True Radical Honesty From Our Community

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, soy, PEGs 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.

Because caring for dry skin requires so much more than moisturizer alone…

From knowing what kind of showers can damage dry skin to understanding the rules when it comes to barrier-bothering skincare ingredients, here are 10 tried-and-trusted ways to win the dry skin war.

1. Use Hydrating AND Moisturizing Skincare

Moisturizing dry skin is a given, but did you know the type of moisturizer you choose can make a huge difference? And we’re not simply talking about going for rich creams over lightweight gels (again, a given) because it's more than this – it's what’s inside that counts.

The best moisturizers for dry skin should include a combination of hydrating ingredients (aka humectants), as well as moisturizing ingredients (aka emollients and occlusives) which help lock water into the skin. Our favorite humectants are glycerin, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, which draw water to the skin’s surface. Meanwhile, some of the best moisturizing ingredients include jojoba oil, shea butter and squalane. The good news is our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer contains the best of both worlds, making it an awesome choice for dry skin.

2. Protect Your Skin From The Wind

Windy conditions are terribly drying on your skin, so if you’re outside on a blustery day, make sure you cover up any and all areas of exposed skin. Wear gloves in winter and wrap a large scarf around your face to protect your cheeks.

3. Rethink Your Laundry Routine

Dry skin on your body is often caused by irritating laundry detergents, so if this sounds familiar, maybe it’s time to reassess the products you use to wash your clothes and bed linen. First up, choose fragrance-free formulations and avoid common preservatives like methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and benzisothiazolinone. Mouthfuls much?

Also steer clear of fabric softeners and dryer sheets, and stick with liquid rather than powder formulations. Why so? Because liquids leave less soap residue on your clothing. To be doubly sure, rinse your laundry twice after washing.

4. Don’t Over-Dry Your Skin

After cleansing, never scrub away with a towel in an attempt to dry your skin to within an inch of its life. Not only can vigorous towel-drying potentially damage your skin’s super important barrier function, but it will also remove every last drop of water your skin actually wants to keep. Instead, gently pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel, then immediately apply your moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. Even better, apply Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum first for an extra boost of hydration, then lock it all in with your face cream.

5. Avoid Open Fires

This may sound like parental advice given to a small child, but sitting too close to a fire or, in fact, any kind of heat source will suck all the moisture from your skin, making it feel even more dry and dehydrated than normal.

If you’re feeling the cold, stay warm by wrapping up with extra clothing, but try to sit a few extra feet away from direct heat.

6. Turn Down Your Heating

Speaking of warmth, make sure your house isn’t too hot. Forced air heat reduces the levels of moisture in the air, which adds an extra level of stress to your skin, decreasing moisture and essential lipids, and potentially leading to sensitivities and peeling.

Keep your thermostat at a comfortable 67 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and turn it off, or at least down to 57, at night. This is especially important if you suffer with eczema, which is susceptible to temperature changes and a reduction in humidity. 

7. Exfoliate, For Real

Dry skin types often avoid exfoliation, thinking it will cause further dryness and redness. But it’s actually an important step in any skincare routine. Dead skin cells can build up on the surface of your skin, whatever your skin type, and if you already have dryness, this can make flaking and dullness even worse.

The answer isn't to scrub your skin daily, but to gently encourage exfoliation with a treatment serum or toner that contains exfoliating acids like lactic or glycolic acid. These acids work by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells so they’re able to shed more easily.

After cleansing, try our Ocean Minerals Super Toner, which contains glycolic acid to encourage cell turnover, plus hydrating aloe vera and botanical oils for extra moisturization.

8. Take Shorter, Cooler Showers

Hot showers and long soaks in the bath might feel fabulous, but they’re bad news for dry skin. Hot water melts away your skin’s essential lipids, impairing your barrier function and resulting in dry, dehydrated skin. And when you add bubble bath or highly fragranced cleansers into the mix? Disaster.

Stick with lukewarm showers and baths, and keep them short so you minimize your exposure to water. Oh, and you know that hot tub you love? One word: chlorine. Don’t even go there.

9. Check Your Skincare Ingredients

For all the good ingredients to look out for in your skincare products, there are also plenty to avoid. Synthetic fragrances and dyes, for a start, are major no-nos, as are sulfates, parabens, soy and gluten, which are all common allergens that can cause dryness and sensitivities.

Alcohol is also extremely drying on your skin. But, and it’s a big but, not all alcohols are created equal. Cetyl and stearyl alcohols, for example, are very skin-friendly and unlike the big bad alcohol denat (which you should DEFINITELY avoid), cetyl and stearyl alcohols help keep your skin moisturized by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Our Retinol Moisturizer avoids all the bad stuff but is packed with humectants and emollients, as well as a touch of cetyl alcohol, making it a great choice for anyone with dry skin who wants to dip their toes into the awesome powers of retinol…

10. Invest In A Humidifier

Forced air heat and air conditioning both create a serious lack of moisture in the air, which actively sucks water out of your skin. But this is easily rectified by buying a plug-in humidifier for your home. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a humidifier is one of the best ways to level-up your skincare routine and create extra moisture for skin to lap up.

Of course, buying one for every room in your house is a little excessive, but do get one for your bedroom, as this is the room you spend most of your time in. Set it to somewhere between 40 and 60 percent for the perfect humidity sweet spot. Trust us, your skin will love this extra moisture in the air while it repairs and rejuvenates itself overnight.

Of course, if your skin is in seriously dry shape, seek help from a skincare professional. But in the meantime, hopefully some or all of these tips will help you create a little bit of harmony for your skin.

Red, bumpy skin? Itchy cheeks? Chances are you could be suffering with rosacea. Bummer, sure, but good news: great skincare and a few lifestyle switches can make a truly positive difference. 

Rosacea: if only the reality was as nice as the word sounds. But the harsh truth is, rosacea sucks. Not only that, but after decades of research, its causes are still not entirely understood. Dang. 

Reckon you might have a case of rosacea? Then let’s have a look at what it’s all about so you can try to understand why it might be occurring and how to manage it.

What Is Rosacea?

According to the National Rosacea Society, around 16 million Americans suffer from rosacea and that number continues to rise. Rosacea can rear its head at any time but it often starts in your 20s or 30s when symptoms seemingly start to come and go at random. Sigh. Common signs are excessive redness and flushing – particularly on your cheeks, chin, nose and forehead; crusty bumps; burning; swelling; itching; thickening of the skin and even dry eyes and blurred vision. Also, great news to all you middle-aged, pale-skinned women out there – you’re the most likely to suffer. Sorry about that.

What Causes Rosacea?

If only we knew. The real cause of rosacea is yet to be identified which is why it’s a tricky one to prevent, manage and treat. Rosacea is often misdiagnosed as acne, but acne is all about overactive sebaceous glands whereas rosacea is thought to be linked to your vascular system.

OK, so why does rosacea affect some people and not others? Well, many experts believe your genes are the main culprit at play here, but factors that seem to exacerbate symptoms include alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, stress, physical exercise and extremes of temperature.

Another cause could be right there in your microbiome. The skin’s microbiome is a tiny ecosystem of harmless bacteria, viruses, fungi and mites which live on your skin and, when balanced, create the perfect environment to keep unwanted pathogens at bay. The key, however, is balance, and studies have shown that people with rosacea have an overabundance of microscopic Demodex mites in their microbiome – sometimes up to four times as many as those without rosacea. Further research is required to confirm the direct link but in the meantime, erm, yikes.

What Are Some Of The Best Ways To Control Rosacea?

Unfortunately, you can’t cure rosacea but understanding your triggers and managing your symptoms are great ways to help keep it under control. Here’s how to do just that…

1. Diarize Your Symptoms To Help Identify Triggers

Knowing your triggers will help you understand the things you should avoid – without doubt, one of the most important ways to keep rosacea under control. And the best way to do this? By keeping a diary. Make a note of when you go to the gym or feel particularly stressed, and try building a food, drink and maybe even a skincare diary to see if anything you consume or apply coincides with your flare-ups.

2. Avoid Super Potent Ingredients Like Tretinoin

If you have rosacea, your skin can be extremely sensitive to highly active ingredients like tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone and even essential oils like peppermint, tea tree, menthol and eucalyptus. All of these can cause tingling, redness and be potentially irritating to your skin’s delicate barrier and that’s not something you’re going to want to climb on board with. You've been warned.

The good news is you may be able to tolerate antioxidants like vitamins C, E and niacinamide but you should still err on the side of caution and ALWAYS patch test new products before using them for the first time. To test any new product, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends dabbing a small amount near, but not on, the area where you’re most prone to flare-ups. Then, wait 72 hours and if it stings, burns or causes any kind of discomfort during that time, don’t use it.

3. Rethink Alcohol, Spicy Food and Hot Drinks

Studies show that alcohol (especially red wine), spicy food and hot drinks cause many people’s rosacea to go crazy. Sounds familiar? Then try to avoid them as much as possible. Go easy on the spices; allow hot drinks to cool down before drinking them; switch to white, instead of red wine, and make sure you counteract the effects of alcohol by supping a large glass of cold water after each glass of vino.

Still suffering? Then you might need to give up spicy foods, booze or hot drinks altogether. But let's hope it doesn't come to that.

4. Nail A Gentle Skincare Routine

Harsh cleansers, astringent toners and abrasive scrubs are seriously bad news for rosacea-prone skin, upsetting the balance of your skin’s microbiome and compromising your protective barrier function. In other words, they’re a one-way ticket to redness, irritation, inflammation and worse-than-normal flare-ups.

Avoid chemical-laden products, parabens and sodium lauryl sulfate, and look for non-drying products that care for your skin without stripping away essential oils and nutrients. While not specifically formulated for rosacea-prone skin, many people find our Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner ideal for calming redness and soothing irritation.

When cleansing , avoid hot water like your life depended on it (because your skin really does). Stick with lukewarm water alongside a kind, gentle cleanser and never forget to moisturize.

5. Protect Your Skin From The Elements

Wind is a major trigger for rosacea flare-ups – especially in the winter when it’s cold as well as blustery. Limit time spent outside and when you do venture out, protect your skin by wrapping a scarf around your face. Scratchy wool is not advisable but soft fabrics like silk, cotton or acrylic will take care of business nicely.

The sun can also aggravate rosacea. In fact, it’s one of the most common causes, so don’t forget to apply broad-spectrum SPF every morning – whether it’s rainy, sunny, cloudy or even snowing. Look for sunscreens containing mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as these are best for sensitive skin.

Finally, How Can You Actually Tell If You Have Rosacea?

If you think you might have recently developed rosacea, visiting a skincare professional for a proper diagnosis is the only way to go. As we mentioned before, it can be hard to distinguish between acne and rosacea, and treating each condition is very different, so if you self-diagnose and get things wrong, you could make matters way worse. Lecture over.