True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Summer may be history (for now), but dull weather doesn’t mean your skin has to look equally as cruddy.

It’s only November and we’re already missing those long, sunny days when our skin automatically glowed with health. Dang. But here’s the thing: just because the weather has become duller, colder and a little gray around the edges, your skin can still be as radiant as a balmy, July day. You just need to know how to boost your circulation, encourage healthy skin turnover and maintain clean, clear, hydrated skin.

Sounds too much like hard work? On the contrary. Below, ten quick and easy tips for glowing skin ­– all year long.

1. Exfoliate, Baby!

Exfoliation is definitely ‘the one’ when it comes to quick fixes for brighter, happier-looking skin. And the reasons are simple. Exfoliating your skin – whether you use a scrub, mitt, cleansing brush or chemical treatment – encourages your cells to turn over more efficiently, ridding the surface of dulling dead skin cells and allowing all of the fresh stuff to take their place.

Over-exfoliating can have the opposite effect, however, breaking down your skin’s important barrier function and causing your skin to become angry, red, irritated, dry, pimply or any number of other things that aren’t top of your skin’s wish list. The key, therefore, is to go gently – we recommend using a kind-to-skin chemical treatment like our new AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant – and start out just once or twice a week until your skin acclimates. Sure, you can slowly build up to daily use but listen to your skin and don’t push it. Less is best.

2. Embrace The Upside Down

Want to immediately get blood flowing to your skin with absolutely zero effort? Simple: hang your head upside down for a couple of minutes each day. This immediately rushes circulation to your face and neck, flooding your skin with radiance-boosting oxygen and nutrients. And don’t worry if you can no longer contort your body into a headstand. Just lie back on your bed, face up, and tip your head back over the edge. Everyone can do that. Stick with two or three minutes, max, however. Any longer might make you feel funny. And yes, ‘funny’ is the scientific word for it!

3. Go Big On Hydration

Dehydrated skin is a major cause of dullness because thirsty skin is unable to reflect light as well as soft, hydrated skin.

So word of warning: never let your skin get too parched, people. Drink plenty of water and layer a hydrating serum under your moisturizer to ensure you draw lots of moisture to your skin’s uppermost layers. We’re all over the epic combo of Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum, followed by Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer.

More on the mighty vitamin C in a sec…

4. Try A Quick-Fix, DIY Face Mask

Blending your own, DIY face mask may remind you way too much of your teenage years, but get the right formula and you’ll be on to a real winner. We’re big fans of mixing together plain yogurt, avocado and a teaspoon of honey and slathering this all over our face and neck for around 10 minutes. Yogurt is great for soothing inflammation and gently exfoliating the skin while honey and avocado add that vital hydration and moisturization. 

Needless to say, remember to rinse thoroughly. Well, dur.

5. Moisturize Before Bed

Of course you’re not going to skip moisturizer in the morning (ARE YOU NOW!?) but before bed, certain skincare practices often go out of the window. Because tiredness, laziness, a few too many wines… things get in the way.

However, if you really want your skin to be happy, healthy and glowing, neglecting your night time routine is a big mistake. And no, swooshing a cleansing wipe over your skin does not count.

Every night – without fail – cleanse your face and neck, apply your favorite serum and never forget to moisturize with a gentle but high-powered night cream. Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is awesome for refueling your skin as you sleep – literally wrapping your skin in nutrients, antioxidants and rich botanical extracts. It’s a must if you want to wake up with radiant skin before you even look in the mirror.

6. Eat Your Way To Radiant Skin

Antioxidants are a super important part of your diet, whatever your health and skincare goals. But for a brighter, more radiant complexion, they are everything. Of course, we’re never going to deprive you of your favorite treats every now and again, but as a rule, try to include more nuts, seeds and colorful fresh fruit and veggies in your diet. Specifically, reach for things like strawberries, broccoli, grapes, walnuts and almonds.

7. Get Up Close & Personal With Vitamin C

Vitamin C is non-negotiable in the search for glowy skin. It just is. With decades of research under its belt, it’s been proven time and again for protecting your skin from the nasty effects of environmental free radical damage. And if you weren’t aware of just how damaging free radicals can be, know this. They’re seriously bad news for your collagen, breaking it down and killing your skin’s plump, radiant mojo.

But that’s not all, vitamin C also helps inhibit melanin production to help keep dark spots and patchy skin in check. Honestly, it’s a skin brightening shoo-in.

If you’re worried about the potential irritating effects of vitamin C on your sensitive skin, you're right to. But it's not out of the question for any skin type, as long as you look out for gentler derivatives like sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP). We only ever use SAP in our vitamin C products because it’s effective, for one, and way less irritating, for another. What’s not to love?

8. Kickstart Circulation With Gua Sha

Massaging your skin with your hands and fingers is a great way to give circulation a kick up the booty. But if you fancy going the extra mile, try a little facial gua sha.

Fast becoming a given in many a proficient skincare routine, gua sha is an East Asian massage technique that involves working a flat, rounded gua sha tool over the skin to relax your facial muscles, encourage microcirculation and help reduce puffiness while boosting radiance and firming the skin. You simply hold the tool (usually made from jade or rose quartz) flat against your skin and then stroke the curved side in one direction over your face and neck. We like to apply a facial oil first to help it glide over your skin more smoothly. You could also do it while your skin is wet, after cleansing.

9. Don’t Skip Toner

Many people can give or take toner but if you’re looking to really amp up your glow, a great toning product can prove an awesome tool to have in your skincare arsenal. Of course, it’s all about choosing the right one but go for deeply hydrating formulations or anything with gentle, skin-nourishing ingredients and you’ll find your skin instantly looks perkier. Added bonus is that toners can help the rest of your regime penetrate your skin more effectively.

10. Fake It, Till You Make It

Of course, makeup can be a true friend when your skin is not playing fair. Illuminating lotions or ‘glotions’ that combine moisturizing benefits with subtle color and highlighting shimmer are great for faking lit-from-within skin. But they can be little too shimmery for some – especially if you have oily skin. A great trick? Mix a drop with your regular foundation or moisturizer to dilute the shimmer.

You could also try dusting a mineral highlighting powder over the high plains of your face to draw attention and reflect light. Just don’t go too ‘bronze’ with the shade as warm, dark tones can age you up lightning fast.
 
 

Want to better the texture of your skin and help transform the rough into the smooth? Done.

Skin concerns can vary greatly. Whether it’s hormonal breakouts that just won’t let up, puffy morning eyes after too much of a good time, or pesky dark spots that crop up on your cheeks every year – no matter how prudent you are with the sunscreen – there’s always something.

Take rough, uneven skin, for example. Poor texture might not be life threatening or even that noticeable to the untrained eye. But we get it, touching your skin and feeling bumps, flakes and rough patches instead of baby-smooth skin is as frustrating as hell. 

So, why is uneven skin texture such a royal pain in the butt? Well, bumpy skin can be super persistent for starters. It's also impossible to cover up with makeup. In fact, makeup often makes it look ten times worse. And then there are the gazillion reasons why it’s there in the first place. OK, maybe there aren’t that many, but you get the picture.

If you’re fed up with bumpy skin simply not letting up, read on for some important intel that might just help you say ciao to the rough stuff…

First Up, What’s Causing Your Uneven Skin Texture?

Oh, if only we had a straight answer to this question. But alas, when it comes to the health of your skin, things are never quite that black and white.

Poor skin texture can be caused by any number of things which is pretty unhelpful, we know. Thankfully they can, at the very least, be put into four main camps: chronic skin disorders; sluggish cell turnover; an overly complicated skincare routine and surprise, surprise, the sun.

First up we have skin disorders like rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and acne. All of these can make your skin feel bumpy and rough to the touch – especially during flare-ups. And if you’re not careful, scarring from severe acne can also leave you with textural issues in the long-term. So, if you think you might be dealing with some kind of chronic skin complaint like the aforementioned, the only real way to get a handle on what’s going on is to get a professional diagnosis from a dermatologist. Trying to solve these on your own (particularly when you don’t know what you’re dealing with) can be a long, hard struggle and even then you might never achieve the best results.

Other textural issues are most commonly caused by sluggish cell turnover which allows dead skin cells to persistently stick around at the surface of your skin. This results in dullness, dehydration and rough, clogged pores. And then there’s an overly complicated skincare routine that’s packed to the brim with active ingredients. Active ingredients are great in moderation, but too much of a good thing can totally over-stimulate your skin, leaving it feeling bumpy and irritated.

Finally, the sun. This is the one thing you can blame for almost all of your skin woes. And it’s valid. UV radiation disrupts your collagen supplies and causes your cells to prematurely break down and die, leaving you with seriously uneven skin texture (and tone, for that matter!).

How To Boss Smoother Skin

As mentioned, for slightly complicated issues like rosacea and eczema, get thee to a derm. However, if you think your textural issues are more a case of poor cellular turnover, cruddy skincare and/or too much time in the sun, here are five fantastic ways to help smooth things over…

1. Exfoliate On The Reg

The best way to accelerate cell turnover and reduce build-up on the surface of your skin is to exfoliate more often. Don’t get us wrong, most people don’t need to exfoliate daily – that can exacerbate the problem – but two or three times a week with a physical scrub, or three to four times a week with a chemical exfoliant can do wonders for bumpy skin.

Our awesome NEW 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant is a great choice for textural issues because it’s formulated with a sweet blend of glycolic acid, salicylic acid and glucolactone which provide the ideal amount of deep exfoliation and oil control, without upsetting the balance of your skin.

2. Don’t Skip Your SPF

UV radiation is a devil on the skin, screwing up your pores and totally messing with collagen production. Both of which are bad news if you want to get anywhere near the heady heights of smooth skin.

Protect your skin every day with a mineral sunscreen that has a minimum of SPF 30 and is also broad-spectrum. The latter is super important because it means it protects your skin not only from UVB radiation (which is what the SPF denotes) but UVA radiation as well. And that’s the stuff that gets right through those clouds on cold, wintry days, damaging your skin, rain or shine. Try our fabulous SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C as the last step in your morning routine.

3. Make Retinol A Bedtime Favorite

Of course, one of the best ingredients for uneven skin texture is retinol. As per! Although totally different to exfoliants, retinol also has a clever way of boosting turnover and accelerating collagen production to help improve texture, tone, acne, the works. Retinol is not always advisable for rosacea or eczema-prone skin because it’s a potent little beast, but as long as you introduce it slowly and carefully into your routine, it can have skin-transforming results for most skin types.

Give our Retinol Facial Serum a go in the evenings, two or three times a week, after cleansing and before moisturizing.

4. Dose Up On Vitamin C

When it comes to waging war on skin-roughening free radicals, vitamin C gets our vote every time. A major player in the world of antioxidants, vitamin C helps neutralize the many free radicals caused by sun damage, environmental pollution and the like. But that’s not enough for our vitamin C because it also works like a dog to inhibit melanin production, therefore keeping a beady eye on your skin tone as well as its texture.

Like retinol, however, vitamin C can be a pretty powerful addition to your skincare routine so we believe sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) should be your ultimate go-to. SAP is a salt form of pure vitamin C which makes it a) more stable and b) less irritating. It’s the only kind we use across all of our vitamin C products.

5. Never Underestimate The Power Of A Good Moisturizer

Dry and/or dehydrated skin is seriously bad news for the smoothness of your skin so moisturizing is totally non-negotiable. You should moisturize your skin after every cleanse, ideally following a treatment serum that addresses any other concerns you may have.

Look out for moisturizers that contain a good blend of humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or aloe (these draw water to the surface of your skin) as well as ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil or cocoa butter that help lock all that moisture in. And for an extra boost of free moisture? Apply your product while your skin is still slightly damp. Our current fave is our new Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream but we have a whole bunch of moisturizing whizz kids right here.

Big news, people: we have not one but two brand new collections of healthy aging skincare products to shout about. And boy are we gonna shout!

Aging is a funny business. Most of us hate our lined forehead or crow's feet, but when you think about it, mature skin that shows signs of a wear and tear should be a badge of honor. You’re 50… 60… 70… 80… whatever, and this means you’ve lived for many, many years. You have so many stories to tell and you have the wrinkles to prove it. What an awesome privilege!

However, as fabulous as it is to be alive and well as the decades whizz by, it’s human nature to crave for the skin you had at 25. But life isn’t like that. We all age. And we should accept and celebrate that.

As skin ages, many things happen at a cellular level. Most importantly, your collagen and elastin levels deplete which makes your skin thinner, weaker, less springy and more susceptible to the visible signs of aging. Sebum production also slows down making your skin feel drier than it used to. Then there’s all the other stuff like ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) which work together to help keep your skin hydrated, protected and moisturized. Yeah, they all go south too.

As if natural aging wasn't enough to deal with, it then gets turbo boosted by, well, life. UV radiation is obviously the biggest culprit here, but other things like stress, diet, environmental pollution and lack of sleep all play their part in the rate at which your skin ages.

It's no wonder, therefore, that your poor skin starts to look less perky as you mature. So, give it a break – it’s endured a lot.

Celebrating your age is all well and good, however, but you want your skin to be as healthy as possible, right? Thankfully, there are many ways to help soften the blow of aging skin. Sunscreen, of course, is the major one. Then there’s the rest of your skincare regime which should include a gentle cleanser, facial serum, eye treatment and moisturizer at the very least. Granted, we have plenty of fabulous and extremely effective options that cover all these bases. We know that. You know that. But still, aging is important business and we’ve always felt like we were missing some seriously targeted products to help you age healthily and optimally.

Well, good news. Our scientists and developers have been working hard for many months to create five new healthy aging solutions to help maximize your skin’s potential as it matures. And yes, we know that five new products are a lot to take in, but don’t panic as they’ve been split into two collections – Collagen to help prevent and tackle the early signs of aging, and Longevity which works on correcting the existing signs of aging skin and protecting it from further damage.

So let's give a warm welcome to aging skin’s new BFFs…

The Collagen Collection

For Proactive, Healthy Aging Prevention

Did you know, your skin starts to produce around 1 percent less collagen every year from around the age of 20? Of course, everybody is different and you may be one of the lucky ones who manage to hold on to their full whack of collagen until much later. But the truth is, collagen depletion will happen eventually. And that’s a crying shame for the look and feel of your skin because collagen is an important protein that provides a foundation for healthy skin, acting like a brick wall to give it strength, structure and support.

Looking after your collagen at an early age is a great way to ensure your skin matures beautifully and naturally. And this was the exact thought process behind our NEW Collagen duo – Firming Collagen Day Lotion and Smoothing Collagen Serum.

Each patent-pending product is crafted to help strengthen your skin’s barrier function and comes packed with science-backed ingredients like vegan collagen peptides, ceramides, green algae and superfruits. Each of these ingredients were specifically chosen to fortify the skin, enhance firmness and shield your skin from environmental nasties. Everything you need when the early signs of aging start to appear.

Read more about the new Collagen products here…

The Longevity Collection

For Corrective, Healthy Aging

No matter how much you try to eradicate fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin before they appear, they’ll eventually get you in some way, shape or form. And if your skin is already showing signs of aging you’re going to love our NEW Longevity collection which includes three corrective healthy aging products: Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream, Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream and Rejuvenating Longevity Serum.

Formulated to help slow down the aging process of your skin, these patent-pending formulas not only help protect your skin against UV and blue light damage but they work hard to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that have already appeared. And all this comes without the powers of the mighty (but often irritating) retinol.

As you know, retinol is the gold standard of the anti-aging world and has decades of proven research under its belt to show what a total baller it is for increasing cellular turnover, strengthening the skin’s supplies of healthy collagen and thus improving the tone, texture and hydration of your skin. The issue is that retinol can be a real headache for some skin types, making it dry, itchy, red and uncomfortable.

So, what’s the alternative? Well, we’ve packed our new Longevity products with what the internet is coining ‘nature’s alternative to retinol,’ – bakuchiol. Bakuchiol is a botanical extract that’s derived from the leaves and seeds of the babchi plant. It’s been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for years to treat the skin and has more recently been proven to show similar anti-aging benefits to retinol – minus the irritating side effects. Gentle, non-irritating, ideal for morning and nightly use AND great for all skin types (even sensitive) bakuchiol is making a real name for itself right now.

All of our Longevity products harness the power of this incredible, natural powerhouse and combine it with other science-backed ingredients like snow algae and lingonberry stem cells. What’s more, clinical studies on these products are already showing fantastic results with 90 percent of users agreeing their skin’s roughness and dryness improved after 12 weeks *.

Read more about the new Longevity products here…

We can’t wait for you to try out these new skincare formulations. So what are you waiting for? Add to cart, now ;)

* Bakuchiol study conducted through Sytheon Ltd. Individual results may vary and are not intended to replace personalized skincare advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

There are tons of ways to make your moisturizing routine work harder for your skin. And if it’s doing a better job, your skin will look way healthier because of it. 

When it comes to your daily skincare routine, applying cleanser, toner and moisturizer is kind of second nature. But if you’ve become somewhat slap dash with the way in which you use your favorite products – ‘squeeze bottle, shove on skin, done’ –  you’re doing your skin a serious disservice.

Moisturizer, in particular, deserves a little (don’t worry, it’s just a little) care and attention. From the product you use to how and when you apply it, a few tweaks here and there can make the world of difference.

Read on for seven ways to make your moisturizer go that extra mile. With very little effort on your behalf!

Invest In The Right Formulation For Your Skin

Understanding your skin type and knowing how to enhance, balance and complement it is super important when choosing moisturizer. So, first make sure you know your skin type as well as what your skin’s doing right now. Then you can invest accordingly with lighter formulations if your skin is oily, for example, or something richer if it’s feeling dry and parched.

The golden rule for superior moisturizing is to ensure your formulation includes a blend of multi-functioning ingredients that not only draw water into your skin (humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe) but also seal all that moisture in. These include emollients like jojoba oil or shea butter which are lighter and ideal for combination or oily skin; or occlusives which are richer, heavier and include the likes of cocoa butter, olive oil and petroleum jelly.

Apply Moisturizer To Damp Skin

Being a speed demon with your moisturizer? Priceless. Don’t get us wrong, however, by this we don’t mean slapping it on in sixty seconds flat. Instead, this is all about applying it quick smart after the previous step in your routine.

Your skin basically needs water to remain soft, radiant and healthy, so one of the most important things you can do is to use whatever moisture you can get. This means that if you’re a simple cleanser and moisturizer person, you should always apply your moisturizer after cleansing while your skin is still damp. And if you like to tone? Ditto, get your moisturizer on your skin pronto while your toner is still damp on the surface of your skin.

Moisturize AFTER Applying Serum

Serum is an important step for anyone hoping to target skin concerns like dehydration, aging, dark spots or dull skin, but it MUST be applied before your moisturizer, never afterwards.

If you’re into your serums then a) good on you, we love you for that, and b) ensure you apply yours to damp skin after cleansing and toning, but before moisturizing. Serums have a smaller molecular size than moisturizer which means they sink in super fast and don’t require you to wait before applying moisturizer. However, this does mean they have to be applied before moisturizer, otherwise they simply won’t work.

Use The Correct Amount Of Moisturizer

Often wondered how much moisturizer to use? Well, it’s actually quite simple – read the instructions on the packaging! Sure, it’s easy to fall into the trap of applying tons of moisturizer to dry skin, or applying the smallest amount to oily skin, but this shouldn’t be necessary if you’re buying the right product for your skin type.

Most moisturizers will tell you how much is a good amount to use and it’s usually around the size of a dime. Of course, some people have smaller or larger faces than others, so obviously a little leeway is fine, but roughly stick to the directed amount and you won’t waste unnecessary product where it’s not needed.

Massage As You Moisturize

OK, so you don’t need to be the best masseuse in the world in order to reap rewards from your moisturizing routine. But a little hands-on action is an incredible way to improve blood flow to the skin which brings oxygen and nutrients to the surface while helping to flush away nasty toxins.

And all it takes is an extra minute or so. You can manage that, right?

Simply use the pads of your fingers and palms of your hands to work the moisturizer into your skin using circular, upwards movements. Avoid tugging and pulling at your skin (that is a definite no-go area), however. The key is to be fairly firm, but gentle at the same time. We know that sounds bit like a contradiction in terms but hopefully you get where we’re coming from?

Moisturize Morning & Night No Matter What

Moisturizing needs to be done twice daily, after every time you cleanse your skin. This is important because it helps replace natural oils and water that get lost during the cleansing process, ensuring your skin remains healthy and constantly moisturized day and night.

Fun fact: moisturizing before bed is arguably more important than applying it in the morning. How so? Because skin typically produces less sebum at night.

Finally, Don’t Ignore Your Neck

A common moisturizing habit is to treat your face like royalty but completely forget about your poor neck. Big mistake. The skin on your neck actually contains fewer sebaceous glands than your face which means it produces way less sebum to keep it naturally moisturized. When you combine this with the face that your neck is exposed to things like sun damage and pollution just as much as your face, it’s no wonder it becomes dry, dehydrated and ages up lightning fast.

The moral of the story? Treat the skin on your neck with the same amount of TLC as your face. This means cleansing and moisturizing twice a day and, of course, applying SPF every morning.

And that's the least you can do.

Say hello to the latest powerhouses for hydrated, healthy skin. And yes, as their name suggests, they’re just like Gatorade for your skin. Well, kinda…

Some skincare ingredients come and go lightning fast. Especially when they’re all talk, no action! Some, however, are built to totally stand the test of time. Think retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E and exfoliating acids like glycolic and salicylic which are all awesome examples of tried and tested ingredients that are loved the world over. Because, of course, they work.

When it comes to hydration we’re sure you’re well aware of some of the most successful and commonly used moisture-magnets used in skincare formulations. Yes, here’s looking at you hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe vera. But, while incredibly effective at getting the job done, these are not, contrary to popular opinion, the be-all and end-all.

Enter electrolytes which are pipped to be the new, long-lasting darlings of skincare ingredients.

But first, let’s revisit skin hydration for a hot minute – because we know it can all get a little confusing…

What Is Skin Hydration?

Hydration is simply about the levels of water in your skin. But here’s the thing; hydration has nothing to do with dryness.

Allow us to elaborate. As you may know, there are four true skin types which are categorized not by their levels of water, but by the activity of your skin’s sebaceous glands and their ability to successfully (or not) moisturize your skin with sebum (oil). These skin types are normal, dry, oily and combination. While your skin can certainly change over the years, your skin type is the one you were born with and it’s predetermined by your genes. In this sense, skin types are very different to skin conditions which are usually the result of lifestyle or environmental factors like your age, hormones, stress levels or the products you put on your skin.

OK, so how is this all linked to hydration? Well, dehydrated skin is skin that’s lacking in water (NOT oil) and is a condition rather than a skin type. Dehydration can be due to any number of reasons like cold weather, stress, lack of sleep and sun damage, but it's rarely a genetic disposition which means you can have dry skin that’s dehydrated, oily skin that’s dehydrated or, well, you see where we’re going here.

How Does Skin Naturally Stay Hydrated?

A healthy barrier function is the key to hydrated skin. This important protective layer not only pulls in water from the air, but also works hard to keep it there, creating a barrier to stop moisture from escaping from the surface of your skin. It does this thanks to its natural moisturizing factor (NMF) which is a combination of amino acids and humectants.

Pretty smart stuff, right? Indeed it is... Until it isn’t. You see the problems start as skin ages and is subject to years of UV radiation, harsh ingredients in skincare and personal care products, prolonged exposure to water, pollution and so on and so forth. All this works hard to compromise your barrier function and break down your NMF, resulting in all manner of unwanted issues – dehydration included. 

And this is where help from quenching skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and, the newest kids on the block, electrolytes come to the rescue.

So, What Are Electrolytes?

Ok, here’s the science bit. Electrolytes are essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium which, when dissolved in water, conduct electricity – hence the name. In terms of your overall health electrolytes are vital for keeping you hydrated, balancing your body’s pH levels, rebuilding damaged tissue and regulating nerve and muscle function. They’re obtained mostly through a balanced, healthy diet and are abundant in things like fresh fruit and veggies.

You lose electrolytes through sweat (as well as urine, diarrhea and vomiting) which is why many athletes or people who exercise intensely replace them with sports drinks.

And What’s The Deal With Electrolytes In Skincare?

When it comes to skincare, applying electrolytes topically has the same moisture-quenching benefits. Their electoral charge helps drive water into the skin and retain essential moisture, while simultaneously giving energy to other hydrators and active ingredients, delivering them to exactly where they’re needed most. The result? Hydrated, plump, soft and most importantly, healthier skin.

Of course, electrolytes need water in order to work, so it’s important to choose the right water-based formulas for effective results.

And have we got just the thing in the form of our brand new Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum. Containing a special electrolyte blend of magnesium, potassium and calcium to hydrate your skin with a capital ‘h’, this all-in-one serum is also chock-full of water-binding hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe. But it doesn’t stop there. It’s also brimming with a mighty seven skin-loving vitamins to protect, strengthen, brighten, soothe, restore and replenish your skin so it continues to look its absolute best.

Already becoming a big hit with TruSkin fans, this lightweight serum is ideal for all skin types but we're finding it to be particularly effective for dull, dry, sensitive or dehydrated skin.

Are electrolytes the future for skincare? Who knows? But what we do know is they’re pretty dreamy for hydrating the skin and helping the rest of your routine perform better.

And, we don’t know about you, but we’re All. Over. That.

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.