True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Under the impression that sensitive skin and active skincare ingredients were mortal enemies? Actually there are some awesome power-players that work wonders on delicate skin…

It’s a well-known fact that sensitive skin types go gaga for gentle ingredients that care for their fragile barrier function and are moisturizing, hydrating, calming and soothing. But sensitive skin matures just like every other skin type, and oftentimes things like aloe vera and chamomile (as awesome as they are!) don’t cut the mustard when trying to soften the visible blows of aging.

Most skin types can turn to potent, active anti-aging ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid and vitamin C without a care in the world. Of course, it’s always smart to patch test such powerful ingredients first… just in case. But once this is out of the way, most find they can introduce them into their daily routines with zero problems.

Not everyone has such luck with their skincare, however, and sensitive skin can be a tricky type to master. But all is not lost because we’ve rounded up some of the best active ingredients that are effective, for sure, but are way kinder to the skin, making them a fabulous choice for sensitive souls.

Keep scrolling for the five active ingredients we rate best for sensitive skin.

1. Bakuchiol

Retinol is awesome. We know that. You know that. But if you have sensitive skin that flares up if you so much as say the word ‘retinol’ out loud, gentler alternatives are more your style. And this is where bakuchiol shines.

Bakuchiol (pronounced bah-koo-chee-awl) is basically nature’s answer to retinol. Says it all, right? Extracted from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant, bakuchiol has been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, both internally and topically to treat the skin. A bunch of recent clinical studies have also shown that, as well as offering the previously well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, bakuchiol offers similar benefits to retinol, stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating cellular turnover. Because of these skin-changing abilities, bakuchiol can dramatically improve the surface of the skin, encouraging a brighter, clearer, smoother and more even complexion. What’s more, all of this comes with very few, if any, of the irritating side effects that are so often attributed to more potent retinoids.

Bakuchiol is the backbone of our new healthy aging Longevity range which includes Rejuvenating Longevity Serum, Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream and Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream. Give them a go, sensitive skin folks. We don’t think you’ll regret it.

2. Hyaluronic Acid

You’ll probably know a fair bit about hyaluronic acid (HA) as it’s always in the skincare spotlight. But here’s a quick recap. Hyaluronic acid is a lubricating polymer that’s found naturally in your skin (as well as in your eyes and joints, ps). It’s what’s known as a humectant which means it has the ability to draw in moisture, kind of like a sponge. In fact, studies have shown that HA can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Don’t ask as how, it just does. Call it magic.

Sensitive skin is often notoriously dry and dehydrated thanks to a slightly sub-standard barrier function. And this is why HA is such a good choice for hydrating, moisturizing and plumping sensitive skin, simultaneously helping to improve fine lines and wrinkles. The fact that it’s a naturally-occurring substance already found in the body also makes it very well tolerated. Love that. Try Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum for your daily hit.

3. PHAs

PHAs are poly hydroxy acids that work by gentle exfoliating those pesky dead skin cells that can outstay their welcome at the surface of your skin, blocking your pores and giving your skin a dull, gray palor that nobody wants. Unlike scrubs and cleansing brushes, PHAs exfoliate your skin without the need for any rough scrubbing – because sensitive skin hates that. You’ll probably be acquainted with their cousins, AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) which include the likes of glycolic acid and salicylic acid. And don’t get us wrong, we’re big fans of the As and Bs, but when it comes to sensitive skin, the mighty Ps are everything.

So how do they differ? Well, PHAs have a larger molecular size than AHAs and BHAs. This makes them way gentler on the skin because they only work at the surface, rather than penetrating the deeper, more fragile layers. Ideal for those who can’t quite bear the strength of other exfoliating acids, PHAs are awesome alternatives. They also help hydrate and moisturize the skin as an added bonus. Keen to try them out? We get that, so look out for the most common PHAs on your ingredients list: gluconolactone, lactobionic acid and galactosen.

4. Niacinamide

It’s a fact: niacinamide (vitamin B3) is one of our favorite antioxidants for sensitive skin. Versatile, easily tolerated and wonderfully caring for a compromised barrier function, what’s not to love?

As well as its fighting ability to ward off the damaging effects of free radicals – which your skin forms on a daily basis thanks to pollution and UV radiation –  niacinamide has fantastic anti-inflammatory properties, helping to regulate oil production while calming the skin and reducing unwanted redness.

It also has a clever way of aiding the production of ceramides in the uppermost layers of your skin. Ceramides are waxy lipids that make up somewhere between 40 and 50 percent of your skin’s composition, helping to retain moisture and protect your skin from external factors. With age, ceramides start to dwindle, so anything you do to keep them at an all-time high is going to be awesome for the strength and resilience of your skin. Try applying our Niacinamide Facial Serum twice daily for incredible results. It also contains vitamin E and HA for some extra love.

5. Ceramides

While we’re on the subject of ceramides, these are another great bunch of ingredients to keep an eye on if you want to improve the resilience of your skin and ensure it stays looking and feeling its best for longer.

Synthetically produced to mimic the natural stuff that works hard within your skin’s structure, topical ceramides are kind of a big deal. They’re well tolerated by all skin types (even the most sensitive), plus they offer some extremely important benefits – especially as your skin ages. We’re talking moisturization, hydration, strengthening, repairing, protection and all sorts.

The most commonly used ceramides in skincare are NP, AP and EOP which we’ve packed into our new Firming Collagen Day Lotion and Smoothing Collagen Serum. What’s more, the ones we use are vegan ceramides which means they’re plant-derived and totally cruelty-free. High-fives.

It's easy to forget about your skin before bed – after all, you’re just going to sleep, right? Nothing to see here!

Wrong. So very wrong.

We like to think that taking good care your skin as part of your morning routine is a done deal. Cleansing, moisturizing, using a treatment serum, applying a dab of eye cream here and a good slathering of sunscreen there? All standard practice. But when it comes to sticking to a regular nighttime skincare routine, things often go a little awry.

Of course, we’ve all encountered the odd occasion when we’ve been too tired/lazy/tipsy to fully cleanse, tone and moisturize before bed. And that's just about OK when it doesn’t happen too often. But neglecting a nighttime skincare routine on the reg can have serious repercussions on the health of your skin.

Read on to find out exactly what goes on with your skin while you’re sleeping. 

1. Cell Regeneration Hits Its Busiest Time

Day and night, your skin is constantly turning over as part of a natural shedding process called desquamation. During this process, skin cells are created at the base of your epidermis where they mature, get pushed up to the surface and finally slough away. This system allows your skin to remain strong and healthy, and works pretty efficiently.

Until it doesn’t.

Many things upset the rate at which your skin turns over. For one thing, it naturally slows down as you age (surprise, surprise) and there’s nothing you can do about that. However, there are SO many other things you can control to help cell regeneration go about its business in the most efficient way possible.

Sleep is one of the biggest factors. During this important time of rest skin turnover speeds up – potentially working up to three times faster than during the day. This is, in part due to a hormone called the human growth hormone (HGH) which is stimulated by sleep. As its name cunningly reveals, HGH stimulates growth in both the tissues and organs in your body. And when it comes to your skin, it helps accelerate cell regeneration, thus promoting repair and increasing turnover.

How To Aid Cell Regeneration

The obvious way to boost cell turnover? Get more quality sleep! On top of that, give it an extra helping hand by applying a gentle exfoliating formulation to clean skin before you hit the sack. Try AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant.

2. Collagen Production Accelerates

Various studies show that if you consistently skimp on beauty sleep, your collagen will suffer as a result. This is because your skin is constantly producing fresh collagen (although this process seriously slows down as you age), but it really amps up when you’re in the land of nods.

When you don’t get enough sleep, however, the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol kicks in, which puts unwanted stress on your skin, playing havoc with collagen production and wrecking its ability to heal and regenerate. This often results in weaker, thinner, less springy skin that highlights fine lines, accelerates the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin, and starts to look generally a bit ‘meh.’

Too much cortisol in your system can also cause flare-ups in chronic skin conditions like rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. So there’s that.

How To Enhance Collagen Production

You’ll soon get bored of this… but go to bed earlier! Also, apply an overnight treatment that contains retinol. Retinol has been proven time and again to accelerate collagen synthesis and help you achieve the heady heights of stronger, healthier skin. We love Retinol Facial Serum or you could switch it up with Rejuvenating Longevity Serum which contains bakuchiol – nature’s gentle alternative to retinol.

3. Water Loss Becomes A Thing

Skin becomes warmer and more permeable when you’re asleep as blood flow increases to the surface. This is great news for your skincare routine because it allows your products to go about their business super efficiently and way more effectively.

But it’s not so good for your skin’s hydration levels. A more permeable barrier function, you see, loses water at a quicker rate than normal, leaving it feeling dryer and more dehydrated than you’d like.

How To Reduce Overnight Water Loss

Do NOT stay awake longer, thinking this will keep your skin hydrated. Big mistake. Instead, treat your skin to plenty of moisture before bedtime. Cleanse gently to remove debris, then apply a hydrating serum followed by a nourishing moisturizer. We’re currently all over Smoothing Collagen Serum and Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

4. Your Body’s Defense System Kicks In

Free radicals are constantly trying to attack your skin’s valuable proteins throughout the day thanks to things like pollution, UV radiation, smoking and stress. So, what happens to all these free radicals at night, when you’re asleep? Well, let’s talk about melatonin for a minute.

Not just a sleeping aid you might take before a long-haul flight, melatonin is a hormone produced by your body on a daily (well, evening!) basis. Your body makes melatonin when it’s dark to make you feel sleepy and ready to turn in for the night. It's also vital in helping to counteract environmental skin damage. It’s kind of like your body’s own natural antioxidant system, boosting repair, nixing all those pesky free rads and rebooting your skin ready for the next day of inevitable pollution and the like…  

How To Boost Free Radical Protection  

Two words: topical antioxidants. Our favorite antioxidant is vitamin C which is one of the hardest-working and clinically proven antioxidants in skincare. It figures, therefore that a vitamin C boost before bedtime is just what the beauty doctor ordered. Try Vitamin C Super Serum + which also contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and collagen-boosting retinol.

Aging skin is a given thing. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do your best to help slow things down a little.

The rate at which your skin ages is determined by two important factors: your genes and your lifestyle. These are otherwise known as intrinsic and extrinsic aging.

Without getting too bogged down by science, intrinsic aging is the one that’s determined by your genetic makeup and is going to happen whatever you do and however much you look after your skin. Things like collagen and elastin naturally break down as you age, while your skin’s levels of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, fatty acids and sebum also decrease. And all this contributes to the formation of lines, wrinkles and the like. It’s like getting gray hairs. C’est la vie!

On the flipside, extrinsic aging is totally in your hands and includes all the other stuff you throw at your skin which increases the speed and intensity at which the signs of visible aging appear. The sun is the most obvious offender, but anything that causes oxidative stress on your skin (pollution, stress, a poor diet etc.) will play its part in throwing off your skin’s natural defense mechanism, thus allowing damaging free radicals to run amok and age you up at a super-speedy rate.

So, in answer to the question: ‘can you slow down the visible signs of aging?’  Yes… but there's a 'no' caveat. Yes, of course you can protect your skin from environmental assault and make better lifestyle choices. But no, you can’t change your genes. So let’s see how best to tackle the things you CAN control, shall we?

5 Ways To Reduce Premature Aging

1. Keep The Sun Off Your Skin

Bored of hearing how the sun is the enemy when it comes to your skin? Tough. Because it’s true and the more it gets drummed into you, the more vigilant we hope you’ll be at protecting your skin from the sun’s evil UV rays.

The stats are simple. Scary, but simple. The sun is responsible for somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of all extrinsic aging. This means that you can moisturize, treat, and preen your skin ‘till the cows come home. But if you don’t protect it with sunscreen every day, you might as well throw the rest of your skincare regime in the trash.

Don’t do that. Instead, sneak some broad-spectrum protection into the final stage of your morning routine. Try our awesome SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C. It's way less wasteful than throwing away all your precious skincare products. 

2. Protect Your Skin’s Barrier Function

Your skin’s barrier is the uppermost layer that sits at the top of your epidermis and is known in the beauty biz as the stratum corneum. This brick wall-like section is made up of around 20 layers of cells and arguably works harder than the rest of your skin put together. Bold words, we know. But valid words because the function of this important layer is to act like a security guard, protecting your skin (and your entire body) from the outside world by preventing moisture from getting out and external irritants, allergens and other nasties from getting in. A strong barrier function is vital for keeping your skin strong, moisturized and healthy, whereas if it becomes weak, thin and compromised this is when issues like dryness, dehydration, irritation and the inevitable signs of aging start to creep up on you.

Of course, it goes without saying that your barrier function naturally weakens with age, losing ceramides, cholesterol and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. But the more you look after it, the stronger it will remain and the better your skin will be. How do you do this? Simple, with gentle skincare products (harsh ingredients are killers on your barrier function), plenty of sunscreen (yes, that again!), quality sleep and lots of hydration. Our favorite serum for nourishing your barrier function is Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum which helps boost ceramide production and fights like a dog to destroy free radicals before they get a chance to do their worst.

3. Do. Not. Smoke

Smoking is obviously terrible for your health. Plus it gives you smokers’ lines around your lips. But it doesn’t stop there. In fact, after UV damage, smoking is one of the worst offenders for accelerating the visible signs of skin aging.

Tobacco contains a ton of harmful substances that screw up your skin, ruining its texture, tone, elasticity, firmness, smoothness and even altering the color of your complexion. In fact, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, it’s common for the skin of a 40-year-old heavy smoker to look similar to that of a 70-year-old nonsmoker. Eesh!

The facts are simple: smoking increases free radical formation in your skin, breaks down collagen, accelerates inflammation, decreases blood flow and starves your skin of essential oxygen and nutrients. Just don’t.

4. Use Proven, Age-Fighting Skincare Ingredients

Revving up your skincare routine with hard-working, active ingredients is a great way to bite premature aging on its butt. Granted, there are so many out there, claiming to rid your skin of wrinkles in weeks, it’s hard to keep up. But don’t be fooled that they’re all going to be miracle-workers. Instead, stick with those that have the research to back them up. Ingredients like retinol; vitamin C; peptides and exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic and salicylic have all been studied for years and been proven to offer real benefits for your skin. Also, NKOTB bakuchiol is fast making a big name for itself by giving retinol a run for its money in the anti-aging skincare stakes. Look out for these if you’re serious about getting ahead of the aging game.

One word of warning, however. You know that barrier function we spoke of earlier? Well, overload this with too many skincare actives and it will repay you with inflammation, dryness, irritation and potential breakouts. This means you must tread carefully. Avoid piling on too many potent serums and treatments all at once and choose curated products that combine a few actives that are known to work together. All of our serums have been carefully formulated not to cause sensitivities, but it’s still wise to patch test first and avoid using more than one at the same time.

Looking for a great all-rounder that’s packed with age-repelling goodies and gentle on your skin? Then try Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum or our fabulous new Smoothing Collagen Serum.

5. Moisturize Like Clockwork

Serums are great. Obviously. But you need to seal all that goodness in with moisturizer, otherwise all those active ingredients are likely to escape from the surface of your skin. Which kinda defeats the purpose, don’t you think?

Moisturizer not only traps in moisture and ingredients like antioxidants and humectants (think hyaluronic acid and aloe vera), but it also leaves a smoothing topcoat on the surface of your skin, reducing the appearance (and premature formation) of fine lines and wrinkles.

The truth is you must never forget to apply moisturizer after every cleanse – no matter how oily your skin. We have lots to choose from, depending on your concerns and needs, but our current favorite is Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream which is the ideal addition to any healthy aging skincare regime.

Summer may be history (for now), but dull weather doesn’t mean your skin has to look equally as cruddy.

It’s only November and we’re already missing those long, sunny days when our skin automatically glowed with health. Dang. But here’s the thing: just because the weather has become duller, colder and a little gray around the edges, your skin can still be as radiant as a balmy, July day. You just need to know how to boost your circulation, encourage healthy skin turnover and maintain clean, clear, hydrated skin.

Sounds too much like hard work? On the contrary. Below, ten quick and easy tips for glowing skin ­– all year long.

1. Exfoliate, Baby!

Exfoliation is definitely ‘the one’ when it comes to quick fixes for brighter, happier-looking skin. And the reasons are simple. Exfoliating your skin – whether you use a scrub, mitt, cleansing brush or chemical treatment – encourages your cells to turn over more efficiently, ridding the surface of dulling dead skin cells and allowing all of the fresh stuff to take their place.

Over-exfoliating can have the opposite effect, however, breaking down your skin’s important barrier function and causing your skin to become angry, red, irritated, dry, pimply or any number of other things that aren’t top of your skin’s wish list. The key, therefore, is to go gently – we recommend using a kind-to-skin chemical treatment like our new AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant – and start out just once or twice a week until your skin acclimates. Sure, you can slowly build up to daily use but listen to your skin and don’t push it. Less is best.

2. Embrace The Upside Down

Want to immediately get blood flowing to your skin with absolutely zero effort? Simple: hang your head upside down for a couple of minutes each day. This immediately rushes circulation to your face and neck, flooding your skin with radiance-boosting oxygen and nutrients. And don’t worry if you can no longer contort your body into a headstand. Just lie back on your bed, face up, and tip your head back over the edge. Everyone can do that. Stick with two or three minutes, max, however. Any longer might make you feel funny. And yes, ‘funny’ is the scientific word for it!

3. Go Big On Hydration

Dehydrated skin is a major cause of dullness because thirsty skin is unable to reflect light as well as soft, hydrated skin.

So word of warning: never let your skin get too parched, people. Drink plenty of water and layer a hydrating serum under your moisturizer to ensure you draw lots of moisture to your skin’s uppermost layers. We’re all over the epic combo of Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum, followed by Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer.

More on the mighty vitamin C in a sec…

4. Try A Quick-Fix, DIY Face Mask

Blending your own, DIY face mask may remind you way too much of your teenage years, but get the right formula and you’ll be on to a real winner. We’re big fans of mixing together plain yogurt, avocado and a teaspoon of honey and slathering this all over our face and neck for around 10 minutes. Yogurt is great for soothing inflammation and gently exfoliating the skin while honey and avocado add that vital hydration and moisturization. 

Needless to say, remember to rinse thoroughly. Well, dur.

5. Moisturize Before Bed

Of course you’re not going to skip moisturizer in the morning (ARE YOU NOW!?) but before bed, certain skincare practices often go out of the window. Because tiredness, laziness, a few too many wines… things get in the way.

However, if you really want your skin to be happy, healthy and glowing, neglecting your night time routine is a big mistake. And no, swooshing a cleansing wipe over your skin does not count.

Every night – without fail – cleanse your face and neck, apply your favorite serum and never forget to moisturize with a gentle but high-powered night cream. Our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream is awesome for refueling your skin as you sleep – literally wrapping your skin in nutrients, antioxidants and rich botanical extracts. It’s a must if you want to wake up with radiant skin before you even look in the mirror.

6. Eat Your Way To Radiant Skin

Antioxidants are a super important part of your diet, whatever your health and skincare goals. But for a brighter, more radiant complexion, they are everything. Of course, we’re never going to deprive you of your favorite treats every now and again, but as a rule, try to include more nuts, seeds and colorful fresh fruit and veggies in your diet. Specifically, reach for things like strawberries, broccoli, grapes, walnuts and almonds.

7. Get Up Close & Personal With Vitamin C

Vitamin C is non-negotiable in the search for glowy skin. It just is. With decades of research under its belt, it’s been proven time and again for protecting your skin from the nasty effects of environmental free radical damage. And if you weren’t aware of just how damaging free radicals can be, know this. They’re seriously bad news for your collagen, breaking it down and killing your skin’s plump, radiant mojo.

But that’s not all, vitamin C also helps inhibit melanin production to help keep dark spots and patchy skin in check. Honestly, it’s a skin brightening shoo-in.

If you’re worried about the potential irritating effects of vitamin C on your sensitive skin, you're right to. But it's not out of the question for any skin type, as long as you look out for gentler derivatives like sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP). We only ever use SAP in our vitamin C products because it’s effective, for one, and way less irritating, for another. What’s not to love?

8. Kickstart Circulation With Gua Sha

Massaging your skin with your hands and fingers is a great way to give circulation a kick up the booty. But if you fancy going the extra mile, try a little facial gua sha.

Fast becoming a given in many a proficient skincare routine, gua sha is an East Asian massage technique that involves working a flat, rounded gua sha tool over the skin to relax your facial muscles, encourage microcirculation and help reduce puffiness while boosting radiance and firming the skin. You simply hold the tool (usually made from jade or rose quartz) flat against your skin and then stroke the curved side in one direction over your face and neck. We like to apply a facial oil first to help it glide over your skin more smoothly. You could also do it while your skin is wet, after cleansing.

9. Don’t Skip Toner

Many people can give or take toner but if you’re looking to really amp up your glow, a great toning product can prove an awesome tool to have in your skincare arsenal. Of course, it’s all about choosing the right one but go for deeply hydrating formulations or anything with gentle, skin-nourishing ingredients and you’ll find your skin instantly looks perkier. Added bonus is that toners can help the rest of your regime penetrate your skin more effectively.

10. Fake It, Till You Make It

Of course, makeup can be a true friend when your skin is not playing fair. Illuminating lotions or ‘glotions’ that combine moisturizing benefits with subtle color and highlighting shimmer are great for faking lit-from-within skin. But they can be little too shimmery for some – especially if you have oily skin. A great trick? Mix a drop with your regular foundation or moisturizer to dilute the shimmer.

You could also try dusting a mineral highlighting powder over the high plains of your face to draw attention and reflect light. Just don’t go too ‘bronze’ with the shade as warm, dark tones can age you up lightning fast.
 
 

Committed to growing out your facial hair for Movember? Then a) good on you. And b) this is the perfect time to get on top of your skincare and grooming routine.

Movember (and it’s cousin, No-Shave November) are here and if you’re keen to raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues such as colon cancer, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, mental health and suicide prevention, chances are you’re ditching your razor and forgoing your usual shaving routine for a little extra facial hair right now.

Growing a beard, moustache or goatee from scratch, however, comes with its challenges. For starters, growing and maintaining facial hair can be a bit of a chore – especially if you’re used to a more clean shaven look. And then there are the issues your skin must contend with: beard itch, blocked pores, breakouts, the struggles are all too real.

If you’re on board with Movember or No-Shave November and want to, not only do your bit, but make sure your skin doesn’t feel the hit for the next 30 days, here are four important grooming tips to help you maintain healthier skin.

1. Keep Your Skin Clean

When it comes to cleansing your skin, this is not the time to be slap-dash. Sure, you can just about get away with a speedy ‘splash of water and done’ philosophy when you’re tired or feeling lazy, but it won’t do your skin any favors. And when you’re growing out your facial hair? Frankly, it’s asking for trouble.

Skin secretes sebum all day and, to a lesser extent, throughout the night, helping to keep it healthy and moisturized. All good stuff. However, if your skin is not cleansed regularly, this sebum builds on the surface of your skin, combining with dirt, sweat, pollution and dead skin cells. Leave all this debris to continue building up and it will eventually block up your pores like there’s no tomorrow. Best case scenario? You might end up with slightly irritated skin and a few blackheads. Worse case? Serious acne.

Breakouts around and under facial hair are very common because, even if you think you’re pretty strict with your cleansing routine, the skin under your beard or moustache often gets looked over. Don’t let that happen, people! Cleanse your face, chin and neck thoroughly, morning and night, using balancing products that help to control sebum and detoxify your skin, without sucking all the life out of it.

Our recommendations? Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser or Tea Tree Super Cleanser+. Both of these work hard to deeply cleanse the skin and decongest your pores. Just remember to soften the skin and hairs first with a little warm (but not too hot!) water, then work the cleanser over your skin in circular motions, use a little extra manpower over any hairy, harder-to-reach areas.

2. Exfoliate While You’re At It

Facial scrubs can be a bit of a pain when dealing with facial hair as all those pesky ‘bits’ can get stuck in your hairs. But exfoliation is still as important (maybe even more so) when you’re growing a beard or ‘stache as it helps to regulate cell turnover and get rid of unwanted dead skin cells. This will reduce your chances of irritation and help to keep your pores clear from unwanted blockages.

The good news is we have just the product to keep your skin turning over nicely during this tricky time: AHA/BHA/PHA Liquid Exfoliant. Perfect for all skin types, but particularly awesome for oilier complexions, this non-abrasive, leave-on exfoliant contains three of the best ingredients for breaking down dead skin cells and getting rid of excess sebum: glycolic acid, salicylic acid and gluconolactone. Apply it all over your skin – beard and ‘stache included – after cleansing and before moisturizing, using your fingers or a cotton pad.

3. Keep Your Hands Off

Scratching your beard or touching your facial hair may feel good at the time, but this will transfer even more dirt, sweat and oils from your hands to your face. No matter how often you wash your hands. This might seem innocent enough, but overloading your skin with excess debris will just add to the likelihood of your skin breaking out. It could also aggravate your skin and exacerbate irritation. Nobody wants that.

4. Moisturize Twice Daily

Just as important as keeping your face and neck clean during Movember and No-Shave November is to keep your skin moisturized. Dry, dehydrated skin, coupled with new facial hair can be a killer combination for itchy, irritated skin. And with it also being winter – when the air lacks humidity and is naturally very drying on your skin – your face and neck are going to need that hydration more than ever.

Rich, heavy moisturizers can get ‘stuck’ in facial hair (especially if your beard and ‘stache are dense or thick). This means they’re unable to fully penetrate down to the surface of your skin. Instead of butters or thick creams, therefore, we recommend sticking with lighter lotions or gel formulations whose smaller molecules are able to work between those hairs much more effectively. Our new Firming Collagen Day Lotion is a great choice, or you could try a classic favorite, Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer. Both will keep your skin (and your hairs!) in great condition.

For even deeper hydration, you could even layer your moisturizer on top of a nourishing facial serum. Try Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum, one of our newest all-singing, all-dancing treatments that’s perfect for delivering everything your skin needs to remain strong and healthy. Apply just a couple of drops after cleansing and exfoliating, and before moisturizing, morning and night.

When is an exfoliant more than just an exfoliant? When it’s glycolic acid.

When it comes to proven, butt-kicking skincare ingredients, glycolic acid is one of our big three. Retinol and vitamin C are the other two, since you asked. But we digress. With years of science-backed research under its belt, glycolic acid not only helps fight the visible signs of aging (dark spots and wrinkles be very afraid!), but it also works to minimize pores and reduce acne breakouts. Valid bragging rights, right there.

Here's everything you need to know about this powerful exfoliating acid.

What Is Glycolic Acid?

Like lactic and citric acids, glycolic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid. Or an AHA, if you will. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help accelerate cellular turnover. Your skin is constantly going through its own repetitive cycle – a process called desquamation – in which cells form, move up to the surface, then die and slough away. As a young adult, this process is like a well-oiled machine, which is why youthful skin is brighter, softer and more hydrated. However, as you get older desquamation starts to become lazy and slow. And this is when problems can start to arise. Anything from dull skin and dryness through to itchiness, irritation and acne breakouts can all be linked with poor turnover.

Thankfully this is where exfoliants come to the rescue – nudging skin turnover to move along quicker and more efficiently. There are two types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants are the ones that most often come to mind. They’re the scrubs, cleansing brushes and facial mitts of the world that require pressure and physical movement to exfoliate your skin. Chemical exfoliants, however, are a whole different ball game because they simply sit on your skin and harness the power of active ingredients to break down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This encourages them to shed naturally, without the need for massaging or scrubbing.

Which is best? That depends on you. However, we’re big fans of chemical exfoliation because it’s gentler on the skin. Chemical exfoliants include AHAs, BHAs and PHAs which all work slightly differently, with AHAs being the most commonly used and loved. Derived from sugar cane, glycolic acid is one of the most potent and effective AHAs out there thanks to its small molecular structure which allows it to penetrate your skin quickly and efficiently.

What Does Glycolic Acid Do For Your Skin?

By loosening the bonds that hold together those tough, outer layer of dead skin cells, glycolic acid offers benefits longer than your arm. It goes without saying that by ditching the old stuff and revealing fresher, newer skin cells, your complexion will automatically look better as a result. Think brighter, softer, smoother skin that’s also more even in both tone and texture, for starters. Glycolic acid also helps to keep your pores clean and free of dead skin cells, which makes them appear tighter and stops them from becoming blocked and inflamed. That’s code for fewer acne breakouts.

Then you’ve got all the other stuff that’s going on below the surface of your skin. Because glycolic acid has such a low molecular weight, it can get deeper into your skin than other AHAs, stimulating collagen production and working extra hard to keep your skin firm and plump while staving off premature lines and wrinkles.

Does this make glycolic acid the best anti-aging tool you could ever use on your skin? Yes and no. Yes, because it’s potent and clinically proven to work. No, because its potency means it has its downfalls and needs to be dealt with carefully.

The Dos & Don’ts Of Glycolic Acid

1. DO… Patch Test First

Patch testing any product that contains active ingredients is probably one of the most important skincare rules to live by. Yet, it’s commonly dismissed. We get that the excitement of a new product makes it almost impossible to wait 48 hours while you patch test it on a discreet area of your skin to check it’s safe. And sometimes your skin might be OK with that.

Until it’s not.

Glycolic acid, retinol and vitamin C are just a smattering of ingredients that can potentially cause your skin to freak out. Nine times out of ten, your skin will be fine. But what about that one time? Wouldn’t you rather be sure you’re not going to be dealing with irritated, itchy skin BEFORE it happens? We know we would.

2. DO… Start Slow

After testing your glycolic acid is safe, make sure you introduce it slowly to your regular routine to allow your skin time to acclimate. This means applying it just one or twice a week to start with, building up to daily use after a few weeks if your skin is OK with that. Skin feeling a little irritated and looking kind of red? Then go back to weekly rather than daily use. You’ll still feel all the awesome benefits, but without the downsides. Slow and steady wins the race, remember?

3. DON’T… Apply Retinol At The Same Time

We love retinol with all our hearts, but retinol and glycolic acid are not a match made in heaven. In fact, they shouldn’t be applied at the same time. Ever. The reason? Although they work differently, retinol and glycolic acid are extremely powerful ingredients that work hard to boost cell turnover. And instead of furnishing you with double the benefits, applying them together risks thinning your skin, leaving it feeling irritated, inflamed, dry, itchy, flaky and super sensitive. Not. Worth. It.  

Don’t want to give up your retinol for glycolic acid? We don’t blame you. Just make sure you don’t apply them on the same days. In fact, skin depending, it’s often wise to wait a few days between applications.

4. DO… Pair Glycolic Acid With Plenty Of Hydration

Like most active ingredients, glycolic acid has the potential to cause dryness and dehydration – no matter your skin type or how slow you go. This means it’s wise to ensure your routine includes plenty of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients.

Our Ocean Minerals Super Toner (which contains glycolic acid) is chock full of nurturing goodies like aloe extract, jojoba oil and plant extracts while the brand new AHA/BHA/PHA Liquid Exfoliant is thoughtfully balanced with one of our favorite hydrating superheroes, glycerin.

All this will help counteract the drying effects of the mighty glycolic acid, but still, don’t forget to follow with plenty of moisturizer – day and night.

5. DON’T… Skip Sunscreen

Anything that boosts cell turnover will make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s powerful rays. Which makes slathering on plenty of broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning even more important than ever. But you do that anyway, right? RIGHT? Then it might be time to stock up on your SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C. Just saying!