True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Feel like your skincare routine isn’t quite cutting it? Here’s how to make it work harder… and better.

An awesome skincare routine is all well and good, but if you’re not using your products properly, or applying them in the correct order, you’re never going to get the optimal results you deserve.

Skincare is a fine art and, while it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to moisturize your face, knowing the finer details that help maximize a product’s potential can result in some major differences to the look, feel and health of your skin.

Here’s how to kick-start your routine into doing the best job it can for your skin.

Rule #1: Always Read Your Labels

Are you guilty of buying a new product and using it right away without so much as glancing at the label? Big mistake. Sure, you might have spent the last 30 years cleansing your face with zero issues because, come on, how difficult can it be? But it’s worth bearing in mind that not all products are created equal. Some cleansers are formulated to be used without water, others are meant to be applied to damp skin and massaged into your skin for few minutes. And how do you know which is which if you've not read the fine print?

Reading the instructions is super important and will help you get the most from each and every product in your routine. It’ll help guide you in terms of how often to apply as well as how much to apply. So do it. No arguments.

Rule #2: Use Your Products In The Correct Order

This is another one that might sound obvious, but gone are the days when skincare routines were basically cleanse, tone, moisturize… and you’re done. Now there are tinctures, oils, essences, serums, gels, lotions, and all sorts to get your head around. And if you apply them in the wrong order, then they might not work correctly. Money. Down. The. Drain.

The general rule of thumb when it comes to layering skincare formulations is to cleanse and tone first (obvs) then work from your thinnest to your thickest product. The simple fact is that thinner products aren’t able to penetrate through the thicker stuff so you need to build up to the big guys. This means that after toning, you should apply your serum first, then your eye treatment, moisturizer, face oil and finally – in the mornings anyway – sunscreen. Of course, your specific regimen doesn’t need to include each and every one of these steps, but if it does, then this should be your order if you want to get the best results.

Rule #3: Apply Your Treatments To Damp Skin

To turn up the efficacy of your products, full throttle, always apply your first treatment product to moistened skin. This could be an exfoliating toner such as Ocean Minerals Super Toner or an antioxidant serum like our new Peptide Facial Serum. But whatever it is, try to apply it within the first minute of cleansing. The reason for this is that damp skin is more permeable than dry skin which makes it far more receptive to active ingredients like vitamin C, glycolic acid, MSM and peptides.

Gently pat your skin with a clean towel after cleansing so just a small amount of water is left on the surface, then, using fingertips, apply your treatment product all over your face and neck. Simple, but super effective.

This being said, there is one exception to the rule, and that’s to avoid doing this if you have skin that’s particularly sensitive to certain ingredients like retinol. Retinol is a potent (but awesome) little beast that can easily irritate sensitive skin. So if you apply it to damp skin you could exacerbate these irritations. Instead, apply it to dry skin, after patch testing first, and you'll likely get along with it way better.

Rule #4: Know That A Serum Is The Absolute Key For Targeting Skin Concerns

Facial serums might not be absolutely essential for clean, moisturized skin but if you really care about your complexion and the rate at which it ages, facial serums are everything. The bare minimum skincare routine is, of course, cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. But if you have concerns like acne, blocked pores, fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, sagging skin and the like, and you want to really target them with your skincare, you simply HAVE to include a serum (or two) in your daily routine.

Serums are formulated differently to moisturizers and have a smaller molecular structure. This means they’re able to penetrate the surface of your skin quicker and deeper to hone in on your particular skin gripes. Getting really peeved by dull, patchy skin? Then a moisturizer is essential, for sure, but it will never give you the same results as an antioxidant treatment serum like our best-selling Vitamin C Facial Serum.

Not sure where to start with choosing the right serum for your needs? Not a problem. Check out our helpful guide right here. And remember that important order: serum comes after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Always.

Rule #5: Understand The Importance Of An Awesome Nighttime Routine

Your morning routine is great for waking up your skin, replacing lost moisture and preparing yourself for the day ahead, but overnight is when the real business happens so it’s vital to prepare your skin for eight hours’ worth of healing, regenerating and repairing time before you hit the sack.

At night, blood flow to your skin increases, collagen production speeds up, cell turnover accelerates, free radicals get nixed by your body’s natural defense system and your skin’s barrier function works hard to restore itself. All good stuff, we think you’ll agree. But how can all this happen if your skin is covered in crud that’s built up on the surface during the day? Well, it can’t. Not properly, anyway. So you simply have to cleanse properly with a gentle but effective face wash before bed. We have three awesome cleansers to choose from depending on your skin type and needs – check them out here. Then, after cleansing, apply a collagen-boosting treatment serum like Retinol Facial Serum followed by Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to help seal in moisture.

Vitamin C as a skincare ingredient is practically a given. But do you know exactly which C-vit you’re putting on your skin? Because if it’s not sodium ascorbyl phosphate, you might want to rethink your decisions…

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate might sound like a scary ingredient that you’d rather keep as far away from your precious skin as possible. But on the contrary, it’s up there with retinol and hyaluronic acid as a veritable darling of the skincare world. Now don’t roll your eyes in exasperation as if to say ‘really? Then why haven’t I heard of it?’. Because a) you have – you just didn’t know it, and b) give us a minute and we will elaborate.

For those of you not wanting to read this entire piece, here’s the most important fact about sodium ascorbyl phosphate (we’re just going to call it SAP from now on). SAP is topical vitamin C. Granted, it’s not the pure, unadulterated vitamin C you often read about – that’s l-ascorbic acid – but it’s vitamin C nonetheless. Furthermore, it’s a far more stable, kinder-to-your-skin type of vitamin C. Here’s what you need to know…

SAP: The Facts

1. Along with a lengthy list that includes magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl-6-palmitate and sodium ascorbate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a derivative of l-ascorbic acid – pure topical vitamin C.

2. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps fight the daily onslaught of skin damage that can be caused by free radicals. Free radicals form in your skin when it’s subjected to all those things it hates like UV radiation, pollution, smoke, a poor diet, cruddy sleep and, well, you know the drill.

Vitamin C is basically the Obi-Wan Kenobi to free radicals’ Darth Vader, stopping the long-lasting damage before it gets a chance to do a real number on your skin.

3. SAP is a salt form of vitamin C and one of the most stable versions available in skincare. How so? Because SAP has a sodium and phosphate molecule attached to it which helps it to stabilize.  This means it not only keeps its potency for longer, but is also more stable than L-Ascorbic Acid and MAP. These forms are notoriously unstable which means they break down and lose efficacy when exposed to light and air.

4. In order for your skin to experience the benefits of vitamin C, SAP has to be converted back to ascorbic acid after it’s been applied to your skin. This may sound counter-intuitive, but pure l-ascorbic acid is a very potent ingredient, so when you apply it directly to your skin it can be irritating, causing dryness, redness, stinging and even a mild burning sensation. Not cool. Literally. Switching up to SAP and having your skin convert it into ascorbic acid after application, significantly reduces your chances of irritation.

5. Full disclosure, the visible benefits of SAP take a tad longer to experience than pure vitamin C because your skin needs to do a little work to get to the bioactive form of the vitamin (l-ascorbic acid). But, call us crazy, we’ll take that over dry, red, itchy skin any day.

What SAP Does For Your Skin

Just like pure vitamin C, SAP has been clinically proven to improve the tone, texture and clarity of your skin. By fending off free radicals before they get a chance to damage DNA and valuable proteins within your skin (hi there collagen and elastin), SAP helps fight off the visible signs of aging such as dullness, dryness, fine lines, wrinkles, sagging and dark spots.

While we’re on the subject of dark spots, studies have also shown that vitamin C has a smart way of inhibiting melanin production which not only works to prevent dark spots from forming in the first place, but may also help fade any existing ones.

Now do you see why we’re all over this little gem of a skincare ingredient?

How To Up Your SAP Game

Good news: we've long been aware that active skincare ingredients are great… but not if they cause your skin to flare-up or break out. This is why we are in favor of the gentler, more stable SAP across all of our formulations.

Here’s a little reminder of some of our favorite SAP products.

The Awesome Cleanser: Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser

With a knock-your-socks-off blend of 15 percent SAP along with soothing aloe vera, collagen-boosting MSM, balancing tea tree oil and nourishing rosehip oil, this rejuvenating cleanser is the jack of all trades and master of all!

The Brightening Treatment: Vitamin C Facial Serum

As Amazon’s biggest selling vitamin C serum, you can’t fail to fall head over heels in love with this skin-brightening daily antioxidant treatment. The entire TruSkin brand was born from this, our original facial serum, and it’s still one of the best.

The Skin-Boosting Day Moisturizer: Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer

Pumped full of SAP along with its vitamin cousins, B5 and E, this classic moisturizer is a must for giving your skin’s barrier function a reboot while working hard to protect, nourish, brighten and clarify your complexion.

The Nourishing Night Cream: Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream

Rich but lightweight, powerful yet gentle, our SAP-infused night cream sounds like a total contradiction, but it has to be experienced to be believed. Ideal for all skin types it’s the best way to help your skin reach a whole new level of awesome while you sleep.

The Year-Round Sun Protector: SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C

Our new sunscreen might be the baby of our vitamin C family, but it’s by no means the weakling. Non-nano zinc oxide shields your skin from UVA and UVB rays while marine collagen, squalane and cucumber extract help hydrate and illuminate aging skin. And all this served up with a hefty helping of SAP? Yes, there is a beauty god!

Can You Use More Than One SAP Product?

Short answer, yes! Many of our customers use a whole regimen of our Vitamin C products and get awesome results. However, everyone’s skin is different, so we recommend adding new products one at a time and always patch test first to check for compatibility.

No matter your skin type or concerns a consistent routine is the only way to maintain the fabulous skin you deserve.

We may live in a world of filtered, unrealistic Instagram photos but, here at TruSkin, we’re all about enhancing your REAL skin. Sure you might hate your greasy t-zone, dark spots, crow’s feet or frown lines but the truth is, these small (and we stress ‘small’) imperfections do not define you and don’t need to be hidden behind. You are so much more than the odd wrinkle or chin pimple. You are awesome, and that’s something to be celebrated.

Now don’t start rolling your eyes in a ‘that’s easier said than done’ fashion – hear us out because we have our own skin woes to bear, too. The thing is, we’ve learned over the years that you may not have the skin you had 10 years ago and this understanding is the first and most important step to being happy in your skin. Instead of reminiscing about your plump teenage skin, it’s all about working with what you have right now.

But how do you successfully do that? Well, we truly believe that looking after your skin with a consistent skincare routine is the absolute foundation for an awesome complexion. What does a consistent routine mean? Thankfully it doesn’t mean standing over your vanity for hours on end applying an infinite cocktail of products day and night.

In fact, a solid, effective skincare routine requires just six products...

1. Cleanser

Cleansing your skin is often thought of as kind of a must, but not really that important in the grand scheme of things. Big mistake. If you don’t get rid of all that debris, you might as well throw the rest of your products away because they won’t work to the best of their abilities if they have all those surface nasties to get through.

We believe there are three important things to remember when cleansing your skin. 1. Choose formulations that aren’t loaded with chemicals and are free of irritating ingredients like sulfates, parabens, silicones and PEGs because these can upset your skin’s important barrier function and exacerbate dryness, dehydration, redness and breakouts. No matter your skin type, gentle is always the way to go. Try Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser which is perfect for daily cleansing.

2. Use only room temperature water. Anything too hot will also compromise your barrier function and have the same disastrous results. And 3. Take your time as you cleanse. Splashing your face, throwing a bit of cleanser at your skin and immediately rinsing it away is not going to do a great job. Instead, use your fingers and hands to massage your skin for a good couple of minutes to stimulate blood flow (hello radiant skin) and encourage lymphatic drainage (ditto!).

2. Toner

Hate the thought of drying out your skin with toner? Well, get that entire idea out of your head right now, because these days facial toners are so much more than alcohol-fueled lotions designed to suck all the life out of your skin. They’re actually an important step in your routine and, depending on your skin type, the benefits of a facial toner are endless. They can be saviors if you’re looking to balance, hydrate, calm or soothe your skin. And then some…

Our Ocean Mineral Super Toner, for example, floods your skin with skin-boosting treats like glycolic acid, vitamin C, MSM and botanical extracts. Even better news: simply spritz it on your skin after cleansing and this entire step is done and dusted in a matter of seconds.

3. Serum

Straight after toning comes your treatment serum. Serum should always be applied before eye cream and moisturizer because it’s lighter in consistency so needs cleaner, bare skin in order to do its job properly. Apply moisturizer first and it literally stands no chance of penetrating your skin.

Another fact for you: serum is a vital part of anyone’s skincare routine. How so? Because its small, molecular structure means it can deliver active ingredients to your skin way quicker and deeper than regular moisturizer.

If you’re not sure where to start with serum, don’t sweat it: we have an incredible collections of facial serums to suit every skin type. Looking for a gentle, antioxidant serum that won’t irritate your sensitive skin? Then our Niacinamide Facial Serum is right up your alley. Searching for an awesome all-round anti-ager to boost your flailing collagen supplies? Then look no further than our new Peptide Facial Serum. Whatever your needs, we’ve totally got your back. Just remember to only apply a couple of drops to your face and neck, and gently smooth or press it into your skin for the best results. Oh, and don’t forget to patch test first – serums are pretty potent so you should always make sure any new one is compatible with your skin before using it on the reg.

4. Eye Treatment

After allowing your serum to settle for a minute or so, apply an eye treatment. The skin around your eyes is notoriously dry and fragile making it very susceptible to the slings and arrows of everyday life – ie: sun damage, environmental pollution, stress and lack of sleep. Face moisturizer, however, can be a little heavy for this area, so stick with an eye treatment that’s been specifically created to treat the delicate skin around your eyes.

The golden rule when applying eye cream is that less is more – just a pea-sized amount will take care of both eyes easily. And don’t be too heavy-handed as you apply it. A great trick is to use your ring fingers to dab it around your eyes. This automatically forces you to use a lighter touch.

We have two equally awesome eye treatments: Peptide Eye Gel and Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream, so take your pick. You can't go wrong with either!

5. Moisturizer

Water makes up around 64 percent of healthy skin so it’s vital you help your skin stay hydrated 24/7. And moisturizer is the best/only way to do this. Serums are fabulous, for sure, but they don’t contain the slightly richer emollient ingredients that seal hydration into your skin and help reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Look for kind-to-skin formulations that contain a combination of ingredients to both hydrate your skin (aloe vera, glycerin and hyaluronic acid) and lock in moisture (shea butter, jojoba oil and friends). Try Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer for the morning and Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream before bed.

At night, moisturizer should be the final step in your routine, but in the morning there’s one final step to come. And it’s a VERY IMPORTANT one…

6. Sun Protection

Last, but by no means least, is sunscreen. Yes, applying SPF can seem like a chore but rain, shine, blue skies or gray, sunscreen is non-negotiable every day of the year. The facts are, it’s the most important (and effective) anti-aging product you could ever use and it can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer by up to 50 percent.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you should choose a broad-spectrum formulation that offers a protection of at least SPF 15 (preferably 30), and you must apply around a nickel-sized amount to your face every morning. Sounds like a bore? Then try our brand new SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen which is lightweight, easy to apply and bursting with skin goodies like vitamin C, aloe vera, vegan marine collagen and the king of sun protection, zinc oxide.

Now For The Hard Bit…

Once you’ve got all this down, the important thing is to stick with your chosen routine – morning AND night. Too tired to wash your face before bed? Tough. Can't be bothered to apply sunscreen in the morning? Unlucky. The bottom line is that if you want to enjoy your best skin for as long as possible, you have to keep at it.

Because you're important and you deserve a break.

Knowing how to switch off after a hectic day of office work, Zoom calls, housework, children juggling, personal admin and general ‘life’ is not something that comes easy for all. Sure, there are those lucky few who find unwinding as easy as riding a bike (who even are those people?!), but for most of us, chilling the heck out is tricky business.

In this crazy digital world we live in, it’s easy to spend your evenings watching countless episodes of the latest must-see show on Netflix while constantly diverting your attention to your smartphone. In fact, studies show that the average American checks their phone 58 times per day. Once more, 50 percent of these check-ins start within just three minutes of the previous one. So, why is this so terrible? Well, it’s not the end of the world, but if you have trouble with stress it’s not the best use of your me-time. After all, can you honestly switch off when you’re constantly idling through TikTok, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram? Probably not.

We wouldn’t dream of telling you to throw away your digital devices for good just so you can relax a bit more. Because, quite honestly, social media isn’t to blame for everything. However, try putting your phone aside for an hour every evening to concentrate on the now. Trust us, it’s weirdly lethargic!

Once you’ve got this important habit nailed, try these other proven tricks for helping you to be more relaxed.

Stretch

Of course, stretching is important for your physical health, but did you know it’s also an awesome way to improve your mental well being? Stretching relaxes your muscles, reduces tension and increases serotonin which is the hormone responsible for boosting your mood and regulating your sleep. Basically, it feels damn good – both physically and emotionally – and is the ideal way to shake off negative thoughts and help you relax.

Yoga and pilates are great workouts for stretching your full body but if that’s not your jam, there are plenty of simple stretches you can do at home to relieve tension. A simple one you can do every morning is to lie on your back with your arms above your head. Then stretch your toes and fingers in the opposite direction, hold for 10-15 seconds and repeat a few times. Other easy stretches you can do every morning include the classic child’s pose and downward dog.

Connect To The Outside World

Nature is a powerful thing so, if you can, step outside and take a few minutes to breathe in some fresh air and cherish the great outdoors. Even better, go for a short walk (minus your smartphone!) and take in your surroundings – it’s an extremely therapeutic way to clear your head. Short bursts of vitamin D (because, contrary to what we usually tell you, the sun isn’t ALL bad!) may also help boost your immune system, improve your energy levels and lift your spirits. Just remember to protect exposed skin with a broad-spectrum SPF like our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C before heading outdoors.

But what about if you can’t get outside? No problem, you can still benefit from nature by looking at photos of green spaces like fields, forests and woodlands on your computer. Studies show this can have just as much of a calming effect as the real thing. Who knew?
 

Listen To Your Favorite Tunes

Music also plays an important role in your mental health, helping you reduce stress and inducing a more relaxed state of mind. The key, however, is to choose the right tunes, of course! And that all depends on your taste. Have a think about the type of music that makes you feel calm and positive. This could be anything from Mozart or Native American music to flutes or instrumental beachy vibes – whatever takes you to your happy place. Not sure where to start? Then look out for meditation playlists on your favorite streaming service that have pieces of music which play at around 60 beats per minute. Experts consider this the ideal tempo for relaxing your mind.

Plan Some Pampering ‘You’ Time

Very little beats the feeling of spending some quality time looking after yourself. This helps shift your focus from stressful thoughts and brings your attention to you and you alone. So, let’s all make a plan to give ourselves a spa-like facial one evening this weekend, shall we? Not only will it help you relax and sleep better, but it’ll do wonders for your skin at the same time. What could be better than that?

Here’s how to crush a skin and mind-loving facial at home.

1. Create A Calming Environment
Put your phone away, lock the bathroom door and ensure whoever you live with knows to leave you alone for an hour. Light a scented candle (or two!), turn on some relaxing music and wash your hands.

2. Cleanse Your Skin
Spend five minutes cleansing your skin with Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser. Use your entire hands to work it over your face and neck and use the pads of your fingers to massage it in circular motions all over. This will help boost circulation and remove build-up.

3. Steam Clean
After cleansing, fill your sink with hot (but not boiling) water, then cover your head with a towel and hover your face about 12 inches above the water for 10 minutes. The steam will soften your skin, open your pores and further draw out trapped oil and debris. You could even add a few drops of calming lavender oil if that floats your boat.

4. Apply A Face Mask
After patting your skin dry, apply your favorite face mask and relax for another 10 minutes while reading a book. Heaven!

5. Treat & Moisturize
Rinse off your mask, gently towel-dry your skin then apply Vitamin C Facial Serum to flood your skin with antioxidants, MSM and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Finish with Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream and you are done.

Finally, Breathe…

Last, but not least, breathe. Deep breathing slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure and experts agree it’s one of the most effective techniques for reducing anxiety and helping you learn to relax.

There are many different breathing exercises you can practice for a calmer state of mind, but the simplest is 7-11 breathing which requires you to breathe in deeply from your diaphragm for a count of seven, then out for a count of 11, for a total of around ten minutes. Why breathe out for longer? Well, this has shown to be more effective at stimulating your parasympathetic nervous system and relaxing your body and mind.

Whatever technique you choose (and there are plenty to read up about on the internet), the most important thing to remember is to focus on your breath while inhaling and exhaling slowly and deliberately.
 

If you're an SPF-all-year kind of person, hats off to you. But if you're not quite there yet, hopefully we can change that by filling you in on the dangers of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

If only the sun made your skin as happy as your heart. But as delightful as it is to feel the warm rays of sunshine on your skin, the perils of what’s going on just below the surface are simply not worth it.
 
The truth is, as far as your skin is concerned, the sun is the enemy. If you suffer with dermatitis or rosacea, you’ll be well aware of how heat from infrared radiation can irritate and inflame your skin. And don’t even get us started on prickly heat which occurs when blocked pores trap sweat under your skin, causing blisters and bumps that itch and burn like crazy.

No fun at all.

But the sun isn’t solely about heat. For where there is sun there is also sunlight. And along with sunlight, comes ultraviolet (UV) radiation – the biggest cause of premature skin aging and skin cancer. Let us explain…

What Is UV Radiation? The Science Bit

The sun is split into many forms of energy called the electromagnetic spectrum. Most of the electromagnetic spectrum is invisible to the naked eye and thankfully the earth’s atmosphere protects us from exposure to a lot of the harmful stuff.

But even the light that does reach the earth, which falls mainly in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum, has its pros and cons. Infrared radiation creates heat, visible light encompasses everything you see and ultraviolet radiation? Well, other than providing your body with vitamin D which, granted, plays an important role in bone and muscle health, its effects are mainly bad. And they all concern your skin.

But first, it’s important to understand the difference between the three types of UV radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. Bear with us for few more science facts and then we’ll move on: promise.

The Difference Between UVA, B and C

UV radiation is split into three types of rays with various wavelengths. UVA rays have the longest wavelength and are able to penetrate right through the atmosphere. UVB rays have slightly shorter wavelengths which means that some get absorbed by the ozone layer, but most work their way through. And then you have UVC rays which are the shortest of the lot and are completely absorbed by the atmosphere. Phew.

This makes your main concerns UVA and UVB rays.

Due to their longer wavelength, UVA rays penetrate right through clouds and windows which means two things. 1. They’re present all year round, and 2. They can still get you, even when you’re inside. Their wavelength also allows them to penetrate deeper below your skin’s surface into the dermis where they can have disastrous effects, producing skin-damaging free radicals, upsetting collagen and elastin production, indirectly harming DNA and accelerating the visible signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, sagging and discoloration.

UVB rays, with their shorter wavelength, are often filtered by clouds and only penetrate the outer layers of your skin. But this doesn’t mean they’re any less damaging. Far from it. In fact UVB rays are responsible for causing redness, sunburns and directly damaging DNA. They’re also thought to be the root cause of most skin cancers.

Protecting your skin from both UVA and UVB radiation, therefore, is super important. In fact, it could not be more important.

How To Protect Your Skin From UV Damage: Your Sun-Safe Checklist

1. Make Sunscreen Your Top Priority

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sunscreen is one of the most important ways to shield your skin from damaging UVA and UVB radiation. But it’s not enough to grab any old formulation, slap it on your skin and hope for the best. You must also ensure these important details are always top of mind…

• Understand Your SPF: Sunscreens must have an SPF (sun protection factor) which denotes how well they block out UVB radiation. SPF 15 blocks around 93 percent with anything above that adding just a small amount of extra coverage. It's generally agreed, however, that SPF 30 is the sweet spot because most of us don’t apply enough product! But remember, SPF only speaks to UVB protection, not UVA. This means you must always look for formulations that are labelled ‘broad-spectrum’ to ensure you have sufficient protection from both. Good news: Our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen checks both boxes.  

• Don’t Scrimp: Speaking of your application, to help you get the protection that’s promised on the bottle, you should apply a good two tablespoons to your body and a nickel-sized amount for your face. And if you’re in the sun for longer periods of time? Then make sure you reapply every two hours at the very least.
• Know That Waterproof Sunscreen DOES NOT EXIST: According to the FDA there is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen because they're always going to eventually wash off. Sunscreen can be water-resistant for 80 minutes at best, so check your product before hanging around in a pool for hours.
• Go Mineral, All The Way: The FDA currently deems just two sunscreen ingredients as safe and effective – zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are mineral sunscreens that sit on your skin and reflect UV radiation before it has a chance to do damage. This is why our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen has been formulated with non-nano zinc oxide. Because it’s the best!

2. Cover-Up & Embrace Shade

Broad-brimmed hats, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts, pants and maxi skirts are great for providing protection from UV radiation so try to cover-up whenever you can and especially during the midday sun. UV radiation is at its strongest between 10 am and 4 pm when the sun’s rays have less distance to cover.

Also, make the shade your BFF. Good shade from dense trees, walls, large rocks or an umbrella can protect your skin from around 15 percent of UV light. And that’s not to be sniffed at.

3. Avoid Tanning Beds Like The Plague

The sun isn’t the only source of UV radiation. Tanning beds use fluorescent lightbulbs that emit a huge amount of UVA radiation, with a little UVB thrown in for good measure. What’s more, studies show that this type of artificial UV radiation can be up to three times more intense than natural sunlight.

Add to this the fact that most people don’t apply sunscreen before jumping on a tanning bed and this whole sorry affair is asking for trouble.

Say NO to tanning beds. End of.

4. Love Your Vitamins

Exposure to the sun causes free radicals which, as you know, love to ruin your skin, destroying important proteins, breaking down collagen and elastin and making your skin age up lightning fast.

Thankfully, antioxidants are to free radicals what Batman is to the Joker. A total killjoy. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E neutralize free radicals to limit their damage and help keep your skin strong, supple and resilient. We combine these two free radical-fighting powerhouses in our Vitamin C Facial Serum which makes this a great morning treatment to apply underneath your moisturizer and sunscreen to amp up your protection game.

5. Check Your Skin

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans will develop melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, in their lives. What’s more, the majority of these cases can be attributed to UV exposure. We repeat: protect, protect, protect...

It’s also vital to regularly examine your skin and specifically your moles. When caught early, skin cancer has a 98 percent cure rate, so if you notice anything that looks suspicious you should immediately get it checked out by a skin specialist or doctor. Not sure what a suspicious mole looks like? The Skin Cancer Foundation has a great guide here to help you detect the warning signs.

Because, sure, it's extremely important, but summer is not only about SPF, SPF and more SPF…

When we talk of summer skincare, the first thing that always springs to mind is sunscreen. And rightly so. Protecting your skin from that fire ball in the great big sky is one of the most important things you can do for the health of not only your skin, but your entire body. The hard truth is that the sun is accountable for between 80 and 90 percent of external skin aging (ouch!). And not only does it break down important proteins in your skin (hello collagen and elastin), accelerating wrinkles and dark spots but, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UV radiation is the number one cause of skin cancers. In fact, around 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to the sun.

Scary stuff, right?

Knowing how to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun is an important skincare lesson. Feel like you’re not quite on the ball? Well, we’re not going to go into it today because all you need to know is right here. Instead, we're here to talk about everything else involved in summer skincare because warm weather brings a whole slew of other challenges for your skin.

Thankfully, there are many ways to up your summer skincare game to ensure your complexion stays looking fabulous all the way through fall…

1. Level Up Your Cleansing Routine

Why: Hot, steamy days mean one thing: sweat. You have between two and four million sweat glands all over your body, a large number of which are found on your forehead on cheeks. This means your cleansing game needs to be on point to ensure your pores are kept clean and clear.

How: Gel or foam face washes that contain deep cleaning ingredients like activated charcoal, tea tree oil or salicylic acid are great for the summer months. We’re currently in love with our new Tea Tree Super Cleanser which is refreshing and leaves your skin super clean. Cleanse your face every morning and more importantly, every night (when you’ll be at your sweatiest!) using lukewarm, never hot water. And make sure you get right into your hairline as this area is particularly prone to breakouts in the summer.

PS: Cleansing your body every evening is also super important if you’ve been slathered in sunscreen all day.

2. Avoid Pore-Clogging Ingredients

Why: While we’re on the topic of clogged pores, it’s not just sweat you need to worry about in the summer. Excess oils, dirt, debris, sunscreen and makeup can also get jammed in your pores, leading to breakouts on your face and body.

How: Again, regular cleansing is key, but to help keep your pores clear in the first place, try to also use non-comedogenic products across your entire skincare routine.

'Non-comedogenic’ is the term used for ingredients that are unlikely to block your pores. Rich butters and heavy oils, for example, are awesome for locking moisture into your skin and protecting your barrier function. But, they are not non-comedogenic. Far from it. Instead, look for lighter moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil and shea butter, as well as hydrating gems such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid. You’ll find all of these in our awesome Retinol Moisturizer. And yes, contrary to popular belief you CAN use retinol in the summer.

3. Exfoliate (In Moderation)

Why: Another way to keep summer breakouts at bay is to exfoliate more often than normal. Exfoliation increases cellular turnover and rids your skin of dead skin cells which are not something your pores want to deal with on top of everything else.

How: Over-exfoliating your skin is never wise and it’s one of the biggest issues derms have to deal with. However, if you’re going to up your game, now’s the time to do it. Just tread carefully. Think two or three times a week rather than every day and switch out harsh scrubs containing skin-damaging fruit shells or nut pieces for a gentler product like Ocean Minerals Super Toner which contains naturally exfoliating glycolic acid.

4. Make Friends With Antioxidants

Why: The sun is one of the leading causes of free radicals in the skin. And as innocent as they sound, free radicals have zero redeeming qualities. They’re basically unstable molecules that damage your skin by trying to bind themselves to important proteins and DNA. This causes a process called oxidative stress which weakens collagen and elastin and ages you up in no time. The good news? Antioxidants to the rescue! These little skincare geniuses bind themselves to free radicals, preventing them from damaging all the good stuff in your skin.

How: Antioxidants are awesome all year, but they’re especially important in the summer when you spend more time in the great outdoors. If you’re looking for the cream of the crop we recommend bringing out the big guns, namely vitamins C and E. This antioxidant double act not only reduces oxidative stress, but helps prevent dark spots, reduces the appearance of fine lines and works hard to boost collagen production. Apply just a few drops of Vitamin C Facial Serum every morning after cleansing and before moisturizing to get your daily quota.

5. Don’t Stop Believin'... In Moisturizer

Why: Moisturizing may feel counter-intuitive in the warmer months when your skin feels sweatier and oilier than normal. But here’s the thing, natural oils and sweat do not keep your skin hydrated and moisturized. In fact, the summer heat can dehydrate your skin which will make your skin produce even more oil than normal. And that’s what we call a vicious beauty circle. Thankfully, the solution is simple: continue to moisturize to hydrate your skin, promote cellular turnover and protect your skin's important barrier function.

How: Choose lighter products that won’t clog your pores or make your skin feel heavy and sticky, and look out for moisturizers that are high on humectants. Humectants are ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid and glycerin which draw water to the surface of your skin to help keep it hydrated. Try Hyaluronic Facial Serum each night before bed, followed by Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to moisturize and recharge your skin while you sleep.

Finally, of course, you should continue to apply a daily broad spectrum SPF30 to any exposed skin.

But we hope that goes without saying by now...