What’s the Deal With Exfoliating Sensitive Skin?
Love to exfoliate but hate how irritated your sensitive skin gets? Chances are you’re doing it all wrong…
If you have sensitive skin you’ll know that daily scrubbing with a full-on exfoliating face wash is bad news. In all honesty, vigorous exfoliation is far from ideal for any skin type (yes, even oily skin), but still, sensitive souls are likely to feel the burn way more than most. And this is down to your all-important skin barrier function.
Everybody’s skin has a protective, fatty barrier that works to keep water in and irritants out. Sensitive skin usually has a weaker, thinner barrier than other skin types which makes it less able to retain moisture (hello dryness and dehydration) and easily irritated by external triggers. Things like extreme heat, wind, pollution and topical skincare can all cause discomfort to sensitive skin types, making it feel sore, itchy, extremely dry or inflamed.
In cases of severe sensitivities or ongoing, underlying conditions such as eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and contact dermatitis these symptoms are often ten times worse. This is because your immune system goes into overdrive to protect your body from any perceived threats (irritants) that have broken through your skin’s barrier. An inflammatory response then occurs and results in everything you know and hate about your eczema, psoriasis and the like.
If you do have a certain skin condition, you should always consult your dermatologist for advice on how best to exfoliate your skin – chances are you should cut it out of your routine entirely. But if your sensitivities are less ongoing and more controllable at home, you can still benefit from a little exfoliation in your life. You just need to know how to do it correctly.
Below, our five golden rules for safe exfoliation for sensitive skin…
Rule #1. Chemical exfoliation is usually better than physical exfoliation
There are two main types of exfoliation: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliators include anything that requires you to exert some kind of physical movement or pressure to remove dead cells from the surface of your skin. Think face scrubs, loofahs and cleansing brushes.
Chemical exfoliators, on the other hand, use chemicals to break down the bonds between your skin cells so they can naturally shed without you putting too much effort in. Typical chemical exfoliators are AHAs like glycolic and lactic acid, as well as BHAs such as salicylic acid.
Both physical and chemical exfoliators have their place in the world, but if your skin errs on the side of sensitive, look out for a chemical treatment that gently exfoliates but also hydrates and soothes your skin at the same time.
Our Ocean Minerals Super Toner contains glycolic acid making it the ideal way to boost cell turnover without causing too much irritation. Apply it to clean skin two or three times a week. If your skin suffers with sensitivities AND breakouts, however, you might be better off with our Vitamin C Super Serum+ which contains salicylic acid to target excess oil production. Again, apply this to clean, dry skin two or three times a week, perhaps even less if you’re super sensitive.
Rule #2. Oftentimes, a clean washcloth is enough to do the trick
Even chemical exfoliation can cause irritation if you’re not careful, but a great way to avoid this is to do a patch test first, then you'll know if that particular product is going to work for you. And if not? Don’t sweat it too much as there are still plenty of ways to gently boost cell turnover and get your glow on.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the easiest way to gently exfoliate sensitive skin is to invest in a few washcloths. Cleanse your skin as normal by gently apply a mild cleanser like Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser to damp skin. Then moisten your cloth and work this over your skin for 30 seconds before rinsing thoroughly with lukewarm water and patting dry with a clean towel. The action of the cloth works like a very light physical exfoliator. Just remember to wash your cloths after every use to stop bacteria from breeding and causing further irritation to your skin.
Rule #3. Important: don’t exfoliate too often
Some people can get away with exfoliating their skin five times a week, maybe even daily. But sensitive skin types? Not so much. Of course, how often you exfoliate varies from person to person, but we recommend sticking to once or twice a week to begin with. You can always increase your frequency at a later stage if you think your skin will benefit from doing so.
Rule #4. Let retinol do its thing
This may sound like crazy talk, considering the potency of retinol, but a mild formulation can be a great tool for providing exfoliation AND anti-aging benefits to sensitive skin.
Retinol boosts collagen and elastin production to help reduce lines, dark spots and poor skin tone. But not only that, it also forces your cells to turn over more quickly which hey, is what exfoliation is all about, after all.
Instead of a full-on retinol serum, try adding Retinol Moisturizer into your skincare routine once or twice a week. Moisturizers don’t penetrate the skin quite as deeply as serums, which means you’ll still get the benefits of all those awesome active ingredients… but they’re less likely to irritate your skin. Retinol Moisturizer also contains aloe and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, vitamin E to heal, plus jojoba oil and shea butter to seal moisture into your skin. Patch test it first to check for sensitivities and always introduce it slowly into your routine. This is really important. Like, REALLY important – especially when it comes to sensitive skin. Got it? Good.
Rule #5. Always follow with moisturizer
Exfoliation not only deeply cleanses your skin and boosts cell turnover, but it can also remove a lot of good stuff from the surface of your skin, causing it to become dry and dehydrated in no time. But this is an easy fix, as long as you always apply moisturizer after exfoliating.
If you’re using our Retinol Moisturizer to gently exfoliate your skin, you’ve nailed this step already, but if you’re exfoliating with a washcloth or chemical serum, you must always follow with a separate moisturizer. Try Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer each morning and Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream before bed.
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![How A Healthy Gut = Healthier Skin]()
Been hearing a bit about the gut-skin axis recently and not sure what it’s all about? Then allow us to elaborate…
When searching for the solution to monthly acne breakouts, eczema flare-ups or bouts of rosacea few people think about what’s going on inside their bodies. But rather than stock up on months of prescription medication to deal with your skin issues, word is that taking a look at your gut health could be far more beneficial.
It’s all about the gut-skin axis, you see. The gut-skin, erm, what? Ha, don’t worry, the gut-skin axis is a relatively simple concept to grasp.
Your gut is home to a complex microbiome in which gazillions of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses live. We know this doesn’t sound pleasant, but your microbiome plays an extremely important role in keeping bad bacteria at bay and therefore keeping your immune system in check. And all this is vital for helping to maintain balance and harmony throughout the entire body.
If this microbiome becomes unbalanced due to things like a poor diet, emotional stress, or food sensitivities, however, this can cause major disruptions in your body. And we’re not just talking about digestive issues like bloating or gastrointestinal diseases, because wherever there is gut inflammation, skin inflammation often follows.
Why is your skin affected by your gut, you might be wondering? Well, just like your gut, your skin has its own microbiome and the two are in constant communication with each other via a clever little pathway called the gut-skin axis. This means that when your gut is off kilter, your skin will, more often than not, reflect this, becoming inflamed, irritated or congested. Eating dairy, for example, is often linked to chronic skin issues like eczema. Wheat is another one that’s known to cause sensitivities and congestion, thereby triggering acne.
Reckon your gut could do with a little self-refinement right now? Here’s how to help improve the health of your gut… and consequently, your skin.
1. Get An Allergy Test
The most effective way to figure out what’s upsetting your gut and skin is to get an allergy test. Sure, you can do this at home by keeping a food diary while eliminating some of the main offenders (here’s looking at you dairy, wheat, gluten and spicy foods), but, jeez, do you really have the time, energy and patience? Thought not.
A better option is to visit a specialist to get a food allergy test. There are many ways to go about this but the most common are skin prick tests and blood tests. Both of these are very useful ways to pinpoint what’s causing you grief. Then you can avoid the culprits. Simple.
2. Cut Down On Sugar
While we would never suggest you remove things like dairy and wheat from your diet without consulting a doctor or allergist first, one thing you should be extremely wary of is sugar. With zero nutritional value, sugar is dastardly for your gut and even worse for your skin, triggering everything from acne and eczema to rosacea and psoriasis. In fact, sugar is probably the most inflammatory thing you could put into your body. Eek.
Furthermore, studies show that overloading your body with sugar produces advanced glycation end products (AGEs) – harmful compounds that break down collagen and elastin and ruin your radiant, youthful complexion.
Sugar is officially bad news, whichever way you look at it.
3. Eat Plenty Of The Good Stuff
A healthy diet is everything, so once you’ve eliminated anything that’s causing your gut grief, it’s time to indulge in all the good stuff. Fresh fruit, veggies, nuts, beans, healthy fats and lean protein are all awesome ways to support the wall of your gut.
And then there are those extra special foods that help promote good bacteria in your gut, and of course your skin as a consequence. These are called biotics – namely prebiotics and probiotics.
Biotics help balance your microbiome by literally flooding it with good bacteria. Prebiotics help encourage the growth of healthy bacteria that’s already present in your gut and can be found in things like asparagus, artichokes, garlic, leeks, bananas and oats. Meanwhile, probiotics are microorganisms in their own right and are found in cultured and fermented food like kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, miso and live yogurt.
4. Minimize Stress
When you’re stressed out your brain goes into fight or flight mode and triggers your nervous system to release a whole bunch of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream. This causes your heart to pump faster, your breath to quicken and your muscles to tense and get ready for action.
Of course, this is pretty useful when your body needs to react quickly to something, but the problems arise when stress hormones go into constant overdrive and your body gets no time to relax or go back to normal. This plays havoc with your gut (among other things!), compromising the balance of its microbiome, ‘feeding’ the bad bacteria and causing major problems with your digestion and immune system.
All this will reflect very poorly on the look, feel and health of your skin so try to cut down on stress wherever you can. This may be easier said than done, but there are many ways to reduce or manage your levels of stress. Some people find that yoga or exercise works. Others keep a stress journal to figure out what’s causing their stress in order to avoid their triggers and help them work on controlling their reactions. The most important thing, according to HelpGuide, is to experiment with different stress management tips to find what works for you.
Once your gut is in a more healthy working order, trust us, your skin will start to follow suit.
And in the meantime, ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep it clean, strong, protected and moisturized with your TruSkin favorites! Here’s how to build a successful skincare regime, right here.
How A Healthy Gut = Healthier Skin
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![Good Or Bad? 5 TikTok Skincare Trends – Dissected]()
Are social media skincare hacks harmful or helpful? To follow, our thoughts on five of the latest beauty fads doing the rounds…
Isn’t social media awesome? Well, it is, until it isn’t. You see, the problem with giving everyone a voice and a platform on which to share their skincare routines and DIY beauty hacks is that not ‘everyone’ is an expert. In fact, most people are far from it. Of course, there are plenty of fabulous makeup artists, dermatologists, plastic surgeons and aestheticians you can follow across Instagram, YouTube and TikTok and a lot of them have incredible advice to offer. There’s also a lot to be said for things like Facebook Groups where, if you struggle with chronic skin issues, you can connect, learn and find solace from others with similar concerns.
But then there’s all the other 'stuff' from people who have so much to say… about things they don’t know that much about. And this is the kind of information that can do more harm than good. This is why we’ve sifted through some of the most recent viral skincare fads you might want to be wary of. Instead, read on for the real truth about how best to take care of your skin.
1. Slugging
What Is Slugging?
Skin slugging might sound gross, but it’s become a huge deal on TikTok, with its hashtag currently notching up around 1.5 billion views.
Not to be confused with most people’s least favorite mollusk, slugging involves smearing a thick layer of petroleum jelly all over your skin as the last step in your nightly skincare routine. Do so and you’re guaranteed to wake up with the softest, most moisturized skin ever. So they reckon, anyway.
Is Slugging Good For Your Skin?
This trend started gaining momentum almost two years ago, but it will not go away. Therefore there has to be something in it, right? Well, petroleum jelly is an occlusive ingredient that creates a seal over your skin to help lock in moisture. So, sure, it will definitely stop water from evaporating from the surface of your skin as you sleep, we’ll give you that. However, petroleum jelly has no hydrating qualities. At all. This means it doesn’t really moisturize your skin, it just stops any moisture that’s already present from escaping from the surface of your skin.
Not only that but petroleum jelly creates a barrier over your pores, completely blocking them and causing no end of problems for oily skin types. Namely, breakouts like you will never believe.
Much Better Advice?
Rather than slathering your skin with what is essentially just ‘grease,’ you’re much better off applying night cream to not only lock in moisture but to help hydrate and feed your complexion with skin-loving ingredients like antioxidants, ceramides, peptides and/or vitamins and minerals.
Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is a great bet or why not try the combo of our new Rejuvenating Longevity Serum and Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream?
2. Potatoes For PimplesWhat's It All About?
Dealing with acne can be a real struggle. Especially when you reach adulthood when you were promised your skin would be so much clearer. But it’s not common to be plagued by breakouts as you get older. In fact, research shows that around 25 percent of American women in their 40s suffer from some kind of acne.
It’s no wonder, therefore, that there are so many short-term hacks for dealing with pimples. Back in the day it was toothpaste and nail varnish remover (gasp!). Now it’s slices of raw potatoes. The idea is that you tape a small slice over your spot to make it magically disappear. Some TikTokers have even resorted to rubbing the whole darn thing over their skin.
Are Potatoes Good For Your Skin?
Don’t get us wrong, we love a potato as much as the next person. But on our dinner plates, not taped to our faces. So, why has this acne hack become such a thing? Ha, your guess is as good as ours but the main draw is that potatoes have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which are both known to help reduce redness and unwanted pigmentation.
They also contain exfoliating and oil-reducing properties and feel nice and cool on the skin which is a big deal when you have a big, throbbing red zit on your chin. So maybe, just maybe, they might offer some short-term benefits. But little more than that.
Much Better Advice?
If you’re an acne sufferer, you’ll understand that short-term fixes are all well and good but, in truth, it’s all about the long-term. This is why we prefer to treat and control breakouts with smart skincare that’s been specifically (and safely!) formulated for the job. Products that contain science-led and dermatologically-tested ingredients like salicylic acid, tea tree oil and AHAs are going to offer your skin way better benefits than a bag of your best russets. Sorry, but they just will.
3. Sunscreen Contouring
What Is Sunscreen Contouring?
If we had to choose just one viral beauty trend that gets our blood boiling the most, it would be sunscreen contouring. Stupid at best, downright dangerous at worst, sunscreen contouring is when you apply sunscreen to select areas of your face and body only, in order to intentionally create tan lines for a contoured effect.
Some people have taken to applying a lower SPF to areas of their face they want to tan more, and a higher SPF to those they want to remain pale and ‘highlighted’ but either way, this is bad news.
Is Sunscreen Contouring Good For Your Skin?
Absolutely not. Not even slightly. The sun is responsible for almost 90 percent of skin aging, accelerating the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging and dark spots. This means it’s absolutely essential to protect ALL exposed skin to the damaging effects of UV radiation. Because tan skin = damaged skin. End of story. Not only that, but c’mon people, skin cancer.
Much Better Advice?
First, in order to truly protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, you need to apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen every day to all areas of exposed skin. The alternatives are just not worth it. And if you do want to create contours on your face and body such as highlighting your cheekbones, sculpting your nose or defining your abs, stick with a self-tanning lotion or makeup. Easy. And way less damaging.
4. Lemon Juice As Toner
What's It All About?
Pure lemon juice. As toner. Simple as that.
Yes, lemons are astringent, yes they’re packed with vitamin C and yes, vitamin C is awesome for the look, feel and health of your skin. But when life gives you lemons, do not squeeze out their juice and use it to tone or brighten your face.
Is Lemon Juice Good For Your Skin?
Citric acid can be an incredible ingredient in many topical skincare treatments, offering great antioxidant qualities and helping to fight environmental skin damage. However, skincare products are formulated in certain ways and use very specific concentrations of ingredients in order to help benefit your skin without causing irritation. Pure lemon juice, however? The opposite. Applying it in its pure form can seriously irritate your skin, screwing up your barrier function and causing long-term issues with hyperpigmentation and sensitivities. It can even burn your skin if you’re not careful.
Keep yours for the G&Ts and leave lemon skincare cocktailing to the pros, OK?
Much Better Advice?
Get your fix of vitamin C from a facial serum that contains sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) which is a gentle and very effective form. Our Vitamin C Facial Serum is always a big favorite but we also have the mighty Vitamin C Super Serum + which really amps up your glow factor. We like to use it twice a week, alternating between this and the OG.
5. Face Taping
What Is Face Taping?
This cheeky little trick has been used by Hollywood’s finest for decades so sorry, TikTok-ers, but you did not invent this one. Also known as wrinkle taping, the idea behind it is that you strategically place sticky tape on your face, usually overnight, to lift the skin, reduce muscle movement and therefore reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s most often used under the eyes, at the edges of the cheeks, over the forehead or across the chest area.
You can also use face tape to provide an immediately lifting effect, keeping it on for an event, for example, whilst camouflaging it with heavy makeup.
Is Face Taping Good For Your Skin?
As an immediate wrinkle-reducer and skin-smoother, face taping is actually pretty effective. But it’s a very short-term fix and takes a lot of clever makeup artistry to cover the tape and make it look natural.
As an overnight solution however? Yeah, we’re not convinced. For one thing, the glue that’s used on the tape can be super irritating for some skin types, especially if it’s used under the eyes where your skin is thin and extremely delicate. And for another, leaving the tape on for long periods of time can clog your pores and encourage breakouts. The phrase, ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire,’ comes to mind.
Much Better Advice?
Two words: effective skincare. Cleansing and exfoliating regularly, treating your skin with daily antioxidants, applying sunscreen daily and using age-defying ingredients like retinol, bakuchiol, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C? So much better than silly old face tape that might be OK for ten minutes but will do no good in the long-term.
Try our new Smoothing Collagen Serum, Firming Collagen Day Lotion and Collagen Boosting Skin Supplement which are great for healthily preventing premature aging.
Good Or Bad? 5 TikTok Skincare Trends – Dissected
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