True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Summer picnics, fancy cocktails and new swimwear are three things we love about summer. Three things we hate? Sticky skin, breakouts and sun-scorched noses. Time to fight back...

The sun is shining, but seriously, do you want your t-zone to be doing the same thing? Thought not. Sadly, warm weather brings a whole bunch of skincare challenges to even the most flawless of complexions. So, here’s 10 ways to make sure your skin is glowing and gorgeous this summer, NOT annoying the hell out of you.

1. Spot Treat Breakouts With Tea Tree Oil

Every one of you knows the perils of sun, sweat, sunscreen and oily skin. One word: zits. Summer breakouts are common because heat and humidity = more sweating and an accumulation of oil, dirt and bacteria on the surface of your skin. Everything in life that zits just love.

If this sounds familiar, make sure you steer clear of oil-based sunscreens which can block your pores, and cleanse your skin thoroughly, but gently, twice daily. You could also spot-treat problem areas with Tea Tree Super Serum+ which contains two of the best ingredients for keeping your pores clean and clear: salicylic acid and, of course, tea tree oil. Dab it on cleansed, problem areas before bed for a dramatic improvement in just a few days.

2. Freshen Up With Face Spritz

When the mercury rises, nothing beats a cool-down like a spritz of refreshing facial toner. And yes, water spray will do the job temporarily, but it‘ll also evaporate from the surface of your skin immediately, causing unnecessary dryness in the long term. Not cool (pun totally intended!).

Try keeping Ocean Minerals Super Toner in your purse or beach bag, instead. Of course, this is a great step in your regular morning and evening routine, but it’s also awesome for cooling down your skin on-the-go, smothering it with aloe, antioxidants, ocean minerals and skin-loving botanicals.

3. Make Vitamin C Your New BFF

If you don’t already have a vitamin C product in your regime, summer is THE best time to rectify that. Not only does this free radical scavenging superhero help reduce fine lines and wrinkles caused by the sun, but it also works hard to fade existing dark spots AND prevent new ones from forming.

Studies show that vitamin C also helps strengthen the power of your sunscreen giving you extra protection from those damaging UV rays. So, there’s that. For the ultimate daily protection, apply Vitamin C Facial Serum to cleansed skin in the morning before moisturizer and sunscreen.

4. Embrace Hats, Sunglasses & Of Course, Shade!

Even the most potent sunscreen can’t protect your skin 100 percent of the time, so other precautions are always gratefully received. Embrace large sun hats (they’re very on trend right now); wear sunglasses to protect the delicate skin around your eyes and when in doubt, seek that all-important shade.

5. Avoid Facial Blotting Papers

Don’t get us wrong, some beauty tools are fabulous, but we have to admit, we hate facial blotting papers – those tiny little pieces of what is essentially just  parchment paper. Yes, they’re handy for your purse and yes, they temporarily mop up excess oil but that’s all they are –  temporary. Not only that, but by blotting away oils, they can actually prompt your skin to produce even more of the stuff.

Instead of this silly ‘fix,’ keep your skin balanced with a gentle cleansing routine (Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser is awesome for oily skin) and switch out rich, oil-laden moisturizers for light, gel-based formulas. And if you're still a little oily? Try a mattifying primer underneath your makeup.

6. Don’t Shower More Than Once A Day

As tempting as it is to jump in the shower whenever you feel hot, too many showers will compromise your skin’s protective barrier, stripping it of essential oils and drying it out, big time.

Stick to one lukewarm shower a day and keep it to four or five minutes max.

7. Increase Your Exfoliation Game

Over-exfoliating your skin is a terrible idea, but in the summer you can definitely afford to up the ante just a tad – especially if you have oily skin. Instead of once or twice a week, try exfoliating with a gentle scrub or treatment serum like Vitamin C Super Serum+ three times a week. This will ensure your pores remain clear of oil, dirt, makeup and sunscreen.

8. Never Scrimp On Facial Sunscreen

Hopefully by now you know the importance of wearing sunscreen every day of the year – not just in summer. But are you down with exactly how much you should apply?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) you should use a full shot glass for your entire body and around half a teaspoon for your face.  

Also, when it comes to SPF for your face, 30 is the sweet spot.

9. Remember, Sun Protection Doesn’t Begin & End With Your Face

For the rest of the year, facial sunscreen is often enough, but now the sun’s out and your body’s getting an airing, don’t forget other exposed areas when slapping on your sun protection.

Research shows that skin cancers are extremely common on the shoulders, chest, arms, legs and backs of the hands, so always protect these areas and indeed any body part that’s not covered by clothing when you’re out in the sun.

10. Use Humidity To Your Advantage

Humectants are hydrating skincare ingredients that work by drawing water into your skin and holding it there like a sponge. In drier climates, humectants have to resort to drawing water up to the surface from deeper levels of your skin, but when it’s humid they’re able to suck it out of the air. Hells yeah!

To keep your skin super hydrated this summer, make sure you include plenty of water-loving humectants in your skincare routine. Our fave is Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum which combines three hard-working humectants: hyaluronic acid, aloe and glycerin.

We don’t expect you to know every skincare term under the sun, but it’s important to know the basics when reading your product labels. So, for the love of your skin, let’s do this…

Tricky skincare lingo is never more apparent than when you get a brand new product and look at all the information on the packaging. From unpronounceable ingredients to logos you’ve never even seen before, it’s no wonder most of you glance at the label… then swiftly give zero damns about attempting to decode the directions, ingredients and whatever else is on there.

But the thing is, all this information is there for a reason: because it’s important. The directions, for example are there to help you make the most out of your new product. And what would you do if you knew your sensitive skin had an aversion to a certain ingredient, yet you couldn’t check the ingredients list because, well, we decided not to bother with it?

This is why we’ve put together a basic, four-step guide to knowing your way around your skincare label. Don’t worry, we’re not going to blind you with science, just the essential stuff you need to know…

Read ALL Directions Carefully

You might think a product's directions are surplus to requirements when, c’mon, you’ve been cleansing, toning and moisturizing your skin for decades. However, skincare products are unique and they often work quite differently. The correct amount needed might be poles apart from what you’ve been used to, for example, or a new treatment serum might be best applied just two or three times a week rather than every day.

Always read these instructions – the fate of your skin relies on them.

On that note, you’ll be pleased to hear we make our directions extremely simple to follow, meaning there’s no excuse not to read them and follow them to the letter. This includes how much product you should need, when to include it in your regime, how to apply it and of course, how often. We also remind you how to patch test your new product before slathering it all over your face for the first time. Again, important stuff.

Learn How To Decipher The Ingredients List

An important thing to remember is that skincare ingredients are always listed in descending order of concentration. This means any ingredient near the top of the list is going to be a major player in that product – and don’t worry that water is often the first, this is standard across most skincare formulations.

According to the FDA, however, once an ingredient is at a concentration of 1 percent or less, it may be listed in any order at the bottom of the list. Things can get a little more complicated when color additives are included, but this is the basic info you should really be aware of.

Oh, and if you see something like vitamin C hovering in the middle of an ingredients list of a product that claims to be a ‘highly concentrated vitamin C serum,’ don’t be alarmed. Many active ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, peptides and exfoliating acids are extremely potent, so even a small amount can deliver a powerful dose.

OK, so what about all those scary-sounding ingredient names you’ve never heard of? Yeah, they can be confusing. This is why we use simple terms as often as possible and list an ingredient’s household name (eg. vitamin E) as well as its more scientific term (tocopherol). We’re kind like that and know how much of a ball-ache it is decoding ingredients by having to Google them. You’re welcome.

Of course, some ingredients such as pheoxyethanol and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) don’t have household names, but hey, we try our best as much as we can.

Look Out For The Bad Guys

While scouring your ingredients list for things you know your skin loves, make sure you stay on the lookout for the stuff skin hates. Here are four of our least favorite nasties you can be sure you’ll never find in a TruSkin product…

1. Parabens

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) parabens simply don’t belong in any beauty product. And we tend to agree. Parabens have been used in cosmetics since the 1920s to help prevent harmful things like bacteria, mold and fungi from having a field day in your products. However, their downfalls totally outweigh their preservative powers.

Certain studies suggest that parabens are not only irritants, but can upset your hormones, damage your reproductive organs and increase your risk of developing cancer. The FDA continues to review these claims but in our opinion, any ‘risk,’ no matter how small, is so not worth it.

2. Sulfates

Sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate are foaming detergents used in products like facial wash, soap, shower gel and shampoo to cleanse your skin or hair. And give them their dues, they work really well, creating a lovely, foamy lather that cleans super efficiently. The problem is, they can be too efficient, making them extremely irritating, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Don’t worry, you won’t find nasty sulfates in our Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser – instead we use a much gentler surfactant called disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate that's way kinder to your skin.

3. Phthalates

The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics lists phthalates (pronounded thal-ates) such as DEP, DBP and DEHP as big no-nos. Same here. With links to endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, fertility and other health issues they make us nervous. Very nervous indeed. They’re particularly bad news for pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers which is why we say a big ‘no’ to phthalates in all of our products.

4. PEGs

Otherwise known as polyethylene glycols, PEGS are synthetic, petroleum-based compounds used widely in cleansers and moisturizers to help enhance the absorption of ingredients into the skin. One problem: PEGs contain known carcinogens and respiratory irritants that have the potential to cause serious health issues.

We say why bother when there are much better alternatives? Answer: don't.

Finally, Know Some Important Symbols

Ever wondered what all those little symbols were at the bottom of your product’s label? Wonder no more, herein two important ones you need to be aware of…

This little triangle of three arrows is known as the Mobius Loop and shows that something is capable of being recycled. You’ll find this on all of our facial serums, moisturizers and eye products. High-fives.

If your product displays the Leaping Bunny logo as seen here, this is your guarantee that no new animal tests were performed in its development. We’re thrilled to let you know ALL of our products are Leaping Bunny approved. More high-fives!

Now, run along and be a skin product know-it-all. With all that knowledge under your belt, it would be rude not to.

Does drinking gallons of water really hydrate your skin? And can your skin be oily and dehydrated at the same time? Here, we sort through the facts from the fiction about skin hydration.

You’d think keeping your skin perfectly hydrated and moisturized would be simple business, right? But wait, aren’t hydration and moisturization the same thing? Actually, no. And that’s just the start of the whole confusing business.

Thankfully, you have us to help you get to grips with the correct – and best – ways to keep your skin truly hydrated and to understand, once and for all, what’s true and what’s total bull.

So, let us begin…

FACT #1: Dry Skin & Dehydrated Skin Are NOT The Same Thing

Like fine lines and wrinkles, you’ll often read about dry skin and dehydrated skin in the same sentence, as if they’re one and the same. Or are some kind of ultimate power couple that can never be separated. However, dry skin and dehydrated skin are very, very different things.

The most important thing to remember is that dry skin is due to a lack of natural oils (sebum) and is a skin TYPE that’s predetermined by your genes. Dehydrated skin, however, is due to a lack of water and is more of a skin CONDITION. Of course, dry skin can also be dehydrated but in truth, dehydration can affect any skin type at any time.

Things like cold weather, stress, lack of sleep and sun damage all contribute to dehydrated skin because these upset your skin's protective barrier function, allowing water to more freely evaporate from your skin's surface.

FACT #2: Drinking Water Is NOT The Best Way To Keep Skin Hydrated

The fact that your body is made up of around 80 percent water means you can’t argue that keeping yourself hydrated is beneficial to your overall health. Drinking plenty of water and eating water-rich foods like fruit and veggies is vital for maintaining the correct balance of your body’s essential fluids. It also ensures everyday functions like digestion, circulation, the elimination of toxins and your internal temperature balance all work properly. So yes, water is life.

But, and it’s a big but, does drinking water really keep your skin hydrated? Truthfully? Not as much as you might think. In fact, there’s no real evidence that water consumption plays any part in the hydration of your skin. The fact is, any water you drink goes straight to other essential organs first – sadly, your skin is way down on the list of your body’s priorities.

So, instead of expecting your water intake to miraculously give you soft, hydrated skin, look after its hydration levels through other means. This includes avoiding harsh soaps and cleansers, investing in a humidifier for your home and thinking carefully about the ingredients you put on your skin.

One word: humectants.

Experts agree that topical humectants are essential when it comes to skin hydration. Humectants are substances that grab water from the air or deep within your skin and pull it to the outermost layers to help repair and strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier and keep it soft, strong and hydrated at a surface level.

Some of the best humectants in skincare include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, lactic acid, urea and honey. Retinol Moisturizer contains aloe, glycerin and hyaluronic acid for super powered skin hydration. Plus jojoba oil and shea butter help to stop all that water from evaporating from your skin. No need for thanks: that’s what we’re here for.

FACT #3: Facial Serums Are Ideal For Hydrating Your Skin

Of course, moisturizer is key for locking in hydration, but if you want to really up your moisture game, you’ve got to think beyond moisturizer. And this is where facial serums come into play.

Serums are quite different to moisturizers because they have a much smaller molecular make up. This means they’re way lighter and are able to absorb into your skin quicker and deeper. Unlike moisturizers, which contain either occlusive or emollient ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil and squalane to seal moisture into your skin, serums are usually liquid or gel-based meaning they don't seal in moisture. Instead, they contain active ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, hydroxy acids and peptides to offer benefits on a much deeper level.

If you're looking to turn up the hydration levels in your skin, a humectant-based serum will fill your skin with moisture, making it a must for rehydrating thirsty skin. Apply our fan-favorite Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum to clean skin, then finish with moisturizer to lock it in and help reduce TEWL (transepidermal water loss). Perfection.

FACT #4: All Skin Types Need Hydration (Yes, Even Oily Skin)

It’s a common misconception that oily skin doesn’t need to be hydrated. But the thing is, while oily skin has more oil-producing glands, this has nothing to do with its levels of water. In fact, oily skin is often dehydrated due to over-cleansing or using harsh skincare products, so hydration is possibly even more important for oily skin types than anyone else.

While we’re on the subject, moisturizing oily skin is just as important as hydrating it. If you fail to keep your skin balanced with the perfect combination of water and light moisturization, your skin will not only become dehydrated, but it will produce even more oils to compensate for dryness on the surface.

To help stabilize excessively oily skin, apply a hydrating serum after cleansing – again Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is perfect – followed by a light moisturizer that avoids pore-clogging occlusives ingredients like waxes, silicones and butters. We're obsessed with Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer.

FACT #5: Long, Hot Baths Dehydrate Your Skin

The simple fact is hot baths (and showers) draw moisture from your skin AND strip all the healthy fats and oils away. So, not only are they killers for your skin’s hydration levels, but they also cause dryness and may exacerbate conditions like rosacea, eczema, acne and psoriasis. You know how your fingers and toes often become wrinkly after a long, hot soak? Well, that’s a sure sign of moisture having been literally sucked out of your poor skin.

The answer? Shower in lukewarm water for five minutes max. And if you also love a weekly soak in the bath, limit your time to 20 minutes and, again, turn the water temperature down to lukewarm. Remember, if your mirror gets totally steamed up while bathing or showering, your water is way too hot.

Would you coat your entire face with Vaseline before bed or use hot wax to get rid of your blackheads? We say a massive ‘nope’ to such insane beauty fads, but there are tons of them doing the rounds right now and we’d like them to disappear. Pronto.

Don’t get us wrong, we love a beauty trend here at TruSkin. Orange lipstick for summer? We’re in. Skinimalism? Hells yeah. But skincare trends that go viral on the likes of TikTok and Reddit which can do more harm than good? Count us out.

Here, we take a look at five of our least favorite skincare fads currently doing the online rounds…

1. Slugging

What It Is: This latest K-Beauty trend might sound like some weird facial involving slimy mollusks slithering over your face, but it's actually about smearing petroleum jelly on your skin before bed. Currently loved by the internet right now, word is that if you spread petroleum jelly all over your face as the last step in your nightly skincare routine you’ll wake up with the softest, most moisturized skin ever.

What We Think: Petroleum jelly is what’s known as an occlusive ingredient which means it creates a seal over your skin to help lock in moisture. So on the one hand, yes, it will stop water from evaporating from the surface of your skin, leaving you with a softer, more hydrated complexion come the morning. But on the other hand, it offers no moisturization of its own and will completely block your pores making it a terrible idea for anyone with oily, sensitive or acne-prone skin. What’s more, petroleum jelly (also known as petrolatum) is a by-product of crude oil waste, so while it’s been approved by the FDA, it’s neither sustainable nor eco-friendly.

What To Do Instead: Rather than dousing your skin with what is essentially grease before bed, choose a night cream that contains a blend of humectants – water-loving ingredients that draw moisture into your skin – and emollients or occlusives to lock all that moisture in. Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is formulated with aloe vera, glycerin, cocoa butter and botanical oils – a far superior combination for hydrating and softening your skin as you sleep. Even if we do say so ourselves.

2. Using Hemorrhoid Cream For Puffy Eyes

What It Is: First Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist recommended applying Preparation H under your eyes to help minimize bags, then the Reddit masses started getting involved and all hell broke loose. Anti-inflammatory hemorrhoid creams like Preparation H are steroid-based and work by restricting the blood vessels to help reduce swelling, redness and irritation caused by piles. A butt cream that effectively reduces puffiness and swelling? Of course, someone was bound to try it under their eyes…

What We Think: Theoretically, this works. But just because something has the potential to reduce your under-eye baggage, it doesn’t mean you should necessarily try it. The skin around your eyes is thin and extremely fragile, so harsh hemorrhoid creams – which often contain potential irritants – can be very damaging to this delicate area. Not to mention the harm you'll cause if you accidentally get it in your eyes. Most hemorrhoid creams also contain hydrocortisone which can cause a significant thinning of your skin in the long-term, accelerating aging around your eyes and giving you wrinkles way before your time. No. Thanks.

What To Do Instead: Why risk the damage to your eyes and the surrounding area, when there are plenty of effective eye treatments out there? Our Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream, for example, is pumped full of hard-working, and more importantly safe ingredients for your eyes, including cucumber, licorice and Eyebright. Apply a tiny amount, morning and night, for brighter, less puffy eyes.

3. Placing Your Serum Dropper Directly On Your Skin

What It Is: You can’t spend five minutes on social media these days without seeing dozens of photos and videos of influencers and makeup vloggers placing skincare droppers directly on their skin. Oh. Dear.

What We Think: Don’t get us wrong, droppers are great for helping you control the amount of product you apply to your skin and every single one of our facial serums is packaged in a glass dropper bottle. But you’re supposed to use the dropper to deposit a small amount of serum into clean fingers, NOT straight onto your skin. In fact, they should never come into contact with your skin. Why? Because skin contact transfers dirt, oil and bacteria from your face straight back into the bottle where it breeds. And that’s so not what you want. In fact, it’s the precise opposite of what you want and why most serums are packaged with glass droppers in the first place.

What To Do Instead: Dispense two or three drops of serum to clean hands, then apply it to your face and neck. Simple.

4. Waxing Your Blackheads

What It Is: Just thinking about applying hot wax over our noses to remove blackheads makes our eyes water, but this beauty hack is out there, people, and it seems pretty popular across Pinterest and TikTok. It basically involves applying hot wax (the same stuff used to remove unwanted hair) across your nose, then ripping it off, whisking away your blackheads at the same time. 

What We Think: This might be effective, but one word: ouch. Also, waxing the delicate skin on your face is asking for trouble if you’re not a professional because it can cause serious damage, pulling off the top layers of your skin and leaving you with red, sore, irritated skin. Soft wax (which requires a strip to rip it off your skin) is particularly damaging, but we say avoid this one completely.

What To Do Instead: The best way to deal with blackheads is to keep your skin clean and exfoliated. Gently cleanse with Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser which uses activated coconut charcoal to draw out toxins and cleanse your pores. You could also try spot treating stubborn blackheads two or three times a week with Tea Tree Super Serum+. This contains salicylic acid to boost cell turnover and help regulate oil production.

5. Iced Water Facials

What It Is: The concept of applying cold water or ice to brighten, tone and depuff your complexion is by no means a new one, but the iced water facial, as seen on TikTok, instantly had our teeth chattering. It involves dunking your face three times in a bowl of iced water for as long as you can bear it. Then repeating for 10 minutes or so.

What We Think: Cold temperatures constricts your capillaries which stimulates blood circulation to help reduce puffiness and inflammation while improving the tone and texture of your skin. But, while the odd splash of cool water after cleansing can, for sure, help boost radiance, submerging your face in iced water for too long can have the reverse effect, causing redness and  irritation. It’s especially bad news if you have rosacea. You have been warned.

What To Do Instead: A better way to get your glow on? Incorporate vitamin C into your skincare routine. Vitamin C is one of the most highly studied ingredients in skincare and has been proven to inhibit melanin production, therefore brightening your skin and fading hyperpigmentation. Not only that but vitamin C also helps fight free radicals, promotes healing and protects and treats your skin. Try our fan favorite Vitamin C Facial Serum. You won't regret it. And it's not going to freeze your brain, either.

June 20 marks the official start of summer, so let’s make sure your skin is 100 percent sunshine-ready, shall we?

The days are longer and the temperatures are rising. Yes, summer is here, people, so can we get a ‘hurray’ for arguably the best season of the year? 

Actually hold on a second, because heat and humidity aren’t always good news. In fact, they mean big (often bad) things for your skin. If you have an oily complexion, for example, summer can play havoc with a greasy forehead (not to mention sweaty bangs and annoying breakouts). And if you’re sun-sensitive, you'll know full well how tricky it can be to protect your delicate skin from that powerful ball of fire in the sky.

Want to get ahead of the game and ensure your skin is summer-ready, like now? Then here are five rules you need to get on board with.

1. Be Better At Cleansing

Do you often go to bed without cleansing your skin? Or maybe you’re a face wipe addict and simply don’t have the time for anything more than a quick swipe-and-go after getting up in the morning. Well, you might (and we stress the word ‘might’) get away with this every now and again in the winter months, but poor cleansing is seriously bad news in summer.

As temperatures and humidity increases, your skin’s sebaceous glands produce more oil to help protect it from environmental stressors. Couple this with an excess of sweat, dirt and goodness-knows-what-else and by the end of the day, your skin is pretty much covered in grime. And you think it’s OK to go to bed like that? Not cool. 

Instead of all this nonsense, cleanse your skin effectively but gently every morning and night. Use lukewarm water so you don’t dehydrate or irritate your skin and avoid harsh cleansers that strip your skin of moisture. Skin Clearing Charcoal Face Wash is an awesome choice in the summer, especially if you have oily or congested skin, or try Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser which is a great all-rounder for all skin types.

2. Lighten Up Your Moisturizing Routine (But Don’t Dismiss It Altogether)

Chances are you already switched out your winter moisturizer for a lighter formulation this spring, but if you’re still slathering your skin with rich butters, balms or creams, now’s the time to opt for a more lightweight lotion or gel. More humidity means your skin is less likely to dry out than in the colder months so, unless your skin is naturally super dry or dehydrated, it requires much less moisturization.

But, and this is a big but, don’t think you can skip moisturizer entirely, just because the weather’s heated up. This is asking for trouble – especially if you have oily skin. Dial it down, for sure, but if you leave it completely out of your routine, your sebaceous glands will go into overdrive, producing more oil and leaving you with super slick skin.

3. Exfoliate – From Head-To Toe

Gently exfoliating your skin with a light scrub or chemical alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acid (think salicylic, lactic or glycolic) is a fabulous idea all year round. And you could try our Vitamin C Super Serum+ if you’re looking for the perfect facial serum, btw. But what about your body? Sun’s out, legs out and all that…

Come the summer, it’s super important to regularly exfoliate your body, especially your arms and legs which are going to be exposed much more often than they were during winter. Exfoliating your legs also helps give you the perfect shave and stops those ingrown hairs from upsetting your perfect pins game. Try applying a small amount of Skin Clearing Charcoal Face Wash to an exfoliating mitt or loofah, then work this in circular motions all over your body in the shower. How frequently you exfoliate your body will depend on your skin type, but two or three times a week should do it. Just remember to go gently over your chest and décolletage as the skin here is very delicate. Oh, and always follow with moisturizer.

4. Amp Up Your Antioxidant Game

You know that protecting your skin from the sun is almost as important as the air that you breathe (you DO know that, right?). Well, research shows that topical antioxidants are another way to counteract sun-induced free radical damage that totally ruins your skin’s essential collagen and elastin supplies. Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, retinol and niacinamide work hard to neutralize cell damage therefore reducing inflammation and helping your skin repair and correct itself.

If you don’t have an antioxidant facial serum in your routine, check out our guide to help you find one for your skin type. Then layer it underneath your moisturizer every morning or night – don’t worry, our serums are super light, so they won’t weigh down your skin.

And of course, always follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30.

5. Pare Back Your Makeup

Finally, summer is the perfect time to lessen your makeup load. Summer beauty trends always dictate barely-there, glowy skin and 2021 is no exception. This season’s skin is natural, fresh and radiant – as it should be – which means you should pack away your heavy foundations for the next few months and try tinted moisturizer or BB cream instead. Use clean fingers to apply it all over your face and neck, or try blending it with a foundation brush for a flawless-looking finish.

For an extra pop of color, apply cream blush over the apples of your cheeks and if you want to nail one of summer’s hottest makeup trends while simultaneously celebrating not having to wear a protective face mask 24/7, orange is officially THE color to wear on your lips.

You all know how damaging the sun is to your skin, but what about all the other stuff going on around you? Here’s a look at how air pollution affects the health of your skin.

Environmental pollution: the struggle for our poor world is most certainly real. But closer to home, and to really drive that nail in the coffin, pollution also has negative effects on your skin. In fact, experts believe air pollution plays a major part in the way in which your skin looks and feels and it’s known to be a huge factor in exacerbating (perhaps even causing) concerns like dark spots, wrinkles, inflammation and many other signs of skin aging.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States has come a long way since the Clean Air Act was enforced in 1970 to help protect the ozone, reduce toxic pollutants and improve air quality. But despite these improvements, air pollution continues to cause harm to your health and the world in which you live.

So, what is environmental pollution and exactly what is it doing to your skin? More importantly, is there anything you can do to prevent this onslaught of damage?

What Is Environmental Pollution?

Environmental pollution encompasses any gas or particle that’s been created and released into the atmosphere by us pesky human beings. Think exhaust fumes from your car; cigarette smoke; soot and acid from power plants, even smoke from your charcoal grill or fire pit. These human activities all create microscopic specks of pollutants that are released into the air.

If you live in a city or a particularly industrial area, you’ll be hard pushed to escape environmental pollution on a daily basis, but don’t think you’re safe even if you live by the beach or in the countryside ­– the truth is, air pollution is everywhere.

What Does Environmental Pollution Do To Your Skin?

Two words: free radicals. Pollution is one of the biggest causes of free radical damage. Furthermore, pollutant particles can be 20 times smaller than your skin’s pores, which means they can really get under your skin – like, literally. 

Free radicals are unstable molecules that react with all the good stuff in your skin, stealing electrons from unsuspecting proteins and causing no end of damage to things like collagen and elastin. As you know, collagen and elastin are super important for the support, strength and structure of your skin so any damage they suffer has disastrous effects on your skin, accelerating premature aging and causing your skin to become loose, thin, saggy and wrinkled way before its time.

Gaseous pollutants are less likely to penetrate your skin, but they’re equally as evil. These work away at the surface, causing problems with your skin’s protective barrier and eventually breaking it down, allowing toxic particles to penetrate your skin and essential moisture to escape.

All in all, air pollution paints a pretty ugly picture for the health of your skin, aggravating your barrier function and compounding problems like dark spots, poor texture, enlarged pores, irritation, wrinkles and well, need we go on? Thought not.

3 Ways To Protect Your Skin From Environmental Pollution

OK, so there’s bad news and good news when it comes to battling environmental pollution. First, the bad news: you’ll never win the war against environmental pollution and protect your skin 100 percent of the time. It’s just too big of a beast. However, the good news is there are tons of way to prevent those nasty pollutants from doing their worst.

Here are three of our favorite anti-pollution skincare weapons…

Weapon #1: Detoxifying Charcoal

The best way to reduce surface pollutants is with detoxifying cleansing ingredients like activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal is a little bit like a sponge and works by binding itself to pollutants then whisking them clean away. It’s often used in medicine to remove dangerous toxins that have been ingested, but it’s also a great skincare ingredient for clearing away anything nasty from the skin’s surface. Our Skin Clearing Charcoal Face Wash is formulated with activated coconut charcoal which is produced by burning coconut, then treating it to remove unwanted substances and increase its surface area. Activated coconut charcoal is one of the best ingredients for removing pollutants, as well as bacteria, excess oil, makeup and other unwanted debris for the surface of your skin. Use it to cleanse your skin morning and night and your complexion will be much less polluted as a result.

Weapon #2: Antioxidants

Nothing fights free radicals like antioxidants, so up your intake in both your skincare and your diet to hit those FRs from all angles.

When it comes to your topical skincare choices, an antioxidant treatment serum is an absolute must. Active ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamins C and E all have awesome antioxidant properties. Even better, choose a carefully curated formulation that combines one or more antioxidant ingredients. All of our serums contain at least one topical antioxidant and are perfect for applying to clean skin before your moisturizer to counteract the effects of free radical damage.

Not sure which serum will suit you best? We get it, they’re all pretty darn fabulous. However, we can help you with that tricky decision, right here.

Combine an awesome topical antioxidant serum with a diet that’s rich in nuts, beans and fresh fruit and veggies such as cherries, berries, leafy greens and carrots and you’ll be well on your way to reducing the effects of free radical damage (aka oxidative stress). Oh, you might also want to treat yourself to some antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, too. Arm. Officially. Twisted.

Weapon #3: Strengthening Night Cream

Keep your barrier function strong, supple and hydrated to help shield your skin from as many airborne pollutants as you can. This will also prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL) – the amount of water that evaporates through your skin – to reduce your chances of developing unwanted dryness, dehydration and inflammation. So, there’s that.

To maintain a healthy barrier, avoid over-exfoliating your skin and try to keep harsh chemicals, bad alcohols and fragrance to a minimum as these will strip away all of the natural oils and nutrients from the surface of your skin.

Before bed, you should also apply a night cream as the last step in your evening skincare routine to strengthen and moisturize your barrier function.

Our new Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream blends antioxidant-rich vitamin C with aloe, MSM and botanical oils to deeply replenish, heal and support your skin.

Be afraid air pollution, be very afraid.