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True Radical Honesty From Our Community

  • Exactly How Does Vitamin C Help Brighten Your Skin?
    As skincare ingredients go, vitamin C is seen as the holy grail of glowy, radiant skin. But does vitamin C really work? And if so, how?

    Vitamin C. If you know anything about TruSkin, you will know that we are all about it. Our first ever product was our award-winning and best-selling Vitamin C Facial Serum and over the last ten years, almost our entire range has been built around this fan favorite face treatment.

    But what exactly is it about vitamin C that makes it SO good that it had to be the absolute foundation of our skincare journey? And why is it hailed as the one of the best ingredients for brightening dull skin?

    Read on for the three main reasons we believe vitamin C deserves every inch of its glow-getting praise…

    Vitamin C: The Antioxidant Master

    Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant. Science says so. And who are we to argue with science?

    Antioxidants are super important for the health of your skin. You see, life can be a constant struggle as far as your skin is concerned. You can’t get away from sun exposure, environmental pollution and stress – they’re all part of daily life. But they’re no good for your skin. Similarly, a lack of sleep, poor diet choices and smoking all contribute to this onslaught of aggressors that totally compromise the strength and stability of your skin.

    Why are these such bad news? Two words: free radicals. Free radicals form in your skin when it’s been exposed to the aforementioned daily aggressors. They’re very unstable, highly reactive atoms that have unpaired electrons, and their mission in life is to pair up these electrons in order to stabilize themselves. In order to do that they commit theft, pinching electrons from unsuspecting healthy cells and proteins in your body. In your skin, specifically, they seriously chip away at things like collagen and elastin, damaging your skin’s tone and texture, and making it look dull and sad at lightning speeds.

    Thankfully, the world has blessed us with antioxidants which help neutralize free rads by offering up electrons without themselves becoming damaged. They’re super important in the quest for healthy, bright skin which is why applying a topical antioxidant every day should be a vital part of your skincare regime.

    We have tons of awesome vitamin C products for you to try but if you really want to reap the benefits, you should opt for a facial serum first and foremost. Serums have a very low molecular weight which means they’re able to penetrate your skin and deliver all their goodness exactly where it’s needed. Try our high-powered Vitamin C Super Serum + which offers a concentrated hit of vitamin C alongside hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing niacinamide.

    Vitamin C: The Dark Spot Warrior

    Granted, most people know about vitamin C’s extraordinary antioxidant powers, but that’s not all it offers in terms of skin-brightening assistance.

    Studies have also shown that vitamin C helps reduce dark spots and an uneven skin tone by blocking melanin production. As we’re sure you know, melanin is what gives your skin (as well as your eyes and hair) its color. The more melanin your skin produces, the darker your skin naturally is.

    Melanin also absorbs UV radiation to help protect your skin from sun damage. This is why, when your skin is exposed to sunlight, melanin production amps up and your skin may become darker. Sometimes this is uniform and you tan, but other times melanin production becomes a bit wayward, and your skin tone becomes patchy and irregular as dark spots appear.

    Dark spots can really kill your skin’s radiance, giving your tone an uneven appearance and generally making it look like kind of ‘meh.’ Of course, sunscreen is vital for warding off sun damage, but vitamin C is another great way to help keep melanin under control.

    How does vitamin C help reduce the appearance of dark spots? Well, research shows that it inhibits a certain enzyme called tyrosinase which melanin needs in order to synthesize. Without tyrosinase, melanin production slows down meaning less darkness and potential patchiness as a result. Bingo!

    Try the awesome duo of Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser each morning, followed by Vitamin C Facial Serum, Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer and that all-important sunscreen. Winner.

    We also have a Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream to help brighten, strengthen and repair your skin while you’re asleep. Just remember to always patch test any of these formulations before using regularly all over. All of our products are gentle and suitable for most skin types but everyone’s skin reacts differently, so you can never be too careful.

    Vitamin C: The Sunscreen Bestie

    Going back to sunscreen for a minute, this is the number one way to fight off ALL signs of skin aging, including dull skin and dark spots. Any broad-spectrum sunscreen that’s mineral-forward and has an SPF of at least 30 is going to do your skin all number of radiance-boosting, protecting and anti-aging favors, that’s for sure. However, if you really want to soup up the effects of your sunscreen and double down on its benefits, vitamin C is a shoo-in.

    Word is that vitamin C makes sunscreen work better and harder, neutralizing more free radicals (check!) and helping your sunscreen absorb more UV radiation (double check!).

    The thing is, even the very best, most highly protective sunscreens can only protect your skin from 98 percent of UV rays, so there will always be a few that slip through the proverbial SPF net. Not only that but certain studies have shown that sunscreen is only able to shield your skin from around 50 percent of the number of free radicals caused by the sun. So why would you not want to try to catch all those extra rays and rads by combining the antioxidant prowess of vitamin C alongside your sunscreen? There’s no reason not to do that. No reason at all.

    Especially when our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen has been powered up by vitamin C for you, anyway. 

    The pleasure is all ours!

    Vitamin C
    Exactly How Does Vitamin C Help Brighten Your Skin?
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  • Spring Skin Prep – Yes, It's That Time Again!
    Because it's almost time to wave winter goodbye and welcome the season of sunshine and glowy skin. 

    Good news, people: you and your skin have made it through winter and spring is officially in the air.

    So what should you do to ensure you’re doing the best for your skin as the weather changes and the temperatures rise? Well, we believe that a great skincare routine should, first and foremost, be as consistent as possible. Do you have a darling cleanser you could not live without? Then stick with it. Love your night cream more than life itself? Then you keep doing you. However, as the year passes and the weather transitions from winter to spring, there might be certain products in your routine that, while might have worked great in the colder months, suddenly feel a bit much.

    Crazy rich moisturizers and heavy treatment masks, for example, are all great when dry, cold temps outdoors combine with dry, warm air indoors, sucking all the life and moisture from your skin. But do you really need them once humidity increases and the mercury rises? Probably not.

    Instead, here are five important ways to get your skin (and your skincare routine) ready for spring…

    1. Exfoliate More Regularly

    Exfoliation often takes a bit of a back seat in the winter when the thought of exacerbating dryness and upsetting your skin’s barrier function far outweighs the potential benefits of exfoliation. And we get that. Dry, cold weather dehydrates your skin and can even cause irritation, so why on earth would you want to mess with that by overusing facial scrubs or exfoliating acids?

    In the spring, however, humidity levels increase which offers up more natural moisture for your skin to soak up and hydrate itself with. This means skin becomes more resilient and is able to tolerate regular, albeit gentle exfoliation to boost cell turnover and freshen it up for sunnier days ahead. Also, if your skin is anything like ours, by the end of winter it definitely could do with a little radiance boost.

    We recommend our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which is non-abrasive and a gentle way to exfoliate your skin. But don't get us wrong, it still packs a good enough punch to boost sluggish skin turnover and wake up your collagen supplies. Depending on your skin type, you can use this exfoliating lotion every day but always patch test first, and if you have super sensitive skin, try it just two or three times a week.

    2. Lighten Up Your Moisturizing Regime

    There’s no better feeling than smothering your face and neck with a rich moisturizer in the winter months. But as the weather gets better and your skin starts to hydrate itself more efficiently (and maybe sweat a little more)? Not so much.

    Spring and summertime are when lighter moisturizers come into their own. Unless you have very dry skin all year round, now’s the time to move away from heavy, occlusive ingredients like cocoa butter and mineral oils in favor of lighter, hydrating humectants and emollients. Humectants, which include the likes of glycerin and hyaluronic acid, draw water into the skin’s top layers while emollients like jojoba oil and squalane help to lock moisture into your skin without clogging up your pores.

    Feel like lightening up for spring? Our favorite moisturizer for this time of year is our Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which also contains an added glow-getting boost of vitamin C. Speaking of which…

    3. Embrace The Benefits Of Vitamin C

    It’s wise to go easy on potent, active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C and glycolic acid in the winter when your skin is drier, more dehydrated and easily irritated by strong ingredients. However, as humidity levels rise your skin becomes way more tolerant to powerful ingredients.

    That’s why we believe spring is the best time to introduce some topical actives into your routine. And what better than vitamin C?

    Vitamin C is a freakin’ amazing antioxidant, making it the perfect choice when you’re spending more time in the great outdoors. Because, sun damage. What’s more, it also helps your skin tone remain even and bright by keeping melanin production under control.

    We have a whole bunch of winning vitamin C formulas but for the most powerful boost try our Vitamin C Super Serum + two or three nights a week under moisturizer. You could even alternate it with our classic Vitamin C Facial Serum if that floats your boat. We don’t think you’ll regret it.

    4. Breathe Life Back Into Your Pores

    All those heavy moisturizers and weighty makeup choices can sure weigh down your pores, so now’s a great time to give your skin a detox. Or a spring clean, if you will.

    Cleansing in the winter can be a real juggling game because skin becomes very needy in the moisture department during those cold, dry months. However, come spring you can afford to introduce deeper cleansing ingredients into your routine – if that’s what your skin needs, of course.

    Don’t fall into the trap of over-cleansing your skin with a routine that’s packed with chemicals, however. This will dry out your skin and fool your sebaceous glands into thinking your skin needs more oil. And the more oil your skin produces, the more likely it is to bind itself to bacteria, dirt and makeup, stretching your pores and asking for trouble, aka breakouts.

    Instead, choose gentle, effective cleansing products that harness balancing ingredients like tea tree oil, coconut charcoal and kaolin. Wash your face in lukewarm, never hot water, and use a light massaging technique to thoroughly cleanse your skin without over-stimulating your pores. Try our Tea Tree Super Cleanser + to help kick-start dreary, end-of-winter skin.

    5. Be Extra Vigilant With SPF

    Of course, you’ve been routinely applying your SPF all winter long, right? RIGHT? Well, if you haven’t, then a) shame and you and b) best you rectify that right now.

    While UVA rays are able to penetrate through clouds and are present all year long – rain or shine – the intensity of UVB rays increases in the warmer months when the earth is closer to the sun. Of course, they’re at their peak during summer, but if ever there was a time to start being more strict with your SPF, spring is it. Start now and it’ll become a habit before you even know it.

    We recommend applying SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C every morning as an absolute must. Even if you hate the feeling of sunscreen on your skin, this sheer, lightweight formulation is sure to win you over.

     

    Skincare Tips
    Spring Skin Prep – Yes, It's That Time Again!
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  • Weird Things That Can (Surprisingly!) Give You Wrinkles
    Fine lines and wrinkles are totally natural, but if you want to lessen their impact, you might want to take a look at some of these seemingly innocent lifestyle habits.

    We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve warned you about the perils of the sun and its effect on the number and intensity of your wrinkles. Ditto for stress, smoking and a lack of sleep. But while these things are up there as the most common culprits of aging skin – the sun being the number one offender, of course – there are plenty of other everyday lifestyle habits you probably didn’t realize were affecting the rate at which your skin aged.

    Obsessed with your Stanley water bottle right now? Well, for one thing, who isn’t? But for another, you might want to rethink that whole drinking-from-a-straw situation once you’ve read the rest of this article. You have been warned…

    Drinking From A Straw

    One of the main reasons smoking is so bad for your skin (toxic chemicals aside) is the repetitive motion of puckering up your lips. How so? Well, this repeated action contracts a ring of muscle around the mouth area called the orbicularis oris muscle. Over time, this causes your skin to lose elasticity. And you know those lines you see when you purse your lips? Instead of going away after you relax your mouth, they start to become permanently etched in.

    Same thing happens if you drink through a straw all day long.

    What To Do: As much as we know you love your Stanley Quencher try not to drink out of it 24/7. At home, switch it out for a regular glass and when you’re out and about go for a water bottle that doesn’t have a straw. Oh, and if you get offered a straw when you next order a gin and tonic in a bar, say no. Those fine lines around your lips – as well as the environment – will be forever grateful.

    Your Smartphone

    What would we do without our digital devices? They are pretty much everything in today’s modern world. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. However, your smartphone, in particular, plays a huge part in the health of your skin. For one thing, constantly looking down while texting, gaming, emailing and browsing can accelerate the formation of creases or bands around the circumference of your neck, aka ‘tech neck.’ Similarly, squinting and frowning at your phone can add even more lines and wrinkles both on your forehead and around your eyes.

    Your digital devices also emit something called high-energy visible (HEV) or blue light which studies suggest are just as damaging to your skin as UV light. Blue light not only has the potential to disrupt your skin’s natural barrier function but it can promote inflammation, encourage discoloration and accelerate collagen damage which is a one-way ticket to fine lines and wrinkles.

    What To Do: Use your phone less (ha, if only it were that easy!) and always hold it upright so your head isn’t looking down all the time.

    You must also try our awesome Longevity skincare range. This collection of three healthy aging products contains lingonberry stems cells which have been shown to help protect your skin from blue light damage.

    The Way You Sleep

    Getting lots of quality sleep is majorly important for the state of your skin, but skincare experts also agree that the way in which you sleep carries just as much weight on your skin’s aging process. Sleeping on one side, for example, causes creasing on that same side of your face which can increase your chances of developing fine lines on one side more than the other. Similarly, sleeping on your front and smushing your face into your pillow every night creates repeated pressure on your entire face – a sure-fire way to invite fine lines and wrinkles to do their worst.

    What To Do: A silk pillowcase can help reduce friction, but your best bet is to change your sleep position so you sleep on your back with your head slightly raised. This avoids repetitive face-to-pillow contact and stops excess fluids from pooling under your eyes which helps stop dark circles and puffiness. Extra bonus right there.

    Forgetting To Wear Sunglasses

    Squinting is another one-way ticket to fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes as it causes your periocular muscles to repeatedly contract. And if you continue to do this day after day you will soon see exactly what we mean when those cute lines around your eyes turn into deep crevices that just won’t go away. Squinting also contributes to those annoying vertical lines between your eyebrows – glabellar lines or 11s – making it a real no-no if you care about aging skin.  

    What To Do: Wear shades whenever you go outside – even if it’s bright but not particularly sunny. This’ll immediately stop you squinting and will also protect the skin around your eyes from those damaging UV rays. And if you find yourself squinting at your computer or the TV? Well, it might be time for an eye test. Just saying.

    Finally, to help keep the skin around your eyes moisturized and youthful-looking, apply an eye cream morning and night. Try our Peptide Eye Gel which helps support collagen production to minimize premature aging.

    Allergies

    Do you find yourself continually rubbing the skin around your eyes during the allergy season? This happens when your body’s defense system reacts to an allergen it feels threatened by. Mast cells in your eyes then release chemicals like histamine to try and get rid of these allergens which causes your eyes to become red, watery and itchy.

    Allergy triggers can come from many things, including airborne pollen and pet hair, but the worst thing you can do for your skin is to vigorously scrub away at your eyes. This seriously upsets your collagen supplies, thinning your skin, wearing it down and inviting lines around your eyes to do their worst.

    What To Do: If your eyes are constantly itching, the most important plan of action is to find out why, so talk to your doctor if symptoms persist. In the meantime, try eye drops and if you can't help but rub your eyes, reduce damage by using just the pads of your ring fingers rather than your whole hand. This will help reduce pressure and friction.

    Swimming

    We hate to knock any form of exercise but swimming in chlorinated water can be pretty harsh on your skin (and your hair for that matter!). Chlorine is great for sanitizing water and eliminating any contaminants that may otherwise cause infection and illness. But it’s not ideal for your delicate skin. In fact it’s a natural irritant that strips natural oils and moisture from your skin’s protective barrier. This is OK in small doses but if you swim every day and don’t protect your skin, this can potentially cause dryness and dehydration. And two things wrinkles love in order to thrive are dryness and dehydration.

    What To Do: A pre-swim shower is a great way to reduce chlorine damage because if your skin is already wet, it will absorb less chlorinated water. Smart huh? Of course, you should also shower immediately after swimming and moisturize all over to replace lost sebum and hydration.

    When it comes to your face, apply Vitamin C Facial Serum to fully cleansed skin after swimming. Vitamin C helps neutralize the damaging effects of chlorine. Follow with moisturizer and you should be good.

    3 Of Our Favorite Wrinkle-Busting Skincare Products

    Because a little help goes a very long way...

    1. Collagen Boosting Skin Supplement

    Want to keep your skin looking its best for as long as possible? Then you simply have to look after your collagen. And what better way than with this daily supplement that’s literally brimming with clinically-proven, collagen-promoting ingredients like vitamin C, acai and biotin.

    2. SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C

    Did we mention that the sun is the biggest culprit when it comes to premature skin aging? We did? Yeah, well, we will continue to do so. We will also continue to laud the benefits of daily, broad-spectrum sunscreen for warding off the sun’s damaging UV rays. And this is an absolute must. No arguments.

    3. Retinol Facial Serum

    One of the most effective anti-aging ingredients in skincare, retinol helps stimulate cell turnover and up your skin’s content of quality collagen. This awesome facial serum also contains hydrating hyaluronic acid (take that wrinkles) and vitamin E (same). We love that for you.

    Anti-Aging
    Weird Things That Can (Surprisingly!) Give You Wrinkles
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  • The Products We Swear By For Bright, Dewy Skin
    The truth is, glowing skin will always be in.

    Oh, the heady heights of glowing, healthy skin. Whether you prefer to use the term ‘bright,’ ‘glowy,’ ‘dewy’ or ‘radiant’: we can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t want their skin to be described by one (or all!) of these words. Why is it such an elusive and lusted-after skin condition? Because no matter your skin type or how many wrinkles you do or don’t have, nail that radiant glow and everything else pales into insignificance.

    But, how to get glowing skin? Now there’s a question that has as many answers as we’ve had hot dinners.

    You can start with what goes in your body, of course, taking a look at your diet and ensuring you chow down on plenty of antioxidant-rich fruit and veggies and cut back on things like booze, sugar, salt and processed carbs. This helps nix skin-damaging free radicals to ensure your skin turns over efficiently and remains healthy from the inside out, making it a great place to start.

    There are also things like exercising outdoors to get your blood flowing, massaging your skin as you cleanse, getting plenty of shut-eye and faking it with highlighting makeup and shimmering face powders.

    But skincare is our thing, so today we’re going to focus on that.

    There are many awesome ingredients and products out there that claim to rejuvenate your skin and freshen up your complexion, but what are the true tried and tested contenders? Keep scrolling for, what we believe, are five of the best products for glowing skin.

    1. The Definitive Glow-Giving Facial Serum 

    Let’s get one thing straight, there’s no better skincare ingredient for boosting a radiant glow than vitamin C. Vitamin C (otherwise known as l-ascorbic acid) has been researched to death over the years and it’s been proven to offer all manner of skin-boosting benefits – glowier skin being just one of them.

    So how does this powerhouse work? Well, further to its antioxidant powers, which in themselves are great for strengthening your collagen supplies and improving cell turnover, it also helps slow down melanin production. Melanin, as you know, is what gives your skin its individual color and, when you expose your skin to UV radiation, it’s also what makes you tan. However, melanin production isn’t always smooth sailing. In fact, many triggers such as unbalanced hormones and too much sun can make your melanin go all over the place, resulting in patchy skin, dark spots and hyperpigmentation. No fun. No fun at all.

    We believe vitamin C should be a staple in anyone’s skincare regime, but we also understand that it’s a potent ingredient that can cause sensitivities in certain skin types. This is why we infuse all of our vitamin C products with a milder version called sodium ascorbyl phosphate.

    When it comes to looking for your perfect match for brightening your skin, you could literally take your pick of our entire vitamin C range, but for a classic favorite, you can’t go wrong with Vitamin C Facial Serum. We believe it’s a winner. Over 140,000 people on Amazon agree with us. We rest our case.

    2. The Moisturizer With The Most

    TruSkin Renewing Longevity Cream

    If you’re yet to try our new Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream you are missing out. It doesn’t contain vitamin C – because choices – but it is powered up by another ingredient that’s already making headlines for all the right reasons: bakuchiol.

    Bakuchiol is nature’s alternative to the mighty retinol. Extracted from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant, it’s fast becoming hot property in the skincare world due to its extraordinary skin benefits (just like retinol) and lack of irritating side-effects (unlike retinol!). We mean no offense to retinol, of course, because it’s still one of, if not THE gold standard of skincare. However, it’s not for everyone and bakuchiol has undergone plenty of studies that show it’s right up there, stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating cellular turnover in a very similar way to rid your skin of unwanted dead skin cells and help improve your radiance factor.

    We have a whole collection of products that harness the powers of bakuchiol but for a great introduction to the range, try this deliciously smooth moisturizer that’s ideal for all skin persuasions, including sensitive skin.

    3. The One That’s In It For The Long Game

    Admittedly this one might not make your skin look immediately radiant but c’mon now, patience is everything. And in all honesty, this is unarguably the single most important product you could use for glowing skin, healthy skin, smooth skin, strong skin, the works.

    So what is this too-good-to-be-true product we speak so highly off? Simple. Sunscreen. Now don’t roll your eyes at us in a ‘not that old chestnut’ fashion because we don’t bang on about sunscreen just to pee you off. We do it because we care about your skin.

    The simple truth is that if you don’t protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays, your collagen supplies will dwindle, elastin will get destroyed, dark spots will appear and cell turnover will decrease. This all leads to dull, lackluster, sad-looking skin. And that’s just touching the surface. 

    Ensure you apply a quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning without fail to make sure your skin doesn’t get caught up in all that damaging nonsense.

    Try our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen which also comes packed with sodium ascorbyl phosphate (that supercool vitamin C derivative we spoke of earlier) on top of hydrating ingredients like squalane and cucumber, plus vegan marine collagen to help target fine lines and sagging skin.

    4. The All-Important Skin Exfoliator

    If your pores are filled to the brim with sebum, sunscreen, makeup and dead skin cells, your skin stands no chance of being smooth and radiant. Dead skin cells, in particular, create the perfect storm for dull skin.

    One of the simplest ways to keep your skin clear from complexion-killing pore plugs is to use a chemical exfoliator like 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant two or three times a week. Chemical exfoliation works by using certain ingredients –commonly fruit acids – to break down the glue that holds dead skin cells together. By doing so, they’re an incredible way of forcing these unwanted cells to sling their hook so that the fresher, brighter ones can make their way to the surface. And unlike physical exfoliation which uses pressure and movement (like scrubs and cleansing brushes), chemical exfoliation, when done correctly, is far less damaging and irritating.

    Our fabulous 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant combines a carefully crafted blend of three exfoliating acids along with organic reishi mushroom and hyaluronic acid to combat dehydration and help soothe and nourish the skin. Because, btw, dehydration will also kill your glowy skin vibes.

    5. The Dewy Skin Spritz

    Convenient and effective, our Ocean Minerals Super Toner is often glossed over in our line-up of skincare greats, but it’s a real goodie in the quest for a revamped complexion. Not only is it formulated with two key skin-brightening players – vitamin C and glycolic acid – but it also contains power-packed peptides, collagen-boosting MSM and over 90 revitalizing marine minerals. All this adds up to some serious love which helps to remove dull, dead skin cells, detox your pores and smooth the surface for a more balanced, even skin tone.

    It's an awesome addition to your skincare routine and takes just seconds of your time to apply. So, why not?

    Why not indeed.

    Niacinamide
    The Products We Swear By For Bright, Dewy Skin
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  • 10 Reasons Why Our Vitamin C Facial Serum Is THE BEST!
    Our Vitamin C Facial Serum is 10 years old! We figured, therefore, that what better time to celebrate this fan favorite than by highlighting 10 of its finest attributes.

    Vitamin C is a big deal at TruSkin HQ. In fact, it’s the reason we’re here in the first place. For way back in 2013 we started out with our first ever skincare product: Vitamin C Facial Serum. And we don’t mind admitting, we knew we were onto something, right off the bat. Why the ballsy confidence? Well, we had both the knowledge and the technology required to produce quality, plant-powered skincare that harnessed the power of this incredible antioxidant while being free of unnecessary additives, synthetic fragrances and harsh preservatives. And cleaner, more conscious skincare was something that, even then, was already gaining momentum in the beauty industry.

    Admittedly, it’s easy to say in hindsight how confident we were with this small but mighty serum, but in truth, little did we know just what a triumph Vitamin C Facial Serum would turn out to be. Or how its success would enable us to expand our skincare range to cover everything from gentle cleansing and toning through to professional-grade exfoliation and clinically-proven suncare.

    But no matter how many new products we launch and how advanced we become, Vitamin C Facial Serum will always be a firm family favorite. After all, it’s still, by far, our best-selling product and currently has over 140,000 awesome reviews on Amazon. Sounds like a lot, right? Yeah, that’s because it is!

    So, in honor of Vitamin C Facial Serum’s 10th anniversary, here’s a celebration of everything that’s great about this incredible brightening and protecting skin treatment…

    1. As the name suggest, Vitamin C Facial Serum is based on the antioxidant properties of vitamin C. Antioxidants are extremely important for your skin because they help neutralize environmental and lifestyle damage that’s inevitable on a daily basis thanks to things like pollution, UV radiation, stress and a cruddy diet.

    As antioxidants go, vitamin C is arguably one of the most trusted and effective. It truly works like a dog to fight free radicals (they’re the bad boys that screw up your collagen) and help keep your skin healthy and youthful-looking. It was a shoo-in for our first foray into skincare. And boy, what a winner it turned out to be!

    2. The thing about vitamin C is that it comes in many forms, some of which can be mildly irritating on the skin – especially if you err on the sensitive side. This is why we decided to skip l-ascorbic acid which is the pure, topical version, in favor of sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP).

    SAP is a salt form of vitamin C and has to be converted back to ascorbic acid in order for your skin to enjoy its benefits. Why is this such a good thing? Well, l-ascorbic acid can be too potent for some skin types, often causing dryness, redness and mild stinging when applied directly to the skin. Switching up to SAP, however, and allowing your skin to convert it back into ascorbic acid after application, significantly reduces your chances of irritation. 

    3. Pure vitamin C can be very unstable, swiftly breaking down when exposed to light and air. This means it can lose its potency way quicker that you’d really want it to. It’s also why many vitamin C face serums are often combined with ferulic acid – because ferulic acid helps preserve the vitamin. But it also smells. Like, really bad. And we’re so not into that.

    Thankfully, the salt in SAP gives it a much more stable pH helping to preserve it so that it remains effective right until the last drop. No weird hot dog smells here, thanks very much.

    4. Vitamin C has many benefits for your skin. The biggest one is its success in fighting off free radicals which helps keep your collagen in good shape. Collagen, as you know, is everything when it comes to healthy skin because it provides it with strength, support and resilience, helping you to ward off the visible signs of premature aging like fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin.

    5. Collagen isn’t the only benefactor here, however. Vitamin C has also been proven to help keep your skin radiant and glowing. And it does so by inhibiting melanin production.

    Melanin is the pigment that gives your skin (as well as your hair and eyes) its color. Melanin production is triggered by many things including exposure to the sun which causes your melanocytes (melanin-producing cells) to multiply in a bid to help absorb and scatter damaging UV radiation. This makes your skin tan in the summer months, but it can also result in an uneven distribution of melanin which can make your skin look uneven and patchy. Yes, hi there dark spots.

    Applying our Vitamin C Facial Serum (as well as sunscreen EVERY MORNING) is a great way to keep melanin and those inevitable dark spots under control.

    6. We could sing the praises of vitamin C forever, but our Vitamin C Facial Serum is so much more than just one single ingredient. It’s also super hydrating thanks to hard-working humectant ingredients like hyaluronic acid, kosher vegetable glycerol and aloe vera which help draw moisture to the skin’s surface. Dehydration is a common skin woe and can happen to anyone – no matter the skin type – so ensuring your skincare routine contains humectants is essential.

    Check.

    7. There are many other important ingredients in Vitamin C Facial Serum (soothing vitamin E, moisturizing botanical oils to name a few) but another key favorite is MSM.

    MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane (which is why it’s always shortened!). It’s an awesome skincare ingredient because it plays a vital role in the production of collagen and elastin while promoting healthy blood flow, fighting inflammation and helping to protect your skin from environmental damage. It’s also been shown to help the skin become more permeable which allows toxins to escape more readily and enhances your skin’s ability to absorb other active ingredients in your skincare products. Oh, and it’s pretty much tolerated by all skin types.

    Again... check! 

    8. Of course, what’s also important about this skin-loving face serum are all the things we do NOT include. Like all of our skincare formulations we say no to unnecessary ingredients that could potentially compromise your skin or our planet. This includes things like harsh sulfates, parabens, phthalates and PEGs.

    Vitamin C Facial Serum is also clinically- AND dermatologist-tested, ideal for vegans and 100 percent cruelty-free.

    9. Quick fact. Vitamin C Facial Serum won’t break the bank. In fact, you can nab it for less than 30 bucks. Just thought we'd throw that out there!

    10. Finally, our Vitamin C Facial Serum has a ton of fine friends, enabling you to enjoy the fabulous benefits of vitamin C across your entire skincare regime. From your cleansing and exfoliation routines through to your morning and bedtime moisturizing rituals, SAP is here for you.

    Just remember, no matter how gentle SAP is, it’s still an active ingredient so it’s always wise to patch test new products before using them properly for the first time. Not sure what patch testing is all about? No problem, we’ve got your back, right here.

     

    Vitamin C
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  • We Really Need To Talk About Free Radicals
    Free radicals might sound like a good thing. Newsflash, they’re not.

    There are tons of ingredients and so much jargon in the skincare world, it’s often hard to keep up. And, do you know what? You really don’t have to be able to reel off every detail about every single alpha hydroxy acid. Similarly, we’ll never test you on the spelling of methylsulfonylmethane. Because even we have to constantly look that one up… and it's basically why we call it MSM ;)

    However, in order to make informed decisions about what you do and do not put on your skin, there are certain skincare words, ingredients and terms that are important to know about.

    And free radicals make that list.

    So, What Are Free Radicals?

    Do you want the long or the short answer to that question? Well, the short answer is that they’re extremely bad news when it comes to the health of the skin because they’re nasty components that break down collagen, elastin and even your DNA.

    The (slightly) longer answer is that they’re highly reactive, unstable atoms that form in your skin when it’s been exposed to things it doesn’t like. Think UV radiation, pollution, cigarette smoke, a sugar-rich diet and you’ll be on the right page.

    Atoms have electrons orbiting them which usually come in pairs so they can work together to stabilize and balance themselves. When they’re exposed to internal or external aggressors, however, these atoms split and get left with unpaired electrons which makes them lose their stability. And this is when they become free radicals.

    Free radicals are unstable and they don't like that about themselves, so they go on a scavenger hunt, stealing electrons from wherever they can find them – often from healthy cells in your skin (and body). This leads to oxidative stress and no end of damage.

    How Do Free Radicals Affect The Skin?

    Not in a good way, that’s for sure. You’ve seen what happens to an apple when you take a bite out of it and leave it unfinished? It turns brown, right? Well this is caused by free radicals and is also a result of oxidation.

    Of course, your skin doesn’t feel the damage quite so quickly as a poor old apple, but it’s the same process. Cell membranes, proteins and DNA all start to wither as they become starved of valuable electrons; ones they really can’t afford to lose. The result is that collagen and elastin production becomes compromised and your natural moisturization levels dwindle. Continue to allow this to happen and your skin will prematurely age as a result. Fine lines and wrinkles will appear quicker than expected, your skin may start to sag before its time and your complexion will generally look sad and dull.

    The word is, free radicals are bad news and you really don’t want them to get the better of you.

    The Best Way To Win The War Against Free Radicals

    One word: antioxidants. Antioxidants are to free radicals what Batman is to the Joker. They’re the good guys that stop free radicals causing damage to your precious skin and, like most skincare companies, we talk about antioxidants A LOT. It's because they work.

    Unlike other molecules which become damaged and turn into free radicals themselves when an electron is snatched away, antioxidants are able to neutralize free radicals by donating electrons without losing stability. They’re uber cool and totally stop the skin-damaging chain reaction that free radicals so desperately want to achieve. Take that, free rads!

    So where do antioxidants come from? Well, your body has a natural antioxidant defense system that works hard to keep you healthy, and, er, free radical-free, but this weakens as you get older which is why it requires help from external sources. Including plenty of antioxidant-rich fruit and veggies in your diet is a great start, but topical antioxidants are the best way to really target your skin and help keep your complexion strong, supple, radiant and youthful-looking.

    Topical antioxidants can be found in all manner of skincare products but we believe, to really maximize their powers, you have to include an antioxidant serum in your routine. Serums have a small molecular structure than other products (this is why they’re deliciously thin and silky to apply). This allows them to really penetrate the skin and deliver powerful, active ingredients deep beneath the surface. Exactly where those free radicals are trying to do their worst.

    Want in? Then say hello to three of the best antioxidant serums for neutralizing free radicals...

    1. Vitamin C Facial Serum

    This baby has clocked up over 140,000 reviews on Amazon and, in our opinion, can do no wrong. The ultimate facial serum for brightening your skin, it harnesses the clinically-proven prowess of vitamin C to fight free radicals and keep your skin looking its absolute best. And if you’re a little scared of the strength of pure vitamin C, the good news is we use sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP). SAP is a much gentler version and offers all the same benefits, but with fewer side effects. This award-winning serum also contains vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and soothe your skin. A legit favorite.

    2. Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum

    Niacinamide might not be as well-known as vitamin C, but it should never be dismissed because, boy, is it good. A great treatment for most skin types, niacinamide is known as the soothing, calming antioxidant because it’s extremely well tolerated by the skin. That makes it an excellent choice for sensitive skin or acne-prone skin. It also improves the natural production of ceramides in your skin to fortify the surface and strengthen your barrier function. Like our Vitamin C Facial Serum, this incredible serum is also powered by vitamin E and HA to deliver everything your skin needs in just one application.

    3. Retinol Facial Serum

    Retinol is commonly known for rebuilding the skin by improving cellular turnover and accelerating quality collagen production. But it’s also a darn fine antioxidant which makes it an great all-rounder for halting the visible signs of aging and nixing those pesky free radicals before they get a chance to do some serious damage. It’s hard to resist the all-round geniusness of retinol but remember, it’s pretty potent stuff so needs to be treated with respect. Click here for the lowdown on how best to make retinol a successful part of your skincare regime.

    Niacinamide
    We Really Need To Talk About Free Radicals
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