True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Staying ahead (or at least on top) of lines and wrinkles around your mouth isn't so out of reach when you’ve got the right skincare up your sleeve…

Wrinkles and lines are all part of getting older and, in our opinion, aging is a privilege rather than something to shy away from. That being said, it doesn’t mean you can’t work to minimize the visible signs of skin aging, right? After all, that’s what skincare is here for.

So, let’s talk about what to do with those pesky fine lines above your mouth. Not to be confused with laugh lines (which run from the sides of your nose down to your mouth), these are the fine vertical lines that most often creep up between your nose and top lip, but can also been found underneath your mouth. You know the ones: they're the tiny lines you see when you pucker up that used to disappear. But now? Not so much. What's that all about?

The skin on and around your lips is extremely delicate and subject to a lot of movement from talking, laughing and other facial expressions. All this coupled with the natural loss of collagen and elastin as you age, plus the onslaught of environmental damage (here’s looking at you, Miss Sunshine) means the skin around your lips really does get the rough end of the aging deal.

Thankfully, there are many ways to prevent lines around your mouth. And if it’s too late for that? Not a problem. There are also plenty of things you can do to prevent them from getting worse. Herein, our top five…

5 Ways To Improve Wrinkles Around The Mouth

1. Protect, Protect, Protect

As with most signs of skin aging, preventative care is everything. And this is just as important on and around your mouth as anywhere else on your face – and neck…and hands…and in fact, all areas of skin exposed to the sun on a regular basis.

When we talk about prevention, one thing is clear – protecting your skin from the sun is the single most important thing you can do. And no, this isn’t just a sneaky ploy from skincare and sunscreen manufacturers to sell more SPF, because the facts are clear: the sun is the number one cause of lines, wrinkles and dark spots. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that around 90 percent of all skin aging is caused by sun damage. Another stat for you: people who apply daily sunscreen with an SPF 15 or above show 24 percent visibly less skin aging than those who don’t. Need we say any more?

Thankfully, the rules are simple. Apply sunscreen every day and make sure you don’t miss the area around your mouth. Stick to broad-spectrum formulations that have an SPF value of 30 or more and choose ones that contain mineral sunscreen ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Also, invest in a sun protective lip balm or gloss to apply throughout the day so your lips don’t miss out on all the good stuff.

2. Use A Targeted Antioxidant Serum

Prevention and protection aren't solely about flipping the bird to that big ball of fire in the sky; there are plenty of other environmental and lifestyle factors that can cause collagen breakdown and consequent damage to your skin.

Pollution, for one, is everywhere and it’s one of the biggest causes of free radical damage. Free radicals are unstable molecules that form in your skin when it’s been exposed to stuff it doesn’t like (UV radiation, pollution, a sugar-laden diet, even a lack of sleep). Why are they the enemy? Because free radicals steal electrons from the good stuff in your skin (collagen, elastin and DNA), damaging them and causing what’s known in the skin business as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress = seriously bad news for the look, feel and health of your skin, accelerating the natural aging process and laying the groundwork for premature lines and wrinkles.

The good news is that for every free radical out there, there’s an equally powerful antioxidant to help neutralize them before they get a chance to do their worst. Vitamins C, E and B3 (niacinamide) are absolute winners, as are retinol, botanical hyaluronic acid and plant oils, which are naturally rich in antioxidants.

So, what are we getting at? Simple. Invest in a topical antioxidant serum like Vitamin C Serum and apply it not only to your face and neck, but specifically to the skin around your mouth.

3. Try A Smoothing Mouth Massage

We’re big fans of a two-minute cleansing massage in the shower every morning to wake up and lift the skin but we must admit, our lips don’t get much of a look-in. Big mistake.

You should never underestimate the impact a facial massage can have on your complexion. It not only promotes blood flow and oxygen to the surface of the skin, but it also activates collagen production to improve strength and firmness.

There are tons of different videos on YouTube demonstrating how to perform a mouth massage to help reduce fine lines, wrinkles and even laugh lines. But a really simple way to nail this is to apply a small drop of facial oil to clean hands, then use the pads of your fingers to massage the skin around your mouth in circular motions. Start from the cupid’s bow and work out toward the corners of your mouth. Repeat this a few times then do the same under your mouth.

Not a fan of face oil? Then our fabulously rich Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream works just as well and contains ingredients famed for helping to restore skin while you sleep.

4. Avoid Smoking… And Straws!

Smoking is terrible for your health and hell on your skin. Tobacco contains a gazillion harmful substances that can negatively impact your skin, ruining its texture, tone, elasticity, firmness and even affecting the color of your complexion. In fact, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, it’s pretty common for the skin of a 40-year-old heavy smoker to look similar to that of a 70-year-old nonsmoker. Ouch!

Not only does smoking increase free radical formation, accelerate inflammation, break down collagen and decrease blood flow to the skin, but it also delivers an extra sucker punch to the skin around your lips in the form of smokers’ lines. Smokers’ lines are caused by frequent puckering of the lips which uses very specific muscles around the mouth and causes a crinkling of the skin. These lines deepen and become more etched-in over time. Their redeeming factors? They have none. Don't smoke. End of discussion.

Of course, smokers' lines aren’t only saved for smokers because there’s another unsuspecting culprit that can cause similar lines around your mouth. And that’s constantly drinking from a straw. Think about it, it's basically the same puckering action as smoking a cigarette. So, if you do it too often it could end up leaving a similar wrinkled effect around your lips. Instead, just drink from a regular glass or cup. 

5. Enjoy The Benefit Of A Chemical Peel

If your mouth wrinkles seem to be deepening by the day and are seriously getting you down, you might want to consider an in-office procedure like a chemical peel. Chemical peels are resurfacing treatments that work by removing the top layers of your skin to promote healing and reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles and dark spots. They can be light, medium or deep depending on your concerns, requirements and the type of ingredients used, but they don’t come without their downsides, which include irritation, redness and swelling. These side effects are often short-term, however, and usually worth it for the benefits.

Other options at the doctor’s office include things like microdermabrasion and microneedling. And, of course, dermal fillers are also prime for plumping up the mouth area, lending it more structure and softening the look of folds and wrinkles.

Just remember, these procedures must always be administered by board-certified professionals, so do your research and only offer up your face to the very best in the business.

While skincare is the absolute foundation for a healthy-looking complexion, there are some lesser-known things that can also do your skin real good.

Don’t you just love it when you find out some things in life come with extra benefits? And when these things enhance your skin and, heck, even make you look a little younger? Count us in for some large slices of those, please!

Read on for some of the most interesting – and downright surprising – things that are proven to have awesome skin benefits. Cheetos and tanning beds need not apply…

Working Out

Think of it as the ultimate skin fitness boost. Aerobic exercise accelerates your heart rate, making it a great way to increase blood flow to your skin. This helps reduce toxins while increasing transportation of oxygen and nutrients to your skin, helping keep it healthier and radiant-looking. Three words for you: post-gym glow.

Sweating also eliminates impurities to help keep your pores clean and clear. However, you must always cleanse your skin before working out to remove pore-clogging dirt, oil, makeup and bacteria. And then you should do the same again afterwards because, well, ditto. Try our Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser, which is an awesome cleansing treatment with activated coconut charcoal to rid your skin of nasties, along with aloe vera, glycerin and essential oils to help hydrate and balance.

Red Wine

Booze is a tricky one because it’s notoriously bad for your skin due to it being a diuretic. What does that mean? Well, diuretics cause you to pee more often and therefore reduce your body’s ability to retain water and remain hydrated.

On top of accelerating skin dehydration, alcohol also depletes vitamin A, which is an important antioxidant and crucial for reducing oxidative stress caused by skin-damaging free radicals. And when you add mixers to your favorite tipple, your skin also has to contend with all that added sugar and/or salt, which can cause inflammation, dryness and highlight visible signs of aging.

So, hold on then – what right does red wine have appearing on this list? Well, red wine is heads-and-shoulders above other boozy favorites due to its high content of a certain polyphenol called resveratrol. It's a case of the good outweighing the bad.

Like niacinamide and vitamins C and E, resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that works hard to neutralize free radical damage and help your skin fight off lines and wrinkles.

Just remember, downing a bottle a night will do more harm than good (hello dryness and dehydration), so stick to one glass a night max and sip on the red stuff only. Why does red beat the white stuff? Resveratrol is only found in the skin of grapes used to make red wine, so white wine can't boast such antioxidant benefits on its resumé. Take that, chardonnay!

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is another treat that’s rich in antioxidants, as well as minerals like iron, magnesium and zinc. This time you have the cacao pod to thank for its antioxidants properties. Cacao is "choc"-full (sorry, not sorry!) of flavonoids, which help regulate cellular activity by nixing free radicals, therefore fighting off the damage they can cause to your skin. Flavonoids also have anti-inflammatory effects, making them great for reducing redness and sensitivities.

The thing is, and it’s kind of a big thing, chocolate also contains a ton of sugar and is high in saturated and monounsaturated fats – none of which are good for your skin. So, if you’re a chocolate fan, always choose at least 70 percent dark chocolate to maximize those flavonoids and reduce your sugar and fat consumption.

Studies are also ongoing as to whether dark chocolate may decrease your skin’s vulnerability to UV light, but the jury’s still out on that one. So our advice is yes, feel free to feed your choc addiction with high quality dark chocolate, but always apply a topical antioxidant serum like Vitamin C Serum. Use this every morning before generously applying sunscreen to genuinely help protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.

Getting A Dog

Pet allergies can be super annoying for your skin, but if recent research is anything to go by, being exposed to dogs early in life may help protect you from developing eczema later on in childhood. Eczema is characterized by patches of extremely dry, itchy skin and can be triggered by any number of things, but it's usually caused by a response to external allergens or irritants.

This tip may be too late for you, but it’s worth pondering if you have or are thinking of having children. Plus, other than providing a lifetime of love, dogs are supercute stress reducers, which can help decrease the level of inflammation and redness your skin has to potentially deal with.

So, who’s up for a fun evening of curling up on the couch with a labradoodle, glass of red wine and large bar of dark chocolate? Perhaps followed up by a quick gym session in the morning? Let’s do it!

Can you really eat your way to healthier, glowy skin? We truly believe that if you combine a great diet with spot-on skincare, then yes, you totally can.

As a skincare company, awesome products that deliver quality, value and results are everything. But we also know that a great complexion doesn’t solely come from a fabulous skincare routine. Yes, gentle cleansing is vital. And of course, daily moisturizing and protecting your skin from that great big ball of fire in the sky are just as important. Duh! However, to truly max out your complexion and make sure you enjoy your best skin 24/7, you must also think about the food that goes into your body.

Now we would never (not even for one minute) suggest you cut out all the fun things from your diet – just try to take away our cupcakes and pinot, we dare you! – but moderation is key. And as long as you balance the slightly less nutritious stuff with plenty of skin-loving food and drink, your skin won't punish you for treating yourself every now and again.

Read on for ten essential nutrients to help your skin get its glow on…

1. Beta Carotene

Beta-carotene belongs to the carotenoid family and once ingested, gets converted by your body into vitamin A. So why's this good for your skin? Well, vitamin A is a fabulous antioxidant that protects your skin from environmental damage, thus helping push back the signs of premature aging for as long as possible. It also accelerates cellular turnover, boosts your skin’s natural protection from UV damage and helps give you a gorgeous glow.

Find It In: Any yellow-orange fruits and veggies, plus leafy greens.

Skincare Partner: Retinol Serum. Because retinol is the topical form of vitamin A, after all.

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Unlike saturated and trans fats, omega-3s are the good guys because they help regulate sebum production, improve the fatty acid composition in your skin and strengthen your barrier function to reduce irritation, dryness and dehydration. Omega-3s have also been shown to help reduce breakouts and soothe skin concerns like eczema and psoriasis. It’s a must for your daily diet, no matter your skin type.

Find Them In: Fish oils, oily fish such as wild salmon and mackerel, flax seeds and chia.

Skincare Partner: Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream, our richest moisturizer and the perfect way to relieve dryness and dehydration.

3. Flavonoids

Flavonoids are a type of polyphenol found in almost all fruits and vegetables. Just like carotenoids, flavonoids are responsible for their bright color – but they’re so much more than a pretty face. With powerful antioxidant properties, flavonoids are a great way to help protect your skin from oxidative stress and improve its strength and suppleness by reducing DNA and collagen destruction.

Find Them In: Green tea, red wine (hallelujah!), kale, strawberries and citrus fruits.

Skincare Partner: Retinol Moisturizer, which contains organic green tea.

4. Vitamin C

This antioxidant essential not only deals with the pesky free radicals that form in your skin after exposure to things like UV radiation and pollution, but vitamin C also encourages collagen and elastin production for stronger, younger-looking skin. Furthermore, studies show that vitamin C boosts the efficacy of your sunscreen AND balances melanin production for a brighter, healthier glow. Everything but the kitchen sink springs to mind, right?

Find It In: Kiwis, berries, citrus fruits, broccoli and red peppers.

Skincare Partner: Vitamin C Serum – our award-winning bestseller that's packed with vitamin C. Enough said.

5. Vitamin E

Often known as the moisturizing, healing vitamin in the world of skincare, vitamin E is equally as important in your diet as it is in your face cream. Just like our friend vitamin C, vitamin E comes packed with antioxidants to boost your immune system, fight inflammation and reduce collagen damage caused by environmental pollution and UV radiation.

Find It In: Avocados, spinach, seafood, almonds, seeds, wheat germ and sunflower oil.

Skincare Partner: Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream. Because looking after the skin around your eyes with HA plus vitamins C and E is a shoo-in.

6. Selenium

Selenium is an essential mineral that protects your cell membranes and maintains the firmness of your skin by safeguarding it from free radical damage. When paired with vitamin E, selenium has also been shown to reduce inflammation, curb acne breakouts and help your skin heal quicker and better. *Immediately adds to Instacart

Find It In: Brazil nuts, poultry, seafood and lentils.

Skincare Partner: Tea Tree Super Serum+. It's packed with antioxidants and brimming with clarifying goodies like salicylic acid and tea tree essential oil to unclog pores and reduce breakouts.

7. Lutein

Lutein is well-known for the vital role it plays in keeping your eyes healthy. But it also looks after your skin by providing protection from high-energy sources like the sun and your various digital devices. Improving elasticity and skin tone are an added string to its bow. Oh, and one other thing, lutein cannot be produced by your body so you have to get your fix from your diet.

Find It In: Spinach, kale, bell peppers, parsley, corn and egg yolk.

Skincare Partner: Vitamin C Super Serum+ which is chock-full of skin-protecting antioxidants to protect your skin from HEV (blue) light.

8. Zinc

Did you know your skin holds about 20 percent of your body’s entire supply of zinc? This makes it one of the most important trace minerals when it comes to the health of your skin. Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and oil-regulating, zinc plays a critical role for oily skin types and for those who suffer from clogged pores and pesky breakouts. It also aids healing, boosts collagen synthesis and helps build protein in the skin to keep it younger-looking longer.

Find It In: Breakfast cereals, red meat, poultry, legumes, asparagus and milk.

Skincare Partner: Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser, a go-to for clarifying, regulating sebum and detoxifying acne-prone skin.

9. Probiotics

Probiotics help promote good bacteria in your gut, which is thought to be directly related to your skin and its delicate microbiome. The skin’s microbiome is an intricate system of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi which live within the various layers of your skin. Yes, that sounds kinda icky, but these microorganisms work hard to keep bad bacteria at bay, so they’re super important. What's equally important is supporting this microbiome with dietary probiotics. Why? Because things like eczema and inflammation, plus hot showers and chemical-laden skincare, can throw your microbiome totally out of whack.

Find Them In: Yogurt, kombucha, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut and sourdough bread.

Skincare Partner: Rose Water Facial Toner. This is our kindest, purest formulation and packed with healing benefits highly unlikely to upset your skin’s delicate microbiome.

10. Water

Staying hydrated is so, so important for your overall health. And while water is yet to be proven to directly hydrate your skin (because your other vital organs need it way more), you’ve all seen what your skin looks like when it’s dehydrated, right? We're talking dull, dull and a little bit duller.

No matter what your thoughts are on the skin benefits of chugging three liters of water a day, maintaining a proper level of hydration is vital for skin health. It won't transform your skin overnight, but it will help increase circulation and flush out toxins to minimize puffiness and enhance your glow.

Find It In: Other than the obvious? Watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, apples and celery.

Skincare Partner: Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which combines the hydrating powers of botanical hyaluronic acid with vitamins C and E.

Don’t let your skin guard down simply because it’s not tipping 95 degrees in the shade right now. Your skin needs just as much protection in winter as it does in the summer. Maybe even more so.

Cold, wintry air robs your skin of moisture… Bright sunshine breaks down collagen and is the number one cause of premature skin aging… Oh, and did we mention that wind can cause your lips to crack, peel and even bleed? It’s clear that winter is a tricky little customer for your skin to deal with. Unless you know what you’re doing, that is.

Read the tips below and in ten minutes, you totally will!

1. Slap On Your Daily SPF

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again (and again… and again... and, well, you get the picture), sunscreen is important every day of the year. The sun doesn’t pack up its bags and go away as soon as summer’s over. It’s right there in the sky every day, and while its heat might not be quite as intense come winter, the light it emits (and that’s the important thing here) is still very much present.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, even on cloudy days, 80 percent of the sun’s damaging UV rays manage to work their way through to your skin. And that’s a lot of radiation just waiting to damage your collagen, elastin and DNA.

Fight back with a broad-spectrum daily moisturizer that packs a solid SPF 30 or above.

2. Use A Bedroom Humidifier

Winter air = dry air, which can strip your skin of natural oils, break down your skin's protective barrier and exacerbate dryness and dehydration. This is why humidifiers (which add extra moisture into the air) are such a genius idea for your home. OK, so it might be a little excessive to install one in every room in your house, but if there’s one place your skin will really benefit from one, it’s your bedroom. Set it around the 40-50 percent humidity mark and not only will this help balance and hydrate your skin, you’ll also probably sleep way better as an added bonus.

3. Invest In An Antioxidant Serum

Neutralize the damaging assault from environmental free radicals by applying a topical antioxidant serum every morning after cleansing and before moisturizing. This will help fight damage caused by everything from the sun through to pollution, cigarette smoke and other daily nasties.

Our favorite winter antioxidant has to be vitamin C because it nixes free radicals AND helps give your skin a certain glow that’s rare during the cold, gloomy months. Try Vitamin C Serum for your daily hit of the C-dog. Or, to add an extra boost of hydration – which never goes amiss at this time of year – go for Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

4. Limit Hot Baths

Sure, a daily soak in a hot bath can make you feel like a million dollars in the short term, but hot water is one of your skin’s biggest enemies. How so? It strips away your skin's natural lipids, compromising your barrier function and leading to all manner of skin no-nos like irritation, inflammation, dryness and dehydration.

According to the National Eczema Association, baths should be limited to 10 or 15 minutes and you should never bathe in super hot water. Warm? Fine. Scorchio? Not so much.

5. Cleanse With Care

If there’s one area of your skincare routine that should be scrutinized during winter, it’s cleansing. Poor cleansing (the kind that uses hot water and harsh surfactants) strips away natural oils and upsets the balance of your skin’s naturally low pH. Cue irritation, breakouts, dryness, the works.

The key is to go gentle all the way. Cleanse with lukewarm water and use only kind-to-your-skin formulations that don’t overly dry it out at a surface level. With no harsh surfactants and plenty of skin-loving oils and antioxidants, Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser has your back here.

6. Don’t Crank Up Your Heating Too Much

When you couple cold temps outside with scorching ones inside, you might as well welcome skin issues like redness and irritation with open arms. The reason for this is that sudden contrasts in temperature cause your blood vessels to dilate, making your skin flush. Central heating also sucks water out of the air… and consequently your skin. Bad news all round.

Set your heating no higher than 68 degrees during the day and either switch it off at night or at least turn it down to a comfortable 58 degrees. Honestly, your skin will thank you for it – as will your energy bill!

7. Up Your Moisturizing Game

If there’s ever a time to moisturize more than normal, it’s during the winter months when dry skin is almost a given. If you feel like your regular moisturizer doesn’t quite get the job done as soon as fall turns to winter, try a richer formulation that contains occlusive ingredients like beeswax, cocoa butter and shea butter. Occlusives create a physical barrier on the surface of your skin to protect it from the elements and help prevent moisture loss.

Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is a particular favorite this time of year because it contains organic cocoa butter and beeswax, as well as glycerin and aloe to hydrate. Try applying it immediately after cleansing (while your skin is still damp) to lock in moisture and recharge your skin while you sleep.

8. Eat A Water-Rich Diet

Another great way to help combat winter dryness and dehydration is to make sure you include plenty of water-rich foods in your diet. Watermelon is awesome, as are oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and yogurt.

Similarly, try to cut down on some of the baddies in your diet which tend to be dehydrating for your poor, winter-worn complexion. Salt, for starters, will suck all the moisture out of your skin. It also increases inflammation and weakens your collagen. So there’s that.

9. Be Gentle As You Towel-Dry

Aggressively rubbing your skin dry with a towel after cleansing? Bad idea. Patting it dry with a gentle dabbing motion? Excellent. This will reduce any risk of irritation and dehydration – neither of which you want, ­especially in the winter when both of these are at their highest.

10. Avoid Chemical-Laced Skincare

Finally, sticking with a gentle skincare plan is definitely the way forward when temperatures are at their lowest. Dry, dehydrated skin means your barrier function isn't working at its best, allowing irritants, toxins and other potential allergens to upset your skin and exacerbate existing conditions like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and acne.

The good news is that all TruSkin products are formulated without the major skin-upsetting ingredients, including harsh sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and silicone.

We're good like that, you see. ;)

Listen up, y’all. It’s time to step up your protective skincare game to ensure your regimen is doing its best to protect your complexion against the woes of blue light damage.

Knowledge of UV radiation and its damaging effects on your skin are pretty well-known among all you skincare aficionados. But while UVA and UVB continue to do their worst on your lines and wrinkles, another type of light has been brought to, er, light recently.

Say hello to high energy visible light, otherwise known as blue light. But what is this mysterious blue light all about and what does exposure to it mean for the health of your skin?

Here’s what we know…

What Is Blue Light?

Known in the biz as high energy visible (HEV) light, blue light is part of the visible light spectrum (think ROY G BIV). This means that unlike ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the naked eye, you can see it.

Blue light has the shortest wavelength and highest energy of all the colors in the visible spectrum and has been proven to boost your mood, improve memory and increase mental alertness. However, it has also been linked to eye damage and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you expose your body to blue light late at night, it throws off your circadian rhythms, affecting your sleeping patterns and making it difficult to fall and stay asleep.

Of course, blue light also affects your skin. More on that in a minute…

Where Does Blue Light Come From?

The majority of blue light you're exposed to comes from the sun. However, it's not the only thing at work here because smartphones, computers, TVs and other digital devices are also major sources of artificial blue light.

Now, don’t get us wrong, being in the great outdoors and experiencing the benefits of natural blue light during the day is awesome for your mental wellness. Some experts even go so far as to say it’s something you should try to get more of. But as you know, when it comes to your skin, the sun is not such good news. In fact, it's one of the main offenders when it comes to aging concerns like dark spots, premature wrinkles and sagging skin.

The thing is, artificial blue light is just as worrying for your skin as the natural stuff. Recent statistics from DataReportal show that the average American spends more than seven hours looking at some kind of screen every day. What’s more, an average adult looks at their smartphone around 60 times a day, and 40 percent check their phones in the middle of the night.

All this adds up to a helluva lot of unnecessary blue light exposure. All. Day. Long. So, it’s no wonder that it's become a bit of a concern.

How Does Blue Light Affect Your Skin?

Just like UV radiation, research shows that blue light causes oxidative stress in the skin thanks to rogue free radicals overwhelming your skin cells, damaging DNA and compromising the production of collagen and elastin. This is a major concern for your skin because free radical damage leads to inflammation, weakens your barrier function and accelerates aging, causing your skin to lose elasticity, strength, firmness and its smooth, even tone and texture.

Some experts even believe that because blue light’s high energy allows it to penetrate more deeply into the skin, it has the potential to be way more damaging to your collagen and elastin fibers than UV radiation.

Mic drop.

What Are The Best Ways To Protect Your Skin From Blue Light Damage?

Blue light skin damage isn't an immediate thing, but with more time being spent in front of digital devices than ever before, it could easily catch up with you.

Unless you get ahead of the game, of course. Here's how...

1. Limit Your Screen Time

The modern world makes it difficult not to be in front of a screen all day long but if you work at a computer from 9 to 5, ensure you take plenty of breaks. And during these breaks, don’t head straight for your phone. Instead, get outside for 10 minutes, make some coffee or read a book. And no, reading something on your Kindle does not count!

2. Avoid Using Digital Devices Before Bed

Studies show that exposing your skin to blue light late at night throws it out of whack, making it ‘think’ it’s still daytime. This compromises your overnight skin regeneration process which is a valuable time for healing and repairing.

Try to avoid looking at your smartphone, laptop or tablet for at least two hours before you go to sleep. Come on, your skin needs you.

3. Make The Most Of Night Mode

While light mode is the default setting for most phones and laptops, night (or dark) mode is a great way to reduce the amount of blue light emitted, so set your phone to night mode right this minute – it should be pretty easy to find in your settings. Also, if you work long hours at a computer, think about investing in a blue light screen filter. It'll really help minimize exposure.

4. Apply Topical Antioxidants Morning & Night

When it comes to your skincare routine, topical antioxidants like niacinamide, retinol and vitamins C and E offer awesome protection from blue light.

Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress because they’re able to neutralize damaging free radicals before they get a chance to do a number on all those essential proteins your skin needs.

We have a whole bunch of fabulous antioxidant serums for all skin types but if you’re looking for a real goodie that specifically targets blue light damage as well as other environmental nasties, try our Rejuvenating Longevity Serum. This beautifully lightweight serum contains lingonberry stem cells which have been shown to offer a fantastic shield against the perils of blue light.

5. Continue With Broad-Spectrum Sun Protection

Sunscreen will always remain your BFF when it comes to protecting your skin from any kind of photodamage.

Apply a high factor, broad-spectrum formulation like our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen generously and daily. Our sunscreen contains physical blockers like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are currently the only two active sunscreen ingredients deemed safe and effective by the FDA.

Experts also believe physical sunscreens like these are more likely to reflect blue light from the skin’s surface than chemical sunscreen ingredients. Good enough for us.

It’s time to be grateful for the now and show love for the future by embracing and appreciating the skin you’re in. 

Hands up if you can’t help but focus on your skin’s so-called ‘flaws’ rather than its many amazing strengths. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. For some reason, it’s much easier to look in the mirror and see an oily t-zone, crow’s feet and sagging jawline staring you back in the face, rather than all the good stuff like your smooth forehead, even skin tone and very few wrinkles. Human nature: it’s a funny old thing.

But today, we're here to flip this whole lack of skin-appreciation – and consequent self-appreciation – on its head. It is the season of love, after all. And that means unconditional love.

Not sure where to start on this journey of self-love? Then read on for some simple ways to change your mindset and show your skin how much you value it.

First, Write A List Of Your Skin’s Good Points

Sure, it’s easy to make a list of everything you hate about your skin, but the target here is to take note of some of the stuff you love, or at least like, about it. This list can include anything, such as the fact that your skin doesn’t break out every month or that having oily skin means you have very few fine lines or wrinkles. Literally, anything.

Grab a pen and paper (come on, let’s do this right now), stand in front of a mirror and make a list of five skin positives without thinking too much about it. And remember, this isn’t bragging. Far from it. It’s simply about acknowledging all the good stuff your skin has blessed you with. And doing this automatically helps you stop sweating about the so-called ‘bad’ stuff.

Learn How To Take Compliments

Are you guilty of answering back with ‘this old thing?’ whenever someone compliments your outfit? Or muttering something along the lines of ‘you should see me without makeup on’ when another person comments on how young you look? Why do we do that? What is it that stops us from taking the compliment and graciously saying ‘thank you’?

People give compliments because they genuinely like or appreciate something about you, and they want to make you feel good by telling you so. Simple as that. So, next time someone pays you a compliment, smile, enjoy it and be grateful. You’ll feel so much better for it.

Boost Self-Love With A Little Self-Care

One of the best ways to show yourself how much you care is to treat your skin (and your world) with love and respect. This means avoiding harmful chemicals, saying no to animal testing and trying to adopt a cleaner, greener skincare regimen by reducing wasteful packaging, using reusable cotton pads and recycling your bottles as much as possible.

Also, how about a little pampering me-time every now and again? Giving yourself a facial is the ideal way to spend some quality time on yourself and enjoy the healing power of touch. Experts agree that self-massage helps lift your spirits and alleviate mental anxieties. Not to mention the immediate boost to your complexion, of course.

Here’s one of our favorite facials you can easily do at home…

1. First, set the scene to promote a stress-free zone. Lock your bathroom door to keep your housemates/partner/children away, light a scented candle and pop on a relaxing playlist. Oh, and do NOT take your smartphone into the bathroom with you – TikTok can wait.

2. A clean base is key, so wash your hands first, then deep cleanse your skin with Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser, taking two or three minutes to massage this all over your face and neck.

Starting at your forehead, place your fingers just above your brows then press them up toward your hairline in a smooth, sweeping motion. Repeat this a few times, then place your hands on either side of your nose in a prayer-like position and smooth them across your cheeks to your temples. Again, repeat this a few times before working in a similar motion over your chin and jawline. Finish by smoothing your hands up from the base of your neck to your jaw a few times. Heaven.

Rinse with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry with a clean (VERY IMPORTANT) towel.

3. After cleansing, spritz your face with Ocean Minerals Super Toner, which contains exfoliating glycolic acid, as well as MSM, peptides, antioxidants and botanical oils to hydrate, nourish, and promote firmer-looking skin.

4. Next comes your treatment serum. Depending on your skin type and needs (not 'concerns,' remember?), we have a whole collection of plant-powered serums packed with skin-loving ingredients. What’s more, many of them are now available in your favorite Target, Walmart and CVS stores, as well as online at Amazon.com.

Our bestselling serum and fan favorite is Vitamin C Facial Serum, which you can find in most Target and CVS stores. What’s more, check out Walmart for the mini travel-sized version, which doubles as a cute trial size and allows you to access your favorite serum on-the-go!

Apply a few drops of serum to your face and neck after toning by applying it to your fingertips and patting or smoothing it gently into your skin.

5. To finish, apply Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream around your eyes (a tiny amount is all you’ll need), then smooth your favorite moisturizer all over. We love to show our skin the most amount of love before bed, so our go-to post-facial moisturizer is Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream. But if you’re a morning kinda gal or guy, try Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer, also available at CVS. 

Last, But Not Least... Smile!

Research shows that people who smile more often look younger and infinitely better than those who are, well, a tad grumpy. Smiling not only uses fewer muscles than frowning, it raises your cheekbones, lifts sagging skin and adds a sparkle to your eyes. Smiling also releases endorphins and serotonin which immediately help relieve stress, calm your body and elevate your mood.

Gotta love that.