True Radical Honesty From Our Community

As skincare ingredients go, snow algae might not be top of mind, but things are about to change because this wonder of nature looks set to make a real difference for aging skin.

Nature is a wonderful thing. From the power of our oceans to the smallest cellular matter, nature is everywhere. Quite frankly, without it, life as we know it would not exist.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, surrounding ourselves with nature keeps us emotionally, psychologically and physically healthy. It’s no wonder, therefore, that ‘feeding’ your skin with nature’s greatest offerings is one of the most effective ways to optimize the health of your skin.

At TruSkin we harness the powers of plant extracts and botanical oils across all of our products, combining nature’s finest with potent, lab-created ingredients to provide you with what we truly believe is the best of both science and nature. We take pride in crafting effective treatments that are formulated with the crème de la crème of synthetic skincare (think retinol, niacinamide and vitamin C). We then blend these science-backed powerhouses with natural ingredients that provide equally as incredible benefits to your skin. Oat and rice milk are fabulous examples that immediately spring to mind – both of which are packed into our new Soothing Cleansing Milk alongside synthetic favorites such as hyaluronic and stearic acids to provide comfort and nourishment to sensitive skin.

Nature: it’s what we live for. What’s more, every now and again, a new natural ingredient comes to our attention that offers something new and exciting to skincare. And most recently we hit on a very special type of algae called snow algae.

Already proving its worth in the anti-aging world, here’s what you need to know…

What Is Snow Algae?

Snow algae, otherwise known as pink snow, red snow or sometimes even watermelon snow, is found in the ice caps and mountain tops of some of the coldest, most extreme climates in the world. The Alps, Himalayas and Arctic Coast are often covered with pink blankets of snow algae. Basically, it’s found anywhere where there is permanent snow all year round.

Although green at warmer temperatures, snow algae turns pink thanks to red-tinted carotenoid pigments which kick in when the mercury drops and levels of UV radiation increase. Without getting too technical on you, this clever defense system protects its growth, shields it from harmful UV radiation and allows snow algae to survive and, more than that, totally thrive in extreme, frigid conditions.

Kudos for that. Most other plants stand no chance in such brutal climates.

Impressive, But What Does That Have To Do With Your Skin?

Snow algae’s unique defense mechanism offers all manner of awesome skincare benefits.

Studies show that when it’s applied to the skin on a regular basis, snow algae activates certain enzymes and longevity genes which put your skin cells on a kind of diet. By restricting energy to your skin, they’re encouraged to work in a more efficient way, thus accelerating and improving DNA repair, encouraging collagen synthesis and slowing down the aging process of your skin while boosting restoration and regeneration. By strengthening the skin at a cellular level, snow algae also works hard to fortify your skin’s barrier function, helping to prevent transepidermal water loss and increase overall hydration.

But that’s not all, snow algae also has potent antioxidant properties which is how it keeps itself protected from extreme UV damage. And the same can be said when you apply it topically to your skin.

Antioxidants are a super important part of your skincare routine because they’re pretty much the only way to destroy free radicals and stop them from aging you up. Free radicals are formed when your skin is exposed to environmental bad guys like pollution, smoking and the inevitable UV radiation. If left to their own devices free radicals play havoc with your skin, ruining your collagen and elastin supplies, chipping away at your important barrier function and accelerating the visible signs of aging – most notably fine lines and pesky wrinkles.

Thankfully, antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and slow down their damaging force. And that’s why they should play a valuable part in your daily skincare routine.

As you know, we’ve long been fans of antioxidants – our whole reason for existing grew from vitamin C – and learning of new, powerful antioxidants from nature gets us very excited. This is why we’re charging two of our exciting new skincare innovations with extracts of rare but wonderful snow algae: Rejuvenating Longevity Serum and Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream.

Our NEW Longevity range provides the ideal solution for mature skin, working hard to correct the visible signs of aging while promoting more healthy aging as your skin moves forward. Alongside snow algae, each product contains bakuchiol – nature’s fabulous and super effective alternative to retinol – plus a whole bunch of nourishing, hydrating and age-resisting ingredients like lingonberry stem cells and hyaluronic acid.

Fancy seeing what all the fuss is about snow algae? And bakuchiol for that matter? Then try our NEW Longevity range today. You will not regret it.
 

Whether your skin is too oily or too dry, balancing your sebum is a major step towards healthier skin.

Sebum can be a real headache. Some of you might have too much of it, making your skin oily and annoyingly shiny. The rest of you might not have enough, causing your skin to be dry and maybe even a bit itchy. If only we could all have exactly the right amount to make our skin seem, well, normal.

Ha, normal. If only that were so easy. While normal skin is a type, just as much as dry, oily and combination, we’re not convinced that many people are actually blessed with normal skin. Know someone? Then lucky you/them.

For the rest of us, our skin type is all down to how much sebum is produced at a cellular level. Oily skin produces excessive amounts which can cause blocked pores, breakouts and excess shine; combination skin has too much in some areas and not enough in others resulting in potential pimples in the T-zone and dryness elsewhere (the worst of both worlds, some might say); while dry skin doesn’t produce enough sebum, making it sensitive, itchy, flaky and tight.

The truth is, you can’t change the skin type you were born with – because, genes – however, your sebum levels can be controlled (to a degree) by smart lifestyle habits and a good skincare routine.

So let’s delve deeper into the world of sebum, shall we?

What Is Sebum?

Sebum is a slightly yellow, clear, oily lipid that’s produced by the sebaceous glands in your skin’s dermis – the layer underneath the epidermis. Sebum is composed mostly of fatty acids, squalene, wax esters, glycerol and cholesterol and it reaches the surface of your skin via hair follicles. This is why most of it is concentrated on your face, scalp and genital area. The only area of your skin where you won’t find sebum to some degree? On the palms of your hands and soles of your feet because, surprise surprise, these are the only parts of your body that don’t have hair.

Why Sebum Is So Important For Healthy Skin

Although sebum can be super annoying because it rarely behaves itself, it’s actually extremely important in maintaining happy, healthy skin. Not only does it keep your skin lubricated and moisturized by sealing in hydration and preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) but another important function is to help protect your skin from UV damage. It does this by transporting antioxidants to the surface of your skin. Smart stuff, right? Sebum also keeps your skin’s pH level in check and has antibacterial qualities which is extremely important for fighting infection and reducing inflammation.

5 Tricks For Regulating Your Sebum Levels

The amount of sebum your skin produces is mainly influenced by genetics. However, your age, hormones, skincare regime, diet, stress levels and the climate in which you live all play an important role in helping to maintain balance. So, while you can’t change your genes or stop Father Time, there are many other ways to take charge. Read on for four of the most effective ones…

1. Cleanse Regularly, But Gently

Start off right with an effective cleansing routine and your levels of sebum stand a much better chance of being balanced and more controlled.

But what is the right cleansing routine? Well, your choice of formulation depends on your skin type. But whether you go for a lightweight gel or a rich, creamy lotion like our new Soothing Cleansing Milk, know that the kinder your cleanser is to your skin, the better this will be for your sebaceous glands. It’s tempting to go for a super astringent product to reduce excess oil, for example, but anything that’s too drying will cause your sebaceous glands to go into overdrive, thus making your skin even oilier in the long run.

Cleanse twice daily, for sure, but keep your products free of synthetic fragrance, harsh preservatives and strong detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate. Your sebum levels will really thank you for it.

2. Choose The Right Moisturizer

Hydrating your skin with serums that contain water magnets like glycerin and hyaluronic acid is vital because these draw water to the skin’s surface and help to reduce dehydration. However, to truly help balance sebum, your choice of moisturizer is far more important.

If your skin is lacking in sebum, your job is to help prevent further dryness by embracing rich moisturizers that contain occlusive ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter and botanical oils. These help create a seal over the skin’s surface to stop moisture from escaping. Oh, and we love Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer in case you were wondering.

On the other hand, skin that has sebum coming out of its ears (not literally, of course!) should avoid heavy oils and butters because they can block the pores and encourage breakouts. Instead, you want to stick with emollient ingredients like vitamin E that help smooth the skin and regulate hyperactive sebaceous glands.

3. Eat Right

Eating a balanced diet isn’t just about keeping your weight in check and your health at an optimum. It can also have profound effects on your skin. Certain studies show that foods high in sugar or refined carbs, for example, accelerate a hormone called IGF-1 whose role it is to promote growth and yes, you’ve guessed it, stimulate sebum production. Similarly, trans fats have been linked to inflammation in the skin, which also overstimulates the sebaceous glands and results in excess oil.

Healthy fats, on the other hand, like omega-3s found in nuts, seeds, oily fish and avocados, are awesome for helping to regulate sebum production while improving the fatty acid composition in your skin and strengthening your skin’s barrier function.

Whatever your skin type, its best to limit your intake of sugar, processed carbs and nasty old trans fats, while upping your fill of omega-3s and brightly colored fruit and veggies which are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for all-round healthier skin.

4. Be More Zen

Stress. Even the sound of that word can increase your levels of emotional anxiety. And it’s true that chronic levels of stress play havoc with your hormones. But how do hormones affect the skin specifically? When your stress levels are high your body produces more adrenaline and cortisol (the ‘stress’ hormone). Cortisol is well-known for screwing up your skin’s barrier function, thus causing inflammation and really messing with sebum production.

The killer blow is that this can go one of two ways. If your skin is dry in the first place, it’ll probably get even drier. Whereas if you have oily skin, this depletion of natural oils on the surface of your skin will stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce even more oil. Can’t. Win.

We get that reducing stress is easier said than done, but try introducing a little me-time into your daily schedule to address your emotional anxieties and take five. Go for a walk, do some yoga, even just read a book for 15 minutes. It’s amazing how concentrating on you for a moment can help ease your mind.

Oh, and make sure to get plenty of sleep. We can’t stress that enough. No pun intended.

Not only is bakuchiol nature’s hottest alternative to retinol, but it’s way more stable, super effective and gentler on the skin. Here’s everything you need to know.

Some skincare ingredients come and go, while others are never far from the top of every dermatologist’s recommended hit list. And if you’re into the former, we have one question for you: why? We’re not being rude but why would you even bother with flighty ingredients that, sure, might be all over TikTok for three seconds, but have zero evidence that they really work?

No, the ingredients you really need to know about are the ones that stand the test of time and are backed by proof. Clinical studies, trials, research, evidence, you know the drill. The ingredients that have been around for decades and are the stalwarts of every skincare afficionado’s beauty cabinet – think retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid.

Retinol, in particular, is a real powerhouse for skin. With years of research to its name, it’s been proven time and again as one of the best ingredients for polishing up the quality of your complexion. By ‘communicating’ with your skin at a cellular level it works hard to enhance collagen production and encourage cell turnover, therefore doing its best to improve acne breakouts, wrinkles, dark spots, sagging skin, enlarged pores, the lot.

But here’s the thing, retinol doesn’t suit everyone. It’s super effective, for sure, but it’s also pretty hardcore and can be, let’s just say, too much for some skin types. So, while we would never diss the unarguable powers of retinol – it does take center stage with a fair amount of our formulations, after all! – it’s nice to know there are some alternatives out there.

Ceramides, peptides, antioxidants and exfoliating acids all have incredible anti-aging powers that help protect and enhance the look and feel of your health. And just like retinol, they’ve been around the block a few times… because they work. But they do so in very different ways. In fact, up until now there hasn’t been much to choose from when looking to mimic the effects of retinol, with less of the downsides.

And this is why there’s such a buzz right now about new skincare ingredient, bakuchiol.

What Is Bakuchiol?

Bakuchiol (pronounced bah-koo-chee-awl) is the backbone of our NEW Longevity skincare range and offers a brand new, gentler approach to aging. Already being touted as nature’s answer to retinol, bakuchiol is extracted from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant and has been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, both internally and topically to treat the skin. The reason it’s become such current hot property is because a bunch of clinical studies have come to light showing that, as well as offering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, bakuchiol offers similar benefits to retinol.

When applied regularly it’s been proven to dramatically improve the surface of the skin by stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating cellular turnover. And all of this comes with very few, if any, of the irritating side effects.

Retinol Or Bakuchiol? The Facts

Bakuchiol may sound too good to be true, but should you really diss retinol forever more? Or can you actually enjoy them both? Whatever you choose, here are three important facts that distinguish the differences between bakuchiol and retinol.

1. A Classic Case Of Science Vs Nature

Unlike retinol, which is a chemical compound derived from vitamin A, bakuchiol is 100 percent natural. As we’re sure you know, we’re big fans of plant-derived ingredients here at TruSkin and put nature at the core of all of our formulations. At the same time, we believe that both science and nature have their place in skincare which is why we like to combine the two to offer the best solutions for your skin.

If you like to stick with ingredients that have decades of research under their belts then retinol is the one for you. Prefer to go all-out natural? Then bakuchiol is a great choice. 

2. It’s All About Tolerance

The most frustrating thing about retinol is the annoying side effects. Of course, these don’t affect everyone and if you start slowly with gentle, carefully curated formulations, you’re sure to find a retinol treatment that works for you. If you have strong skin that’s completely unphased by anything you throw at it, for example, you probably love and use retinol on the reg (in which case, have you tried our Retinol Facial Serum yet? It’s the best.)

Side effects, however, are no joke, and if you’ve ever experienced the dryness, redness, peeling or itching that can come hand in hand with certain retinol products, the knowledge that there’s a gentler alternative out there will be music to your ears.

Of course, it’s always wise to patch test any new skincare products, but past research has shown very few cases of negative side effects from using bakuchiol.

3. The Stability Game

Retinol and sunshine are a bad combination. And not because retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. The real reason is that retinol is unstable and reactive to light which means that if you apply it in the daytime, it won’t work as well. This is why retinol is most often advised for night time use only.

Bakuchiol, on the other hand, is perfectly fine to use both morning and night as it holds up well when exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, due to its gentler nature, it can be used twice daily, every day if you fancy. You could even switch it up with your retinol product if you like, applying your retinol treatment once or twice a week before bed, then a bakuchiol product on alternative nights, as well as in the mornings. Choices, choices, aren’t they the best?

The Takeaway

Retinol has long been the recommended go-to for aging skin concerns. And as much as bakuchiol continues to gain momentum in the skincare industry, this will never change. You might be reading this wondering what the problem with retinol is. And if that’s the case and you never have issues with dryness or flaking skin, then there really is no problem. Retinol is your guy and there’s no reason to change that.

However, if you’re all too familiar with the irritating side-effects of retinol and have tried and failed time and again to make it work for you, then bakuchiol might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Fancy giving it a go? Then look no further. As if by magic we just launched three new products that harness the gentle powers of bakuchiol: Rejuvenating Longevity Serum, Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream and Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream. Together, they provide the ideal solution for slowing down the aging process of mature skin.

Already. In. Love.

How can you tell if your skin is living its best, healthiest life? Well first up you need to know what healthy skin truly means. Let’s get on that…

While it doesn’t pump blood around your body or enable you to breathe, your skin is just as important as your heart and lungs. It regulates your body’s internal fluids and temperature, protects you from everything the world throws at you and enables you to sense important things like heat and pain. It’s also the biggest organ you have and the only one you can actually see, so it figures that looking after your skin and helping it be as healthy as possible should be a top priority.

We spend our lives talking about healthy skin but it occurred to us recently that perhaps not everyone understands what the term ‘healthy skin’ really means. What words come to your mind when you think about healthy skin? Radiant? Fresh? Soft? Zit-Free? Well, you wouldn’t be wrong because these are all strong indications that your skin is in good shape. In fact, there are three important questions to ask yourself when thinking about the health of your skin. 

Does your skin feel fairly smooth to the touch? Does it have an all-over, even skin tone? And does it feel comfortable and well-moisturized?
 
These are the fundamental basics for healthy skin: smoothness, evenness and a comfy, moisturized surface. Of course, your skin doesn’t have to be perfect to be healthy (whose is?) but if it’s way off on any one of these factors, something is clearly not quite right and it might be time to take a look at some of your skincare and lifestyle habits.

4 Simple Ways To Improve The Health Of Your Skin

1. Cleanse & Moisturize Twice Daily

Keeping your skin clean and moisturized are the absolute basics of great skincare. Cleansing ensures things like sweat, makeup, oil, dirt and bacteria don’t get left around for too long at the surface of your skin where they can block up your pores, causing irritation and acne breakouts. But as awesome as cleansing is, it can compromise the skin’s protective barrier function which plays an important role in keeping irritants out and moisture in. This means that what you do following your cleansing routine is just as important as the cleansing itself. And whatever that may entail, moisturizing should be your number one priority – no matter your skin type.

To nail an effective cleansing and moisturizing routine that balances your skin and avoids harsh ingredients that can upset your barrier function, try our new Soothing Cleansing Milk morning, night and always after exercising. Skin a little on the oily side? Then Tea Tree Super Cleanser + might be better for you because this gets to work on excess oils without stripping the skin.

Cleanse with lukewarm, never hot water, rinse thoroughly and don’t over dry your skin afterwards. Simply pat it with a soft, clean towel then moisturize straight away while your skin is still damp to help lock in extra water. We love Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer in the daytime and Deep Hydration Night Cream before bed.

2. Don’t Smoke

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, smoking speeds up the aging process like nobody’s business. You see tobacco contains thousands of toxins, chemicals and harmful substances that are not only terrible for your entire body, but truly do affect the health of your skin. Smoking decreases blood flow to the surface which starves it of essential oxygen and nutrients. Furthermore, it increases inflammation, upsets your healing process and completely compromises your skin’s collagen and elastin supplies which inevitably results in premature lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

Smoking has also been shown to worsen skin conditions like psoriasis. Plus it smells real bad, ruins your fingernails, stains your teeth and, well, there’s just no point.

3. Eat Well, Sleep More, Stress Less

Practising sensible lifestyle habits might not seem important when it comes to the health of your complexion, but far from it. Stress, for starters, can be terrible for your skin because it overloads your body with cortisol which can trigger inflammation, acne, oiliness, dehydration, irritation and all sorts of other skin woes. Poor sleep is another skin no-no because this precious time is when your skin heals and rejuvenates itself ready to face another day. And your diet? Well, sugar, salt, refined carbs, alcohol and processed meats are fine in moderation, but overload your body with too much bad stuff and not enough of the good and you’re asking for skin trouble.

Thankfully the solutions are pretty simple. Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich fresh fruit and veggies, try to get into a rhythm of seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night, and practice some daily de-stressing tricks to help clear and calm your mind. This can be anything from 10-minutes of yoga each morning to reading a book before bed. Just set out some time for yourself each day to do something you enjoy and you’ll be amazed at the difference in your mental wellness. And hopefully, your skin!

4. Shun The Sun (And Yes, That Includes Tanning Beds!)

It’s no secret that UV radiation is the single most damaging thing you can subject your skin to. So don’t. UV rays trigger erratic melanin and cause an overload of free radicals in your skin which completely screw up your collagen and elastin supplies. And all this is a one-way ticket to fine lines, wrinkles, poor texture and an uneven skin tone.

A lifetime of exposing your skin to UV radiation – whether at the beach, in the park or on a tanning bed – also increases your risk of developing skin cancer. In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation having just five sunburns throughout your life doubles your risk of developing melanoma.

In bright sunshine always wear a wide-brimmed hat and a good pair of sunnies to protect your face, neck and eyes, and cover up with protective clothing – especially if you’re planning to be out in the midday sun. Most importantly, get into the habit of using a broad-spectrum sunscreen like our fabulous SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C every morning without fail.

And if you really can’t live without tanned skin? Then fake it with some self-tanning lotion. It’ll save your skin a lot of unhealthy heartache in the long run.

PS: Healthy skin is a real blessing, and good skincare and lifestyle practices aren’t always enough. Ask anyone who suffers with chronic skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, rosacea and eczema and they will firmly attest to this. So, if you’re in a real pickle with your skin right now and are experiencing excessive redness that won’t go away; inflammation; itchy skin; painful pimples and/or dry, flaky patches, these are all signs that something’s not right. Our advice? Visit a skin specialist pronto to find out what’s going on.

Big news, people: we have not one but two brand new collections of healthy aging skincare products to shout about. And boy are we gonna shout!

Aging is a funny business. Most of us hate our lined forehead or crow's feet, but when you think about it, mature skin that shows signs of a wear and tear should be a badge of honor. You’re 50… 60… 70… 80… whatever, and this means you’ve lived for many, many years. You have so many stories to tell and you have the wrinkles to prove it. What an awesome privilege!

However, as fabulous as it is to be alive and well as the decades whizz by, it’s human nature to crave for the skin you had at 25. But life isn’t like that. We all age. And we should accept and celebrate that.

As skin ages, many things happen at a cellular level. Most importantly, your collagen and elastin levels deplete which makes your skin thinner, weaker, less springy and more susceptible to the visible signs of aging. Sebum production also slows down making your skin feel drier than it used to. Then there’s all the other stuff like ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) which work together to help keep your skin hydrated, protected and moisturized. Yeah, they all go south too.

As if natural aging wasn't enough to deal with, it then gets turbo boosted by, well, life. UV radiation is obviously the biggest culprit here, but other things like stress, diet, environmental pollution and lack of sleep all play their part in the rate at which your skin ages.

It's no wonder, therefore, that your poor skin starts to look less perky as you mature. So, give it a break – it’s endured a lot.

Celebrating your age is all well and good, however, but you want your skin to be as healthy as possible, right? Thankfully, there are many ways to help soften the blow of aging skin. Sunscreen, of course, is the major one. Then there’s the rest of your skincare regime which should include a gentle cleanser, facial serum, eye treatment and moisturizer at the very least. Granted, we have plenty of fabulous and extremely effective options that cover all these bases. We know that. You know that. But still, aging is important business and we’ve always felt like we were missing some seriously targeted products to help you age healthily and optimally.

Well, good news. Our scientists and developers have been working hard for many months to create five new healthy aging solutions to help maximize your skin’s potential as it matures. And yes, we know that five new products are a lot to take in, but don’t panic as they’ve been split into two collections – Collagen to help prevent and tackle the early signs of aging, and Longevity which works on correcting the existing signs of aging skin and protecting it from further damage.

So let's give a warm welcome to aging skin’s new BFFs…

The Collagen Collection

For Proactive, Healthy Aging Prevention

Did you know, your skin starts to produce around 1 percent less collagen every year from around the age of 20? Of course, everybody is different and you may be one of the lucky ones who manage to hold on to their full whack of collagen until much later. But the truth is, collagen depletion will happen eventually. And that’s a crying shame for the look and feel of your skin because collagen is an important protein that provides a foundation for healthy skin, acting like a brick wall to give it strength, structure and support.

Looking after your collagen at an early age is a great way to ensure your skin matures beautifully and naturally. And this was the exact thought process behind our NEW Collagen duo – Firming Collagen Day Lotion and Smoothing Collagen Serum.

Each patent-pending product is crafted to help strengthen your skin’s barrier function and comes packed with science-backed ingredients like vegan collagen peptides, ceramides, green algae and superfruits. Each of these ingredients were specifically chosen to fortify the skin, enhance firmness and shield your skin from environmental nasties. Everything you need when the early signs of aging start to appear.

Read more about the new Collagen products here…

The Longevity Collection

For Corrective, Healthy Aging

No matter how much you try to eradicate fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin before they appear, they’ll eventually get you in some way, shape or form. And if your skin is already showing signs of aging you’re going to love our NEW Longevity collection which includes three corrective healthy aging products: Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream, Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream and Rejuvenating Longevity Serum.

Formulated to help slow down the aging process of your skin, these patent-pending formulas not only help protect your skin against UV and blue light damage but they work hard to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that have already appeared. And all this comes without the powers of the mighty (but often irritating) retinol.

As you know, retinol is the gold standard of the anti-aging world and has decades of proven research under its belt to show what a total baller it is for increasing cellular turnover, strengthening the skin’s supplies of healthy collagen and thus improving the tone, texture and hydration of your skin. The issue is that retinol can be a real headache for some skin types, making it dry, itchy, red and uncomfortable.

So, what’s the alternative? Well, we’ve packed our new Longevity products with what the internet is coining ‘nature’s alternative to retinol,’ – bakuchiol. Bakuchiol is a botanical extract that’s derived from the leaves and seeds of the babchi plant. It’s been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for years to treat the skin and has more recently been proven to show similar anti-aging benefits to retinol – minus the irritating side effects. Gentle, non-irritating, ideal for morning and nightly use AND great for all skin types (even sensitive) bakuchiol is making a real name for itself right now.

All of our Longevity products harness the power of this incredible, natural powerhouse and combine it with other science-backed ingredients like snow algae and lingonberry stem cells. What’s more, clinical studies on these products are already showing fantastic results with 90 percent of users agreeing their skin’s roughness and dryness improved after 12 weeks *.

Read more about the new Longevity products here…

We can’t wait for you to try out these new skincare formulations. So what are you waiting for? Add to cart, now ;)

* Bakuchiol study conducted through Sytheon Ltd. Individual results may vary and are not intended to replace personalized skincare advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Treating your skin with active ingredients and potent formulations is all well and good, but when does vigilant skincare become too much for your skin to cope with? 

There are some incredible ingredients in skincare that have been trusted for decades to bring visible benefits to your precious skin. Retinol, vitamin C and glycolic acid are just three powerhouses that come to mind, all of which work hard to bring awesome, skin-changing results to the table.

But here’s the thing. Yes, these ingredients are fabulous and yes, when used correctly they can truly transform average skin into great skin – with regular use and a little side of patience, of course. However, there’s that certain something called ‘too much of a good thing.’ And when it comes to potent skincare, that 'thing' can turn into some real issues for your skin.

The main problem with overstimulating your skin is that your barrier function becomes compromised. Not sure what that means? Well, your skin’s barrier function is its uppermost layer (aka the stratum corneum) and it’s extremely important as it’s your body’s first line of defense from the outside world, keeping crucial moisture in and nasty irritants out. 

When your barrier function is strong and working efficiently, it keeps your skin healthy, soft and supple. But if it gets screwed up – which can easily happen when you throw too many skincare ingredients at it – it’s unable to do its job properly. And this is where things start to go awry.

Read on for the most common signs you're working your barrier function too hard. And that it's unhappy as a consequence…

Your Skin Is Totally Breaking Out

Acne breakouts occur when overactive sebaceous glands produce an excessive amount of sebum (oil). This sebum then gets stuck in your pores where it mixes with bacteria and dead skin cells and results in a nasty old blockage. If this ‘plug’ of debris becomes inflamed it becomes a full-on zit, if not, it will usually result in a white or blackhead. None of which are welcome, if we’re honest.

Breakouts are generally thanks to your genes which determine your skin type and amount of oil your skin produces. However, certain factors can trigger the frequency, duration or angriness of your flare-ups. And overstimulating your skin is right up there with things like stress and your hormones.

The biggest offenders, in our opinion, are super astringent products that suck your skin dry and do no good whatsoever. Of course, it’s tempting to apply drying ingredients like harsh alcohols, and kick-ass surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate to oily skin because it feels like the right thing to do. Mistake. This move just encourages your sebaceous glands to produce even more oil to try to counteract the dryness you’re enforcing on your poor complexion.

On the flipside, you don’t want to over-moisturize your skin, either. Certain ingredients in moisturizers will block your pores and trigger breakouts with lightning speed. These are called occlusives and include things like heavy oils and butters. So avoid these at all times – and that includes makeup as well as skincare.

Do This: Stick with a light, gentle moisturizing product like Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer, combined with a balancing cleanser, gentle toner and a soothing facial serum like Tea Tree Super Serum+.

Your Face Looks Red & Feels A Bit Irritated

Other than the obvious conditions like eczema and rosacea – which are jobs for a dermatologist, btw ­– your skincare routine can be a major trigger of redness and inflammation.

And one of the most common offenders? Exfoliation. Exfoliating your skin can feel like pure joy and, when done gently and not too often, it’s a great way to boost cellular turnover, encourage collagen production and make your skin look and feel glowy and healthy. But, and this is a pretty big but, exfoliating your skin too often and with a super heavy hand weakens your barrier function and strips away all of those important ceramides, fatty acids and essential nutrients from the surface of your skin. Frankly, this is the perfect recipe for irritation and facial redness.

If you’re guilty of exfoliating more than once or twice a week and have noticed your skin becoming more sensitized than normal, you need to rein it in posthaste.

Do This: Either reduce your frequency or switch to a milder formulation. Better yet, do both. We love our Ocean Minerals Super Toner which contains gentle chemical exfoliators to break down dead skin cells. Try this two or three times a week and see how you go. You can always move to daily as your skin calms down.

Dryness Has Become A Real Thing

Similar to your likelihood of getting acne, dry skin is something you’re born with. The good news, however, is that dryness can be controlled and balanced with the right skincare routine that concentrates on nurturing your skin and replacing the oils your skin often fails to product of its own accord.

Then there’s the wrong skincare routine – and this can have equally as profound results. Just not the ones you were hoping for.

What do we mean by the ‘wrong’ skincare routine. Well, for dry skin types, you have to avoid anything that’s going to exacerbate your dryness. And the biggest no-no for you? Potent cleansers that are big on sulfates, synthetic fragrances, parabens and harsh alcohol like ethanol and alcohol denat. Ingredients like oatmeal, rice milk, aloe vera and chamomile are way better friends for dry skin as they help nourish and protect your skin’s barrier function. Which, as you’ve probably realized by now, is the most important thing for reducing irritation and minimizing sensitivities.

Also, you really have to be careful with retinol because, while it’s the darling of skincare ingredients, retinol can be tricky to get right. Too much, too often can make dry skin conditions so much worse – especially if you go in like a bull in a china shop, not patch testing first, or applying it too frequently.

Do This: If you’ve recently started a new retinol product, pare it back immediately, reducing how often you apply to once or twice a week until your dryness improves. You should also swap your cleanser for something that'll nourish and protect your barrier function. Our new Soothing Cleansing Milk is literally made for dry, sensitive skin, since you asked. 

Your Skin Feels Tight, Itchy & Uncomfortable

Even oily or combination skin can feel tight and uncomfortable sometimes. And this is generally down to dehydration.

Quick refresher: dry skin is a skin type that's thanks to an absence of oils, whereas dehydration is more of a condition and due to a lack of water in the skin. Alongside cold weather conditions, pollution, stress and medications, one of the main causes of dehydration is over-exfoliation or over-stimulation with active skincare ingredients. How so? Because these break down your skin’s barrier function making it unable to effectively retain water.

Thankfully, dehydration is a temporary issue and one that can most definitely be dealt with. You just need to figure out what you’re doing that’s causing your dehydrated skin and work on that first and foremost. Chronic use of highly potent ingredients like prescription retinoids, for example, can be major offenders, as can overexposure to the sun. Then you need to manipulate your skincare routine to ensure it’s working hard to boost water in the epidermis while simultaneously reducing moisture loss from the surface of your skin.

Do This: Simplify your routine and introduce a daily hydrating serum that helps amp up your skin's moisture content. Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is a great addition and ideal for sensitized skin. Just remember, you must always apply moisturizer on top to seal in hydration. You could also try our awesome new Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum which combines everything you need for a healthier barrier function – minus the irritation.