your skin…

It’s easy to get into a rut with your skincare routine. We get that. After all, when things are ticking along nicely and your skin seems to be behaving well enough, why put a cat amongst the pigeons?

Don’t get us wrong, we’re all about consistency here at TruSkin. Finding your routine mojo – and sticking with it – is worth its weight in gold. But, unless you’re some kind of inch-perfect superhero who never puts a foot wrong (does that person even exist?), improvements to your skincare routine can always be made. This could be adding an extra treatment serum to your bedtime regimen to help resist the signs of aging now you’ve hit 30, or it might be something as simple as washing your bedsheets more often (*note to self, right there!). Whatever your routine looks like, we know that you (and us included) can always do better.

Read on for some simple tweaks to help upgrade your skincare jam. And excellent news: not only are they super speedy and completely effortless, but they won’t cost you a dime.

First, Detox Your Beauty Cabinet

When was the last time you looked at your product arsenal to figure out which products you actually use and see visibly results from? If the answer is anywhere between six months ago and never, then now’s the time to change that.

Products have a shelf-life and, unless otherwise stated on the packaging, should generally be used within a year of opening. And if you're not sure how long that dusty serum has been hanging around at the back of your cabinet? Then apply a little to the back of your hand. If it smells funny, has changed color or looks separated – toss it. Using ‘off’ products on your face can cause all manner of unwanted issues so avoid even the slimmest chance of that happening by ditching anything old and unused.

Not only can you do without all those 'passed their best' products, but neither do you need 20+ skincare products that overload your skin and cause potential irritation. Instead, basic is best. Of course, by basic we don’t mean sticking with a cruddy soap and bog-standard moisturizer. But cleanser, eye treatment, serum (or two), moisturizer, night cream and sunscreen are perfectly adequate. In fact, this combination is the perfect sweet spot in our humble opinion.

Read Your Labels

You might think you know how to cleanse and moisturize your skin because you’ve been doing it for years. So why read the labels? What could possibly go wrong? Similarly, your skin is super strong and has never reacted to a product in the past, so why should you bother familiarizing yourself with a new product’s ingredients and instructions? Well, the most important thing to remember is that every skincare formulation is different. Sure, washing your face is essentially washing your face, but maybe your new cleanser contains super-strong active ingredients that might irritate your skin if you go in all guns blazing. Or perhaps it's best applied to dry skin first, then rinsed off with water. Who knows if you don’t check first?

Take a minute or so (because honestly, that’s all it will take) to read any new skincare labels before using products for the first time. And while you’re at it, go back and read your existing ones to check you’re applying those correctly, too. You never know, you may just learn something new. And your skin will thank you for it.

Cleanse For An Extra Minute

Rushing through your skincare regimen is a real shame. Not only because applying products should be enjoyable, rather than a chore, but also because taking your time will reap countless rewards.

Cleansing, for example, is often looked over as something to be swiftly checked off your list before getting to the main event of applying treatment serums and moisturizers. Huge mistake. Cleansing is the absolute foundation of great skin, removing potentially pore-clogging debris from the surface while preparing your skin to absorb and maximize the benefits of the rest of your routine. Do it badly, or too quickly and you won’t do a great job. That’s the truth.

So word to the wise: Take. Your. Time. Just a couple of minutes is all it takes to get rid of all that built-up grime, oil, sweat and makeup. Grab your favorite formulation – we have three awesome ones to choose from – and apply it to damp skin, then use your hands and pads of your fingers to gently work it all over your face and neck. Sweep it all over using stroking, lifting motions then massage it in circular motions to help boost blood flow and lymphatic drainage. Honestly, there is no easier way to improve the radiance of your skin.

Swerve The Hand Towel

Being aware of the quality and cleanliness of your face towel is a great way to level up your skincare. How so? Because old or dirty towels can be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. And this is far from ideal for your skin – especially if you’re prone to breakouts.

This means it’s super important to set aside a specific towel for drying your face. Communal bath or hand towels? Unacceptable. Choose cotton or cotton blend towels as these combine the ideal blend of softness and absorbency alongside a little gentle exfoliation. Wash yours after every other use (yes, that means every day!) and replace them every few years.

Layer Up

Skincare layering is an incredible way to supercharge your routine by injecting (not literally, of course!) extra hydration, antioxidant protection, strengthening or acne-fighting ingredients into your skin without too much hassle.

But if you’re going to do it, you need to get your order right.

The general rule is that your thinnest products should be applied first, with the thickest, most dense-feeling products going last. This means the order goes as follows: cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, facial oil and sunscreen.

Another important thing to remember is not to bombard your skin with every AHA, BHA, retinol and vitamin C product you can get your hands on. These are all potent ingredients that can quickly overload your skin, resulting in redness, dryness, excess oils and/or irritation. Take it easy and apply just one serum at a time. Of course, you might want to invest in two or three to tackle different concerns and that’s fine. In fact we love the combination of Vitamin C Facial Serum and Retinol Facial Serum. But we never use them both at once. Instead, apply them on alternate days, or try one in the morning and one at night.

Wear Sunglasses Every Day

OK, so this isn't strictly a skincare tweak, but sunglasses are an awesome way to protect the skin around your eyes from aging up lightning fast, so we’re going with it. Plus it’s easy, stylish and chances are you have a few pairs of sunnies anyway – so why not make the most of them by wearing them even on cloudy days?

The skin around your eyes is thinner and more fragile than the rest of your face which means it’s less able to protect itself from the damaging rays from the sun. And the sun is always there – rain or shine – so protection shouldn't be kept aside for sunny days only.

Shield your eyes every time you go outside with sunglasses that offer both UVA and UVB protection. Go for plastic instead of metal frames to avoid reflecting damaging sunlight onto your cheeks, and choose mirrored over tinted lenses as these are more effective at blocking out those nasty rays.

Trust us, this is an awesome way to help ward off the visible signs of aging around your eyes. Plus, if you combine it with a daily eye treatment like Peptide Eye Gel you’ll be laughing.

Want to hear all about the buzziest ingredient in skincare for the coming year? Interested to know the most important trends going on for your complexion right now? You got it.

Skincare trends are a funny business. After all, the most important thing for skin is to consistently do the best you can for it so you can enjoy its beauty… while trying not to sweat over the not-so-great stuff. ‘Consistency’ and ‘trends’? Hmm, not really two words that go together in the same sentence, are they? Because one’s all about maintaining a regular routine, while the other is all about switching things up to keep up with changes in fashion.

The thing is, however, skincare trends are an entirely different ballgame to fashion and makeup trends. While the latter are all about buying the latest colors, shapes and must-have ‘it’ items, skincare trends are more focused on your skin as a whole. They’re tailored towards different aspects of your skin or specific types of ingredients, products and new technologies that help maximize your skin’s potential and make it truly glow.

So, while we’re all about nourishing your skin with a consistent routine and awesome skincare products, trends are still important to us. What kind of skincare company would we be if we weren’t on top of the latest happenings in our beloved industry? And how could we possibly create and launch new product formulations if we weren’t clued up on what you, our awesome customers, actually wanted? 

On that note, here are some important trends to know for the coming year…

Skin Minimalism (or skinimalism, if you will!)

One of our favorite trends, for sure, is this nod towards stripping back your skincare routine to focus on just a small of number of products that do real good. Gone are the days of applying a bazillion products on a daily basis. It’s totally unnecessary… and often does more harm than good, overwhelming your skin with too many active ingredients and often resulting in irritation and sensitivities.

Instead, the past few years have seen a real trend towards the exact opposite of skin overload. And this trend is set to stay as the economy faces many challenges and frivolous spending is put on hold.

What does this mean in real terms? Well, it’s simple: less is more. No one really needs 15 serums, so take a few steps back, think about what your skin needs and hone your routine to around five or six purposeful products that work in harmony to treat your skin without overloading it. Your skin will totally thank you for it. Oh, and btw, so will the environment.

Multi-Use Skincare

As mentioned, money sets to play a major role in skincare trends as we get into 2023. This means efficient and more affordable, multi-functional products are going to be front of mind all year long.

Chances are you’re doing this already, but if not, it’s an easy one to subscribe to. First up, look for two- or even three-in-one formulations that offer a number of different skin benefits and a whole lot of bang for your buck (hello SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen With Vitamin C which moisturizes, protects and brightens your skin!).

Similarly you’re going to want to try our NEW all-singing, all-dancing Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum which is packed with 11 vitamins, minerals and electrolytes to pump your skin full of all the nutrition it needs while improving tone, texture, strength and elasticity. Apply it after cleansing and before moisturizing to maximize your skin’s potential and cut out all the other unnecessary middle men (ie: countless treatment products that simply don’t cut it!).

A Focus On Your Barrier Function

Respecting the integrity of your skin’s barrier function isn’t a trend per se, but tell us this, did you even know what your barrier function was a few years ago? Thought not. Now it’s on everyone’s lips and 2023 is set to be the year that skincare formulations and routines are entirely based around keeping the barrier function healthy.

A quick reminder: your skin’s barrier function is the uppermost layer of your skin which works hard to protect and moisturize it by keeping all the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. It’s always been there – because, nature – but it’s not really been talked about so much in the past. Who knows why, but what we do know is that now it’s here, it’s going nowhere.

Your action points to ensure you’re totally on top of this one? Avoid over-exfoliating and steer clear of strong, harsh chemicals, preservatives and surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) which are extremely drying on your skin.

Also, make sure you’re boosting your skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF) to help keep your barrier function in good working order. Include plenty of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe in your regimen and couple these with restorative ceramides and reparative emollients and/or occlusives like jojoba oil and shea butter. We love Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which is ideal for a super healthy barrier function.

The Ingredient Of The Year: Tea Tree

Natural ingredients often get mocked for not being glamorous, flashy or even as effective as synthetic, science-formulated ingredients. But in certain cases, this could not be further from the truth. Take tea tree, for example, which, like the desire for a cleaner, greener routine, is seeing a big resurgence in skincare right now.

Used for centuries for its antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory powers, tea tree oil has been proven to contain key components to help kill acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin. Not only that but it’s a genius when it comes to balancing excess oils, reducing facial redness and calming angry skin. It’s kind of like nature’s alternative to benzoyl peroxide – with the added bonus of fewer side effects.

Not to blow our own trumpets but we were well ahead of the curve with this trend and added a brand new product to our tea tree range at the end of last year: Tea Tree Super Cleanser+. Along with our Tea Tree Super Serum+ (which currently comes free with any purchase of the Cleanser!) you can now reap the benefits of this botanical super power across your cleansing AND treatment routine. Bonus.

Your Wellness For The Win

Studies point to a huge link between your mind and your skin so, while we know life is stressful right now, 2023 is all about looking after your mental health in order for your skin to follow suit.

Stress and anxiety both play a big impact on your skin. And not in a good way. For starters they elevate your cortisol levels which can weaken your skin; cause inflammation; deplete collagen; increase sebum production and trigger flare-ups in existing skin conditions like rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. Stress also impairs that all-important barrier function which, as you know, is the key for strong, supple, healthy skin.

This mind-skin connection is extremely motivating and a great thing to focus on when it comes to actively improving your mental well being, raising your self-care habits and enhancing the health of your skin. It also helps you stop seeking perfection and stress less about your lines, wrinkles, zits and oily skin.

Because stressing about them does nothing but send you right back to square one.

Let’s make 2023 the year to help your skin look and feel its best yet, shall we?

It’s 2023 (can you believe it?) and with a new year comes new beginnings. Out-of-reach resolutions, however, that you’ll never achieve – let alone stick with – are so not our mojo. Instead, we believe in realistic goals that help you enjoy looking after your skin and give you visible, natural-looking results you will love.

Want to know how to set up your skincare routine for success for 2023 and beyond? Then read on for five of the best (and totally achievable) new year’s resolutions for your skin…

Goal #1. Simplify Your Daily Skincare Routine

Nailing a routine that works for you sounds simple enough but it can actually be quite tricky when there are so many awesome (and some not-so-awesome!) products out there to try. What’s important, however, is that you’re completely in tune with your skin. This means knowing your skin type and understanding what your most pressing concerns are. Once you get a hold of these important factors, you can build your skincare routine accordingly.

Of course, the basics (cleanser, moisturizer and SPF) are a must, no matter your skin type. But then it’s all about choosing those supercharged add-ons that really boost your routine and improve your skin without overcomplicating things.

To Do: First up, identify your skin type here. Then really look at your skin in the mirror and touch it with clean hands. What are you thinking right now? Does your skin feel dehydrated? Are you noticing some dark spots in certain areas? Or are those fine lines around your eyes getting super annoying?

Identify your main concern, then build your routine around your skin type and concern. And while you’re at it, toss away all those half-used bottles of ‘false promise’ products hiding in the back of your beauty cabinet. They didn’t work a year ago, so they’re not going to work now.

Try: Our Vitamin C range is the ideal way to crush an effective skincare routine without even thinking about it. From cleansing and moisturizing to skin brightening and SPF protection, it’s a great way to start the year as you mean to go on.

Goal #2. Never Go To Bed Without Giving Your Skin A Little Love

You’ve probably made the ‘I will never go to bed without taking off my makeup’ resolution many times in the past. And good on you, because cleansing your skin at night is one of the most important ways to maintain consistently great skin. After all, a build-up of 16 or so hours of oils, sweat, dirt and goodness-knows-what-else is a lot for your skin (and your pores!) to contend with.

But an effective nighttime skincare routine is so much more than cleansing. While you’re asleep, your skin gets super busy repairing damage from the day and strengthening its all-important barrier function. And this is all well and good, but your skin needs a little help as it gets to work overnight. Which is where your skincare products come to the rescue.

To Do: You don’t necessarily need a huge arsenal of extra products for your bedtime routine, but one or two products, specifically formulated to support the vital functions your skin performs while you sleep, will go a long way.

Try: Retinol Facial Serum followed by Retinol Moisturizer or Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

Goal #3. Get Your Daily Vitamins

There are many topical vitamins that pack a real punch in skincare. But knowing what each one does and which work best for your skin is no mean feat. Do you go for vitamin C which is touted as one of the best brightening ingredients and hardest working antioxidants out there? Or maybe you stick with vitamin E which is up there as one of the most moisturizing, soothing vitamins of all. Then there’s vitamin B3 (AKA niacinamide)… vitamin K… and not to forget vitamin A, or the mighty retinol as it’s usually known.

The choices are endless. But this doesn’t mean you should back away from vitamin-based moisturizers and serums simply because you don’t know which to turn to. Vitamin-enriched formulations are a great addition to your routine – plus there’s at least one out there for you, we just know it.

To Do: Again, this is all about knowing your skin, then deciding what to focus on. Here’s a quick breakdown of your most common skin concerns and the best vitamin choice for you.

If Your Main Concern Is… Aging skin or acne, go for vitamin A (retinol)

If Your Main Concern Is… Dry skin, redness or sensitivities, try vitamin B3 (niacinamide)

If Your Main Concern Is… Dullness, dark spots and premature aging, go for vitamin C

If Your Main Concern Is… Dehydration, poor texture or dryness, try vitamin E 

Try: We have a number of facial serums packed with specific vitamins to enhance, repair and treat your skin concerns, but if you're looking for a multi-functional product that offers an incredible balance of all the good stuff, you’ll love our new Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum. Loaded with vitamins B3, B5, C, D, E, F and K, plus minerals, electrolytes, hyaluronic acid and aloe, it’s ideal for all skin types and a great addition to any ‘new year, new you’ skincare routine.

Goal #4. Protect Your Skin, Rain Or Shine

Sure, sunscreen isn’t the most fun of skincare products. But it is, without doubt, the single most important product to use if you care about warding off the signs of premature aging. How so? Because UV radiation is responsible for somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of all external skin aging. Not only that, but according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, applying SPF 15 every day helps reduce your risk of developing certain skin cancers by as much as 50 percent.

Now we don’t know about you, but that kind of pertinent information makes us want to douse ourselves in sunscreen at every available opportunity. And while that may sound dramatic, this is exactly what we want you to focus on this year… and forever more.

The truth is, the sun’s damaging rays are present even when it’s cold and cloudy outside. So, while you might not ‘feel’ the sun beating down on your skin on gray, wintry days, it’s still there. Otherwise... well, it would be nighttime.

To Do: Make sunscreen an absolute priority every morning. And stick with mineral-based formulations that include zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as these are the only sunscreen ingredients currently deemed safe and effective by the FDA. Get into the habit of applying it as your last skincare step every morning and it’ll quickly become routine.

Try: SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen With Vitamin C which is lightweight enough for most skin types and contains broad-spectrum protection. This means it shields your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. That’s super important, btw.

Goal #5. Don’t Ignore Your Eyes

You may be a total whizz with your facial skincare routine, but are you as vigilant when it comes to the skin around your eyes? Chances are, that’s a big, fat no. Big mistake. The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face which means it ages quicker and therefore needs major love and attention.

To Do: First up, don’t underestimate the healing powers of a good night’s sleep. A lack of zzzs not only makes the blood vessels under your eyes dilate but it also leads to water retention. Neither of which are good news for the fragile skin around your eyes. We’re talking dark circles, puffy bags and fine lines.

Secondly, avoid slapping thick moisturizers and potent serums around your eyes as they could overwhelm or irritate this fragile area. Instead, choose an eye treatment and tap it gently around the orbital bone morning and night, using your ring fingers to reduce pressure and minimize drag.

Try: Peptide Eye Gel or Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream. Both of these anti-aging eye treatments are ideal for protecting the skin around your eyes and helping to promote younger-looking skin. The choice is yours!

Let’s stop your skin from going into cold weather meltdown before it’s too late, shall we?

While winter might be fun for the kids and your wardrobe, when it comes to the state of your skin, it’s no walk in the park. Colder temperatures, biting winds, snow and a serious lack of humidity all combine to throw your skin completely off-kilter, making it tight, red and anything from a tad dry to seriously flaky and dehydrated.

And we’re not just talking about the skin on your face, either. Because, while facial skincare understandably takes precedence over the rest of your body (it is the part you look at the most), skin covers every part of your body – from head-to-toe. And during the wintertime, your body, just like your face, will suffer if it gets neglected.

The answer, of course, is never to leave your skin to its own devices. Because skincare doesn’t work like that. Ever. But especially during winter when it has a tendency to freak out thanks to harsh conditions and extreme temperature changes.

Want to keep breakouts, dryness, flaky skin and unnecessary redness at bay this winter? Then here are eight of the best ways to winter-proof your skin…

1. First Things First: Don’t Overhaul Your Entire Skincare Routine

Healthy skin likes consistency, so while it might be tempting to switch up your whole routine when the seasons change, a few minor tweaks are going to be way more beneficial than a complete overhaul.

Listen to your skin as winter sets in and make changes accordingly. Yes, the weather has turned chilly and sure, your skin may start to feel drier and more dehydrated than normal, but don’t change your entire cleansing, toning, treating and moisturizing routine. This is so not what your skin needs. Small tweaks? Good. Complete overhaul? Not so much.

2. Treat Your Barrier Function Like Royalty

Winter can play hell with your skin’s barrier function so if there’s one thing to be aware of as the weather turns, it’s treating this uppermost layer of your skin with love and respect.

If your skin starts showing signs of sensitivities, this is an indication your barrier function has become compromised thanks to a dastardly combination of a cold, dry outdoors and hot, dry indoors which literally sucks all the moisture out of your skin.

Be kind to your skin by cutting back on exfoliation and choosing super gentle cleansers that are free of skin-drying sulfates which strip your barrier of essential oils and hydration. Try Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser morning and night.

You could also cut back on your treatment serums if you think they might be over-stimulating your barrier function. There’s no shame in using something like our Vitamin C Super Serum + just two or three times a week rather than every day. In fact, we highly recommend it!

3. Buy A Humidifier

Cranking up your indoor heating makes the air inside extremely dry so, while they might not be the most attractive things in the world, a bedroom humidifier is an awesome idea for replenishing dry skin during wintertime.

Humidifiers work by replacing lost moisture in the air. This not only clears your sinuses and helps you breathe better, but extra hydration in the air means extra hydration for your skin. This is super important overnight when your skin goes into regeneration mode and needs all the help it can get. In fact, humidifiers are so great for replenishing your skin’s moisture levels, many skin specialists recommend them for people suffering with chronic dry skin or conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Just remember to apply night cream before bed to help seal all that moisture into your skin. And specifically look out for those containing high levels of humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Why? Because humectants work hard to draw all that extra water from the air into your skin. Bonus! Try Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream which is a big winner for winter skin.

4. Moisturize, Moisturize & Moisturize Some More

Speaking of moisture, one product that might be worth levelling up in winter is your moisturizer. It’s no secret that cold, dry weather and artificially heated homes make your skin more dehydrated than normal so most skin types will benefit from some extra help as fall slips away and winter sets in.

If you love your moisturizer and don’t want to try something richer or heavier just because the weather has turned, we totally respect that. In fact, we celebrate it because there’s an ideal alternative – simply add a hydrating treatment serum into the mix. Our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is an incredible way to boost the moisture levels in your skin. Apply it to damp skin after cleansing, then apply moisturizer over the top.

5. Try An Oatmeal Bath

Itchy skin on your body is a total bummer, but very common in winter when it’s cold outside, warm inside and your skin is often wrapped in layers of clothing.

A great way to soothe dry, itchy skin is to have a warm, oatmeal bath. Oatmeal helps reduce inflammation while protecting, calming, moisturizing and soothing dry, flaky skin. Simply grind a cup of plain oats into a fine powder, add it to your bath and relax. Just don't stay in there for too long...

6. Resist Hot, Hour-Long Soaks

Bathing your skin in hot water is tempting when it’s freezing outside, but it can be pretty detrimental to your skin. You know how your fingers and toes sometimes look all crinkly after too long in a hot bath or shower? This is all thanks to dehydration. Hot water basically strips away the protective lipid layer from your skin’s barrier which means all those lovely fats, proteins and moisture are able to readily escape.

Bathing and showering is great, for sure, but only if you use lukewarm, rather than scorching hot water (with some added oatmeal for extra moisturizing effects!) and limit your time to 10-15 minutes. Also, make sure you apply plenty of moisturizer afterwards, from head-to-toe, to seal water into your skin and help strengthen your barrier function.

7. Stick With The Sunscreen

Sunscreen often gets packed away as soon as temperatures drop below 70. But this is a silly mistake you do not want to make. Of course, you won’t need full body SPF every day when most of your skin is concealed by clothing, but any areas not covered up are going to be exposed to UVA radiation – come rain, shine, snow, whatever.

Apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen to your face and neck as the last step in your morning skincare routine to ensure your delicate skin stays shielded from UV damage every day of the year.

8. Finally, Pay Extra Attention To Your Hands

One of the areas to suffer the most during winter? Your hands. Again, this is all thanks to the cold, dry air – combined with constant hand washing, of course.

Our advice? Don’t stop washing your hands for starters! Instead, use gentle cleansing, sulfate-free products and always apply hand cream afterwards. Wear gloves when you’re doing the dishes, and apply a rich cream to clean hands every night before bed. You could even pop a pair of cotton gloves over the top to really amp up your overnight moisturizing game while helping to heal and calm dry, itchy skin.
 

It's time to take back control when life feels uncertain…

Dealing with the world can feel pretty darn hard sometimes, don’t you think? And if regular life isn’t enough to contend with, the last few years of ‘you-know-what’ has helped not one bit. Hands up if you’re still working in a makeshift office in your already cramped apartment? Or if you continue to shiver at the thought of all those months of figuring out home schooling? It’s true, the world really threw us a curve ball in 2020. And we don’t mind admitting, it’s been a lot to deal with ever since. 

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), mental health statistics have continued to worsen since 2020 with things like health issues, money problems and global uncertainty being major sources of people’s daily worries. And when life feels too much, your mental wellbeing is often the first thing to take the strain.

Stress can manifest itself in many ways. From skin breakouts and digestive issues to chronic headaches and restless nights of (no) sleep, it’s clear your mental health plays a major part in your physical health. But minimizing the stresses of daily life isn’t something that can be solved with the click of your fingers. It takes time, thought, and, if it becomes serious and/or long-term, often requires professional help.

There are also some important ways to help deal with minor stress that you can do at home. Of course, if you feel like things have gotten out of control and you’re finding it hard to cope, you should always seek help from a qualified mental health expert. But if your stress is manageable and you think a few tweaks to your lifestyle could really help, we’ve got your back with these simple, yet effective de-stressing tips...

4 Of Our Favorite Ways To De-Stress

1. Write Stuff Down

One of the most common, and simplest ways to help you clear your mind of negative thoughts and give yourself some kind of clarity, is to write things down in a journal. Channeling your thoughts onto paper not only helps you release stress, but the process allows you a few moments to yourself to breathe, relax and focus on something other than life.

Dedicate 10 minutes or so every day to write down what’s bothering you. And don’t worry about grammar or spellings, you’re not trying to impress anyone, it’s just a way to vent your feelings and release tension. One of the best times to do this is before bed because it helps you get things off your chest, allowing your mind to switch off and thus help you get a better night’s sleep.

Another great trick, further down the line, is to look back on your journal and read about the things that get under your collar. This helps you understand your stress triggers which, in turn, can go a long way to avoiding or at least controlling them.

2. Prioritize Some Me-Time

Juggling work, family, friends and home life makes it way too easy to put yourself last. Bad idea. Your health is extremely important and if you’re not functioning well, everything else will suffer in the long run. It’s a bit of a vicious circle when you think about it.

Research shows that people who take care of themselves have much lower levels of stress and burnout. This is why me-time is so important. Time to spend with yourself, with nobody bothering you for anything. And a great way to achieve this without fleeing the country for a week? With an at-home pampering session in the comfort of your very own bathroom.

Choose an evening each week to lock yourself away with a relaxing playlist and a couple of scented candles. Run a bath, take a soak and read a book. Maybe do some deep breathing while your skin enjoys the powers of a deep cleansing face mask. Whatever makes you feel special and calm works for us.

When you’re done, treat your skin with your favorite serum – we’re all over our new Peptide Facial Serum right now – apply Peptide Eye Gel, then finish with Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to set up your skin perfectly for a great night’s sleep. Stress can really takes its toll on your skin so it’s vital to look after it!

3. Try A New Hobby

There’s countless proof that hobbies are an awesome way to reduce symptoms of depression and stress. From learning a new musical instrument to knitting or stand-up paddle boarding, focusing your attention away from the difficulties in life, puts yourself in a whole other headspace without really thinking about it. What’s more, learning a new skill or partaking in a new activity can be extremely fulfilling and joyful. It might even lead to something bigger like a new profession or entire new group of friends. And we say a huge ‘yes’ to that.

4. Look After Number One

Hobbies and me-time are all well and good, but looking after yourself 24/7 should be your first priority. Your diet, for a start, should be balanced, well-rounded and packed with energizing, nutritious foods like antioxidant-rich fruit and veggies, nuts, seeds, lean protein and oily fish. Studies also show that processed foods, sugar, caffeine and alcohol are the devils when it comes to stress as they promote the release of the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol. It’s therefore prudent to limit these as much as possible. Don't completely starve yourself of the odd treat every now and again. Just don't make them a daily habit.

Looking after yourself, however, isn’t just about eating well. Exercise is also super important. The big caveat, of course, is that you have to find something you actually enjoy doing, rather than forcing yourself into something you hate. Yoga and pilates are awesome for de-stressing your mind while improving your strength and releasing happy hormones into your body. But you might not enjoy those kind of physical activities which means you a) won’t stick to them and b) won’t get the best from them. And that’s totally fine. Think about what you do like and work your activities around that. Basically, anything that gets your blood flowing will reduce your stress levels and improve your mood both in the short- and long-term. Exercise will also improve your sleep and boost your energy. Major kudos for that.