True Radical Honesty From Our Community

National Girls’ Night is upon us, so invite your girlfriends over and indulge in a little you-time with our guide to the ultimate pampering girl’s night in.

Oh, how we love a national day of random celebration here at TruSkin. National Kitten Day? Count us in. National Chocolate Cake Day? Hells yeah.

Well, this month it’s time to gather up your besties because it’s National Girls’ Night on September 22. And yes, we know you don’t need a special occasion to embrace being female with your favorite girlfriends, but any excuse, right?

This year, we’re all about the self-love, so we want to celebrate with you and the girls with an awesome pampering night in. We’re talking facial steaming, exfoliation, some deep moisturizing and, of course, the odd glass of vino/hard seltzer/g&t or whatever else floats your boat.

Let’s do this!

First, Make Sure You're Properly Prepared

Before your girls arrive, set the mood by creating a cracking Spotify playlist. Choose some uplifting beats, embrace your favorite female artists and mix in some awesome tunes that have meaning to you and your friends. Great music? Priceless. Also, light some scented candles (come on, who doesn’t love a scented candle?), get some clean, fluffy towels ready and make sure your fridge is stacked with drinks and snacks.

In terms of a dress code, you’ve gotta go PJs all the way. And what do you think about prepping your friends for a totally off-grid evening by asking them to leave their smartphones at home. Too much? OK, then at least silence them (the phones, not your mates!), so you can enjoy each other’s company without getting sidetracked by random 'dogs with babies' videos on Insta. 

How To Boss A Spa-Like Facial

Pampering nights in might conjure up memories of creating face masks out of oatmeal and bananas, but heads up: you’re no longer 12 years old. So, ditch the kitchen cupboard ingredients, and let’s get serious.

Herein, a full-proof facial with proven ingredients your skin will love.

1. Cleanse

First, take some time to deeply cleanse your skin with our Charcoal Face Wash. It’s packed with activated coconut charcoal to detoxify your skin, plus hydrating aloe, nourishing essential oils and protective antioxidants. All these combine to offer your skin a gentle but effective cleanse that’s perfect for washing away all the dirt, oil and debris from the day.

Apply it all over damp skin, then use your hands and fingers to really massage it into your face and neck for a good couple of minutes. Take extra time over oily areas like your t-zone and be careful with the delicate skin around your eyes. You could even leave it on your skin for an extra couple of minutes to really draw toxins out from your skin. Time is totally on our side and heck, who needs face packs, anyway?

Rinse thoroughly, pat dry with a clean, fluffy towel and you’re done.

2. Steam

Facial steaming helps dilate your blood vessels to increase circulation and deliver oxygen and nourishment to the surface of your skin. Hello there, super glowiness. It also loosens excess oils and dirt that can become trapped in your pores, so steaming is ideal if you suffer with clogged skin or pesky blackheads.

Fill some bowls (one for each of you) with hot, but not boiling water, then cover your head with a towel and hover your face around 12 inches above the water for 10 minutes. After this time, sweep a reusable makeup pad over your face to remove all those loosened impurities, then spritz your skin with Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner to hydrate and refine.

NOTE: If you or any of your girlfriends have very dry, sensitive skin or are prone to redness or rosacea, this step is best avoided.

3. Exfoliate & Treat

Exfoliation is ideal for boosting cell turnover and sloughing away dead skin cells that have been lurking on the surface of your skin for too long. If scrubbing is your jam, do this after steaming, and before toning, or apply a gently exfoliating treatment serum after toning.

Chemical exfoliators usually come in the form of AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) like glycolic and lactic acid, or BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) like salicylic acid. The difference is that BHAs are oil-soluble, so they’re way better for controlling sebum production as well as exfoliating oily skin types. AHAs, on the other hand, are water-soluble, so they’re best suited to normal, dry or combination skin.

After toning, apply a small amount of your favorite treatment serum all over. Our Tea Tree Serum is a great choice for oily or acne-prone skin, or try Vitamin C Super Serum+ to flood your skin with antioxidants and gentle exfoliation. 

You could also use this time to lie back for a few minutes with a couple of cold cucumber slices over your eyes. Cucumbers are great for reducing puffiness and hydrating the skin. And no, this is not an old wives' tale: it really works! You could then finish with a little extra Peptide Eye Gel for extra anti-aging prowess. Apply a pea-sized amount around your eyes, using your ring fingers to keep the pressure light and to avoid dragging this notoriously delicate skin.

4. Moisturize

Last, but not least, moisturize. For awesome overnight moisturization, we recommend Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to lock all that goodness in and start strengthening, healing and renewing your skin ready for a new day. This luxurious night cream is crammed with skin-loving ingredients like vitamins C and B5, plus cocoa butter, glycerin, botanical oils and aloe which work in harmony to blanket your skin with TLC. It’s the perfect cherry on top of your pampering facial cake.

Finally, Sit Back & Relax…

OK, pampering time's over, so now your skin’s clean and glowing, why not round off the evening with a classic ‘90s movie like Clueless, Pretty Woman or My Best Friend’s Wedding? Because you can never have too much Julia Roberts in your life. You could also bust out some board games or simply sit around and chat for a few hours. Just enjoy your friends and appreciate each other.

Oh, and before you turn in for the night? Don’t forget to plan your next get-together. National Girl’s Night should really be a monthly thing, no?

Because we don’t profess to know EVERYTHING about skin, but we like to help out as much as we can.

Incoming: the five most common questions we’ve received over the last year from you, our favorite TruSkin customers. Oh, and more importantly, their answers. Because what would be the point of questions without answers?

1. How Do I Choose The Right Products For My Skin Type?

Knowing your skin type is obviously the first and most important step here. Then and only can you make a considered judgement on which products and ingredients will best suit your skin.

To figure out your skin type, wash it with a gentle cleanser like Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser, then pat it dry with a clean towel and leave it for about an hour. After this hour, study your skin in the mirror and touch it. If it feels and looks pretty similar to how it looked immediately after cleansing, it’s normal. If it looks shiny and feels greasy to the touch it’s oily. Maybe it feels tight and looks patchy and dry in places? Then it’s dry. And if it’s a mixture of all three, it’s combination.

Once you’ve nailed this, it’s much simpler to build your routine. For oily skin, your regime should include products that contain ingredients like tea tree oil, charcoal and salicylic acid which cut through excess oils and help balance your skin. Check out our Charcoal Face Wash and Tea Tree Serum if you haven't already.... Don’t forget, however, oily skin requires moisturization and hydration just as much as other skin types so make sure you get a good fix of lightweight ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin – preferably in gel or lotion formulations. Avoid occlusive ingredients like rich butters and heavy oils as these create a barrier on the surface of your skin and block pores.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, occlusives are ideal if your skin is dry. Shea butter, olive oil, cocoa butter and coconut oil, for example, are perfect for locking in moisture and boosting your lack of natural oils, so make sure any moisturizer you choose is packed with occlusives, as well as humectants like HA, aloe and glycerin. Be careful around potent active ingredients like glycolic acid and retinol as these could cause extra dryness. But that being said, you don’t need to avoid them altogether. Just be wise, listen to your skin and always patch test new products before using them for the first time.

If you have combination skin, your routine should be based around balancing oily areas and moisturizing the dry ones. Again, hyaluronic acid is ideal for hydrating without overloading your skin, so definitely include this in your daily regime. And spot-treat oily areas with tea tree oil.

Of course, if you have normal skin, you can get away with most things (lucky you), but don’t get too cocky and throw caution to the wind or you could become plagued by irritation or breakouts. Be gentle with your skin and always patch test new products.

2. What’s The Correct Order For Applying My Different Skincare Products?

It can be tricky to know in which order to apply your products but you just need to remember one simple thing. After cleansing and toning, your products should always be applied in order of weight, from light to heavy. Thinner products can’t penetrate through the thicker ones, so this rule makes perfect sense when you think about it.

This means that first comes serum, then your eye treatment, followed by moisturizer and finally sunscreen. If you like to use a face oil, this should come between moisturizer and sunscreen.

Easy when you know.

3. Do I Really Need To Use Toner?

Ah, the million dollar question. Well, in all honesty, like most skincare products, whether you use toner or not is all down to choice and what you want to achieve from your routine.

But first, let’s get one thing straight: toners are not what you remember from years gone by. Most skincare manufacturers have realized that stinging formulations and squeaky clean skin are no longer what consumers want, so things like drying alcohols and eye-watering chemicals have been removed. Nowadays, toners are more about treating, hydrating or gently exfoliating your skin in order to prime it for the rest of your routine. Of course, they’re optional, but as are serums and eye creams, so if you want to do the best for your skin, we say go for it.

Our Ocean Minerals Super Toner contains collagen-boosting peptides to strengthen your skin, glycolic acid to encourage cell turnover and a whole bunch of antioxidants to protect your skin from the daily onslaught of environmental damage. Now, why wouldn’t you want to give your skin all that?

4. What Is A Serum Supposed To Do?

Serums are like the super-powered tequila shots to your 'gin and tonic' moisturizer. OK, bad analogy, but you understand what we’re getting at, right? Extremely potent, serums exist to deliver concentrated levels of active ingredients right where your skin needs them. Unlike moisturizers which are thicker and contain larger, heavy molecules, serums are super lightweight and have much smaller molecules which are able to penetrate your skin quicker and deeper.

This means that while they’re not an essential part of your routine (unlike cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen) they pack a real punch and can make a remarkable difference to the look, feel and health of your skin. If yours is feeling dehydrated, for example, and your moisturizer isn’t cutting the mustard, a hydrating serum is going to be exactly what it needs. Or perhaps your skin is feeling dull and needs a high-powered pick-me-up? Then a serum containing brightening vitamin C can reap a thousand rewards.

Serums might be tiny, but they’re invincible. Check out our range of serums for all skin types and concerns, right here.

5. What Does Vitamin C Do For My Skin?

Speaking of vitamin C, this is the one ingredient that seems to baffle you the most. But, the good news is we know a lot about vitamin C. Like, a helluva lot, so hit us with your questions as we love hearing from you…

In the meantime, what exactly is vitamin C in skincare and what are its benefits? Well, pure vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant that’s produced synthetically for everything from cleansers and toners to moisturizers and serums. It’s actually one of the most highly studied ingredients in skincare so you know you’re getting the real deal, and it works hard to fight free radical damage to boost collagen production, even your skin tone and basically give you better, more glowy skin.

The only problem is that pure vitamin C is highly volatile and can be a little irritating, especially if you have sensitive skin. This is why we use a gentler, more stable version called sodium ascorbyl phosphate, or SAP to its friends. And yes, that includes you.

SAP is a salt derivative of ascorbic acid which converts to vitamin C once it’s been applied to your skin. This makes it way more tolerable while still being extremely good at its job. The saltiness is also why many of our vitamin C-enriched serums have a slightly cloudy look to them. Just remember, cloudy is good and a sure sign of brighter times ahead. For your skin and your mood.

Because looking good always makes you feel great.

And can we have a high-five for that?

Because if your routine is all over the place, your skin could easily end up in the exact same boat.

Do you love your skin? And we’re not talking about your so-called imperfections because you’d be kind of weird if you truly loved your dark spots, lines and pimples. No, what we’re actually talking about is your skin as a whole. That massive and super important organ which accounts for around 15 percent of your entire body weight, covers an average of 20 square feet and is your body’s first line of defense against the world and everything it throws at you.

Understanding your skin and coming to terms with the fact that it may not be what it used to be is the first step to loving your complexion. And the second? Working diligently every single day to help protect, treat and maintain what you now have.

We believe that looking after your skin with a consistent regime is the single most important way to help balance your skin, prevent acne, treat dryness, reduce the visible effects of aging and so on and so forth. By sticking to a routine that includes gentle cleansing, targeted treatments, smart moisturizing and, of course, that all-important sun protection, you can rest assured you’re doing everything you can to manage the effects of time. And by doing this you automatically maximize your skin’s full potential. Which is all you can ask for, right?

So, how do you know what’s the correct routine for you? Well, first you need to understand your skin type.

What’s Your Skin Type?

Sure, you may have days when your skin feels oilier than others, but do you honestly have oily skin? And yes, your skin may feel a little irritated sometimes (don’t we all!), but is it genuinely sensitive?

To work out your true skin type, wash your face with a mild cleanser, then pat it dry and leave it completely bare for an hour or so. After this time, study it in the mirror and feel it with clean hands. If it feels tight and a little itchy it’s dry; if it looks shiny and feels greasy – especially around your t-zone – it’s oily; if it’s a bit of both it’s combination and if it looks the same as it did an hour ago – ie: peachy keen – then we hate you (jokes) because you’ve been blessed with the much-coveted normal skin.

Once you know your skin inside out, you can then tailor a smart routine that caters for both your skin type and your current concerns. Trust us, this knowledge is worth its weight in gold.

How To Build An Awesome Skincare Routine

Here’s how to nail the five most important steps…

1. Cleansing

No matter your skin type, gentle is always the way to go when it comes to cleansing your skin. Choose products that are free of irritating ingredients like sulfates, phthalates, silicones and bad alcohols, and make sure you cleanse every morning and night – without fail. Your skin is subject to all manner of toxins, chemicals and pollution throughout the day, not to mention the natural oils and sweat that blend with your makeup and build up on the surface of your skin. All this simply has to go before turning in for the night if you want to keep your skin clean, clear and healthy.

When you cleanse, use lukewarm water only as hot water could cause redness and irritation. Massage your face and neck (don’t forget your neck, people) using the pads of your fingers to boost blood flow and lymphatic drainage, then rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean towel. That communal hand towel the whole family uses to dry their hands? Unacceptable for the delicate skin on your face.

2. Toning

After cleansing, don’t forget to spritz your skin with toner. Long gone are the days when toners stripped your skin of every last drop of oil, claiming to be the cat’s whiskers for getting rid of acne spots but often making matters worse. Nowadays, toners are formulated to flood your skin with hydration, antioxidants, minerals, peptides, exfoliating acids, the works.

Even the most sensitive of skin can benefit from toner. Take our Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner, for example. This 100 percent pure and natural Moroccan rose water gently balances, hydrates, calms and heals the skin, making it ideal for all skin types, but particularly great for irritated skin.

Simply mist it all over your skin immediately after cleansing. So easy, but so effective.

3. Treating

Now’s the time to apply your eye treatment and serum. Serum should come first, straight after toning, and remember, less is more. Apply just one or two drops to your fingers, then smooth or press it all over your face and neck. Take care not to massage it in too much as serums are formulated to penetrate your skin without too much effort on your behalf.

Think about what niggles you about your complexion and choose your serum accordingly. Are you concerned with dehydration? Then something with hyaluronic acid or glycerin should be your first port of call. Perhaps you want to target the visible signs of aging. Then you can’t go wrong with retinol. Or maybe your skin is looking dull and you want to up your radiance game. Say hello to vitamin C. We have a whole team of serums just waiting to help deal with your skin woes. You’re welcome.

After applying your serum, allow it to settle for a few minutes while applying an eye cream or gel to moisturize this notoriously dry area and target issues like dark circles or puffiness. The skin around your eyes is around 10 times thinner than the rest of your face, so avoid applying your regular moisturizer here – it could overload the skin and cause irritation or bags.

Again, a tiny amount of eye treatment is plenty, so dispense just one pump between the pads of your ring fingers, then dab it gently all around your eyes, taking care not to apply too much pressure or drag the skin. Big no-no, right there.

4. Moisturizing

Give your serum and eye treatment another minute to settle before applying the next stage in your awesome routine: moisturizer. This will help avoid pilling –  those annoying balls of product that build up on the surface of your skin.

Your moisturizer should be formulated with a blend of humectants (to hydrate) plus emollients and/or occlusives (to smooth and seal in moisture) and should be targeted to your specific skin type. Look out for oil-free, gel formulations if your skin is super oily, and richer butters or balms if you’re extremely dry.

Lotions and creams are ideal for normal or combination skin types, but if they’ve been formulated cleverly they can be great all-rounders for all. Our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer, for example, is an awesome choice for hydrating, moisturizing, brightening and protecting most skin types. Same goes for Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

Apply a dime-sized amount all over your face and neck, using the palms of your hands. Start either side of your nose and sweep it out towards the hairline. Repeat this a few times, then work in the same motions over your forehead, chin, jawline and neck.

5. Protecting

Your nighttime regime is now complete. Not so for the morning because there’s one vital component missing here: sun protection. Of course, great serums and moisturizers will be packed with antioxidants to help protect your skin from sun-induced free radical damage, but you must further protect it with a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day of the year: rain or shine.

Unlike the rest of your regime, sun protection is not something you can afford to scrimp on. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a good nickel-sized dollop for your face, so don't be tight and apply it evenly and generously.

Now, Stick With It, People

You know your skin type, you’ve pinned down an awesome routine, now all that’s left to do is to stick with it. Of course, the odd lazy evening when you’re too tired to spend 10 minutes on your skin is OK, but try to keep up with a consistent routine as much as you can. And no matter how tired you are, at least cleanse and moisturize your precious skin before bed.

Your skin will thank you for it, we promise.

Whether you’re off to college, back at the office or doing the morning school run, life’s about to get busy. But don’t let your skin suffer; just 10 minutes is all it takes to get your skin ready to face the world again…

Summer is almost over and the goose is getting fat. No wait, sorry, wrong season. Thankfully, there are no fir trees and holiday lights to contend with quite yet, but still, with the kids going back to school, college life beginning and offices opening up for business, life is certainly moving up a gear. 

With the start of new beginnings comes the stress of juggling your morning skincare routine. And when time is of the essence, spending 30 minutes looking after yours truly is often the first thing to go. But your skin shouldn’t suffer simply because you have a million other things to do before getting out of the house by 8 am. You just need to hone your morning routine to maximize your time.

And that’s exactly what we plan to do with this 10-minute super-speedy step-by-step skincare routine that’s short on time, but big on benefits. Because even the minimum amount of effort can make the world of difference to your skin… and when you look good, you feel great.

Step 1: The 2-Minute Cleanse

Start strong by spending a good two minutes cleansing your face and neck. You shouldn’t have too much grime to contend with after washing your face before bed, but still, cleansing is a great way to boost blood flow and lymphatic drainage to bring oxygen and nutrients to your skin while flushing away toxins.

Use a radiance boosting cleanser like Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser which contains potent antioxidants and aloe vera to maximize your glow and set your skin up for success. Massage the pads of your fingers over your skin in circular motions, then rinse with lukewarm water and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

Step 2: Tone In 30 Seconds

Don’t be tempted to dismiss toner, just because you can’t be bothered. This is the speediest step of all and toning’s a great way to drench your skin with extra moisture and feed it with nutrients and antioxidants. What’s more our Ocean Minerals and Rose Water toners both come in handy spray bottles, so all it takes is a few spritzes over your face and you’re done. In all honesty, 30 seconds is being generous. You could probably nail this step in 10.

Step 3: Set Aside 2 Minutes For Your Serum

As soon as you’ve toned, apply your favorite treatment serum straight away, while your skin is still damp. This will help lock all the moisture and goodness into your skin – plus that’s an extra 30 seconds saved, right there!

Dispense just two or three drops of serum to the pads of your fingers, then gently pat and press it evenly over your face and neck. You don’t need to spend too much time massaging it in because its small molecular makeup should allow it to absorb into your skin with very little effort.

We have many serums to choose from, depending on your skin type and concerns, but our current go-to for instant get-up-and-go skin is Vitamin C Super Serum+. How so? Because it’s literally chock-full of everything your skin needs to face the day. We’re talking vitamin C to brighten and protect; hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate; niacinamide to strengthen and plump up your skin, plus a list of skin-loving essential oils as long as your arm. It also contains salicylic acid to exfoliate your skin into the bargain – so no need to add that extra step into your morning routine.

Step 4: A Minute On The Eyes

Next, spend just a mere minute dabbing a moisturizing treatment around your eyes. Much better than slapping moisturizer all over the eye area which can be too heavy and cause puffiness, a targeted treatment will hydrate and moisturize the skin around your eyes while attacking things like dark circles and bags at the same time.

Pat or press Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream all around the eye area, using your ring fingers to reduce unnecessary pressure and remember, a tiny amount goes a long way.

Step 5: Multi-Task For One And A Half

OK, now’s the time to breathe and relax for a couple of minutes to allow your serum and eye cream to fully absorb into your skin. This is super important if you don’t want to end up with pilling – that’s when too many products build up on the surface of your skin and form annoying little flakes or granules.

Take this time to brush your teeth, make some coffee, shout at your kids, pack your bag or whatever else might float your boat.

Step 6: Moisturize In 2 Minutes

After a few minutes resting time, apply moisturizer to feed your skin with oils and nutrients and to help seal in hydration.

We love Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer as a morning skin pick-me-up. Work a quarter-sized amount between the palms of your hands and fingers, then place your hands in a prayer position on either side of your nose and smooth your hands up and out towards your hairline. Repeat this a few times to ensure an even coverage, then repeat the same action over your forehead, chin and jawline.

Step 7: 60 Seconds For The Finishing Touches

Great skincare means you shouldn’t need much makeup, but good news, you have a whole minute left to use as you please. SPF is vital, of course, so apply this first, then finish with lip balm, gloss, mascara or whatever you need to face the day.

And stop the clock, you’re done!

Just when you thought you’d nailed everything from AHAs to GAGs, another skincare acronym joins the beautysphere. Say hello to TEWL, people. And listen carefully, because it’s an important one that's all about the ultimate essence of life: water…

Water is a vital component of your skin. Healthy skin contains around 64 percent water and is the building block of new skin cells and the key nutrient for their survival. In order to maintain truly hydrated skin, your skin needs to be drenched with plenty of water. Not oil (that’s what determines the dryness of your skin), but pure, simple water.

You know the deal when it comes to hydrating your skin. Yes, drinking plenty of water and eating a water-rich diet is vital for your overall health, but very little of this water actually reaches your skin. How so? Because other vital organs need it much, much more. In fact, your skin is way down on the pecking order which is why you need to include humectants in your skincare routine. More on those later…

So, what’s this all got to do with the elusive TEWL? Let’s see, shall we?

What Is TEWL?

TEWL stands for transepidermal water loss which is all about the amount of water that evaporates from your skin’s surface into the air. Research shows the average amount of water lost by the skin every day is around 300-400 ml although this depends on many factors. Your genetic makeup obviously predetermines how well your skin naturally regulates your level of moisture retention, but many other internal and external factors come into play, including things like humidity, skin damage, poor skincare and your hormones.

There’s also one very important factor you have the ability to look after – and equally to destroy. And that’s your skin’s barrier function.

Your skin is made up of three main layers: the deep hypodermis, the dermis which sits in the middle and the top layer which is called the epidermis. Your skin’s barrier function is the uppermost layer of the epidermis and is your skin’s ultimate layer of protection, working like a brick wall to protect you from environmental damage, block out irritants and help retain moisture in your skin, therefore reducing transepidermal water loss. A poor barrier function means moisture is easily lost from your skin’s surface, causing a spike in TEWL and all manner of problems including dehydration, dryness, lines, wrinkles, itchiness and irritation. Skin disorders like psoriasis, rosacea and eczema can also be exacerbated by too much TEWL.

Bad. News.

How To Minimize TEWL

It figures that if you look after your skin’s barrier, your TEWL will look after itself. But is that easier said than done? Actually no. Sure, your barrier function naturally weakens with age (no surprises, there), but there are many ways to care for it which will simultaneously reduce TEWL, balance your moisture levels and keep your skin softer, stronger and healthier.

Here, three important tips for top-of-the-class TEWL…

1. Avoid A Harsh Cleansing Routine

Too much face washing and exfoliating with hot water and harsh products is the ultimate devil for your skin’s barrier function. For starters, it strips your skin of any moisture it naturally has... plus it gives nothing back.

Cleansers containing nasty chemicals like sulfates, for example, can be extremely detrimental to your barrier function. Yes, they work like dogs to lather up and remove oil, dirt and bacteria from the surface of your skin, but they also strip away protective cholesterol, fatty acids, ceramides and other nutrients, allowing moisture to escape way too easily for our liking.

Avoid ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) which are the worst offenders and instead, choose cleansers that contain gentle, non-drying alternatives like disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate or disodium 2-sulfolaurate. Good news: we use these in our Vitamin C and Charcoal cleansers.

2. Keep Your Skin Hydrated AND Moisturized

Applying water to your face is all well and good, but if you don’t seal it in quickly with a hydrating moisturizer, it’ll evaporate from the surface of your skin in no time.

The most well-rounded moisturizers contain ingredients that offer both hydration and moisturization. What’s the difference? Well, hydration adds water to the skin while moisturization helps your skin keep it there. Yes, it’s that simple. To achieve all of this, look for formulations containing a combination of humectants, emollients and/or occlusives.

Humectants draw water to the skin’s surface either from the air, or from deeper within your skin’s dermis. They work like a sponge and are an essential way to hydrate your skin and maintain a soft, supple surface. Hyaluronic acid is a super effective humectant, but we also love ingredients like glycerin and aloe vera.

Emollients, meanwhile, include things like coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil and squalane which work to smooth and repair cracks in your skin to help prevent TEWL. Occlusives like cocoa butter and beeswax are similar, but they’re often richer, heavier and create a physical barrier on the surface of your skin. Occlusives aren’t great for oily or acne-prone skin types, however, as they can clog your pores. Just a little side-note to bear in mind.

Depending on your skin type, choose a moisturizer that contains a blend of humectants and emollients or occlusives. Our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer contains aloe, kosher vegetable glycerin, jojoba oil and shea butter which checks those boxes nicely. Always apply it immediately after cleansing or applying serum to further reduce TEWL.

3. Invest In A Humidifier

A humidifier is a great way to force moisture into the air, especially in the winter or if you live in areas of low humidity. But why is this important for your skin? Simple. Dry air automatically compromises your skin’s barrier function by stripping your skin of its natural oils. Without this protection, TEWL increases and skin becomes dry, flaky, cracked and may even start to peel.

Invest in a humidifier for your bedroom (this is where you spend the most of your time, after all) and if it allows you to control the humidity, set it to between 40 and 60 percent. This is the sweet spot for skin hydration.

Ready to get your glow on, peeps – without having to reach for your shimmering bronzer, of course? Excellent timing, we’re on it…

There’s a fine line between glowing skin and shiny skin. The former’s something we all strive for, but the latter’s not so appealing. The difference is that glowing skin is radiant and healthy, whereas shiny skin is often due to an excess of oils (or sweat… or both!). Of course, you can’t change your genetic makeup and suddenly transform your oily skin into a perfectly balanced, flawless complexion. And similarly those of you with dry skin know you can’t magically force your skin to start naturally producing more oil. But what you can do is help what Mother Nature gave you to boost your glow and up your skin's radiance game.

Here’s how…

Glowy Skin Rule #1: You Gotta Exfoliate, End Of

Clean skin is obviously super important here, so make sure you cleanse gently twice a day. Use upwards strokes as you cleanse your face to ensure you get right into the pores and always rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. You could even try a final splash with cool water to really boost your circulation… if you can bear it.

But clean skin doesn’t stop there. Gentle exfoliation is also vital. For your face, we advise using a chemical exfoliator that contains AHAs or BHAs such as glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid. Unlike scrubs which can sometimes be a little abrasive on your face, chemical exfoliators break down the bonds that hold dead skin cells in place. This helps them gently slough away without you forcing them off. Try Vitamin C Super Serum+ which contains salicylic acid to exfoliate and balance sebum at the same time.

When it comes to your body, a salt scrub is a fabulous way to buff away rough skin and boost your glow. Or try using a loofah or body mitt with your favorite cleanser.

Glowy Skin Rule #2: Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Toner

Never sure whether you really need a toner in your life? Well, if you’re looking to get your glow on, the answer is simple: you do. Today’s new generation of toners aren’t just there to make up the skincare numbers, in fact they’re quite the opposite, working hard to hydrate, feed and balance your skin. And healthy skin is the absolute foundation of radiant skin. 

Looking for the perfect toner for the job? Then try Ocean Minerals Super Toner which contains glycolic acid to accelerate cellular turnover, vitamin C to protect and brighten, plus MSM, a sulfur compound that boosts collagen production and significantly helps improve the tone and texture of your skin. This awesome toner also comes in a handy spray bottle meaning you can spritz it on thirsty skin any time you please.

Glowy Skin Rule #3: Go To The Upside Down

It might be a while since you did a headstand, but if you’re a yoga pro, you’re in luck here. Being upside down for two or three minutes a day is a great way to boost blood flow and oxygen to your face for an instantly more glowing complexion.

Not a headstand kinda girl? Then lay on your back and tip your head back over the side of your bed. Same result, less falling over.

Glowy Skin Rule #4: Concentrate On Dry Skin

Dry skin is a fact of life, but this doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to it, or worse, leave it untreated, to become even drier and potentially irritated. Dry, flaky patches are often due to an impaired skin barrier, so make sure you look after it by soothing and replenishing your skin from head-to-toe with gentle skincare products (no synthetic fragrance or unnecessary chemical, thanks) and an impeccable moisturizing routine.

Moisturize after every time you cleanse and make sure your chosen formulation includes a combination of humectants, emollients and/or occlusives. Humectants draw water into your skin, emollients smooth cracks and occlusives lock all that moisture in. Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream combines glycerin, aloe, botanical oils and cocoa butter which checks all those boxes nicely. It also contains the mighty vitamin C. Speaking of which…

Glowy Skin Rule #5: Embrace Brightening Skincare Ingredients (cough, vitamin C)

When it comes to brightening your complexion, certain skincare ingredients punch way above their weight. Retinol, niacinamide and kojic acid, for example are all fabulous for helping to brighten uneven or dull skin. But the absolute queen of brightening? Vitamin C. It’s everything.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a potent antioxidant and works hard to protect your skin from the damaging onslaught of free radicals caused by environmental aggressors like that pesky, but beautiful sun. It also reverses existing damage and inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that fuels melanin production. All this combines to help reduce dark spots and mottled skin while amping up your skin’s radiance like nothing else.

Pure vitamin C can be volatile, however, and too potent for sensitive skin types, so we use a gentle, but super effective derivate called Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP to its friends). You’ll find it in all of our vitamin C products and is the reason some of them have a cloudy look to them – it's the sodium component of our awesome vitamin C doing its finest work, right there.

Glowy Skin Rule #6: Try A Little Dry Body Brushing

If you’ve never tried dry body brushing, the time is now. A fabulous way to encourage cell turnover, dry body brushing stimulates your circulatory and lymphatic systems to effectively remove dead cells, metabolic waste and toxins. After a few weeks, guaranteed you’ll notice your skin is softer and much more radiant. It also prepares your skin for your moisturizer, allowing it to be more readily absorbed and therefore way more effective.

The best time to dry body brush is in the morning, before showering. Work from your ankles, upwards using long strokes or circular motions and be gentle, especially over delicate areas like your tummy and chest. You should also avoid open wounds, rashes, varicose veins, freshly shaven legs and sunburn.