The Truth About Collagen

As skin ages it inevitably becomes thinner, drier, more delicate and less springy. Sounds familiar? Then here’s how to take charge of your aging skin.

Let’s face it, your skin is not what it used to be. When you smiled in your teenage years, there were likely very few fine lines around your eyes, right? And during your 30s your skin was probably way more glowing, firm and plump than it is now (even if you weren’t aware of it at the time!). 

It’s a fact of life, once you hit your mid-40s and beyond, your skin undergoes significant changes that alter its youthful look and feel.

What Happens To Your Skin As You Age?

According to the National Institute on Aging, as skin ages the outer layer gets thinner, paler and less stretchy. This is mainly due to the skin losing collagen and elastin at a rate of knots. As you know, these proteins are vital for maintaining strength, structure, support and elasticity in the skin. You're born with tons of the stuff which is why young skin is so plump and soft. Once you hit your mid-20s, however, most people start to produce 1 percent less collagen every year which results in visible wrinkles and sagging. Cell turnover also decreases, while hyaluronic acid and sebum production naturally slow down, further contributing to the dryness, dullness, uneven skin tone and consequent wrinkling of mature skin.

It's basically all downhill from the day you hit your 21^st birthday!

OK, so it’s not that bad, but in all fairness, time does a real number on your skin. And when you factor in everything else you throw at it, including exposure to UV radiation, pollution, stress and poor diet choices, the health of your skin is going to really feel the hit.

The good news is that if you employ smart skincare practices, skin can radiate with health – whatever your age. Full disclosure: it’s unlikely to look porcelain-clear and as smooth as a baby’s bottom without more serious professional treatments that involve needles and surgery, but if you set yourself realistic goals, you will not be disappointed by what an effective skincare routine can achieve.

Our Essential Skincare Routine For Mature Skin

Great skincare isn’t about erasing every single sign of aging. It’s about keeping your skin healthy, glowing and functioning at its very best. So let’s see what you can do to help your skin be the most radiant version of itself at this ripe age, shall we?

First, Know That Simple Skincare Is Best

Harsh skincare ingredients like denatured alcohol, strong synthetic fragrances and butt-kicking sulfates are mature skin’s nemesis. How so? Because they strip away natural oils and other vital nutrients from the skin’s very important barrier function. Your barrier function helps your skin to retain moisture while protecting it from external aggressors so it’s super important, especially as you age and it naturally becomes compromised.

Stick with kind-to-skin ingredients in your routine and look out for products specifically formulated for sensitive or mature skin as these will contain fewer strong ingredients that have the potential to dry out or irritate your skin. Start right with a super gentle cleanser, but make sure you cleanse morning and night to reduce pore-clogging build-up on the surface of your skin. Our Soothing Cleansing Milk is a must.

Embrace Retinol: The Queen Of Aging Skin

When it comes to ingredients you should look out for, there are many greats out there. Vitamin C, for example, is awesome for improving dull, uneven-looking skin while peptides are fantastic for boosting your collagen and elastin supplies. Niacinamide is a fabulous antioxidant that’s gentle on the skin and helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier. 

But by far the most recommended ingredient for aging skin is retinol. An all-round, skin-improving powerhouse, retinol has been studied for decades. And it’s proven to work. By communicating with your skin at a cellular level, retinol is known to boost healing and rev up the production of collagen and elastin which accelerates cell turnover and strengthens your skin while improving elasticity, suppleness, tone, texture, the works. It even helps decrease acne breakouts. Yes, it’s that good.

We love our Retinol Facial Serum but if you don’t get on with retinol try Rejuvenating Longevity Serum which contains bakuchiol, nature’s gentler-but-just-as-good alternative.

Try A Collagen Supplement

As you will have now gathered, collagen is a major player in the structure and strength of your skin, and a very effective way to help improve depleted supplies as skin ages is with a collagen supplement.

Our Collagen Boosting Skin Supplement is formulated with vegetarian collagen only (that’s important because not all brands are) and safely helps to improve your skin’s natural production of quality collagen. It makes for a great addition to your daily routine and requires zero effort and time. No brainer, right?

Never Leave The House Without Applying SPF

This applies to skin at any age but as you get older sunscreen is absolutely, no questions asked, the most non-negotiable step in your morning skincare routine. In fact, a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen is widely known to be the single most effective product for reducing the visible signs of premature aging.

If you don’t fancy adding another step to your morning regime you HAVE to try our new SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum which is super sheer and goes on before your moisturizer making it the easiest way to safeguard your skin from UV damage.  

Make Moisture A Priority

Skin loses valuable moisture as it ages and its protective barrier gets thinner and weaker. It’s imperative, therefore, to ensure you do everything you can to pump moisture back into the skin. Drinking plenty of fluids is crucial but as is using your skincare routine to layer on hydration.

Look out for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe and glycerin in everything from your toner to your serum and moisturizer. These draw water to the surface of your skin like magnets. Just make sure your moisturizer also contains ingredients that lock all that hydration into your skin. Things like shea butter, vitamin E, ceramides and jojoba oil are your best bet.

Try Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which also works to brighten dull, uneven skin with the gentle but mighty sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a derivative of vitamin C).

Boost Cell Turnover With Gentle Exfoliation

Remember all that talk about cell turnover slowing down as you get older? Exfoliation helps to speed things up by actively removing dead skin cells so the newer, fresher ones have no choice but to reveal themselves at a surface level.  

If you’re not already exfoliating, change that starting from today. Begin with once-weekly usage and gradually increase as your skin becomes acclimated. Also, just like your entire routine, choose gentler products that don’t overstimulate or damage the skin.

Our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub is awesome if you’re into physical exfoliation but if you’re not keen on using a scrub we can also recommend 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which uses chemical exfoliants to gentle break down dead skin cells so they slough away naturally. Both are winning choices, even if we do say so ourselves.

Don’t Forget Your Neck

Last but not least, remember that whatever goes on your face should continue down your neck and chest. Cleanser, toner, serum, SPF, moisturizer, the lot. The skin on your neck is thinner than your face so neglect it at your peril.

Heard about retinol sandwiching but clueless about what it is or whether you should be getting on that train immediately? Here’s what we know…

Retinol offers an incredible solution to many skin woes. Hate your monthly breakouts? Try retinol. Worried about wrinkles catching up on you way too quickly? Retinol’s your guy. It’s true, retinol is the gold standard in skincare ingredients – just ask your dermatologist; we’d put a lot of money on them being in complete agreement.

But retinol isn’t all moonlight and roses. In fact, many people find that it’s pretty devilish on their skin, causing all sorts of irritating side effects that, frankly, make it not worth the hassle. You know the score, think redness, itching, flaky skin and extreme dryness.

This is why you’ll see countless blog posts and viral videos about how best to make retinol work for your skin type without causing all the bad stuff. Spoiler alert: if you choose the right formulation and apply it slowly and carefully, most skin types can totally appreciate the benefits retinol has to offer.

Reckon you’ve tried all the tricks but still can’t get on with retinol on a regular basis? Then you have options. The first is to try bakuchiol which is a natural and far gentler alternative to retinol. We’re huge advocates of this just-as-awesome ingredient as it works in a similar way to retinol, encouraging cell turnover and accelerating collagen production. In fact, we love it so much that we based an entire collection of healthy aging formulations around it. Check out the range here.

The other options is to try retinol sandwiching, a ‘trend’ that #BeautyTok is all over, but one which, in fact, has been around for many years…

What Is Retinol Sandwiching?

Retinol usually comes in the form of a serum which is applied to cleansed skin before moisturizer. Retinol sandwiching, however, switches things up. Don’t worry though, it’s nothing too tricky but is a very easy technique. You simply apply moisturizer before your retinol serum, then another layer afterwards, creating the proverbial sandwich effect with the retinol being your filling and moisturizer the bread.

Why Is Retinol Sandwiching A Thing?

As skincare ingredients go, retinol is arguably the best but, as we previously mentioned, its benefits are often outnumbered by its downsides – especially if you have particularly sensitive skin. Of course, introducing it slowly into your skincare routine is a great way to reduce the risks of unwanted side effects because this allows your skin to acclimate to such a potent powerhouse.  

And there are many other ways to help you reduce irritation. One of which is the retinol sandwich.

Not to be taken literally (please don’t smother retinol serum over your favorite sourdough – like, ever), retinol sandwiching is particularly good for dry skin but can be a useful tool for reducing all kinds of irritation and sensitivities.

Why is the retinol sandwich so good for the skin? Well, it creates a kind of buffering effect, adding a layer of product between your skin and the retinol which helps to slow down its absorption and reduce its potency. Not to mention the added moisturization as an extra bonus. All this means that you’ll likely be able to use your retinol serum more frequently.

Does Sandwiching Make Retinol Less Effective?

Yes. Most moisturizers contain oils and water which kind of ‘dilute’ the retinol, making it weaker and less effective. But if you’re choosing to make yourself a retinol sandwich, you’re probably doing so because you have sensitive skin and want to reduce the irritation it may potentially cause. So making it weaker is kind of the point, right?

Is Retinol Sandwiching Right For Your Skin Type?

Honestly? That’s a question only you can answer. The truth is, if you use it wisely, most retinol formulas can be successfully built into your skincare routine without the sandwich method. That being said, nobody knows your skin better than you, so if you feel it may help you to enjoy the benefits of retinol, there’s no harm in trying.

All we can say is that if you want to give it a go, make sure to choose the right moisturizer for the job. Here’s a quick checklist for you.

✅ Go for a lightweight lotion. This will be better than a rich, heavy cream because it will at least allow a little of the retinol to get through to the surface of your skin.

❎ Avoid moisturizer that contains potent, active ingredients. Certain ingredients may react with the retinol and actually increase your chances of redness and irritation.

✅ Look out for gentle hydrating ingredients. Things like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe vera are your friends here.

Other Tips For Making Retinol Work For You

1. Always Patch Test Retinol First

Yes, patch testing is boring and certainly not for the impatient, but it’s important and a great way to know whether a certain ingredient is going to be the right match for your skin. Patch test any new retinol product on a discreet area of your skin first. Then leave it for 48 hours to check for adverse reactions before using it as recommended.

2. Use It On Dry Skin

Many ingredients play well on damp skin but moisture can increase the absorption of retinol, simultaneously increasing the chances of irritation. Better to be safe by applying it to skin that's dry.

3. Go Slow And Go Steady

We’re all about the 1-2-3 retinol rule. When starting out, apply your product once a week only, for one week. Then apply it twice a week for two weeks and finally, go for three times a week for three weeks. This helps your skin build tolerance and allows you to eventually be able to apply it every night.

4. Apply Sunscreen Every Morning

Don’t let damaging UV radiation screw up all that fresh new skin retinol is helping to bring to the surface. Generously apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen every morning as the final step in your routine. 

But you knew that. Didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?

Witch hazel has been a skincare staple for centuries, but have you ever wondered why it crops up in so many products? Here’s what we know about this natural beauty.

We love a good botanical extract here at TruSkin. Combined with expert knowhow, awesome technology and other tried and tested ingredients (natural AND synthetic) botanicals truly furnish the skin with the best nature has to offer.

And witch hazel is no different. Found in all kinds of different skincare formulations, from cleansers and toners through to serums and moisturizers, unless you’re allergic (which is rare) it can be an extremely effective addition to any skincare routine.

Here’s why witch hazel deserves pride of place in your skincare routine.

What Is Witch Hazel?

A flowering shrub native to parts of Asia and the Atlantic coast of North America, witch hazel (whose scientific name is hamamelis virginiana) has been used for medicinal purposes for, like, ever. And the twigs, bark and leaves are where the magic happens. You see, when these are extracted and distilled from the plant, they become a natural astringent with tons of anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant qualities. 

How Exactly Witch Hazel Benefits The Skin

Have an annoying zit to deal with? Witch hazel’s got your back. Want to minimize the appearance of pores? Witch hazel is here for you. In fact, when it comes to relieving irritation, inflammation and tightening the skin, witch hazel is hard to beat. Read on for five of our favorite witch hazel benefits...

* It Keeps Enlarged Pores In Check

Witch hazel has a high tannin content which gives it natural astringent properties. What does that mean? Well, an astringent is a substance that draws out water, causing a restricting and tightening effect on the skin. This, in turn, helps to temporarily minimize the appearance of enlarged pores. You must tread carefully, however, because astringents also have a drying effect which can stimulate oil production and make your skin feel greasy. The solution? Make sure you stick with a balanced formulation like 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant, which won’t dry out your skin entirely. And always follow with moisturizer. 

* It’s A Trusted Ally For Oily Skin

Witch hazel can be an effective way to keep sebum production under control. By compressing proteins in the skin, the tannins create a kind of invisible shield on the skin’s surface which makes the skin look and feel less oily. Of course, this makes it tempting to douse your oily skin with witch hazel on the reg, but do this and you could cause all sorts of irritating skin issues. Dryness and actual irritation being odds-on favorites.

Our advice is to use carefully crafted skincare formulations that use just the right amount of witch hazel to help keep oil under control without stripping your skin completely dry. Our Ocean Minerals Super Toner is a great choice post-cleanse as it’s blended with powerful peptides and MSM to boost your bid for healthy, balanced skin. It also contains double-distilled witch hazel which produces a richer witch hazel that contains less alcohol.

* It’s A Big Deal In the Acne-Fighting World

Acne occurs when excess sebum hooks up with dead skin cells and bacteria, then gets stuck at the surface of your skin where it sits in your pores and clogs them up. It makes sense, there, that if you apply a product containing witch hazel (which works to keep sebum under control), you’ll simultaneously help minimize breakouts.

But that's not even the half of it because another good thing about witch hazel is that it has antibacterial properties which which work hard to eliminate acne-causing bacteria. And then there are its anti-inflammatory qualities which help to reduce the angry redness that often comes hand-in-hand with breakouts.

Be afraid, pimples and blackheads, be very afraid.

* It Helps Minimize Facial Redness 

Speaking of inflammation, if you suffer with facial redness, the soothing and anti-inflammatory properties of witch hazel can be a real life saver. Just know that it’s best used in conjunction with soothing and/or moisture-boosting ingredients.

(As a sidenote, some people swear by witch hazel for sunburn relief. But we know you never get sunburn so we figure that's a moot point.)

* It's Great For Reducing Puffy Eyes

Great news if you suffer with under eye bags: witch hazel’s astringent and soothing properties can work wonders on this often frustrating area, reducing fluid retention under the eyes and also minimizing redness. The skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive, however, so make sure you go slow and low with a gentle formula like Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream.

Puffiness often doesn’t stop around the eyes, so if you also suffer elsewhere on your face thanks to a build-up of excess fluids below the surface of your skin, look out for witch hazel in your daily facial serum. Our Caffeine Facial Serum, for example, contains a smidge of witch hazel, combined with caffeine, EGCG, ginseng, matcha tea and niacinamide to strengthen, energize, tighten and brighten tired, puffy skin. It’s a new fan favorite and a must-try if you’re yet to feel the love.

Before You Leave, Here's 5 Witch Hazel Facts To Remember

1. Pure witch hazel is mega potent. Sure, it can be applied direct to the skin in its pure, undiluted form to spot-treat pimples, but it’s often better to use formulations that blend witch hazel with other ingredients for a more all-round approach to skincare.

2. If you have sensitive skin, opt for products that blend witch hazel with calming, soothing and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and vitamin E. Try Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum.

3. While generally safe for everyday use, witch hazel has the potential to dry out or irritate the skin if used too often. Listen to your skin when introducing it to your routine and if it feels drier or more sensitive than normal, apply it less frequently.

4. Look for alcohol-free, or at the very least low-alcohol, formulations to minimize dryness.

5. Always patch test before using products containing witch hazel. Apply a small amount to a discreet area of your skin and allow it to sit for 24-48 hours. If you don’t have a reaction in that time, you’re good to go.

Serums can truly supercharge your skincare routine – especially if you know how to maximize their effectiveness. Here’s how…

We believe your face serum should be one of your most prized skincare possessions. Of course, daily sunscreen is crucial, and yes, your cleanser provides the foundation to everything that follows. But a face serum is the key to targeting everything you love (and maybe don’t love so much) about your skin. Whether you want to improve hydration, deal with breakouts, soften fine lines or brighten tired skin, the right face serum can help fix the lot.

Speaking of the ‘right’ face serum, finding your perfect fit is vital, but let us ask you this: do you feel like you’ve found the one... yet it’s kind of underperforming? Then it’s probably not the serum that’s the issue. Instead, it’s likely the way you’re using it.

So let’s fix that, shall we?

Your Serum Strategy 101

Think of your face serum as the VIP in your skincare routine. Because yes, it's that special. Plus, it’s likely to have cost more than most of your other products, so it’d be foolish not to fuel yourself with the knowledge of how to use it effectively. 

Here are the face serum rules we follow to the letter…

When To Use Your Face Serum

The correct order in which to apply ALL of your skincare products matters. A lot. And the general rule of thumb is that you should always work with your products from thin to thick; from water to oil. 

This means that cleanser comes first (obvs!), then toner, serum, eye cream and finally moisturizer. If you apply serum after your moisturizer, on the other hand, the rich, slightly heavier nature of moisturizer will block the serum from the surface of your skin. And this will immediately make it less effective. That’s what we call money down the drain.

Serum BEFORE moisturizer, people. Always.

How Much Face Serum Should You Use?

Face serums are super lightweight due to their small molecular structure. This means they’re able to carry a high intensity of concentrated, active ingredients in a relatively thin, slippery formulation. This is crucial because it gives serum the ability to penetrate the skin more effectively than thicker, more viscous formulations like moisturizer and facial oil.

Thanks to their slippery nature, face serums smooth over your skin like a dream – well, a good one does, anyway;). Sure, it’s tempting to smother your face in it because you think your skin will end up reaping more benefits from all those awesome ingredients. But that’s a mistake because, the truth is, your skin can only soak up so much.

A reputable serum will always come with guidelines on how much to use, but a pea-sized amount, or roughly two to three drops, should generally be sufficient for your face and neck. Any more will simply be a waste.

5 Ways To Make Your Face Serum Work Harder

Because it's not just what you apply, but the way in which you apply it...

1. Exfoliate First

If the surface of your skin is clogged up with dead skin cells, your face serum stands no chance of penetrating at a deeper level. And this means it won’t work so well. So make sure you exfoliate regularly to create an easier pathway for your serum to go about its business.

A gentle scrub two or three times a week is a great shout, but if you’re not keen on face scrubs, try a leave-on chemical exfoliant that uses ingredients like glycolic acid and/or salicylic acid to dissolve the ‘glue’ that holds dead skin cells together. 

Try: 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant

2. Nail The Damp Skin Technique

Serums are able to penetrate the skin better if your skin has a bit of moisture present at its surface. Why? Because damp skin is more permeable, easy as that.

The trick is to apply a couple of drops to your hand as quickly as you can after cleansing or toning your skin. Then apply serum all over your face and neck using clean hands and light pressing motions. Not only will your skin be more receptive to all those fabulous ingredients but you’ll also lock in a little extra moisture while you’re at it. Win win.

One word of warning, however. If you have sensitive skin, you might actually be better off applying your serum to dry skin to reduce irritation. But play around, see what works best for you.

3. Understand That Your Skin’s Needs Vary From Morning To Night

Just like your entire body, your skin’s needs are very much governed by time. Cell turnover, for example, is at its peak during the night, while you’re asleep. This means that instead of using a sun protective antioxidant serum before bed, it’s much better to encourage repair and regeneration with ingredients like retinol, peptides and growth factors. Sebum production also slows down at night so it's similarly wise to enlist in some help sealing in hydration.

Meanwhile, your levels of cortisol are at their highest when you wake up, so anti-inflammatory serums that contain ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin E are better as part of your morning routine. Skin brightening and awakening ingredients like caffeine and vitamin C are also more beneficial first thing when you’ll be able to maximize – and actually see! – their revitalizing effects. And obviously antioxidants that help to protect your skin from environmental harm are crucial every morning.

Try: Day Night Duo with Vitamin C and Retinol Facial Serums

4. Wait A Hot Minute Before Applying Moisturizer

While it’s great to apply face serum swiftly after cleansing and/or toning, it’s wise to wait 60 seconds or so between your serum and moisturizer. Most serum formulations will sink in super fast but still, giving the formulation a short while to fully absorb and dry helps it to really settle into your skin.

5. Give Your Face Serum Enough Time To Work

Serums aren’t miracle workers that instantly make wrinkles vanish overnight. On the contrary, for real results, you’ll need to consistently apply yours for at least six to eight weeks before you’ll even begin to see their true effects.

Saying that, don’t rush in without patch testing any new formulation first. Then, if you’re good to go, make sure to introduce it slowly into your routine. This will give your skin time to adjust, thereby reducing your chances of irritation. It’ll also stop you from giving up too soon!

Check out our line-up of awesome serums right here. And if you don’t know which one is right for you, here’s a helpful guide.