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Sweatier skin and oilier pores are inevitable as climbing temperatures and higher humidity hits. So get ahead of the game with our tips for preparing your skin for summer…

Summer officially started on June 21. So it’s time to take a close look at your skin to ensure it’s ready for everything that gets thrown at it when warm, sunny weather arrives.

Hotter temperatures and higher levels of humidity have various effects on your skin – some good, some not so good. And when you couple new weather conditions and more time in the great outdoors with the realization that more of your body is about to be on show, it’s easy to let summer skin issues come up and bite you on the butt.

Let’s not that happen, shall we? Here’s what to do over the next few weeks to get your skin summer-ready.  

Invest In Some Chemical Exfoliation

Exfoliation is a tricky game. Do it too much and you chance irritation, redness and sensitivities taking over your skin. But avoid it altogether and you can end up with dull skin, clogged pores and worse yet, pesky breakouts. During the winter months it’s prudent to tone down how often you exfoliate your skin to avoid dryness and dehydration adding to your winter woes. However, as summer approaches, you can definitely up the ante – especially if you have normal, oily or combination skin.

We’re big believers in chemical, rather than physical exfoliation as a much more gentle approach to accelerating cell turnover and encouraging dead skin cells to hop it. Try our awesome Ocean Mineral Super Toner every day before moisturizing which contains glycolic acid to exfoliate as well as minerals and vitamins to nourish and protect your skin.

Go For Light, Hydrating Layers

Rich creams and heavy moisturizer might be your go-tos when it’s cold outside, but come summer you’d be wise to lighten up your moisturizing load. Now, this does NOT mean avoiding moisturizer altogether – that’s crazy talk – but you can definitely trade in the big guns for lighter textures that concentrate on drawing all that extra moisture from the air into your skin.

Great ingredients for hydrating your skin are hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe vera so try the powerhouse combo of Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum followed by Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which is loaded with aloe and glycerin.

Shorten Your Shower Time

Long, hot showers may feel incredible when it’s freezing outside, but they’re terrible for your skin, sucking out all the moisture and compromising your super important barrier function. Also, it should be much warmer outside now, so… really?

Turn the temperature of your water down to lukewarm to limit your skin’s chances of becoming inflamed or irritated, and give yourself five minutes max to shower. Studies show the average shower takes around eight minutes so by reducing this by three minutes will also save more than six gallons of water. Per day. Added bonus for our precious planet right there.

Up Your Cleansing Regimen

We always err towards the gentle side of cleansing, but scorching temps make your skin sweat more and this, coupled with sunscreen and what can often seem like a never ending supply of excess oils, needs to be dealt with – especially before bed.

Invest in a cleanser that means business, but don’t be fooled by oil-stripping formulations that are packed with drying alcohols, synthetic fragrance and harsh sulfates. They’re seriously bad news and will just make your skin even more oily in the long-term. Instead, try our Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser which is the cat’s whiskers at gently mopping away sebum to balance and detoxify your skin. We call it the perfect summer skin prep in one handy little tube.

Give Your Body Some TLC

For most of us, our legs, tums, arms and chests have been hidden away for the past nine months or so. But there’s a chance at least one of these body parts is about to see the warm light of day. So it’s probably time to up your bodycare routine, pronto.

Treat yourself to a body loofah, mitt or scrub and gently buff your skin while in your (five minute!) shower. Concentrate on your arms, elbows, legs and butt but go carefully over your chest area as the skin here is thin and very fragile.

Also, don’t forget to moisturize with a light lotion after showering – preferably while your skin is still damp. Unless you have super dry skin, we recommend avoiding rich butters or heavy oils as these can block your pores and cause breakouts.

Don’t Forget Your C-Vitamins

Pre-summer is literally the best time to introduce our good pal vitamin C into your skincare routine. Packed with antioxidant properties to nip those nasty free radicals in the bud, it’s one of our favorite ways to counteract the damaging effects of the sun. It also helps inhibit melanin production to reduce your risk of annoying summertime dark spots. Finally, research shows it can also help strengthen the power of your sunscreen, giving you a double dose of UV protection.

Try our G.O.A.T. Vitamin C Facial Serum which is a kind of must all year long. But especially now and through the summer months.

Keep Some Tea Tree Oil Up Your Sleeve

Summer pimples and blackheads are downright annoying, but for anyone with oily or hormonal skin, they’re also a given because sweat and oil just can’t help but build-up on the surface of your skin. Regular cleansing is a must, of course, but to really get ahead of face and body breakouts, arm yourself with some tea tree oil.

Our Tea Tree Super Serum+ is ideal to keep in your vanity as it contains not one zit-fighting ingredient, but two: tea tree oil AND salicylic acid. Dab it on cleansed, problem areas before bed or apply it all over two or three times a week after cleansing with Tea Tree Super Cleanser+.

Ensure SPF Is Second Nature

We know you apply facial sunscreen all year round – you do, DON’T YOU? – but if there’s ever a time to ensure you’re doing it, it’s now. UVA rays are present all year long, even on cloudy days, but UVB is much more prevalent in the summertime so this is non-negotiable for the next few months. Then it’ll be part of your routine anyway so you can continue forever more. See what we did there?

Apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C every morning without fail to your face, neck and chest, and invest in a broad-spectrum body sunscreen for any other exposed areas of your skin. Reapply regularly if you’re in the sun all day and try to stay in the shade as much as possible to reduce your risks of short- and long-term sun damage. Neither of those are good. 

Stress = irritation, which is one of the worst things for your skin. Let’s see what we can do to help turn stressed skin into your best skin ever.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so it’s no wonder what you see on the outside reflects exactly what’s going on inside. When you’re rested and bursting with energy, for example, your skin often reflects that. And, ps, can we have a group hug for those rare but joyous days, please?!

Similarly, when you’re super tired, anxious and emotionally drained, your skin is likely to react in the same way, looking dull, feeling rough and, frankly, being a bit of a stressed mess.

But why does stress and emotional anxiety affect the skin in such a major way? Well, when you feel stressed about something, your brain prepares your body to go into fight or flight mode. In doing so, your nervous system releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream which nudges your heart to beat faster, your breath to speed up and your muscles to tense up. All this is great in short-lived stressful situations like job interviews or when dealing with a threat or emergency. But when stress becomes more the norm than a rarity, these hormones go into constant overdrive and things start to go awry. Headaches and nausea can kick in, your digestive system becomes compromised and, in extremely chronic cases, you may even increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

And then there’s your skin.

Various studies show that both acute (temporary) and chronic (consistent) stress create negative effects on the health of your skin. For starters, spikes in cortisol increase inflammation and cause your sebaceous glands to go wild, encouraging them to produce way too much oil than your skin really needs (cue breakouts!). An overload of cortisol also breaks down vital collagen supplies, decreases hydrating hyaluronic acid, upsets the balance of your skin’s barrier function and messes up its pH levels. All of these things equal bad news for the health of your skin, resulting in any number of skin annoyances such as blocked pores, acne, dehydration, irritation and flare-ups in existing conditions like rosacea, psoriasis or eczema.

And the worst thing of all? Cruddy, stress-induced skin is, well, stressful in itself. Which doesn’t help your emotional well-being one tiny bit. Sigh.

The good news is there are many ways to improve our skin when stress is hitting you hard. To follow, seven of our tried and tested favorites…

1. De-Stress With A Journal

Before you start working on your skin, you need to concentrate on your entire health and well-being. And the best way to do this? Make a note of any habits or experiences that make you stressed or uneasy. Write down how they made you feel, how you reacted to them and what, if anything, you did to make yourself feel better. This allows you to notice themes or patterns in your stress levels, as well as ways to improve your mood and help you relax. 

2. Sleep like A Queen

Like all skin experts, we’re big believers in the power of a great night’s sleep. In terms of stress, this is because cortisol levels dramatically drop when you’re asleep. So, if you deprive yourself of valuable zzzs your skin misses out on this important time of repair and rejuvenation during which collagen production accelerates, cell turnover speeds up, blood flow increases, muscles relax and antioxidants kick in to repair damage caused during the day.

The Mayo Clinic recommends at least seven hours of quality sleep every night but the most important thing is to go to bed and get up at roughly the same time to get into a good routine. Ensure your bedroom is dark, quiet, not too warm and limit caffeine, food and your smartphone for at least two hours before you hit the sack.

3. Dial Down Your Actives

Active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C and glycolic acid are all well and good when your skin’s barrier function is working like clockwork. But when stress upsets its delicate nature, your skin’s ability to heal and repair itself becomes compromised. This is when an overload of actives can be too much for your skin to deal with. Cut back for a while and allow your barrier function to rebuild itself. If you usually exfoliate every other day, for example, switch to once or twice a week. Love to apply your Retinol Facial Serum every night? Reduce this to every other night for a short period of time, or try alternating it with our soothing Niacinamide Facial Serum which is perfect for sensitized skin.

Trust us, giving your skin a break is super important during times of stress.

4. Avoid ‘Triggering’ Skincare Ingredients

We recommend avoiding the most common skincare nasties ALL of the time, but it’s even more important during times of emotional and mental stress when your barrier function might not be working to the best of its abilities.

Keep your routine straightforward, simple and steer clear of sulfates, in particular, which are excellent at cleansing, but can exacerbate dryness, itching, redness and breakouts – especially if your skin is feeling stressed out.  

Gentle cleansers that contain non-drying surfactants like disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate and disodium 2-sulfolaurate are a far better choice and ideal for sensitized skin. Try our Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser which also contains nourishing rose hip oil to help reduce inflammation and redness.

5. Save New Skincare Products For Another Time

Sure, we all love to try out a brand new product every now and again but now’s not the time to introduce a newbie to your daily routine. Stressed skin is more reactive which means ingredients that usually feel great may bother you more than normal.

Stick to what you know for now and save the new stuff for later.

6. Enjoy A Cup Of Tea

Research shows that drinking black tea helps lower the levels of cortisol in your bloodstream, making you feel more relaxed and positive. It’s even been suggested that the simple act of making tea alone is enough to help soothe stress and anxiety. 

The reason black (as well as green) tea is thought to be such a mood booster is mainly down to l-theanine, an amino acid that helps promotes relaxation, counteracts anxiety, reduces fatigue and supports thinking.

7. Finally, Give Yourself A Break

Everyone goes through stressful periods in their lives and it’s perfectly normal for things to get on top of you every now and again. But try not to allow your stress to get the better of you as this will result in a vicious circle for both your health and your skin – and that can be hard to shake off. Practice deep breathing throughout the day to center yourself, go for a quick walk to clear your head, or read a book for ten minutes in the afternoon to take your mind off things.

These healthy habits are awesome for lifting your emotional health and maintaining stronger, radiant skin. Period.
 

Skin feeling a bit blah from winter? Let’s nip that in the bud right away…

We don’t know about you but we are over winter. It’s been a long one for us and… enough already. Thankfully, spring is approaching and warmer weather is right around the corner. Now that might be awesome news if, like us, you’ve been bombarded with atmospheric rivers and frigid temperatures for the last few months. On the other hand, if you live in hotter climes, soaring mercury can all get, well, a big much.

Wherever you live, one thing’s for sure, spring is a great time to make a few alterations to your skincare routine. Of course, we never recommend totally overhauling what you do or do not slap on your skin – especially if you’ve got your regime down to a fine art – but a small upgrade here or a little tweak there can reap incredible results for the look and feel of your skin. 

Below, some of our favorite spring updates for taking your skin to its good place…

Give Your Pores Some Thought

Winter skin often requires richer moisturizers and heavier makeup. Which is fine. Until it’s not. If you’re prone to enlarged pores and/or breakouts, thick formulations that have a high oil content can play nasty tricks on your complexion, getting right under your skin and blocking up your pores in no time.

If you feel like this is literally you right now, treat your pores to a proper spring clean. And this starts with a deep cleanser to detoxify your skin and suck out any impurities from your pores that may have built up over the last few months. Our Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser is awesome for this as it contains coconut-derived activated charcoal which helps draw out excess oil, sweat and debris from your pores. And if all that sounds like it’s going to make your skin feel dry and tight, think again, because it’s cleverly blended with hydrating and moisturizing goodies like aloe, reishi mushrooms, glycerin and ylang ylang essential oil. Use it twice daily to put a pep back in your complexion’s step.

Try A Night Time Double Cleanse

When the temperature heats up, skin starts to sweat more. Which is no bad thing, because sweating is how your body regulates its internal temperature. Warmer climes also stimulate your sebaceous (oil-producing) glands to product more sebum (oil) which can be a good thing for the integrity of your barrier function. However, the combination of too much sweat and excess oils hanging around on the surface of your skin not only makes your face look kinda icky, but it can also get lodged right there in your pores.

As well as cleansing your skin thoroughly twice daily – and always after exercising – you could also try a nightly double cleanse. Double cleansing is exactly what it sounds; you simply cleanse your skin twice. First, it’s wise to use an oil-based makeup remover to tackle, yes, you’ve guessed it oil-based impurities like sebum and sunscreen. Then you use a water-based cleanser to get rid of water-based impurities like sweat and dirt.

Double cleansing is not entirely necessary on a daily basis unless you like wearing heavy makeup, but do it a couple of times a week for a thorough, deep clean and your skin will appear fresher and brighter.

Lighten Your Moisture Load

Does your skin feels completely weighed down by the remains of winter? Then it might also be time to check the oil content of your skincare and makeup formulations. Essential oils are awesome for locking in moisture and strengthening your barrier function, but some of them are simply too good which means that they can also clog up your pores. Sunflower, argan, jojoba, tea tree and ylang ylang are lightweight and great for most skin types, but heavier oils like evening primrose, avocado, coconut, olive and almond should be avoided if you have skin that’s prone to breakouts.

Our spring moisturizing go-to is always Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer which is super effective, but beautifully lightweight. And if you feel like you need a little extra hydration? Then layer up with Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum which also feels feather-light on your skin but contains a massive hit of potent hyaluronic acid which is one of nature’s most effective moisture magnets.

For SPF’s Sake, Protect That Skin!

Have you let your SPF game slip a little over the winter months? Well, if there was an almost acceptable time to allow this to happen, winter is it. The fact is, sunscreen is important all year round because UV radiation is all about light, rather than heat, so it’s there during the daytime, no matter the weather. But that being said, you spend way more time indoors in the winter so while yes, SPF is vital whenever you’re outside or anywhere near a window, if you’re holed up on the couch for the day, you should be OK.

However, that was winter… and now it’s spring, so there are no longer any excuses for not slapping on your SPF every morning. If you’re yet to try it, get your hands on our awesome SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C which optimizes zinc oxide to send both UVA and UVB rays on their merry way. It also boasts fabulous moisturizing qualities so it can be used to replace your daily face cream if you’re more of a ‘less skincare steps, extra time in bed’ kind of person.

Amp Up Those Antioxidants

All that time in the great outdoors means extra protection for your delicate skin is essential. Sure, you’re already armed with SPF but what else can you do to shield your skin from those damaging UV rays? Simple, ensure your skincare routine includes some hard-hitting antioxidants.

Antioxidants are molecules that help neutralize free radicals. Free radicals form in your skin when it’s been subjected to things it doesn’t like – eg. UV radiation and pollution. And they might sound innocent enough, but free radicals are hella bad on your skin, damaging collagen, elastin and DNA and leading to all sorts of visible signs of premature aging.

Loading up on antioxidants (think fresh fruit and veggies) in your diet is awesome for revving up your body’s defence system, but topical antioxidants are even better because they concentrate solely on looking after your skin.

Some of the best antioxidants in skincare are vitamin C, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, retinol and niacinamide. And of course, natural plant extracts and botanical oils are literally overflowing with antioxidant qualities. Make sure your skin gets its daily fix by smoothing our award-winning Vitamin C Facial Serum onto your skin every morning before moisturizing.

Sunshine? Bring it!

Looking to add an extra glowy edge to your skin just in time for brighter, sunnier days? We say vitamin C for the win! Here’s why…

Vitamin C is everything to us. Our first ever product launch was all about harnessing the powers of vitamin C in skincare and since formulating our awesome OG (the award-winning Vitamin C Facial Serum in case you were wondering!), everything we’ve gone on to create has stemmed from the incredible powers of this antioxidant powerhouse.

Otherwise known as l-ascorbic acid, topical vitamin C is adored by derms, celebrities, beauty editors and skin experts all over the world. In fact, along with retinol, it’s probably the most loved ingredient of all time. It’s also consistently up there as the one of the most searched-for skincare ingredients on the internet. A true skincare GOAT if you will. So, what’s the deal? Well, first and foremost, vitamin C is an antioxidant; a real fighter against skin damage and premature aging.

You see, antioxidants are the only ingredients to be able to neutralize pesky free radicals that form in your skin when it’s been subjected to the slings and arrows of everyday life. Think UV radiation, pollution, smoking, stress and a poor diet. All these factors create harmful free radicals which attack collagen and elastin and screw up their integrity. This can only mean one thing – bad news for your skin. As you know collagen and elastin are the super important building blocks of healthy skin. Without a good amount of quality proteins in your skin, it will become dry, lacklustre, saggy and blotchy. Not to mention the fact that fine lines and wrinkles will show up in no time.

As well as it’s free radical-fighting abilities vitamin C has been shown to help your sunscreen work harder and better, souping up its protection to further shield your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. It’s not a sunscreen by any stretch of the imagination so it can never replace your SPF, but still, the combination of the two? Pretty darn good. Its anti-inflammatory properties (oh, didn’t we mention that?) are also thought to help control sebum production and therefore aid with breakouts. Which is not to be sniffed at.

All this is awesome and hats off to vitamin C for everything it does for the skin. But it boasts one more benefit and, call us shallow, but it’s probably the thing we love most about it. Simply put, vitamin C makes the skin look so much… well… better. We know that’s no scientific term but admit it, that’s what we all want for our skin, right? For it to look and feel its radiant best?

We truly believe that good skin is all about having a healthy glow. Who cares – in all honesty – if you have laughter lines and a slightly less contoured jawline than you used to? If your skin is healthy and glowing, nothing else really matters. And, as skincare ingredients go, vitamin C is almost unbeatable in its glow-inducing powers.

How Vitamin C Gets Your Glow On

Being able to fight off free radical damage is the first step here because if your collagen and elastin supplies are hunky dory, your skin cells will turn over more efficiently and all those dead skin cells will get sloughed away quicker to reveal all that fresh stuff underneath. Sluggish cell turnover is a sure-fire route to dull skin, so major kudos to vitamin C right there.

However, that’s just part one of the story because vitamin C also inhibits melanin production to help reduce dark spots and improve uneven skin tone. How does that work? Well, vitamin C decreases the production of tyrosinase which is an enzyme in your skin that accelerates melanin synthesis. Slowing all this down significantly reduces the amount of melanin in your skin. The result? Less patchy skin, fewer dark spots and a brighter, more even-looking complexion.

All. Over. That.

What’s The Best Form Of Vitamin C For Your Skin?

There are countless types of vitamin C used in skincare but we believe there’s only one real choice: sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP). Sure, pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) is extremely potent but this can have its downsides, causing dryness, stinging and redness – especially if your skin is sensitive. L-ascorbic acid is also very unstable, meaning it breaks down and loses efficacy when it’s exposed to light and air.

SAP, however, is a salt form of l-ascorbic acid and contains sodium phosphate molecules. So what, you might wonder? Well, these molecules are actually super important because they help stabilize the vitamin C which makes it last longer. Gold star for that. Your skin does have to convert SAP back into ascorbic acid after it’s been applied to your skin because this is its bioactive form, but this actually helps reduce your chances of irritation so we think that’s worth another gold star.

3 Of The Best Ways To Add Vitamin C To Your Skincare Routine

1. In Your Cleanser

Cleansing is one of the best ways to boost blood flow and draw nutrients to the surface of your skin thanks to a combination of massage, cool refreshing water and awesome skincare ingredients. We love starting (and ending!) the day with Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser which contains 15 percent SAP plus collagen-boosting MSM and nourishing rose hip oil.

2. In A Serum

If you’re looking for the best formulation for delivering active ingredients to your skin, straight where it needs it, serum is the absolute go-to. Serums have a small molecular structure which means they’re able to penetrate the skin better than heavier products like oils and face creams. Try Amazon’s biggest selling vitamin C serum – our Vitamin C Facial Serum (*pats selves on backs).

3. In Your Sunscreen

Our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C is the newest baby within our vitamin C range, and it’s fast becoming a fan favorite. Carefully blended with plenty of protective, radiance-boosting SAP it uses non-nano zinc oxide to shield your skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays. A morning must, if we do say so ourselves.

For more fabulous vitamin C products, including our hydrating night cream, daily moisturizer and super-charged turbo serum, check out our entire range right here.

Because nourished skin = better skin and, we don’t know about you, but we are all in for that.

When you think of feeding your skin you might believe that it’s all about what you eat. And yes, a nutritious, balanced diet that’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids is vital for healthy, glowing skin. Similarly, a diet that’s packed with sugar, processed foods, refined carbs and booze can (and usually does) have the reverse effect, accelerating aging and harming your skin. Nobody’s arguing this. However, it’s worth remembering that what you put on your face is just as important as what goes into your body. In fact, topical nutrition provides your skin with even more targeted nourishment that works from the surface down to the deeper levels of your epidermis.

Not sure where to start when it comes to nourishing your skin with topical skincare? Well, if you’re a TruSkin fan (yeah you are!) you’re likely feeding your skin with some pretty kick-ass ingredients already – maybe without even knowing it. However, there’s always room for improvement, so here’s everything you need to know about amping up your skin nutrition from the outside in.

What Does Skin Nutrition Mean?

As with body nutrition, skin nutrition is about feeding your skin with certain ingredients in order for it to remain as healthy as possible. As you know, consuming your daily fill of fresh fruit and veggies, lean proteins, nuts and legumes is essential for your entire health and wellbeing (as well as your skin, of course!). Well, similarly, applying nutrients like vitamins and minerals to your skin helps it function at its best. For one thing, quality ingredients help your skin cells turn over and regenerate more efficiently. They also work hard to strengthen and fortify the skin’s protective barrier which is super important for keeping irritants out… and vital moisture in.

By feeding your skin with the nutrients it needs, it has no choice but to function like a well-oiled machine. Which is the ultimate goal for all of us, after all.

The Difference Between Hydrating, Moisturizing and Nourishing Your Skin

Often talked about in the same breath, products that hydrate, moisturize and nourish are quite different things. Yes, they sound fairly similar and some formulations manage to cleverly combine all three, but it’s worth having a quick recap about their vital functions.

An ingredient or product that hydrates is all about drawing water to your skin’s surface to add moisture and, well, hydrate it. Moisturizing, however, is the act of lubricating the skin and locking in water to prevent it from escaping from the surface. And then there’s nourishment which focuses on the nutrients required to help feed and drive your skin to function better.

Pretty simple when you think about it, right? 

Skin Nutrition: What To Look Out For In Your Skincare Products

So, which ingredients are best for nourishing your skin? Of course, the most obvious are nature’s finest offerings such as aloe vera, licorice, green tea and plant-based oils like chamomile, tea tree and ylang ylang. These all have their own unique super powers to help improve your skin by brightening tone, balancing sebum production, fending off free radicals and more.

Then you have minerals like MSM, a natural-occurring form of sulfur which reduces inflammation and accelerates collagen production; as well as magnesium, potassium and calcium which, among other benefits, are incredible for energizing your skin and helping it to retain water.

And of course, we mustn’t forget some of the most effective and clinically proven skin-feeding ingredients out there – vitamins. From A (aka retinol) through to K, topical vitamins offer so many awesome benefits, we’d need the best part of a day to go through them all. Instead, let’s have a look at three of our favorite TruSkin products for feeding your skin – and if you want to learn more about how different vitamins affect your skin, read about six of the best, right here.

3 MVPs (that’ll be the Most Valuable Products, BTW) For Awesome Skin Nutrition

1. Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum

If you’re looking for an all-round nourishing treatment that works like an oral multi-vitamin for your skin, our new facial serum is exactly the product for you. Infused with a complex blend of seven plant-derived vitamins (yes SEVEN!) including B3 (niacinamide), C, E, F and K, it’s the cat’s whiskers for feeding your skin and improving its overall health. Vitamin B3 helps clarify your skin and strengthen its barrier function, while C brightens and protects, E deeply hydrates, F aids repair and K calms inflammation. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum also contains a whole bunch of minerals and electrolytes that work hard to drive water into the skin and regulate pH, therefore improving hydration to ensure your skin retains as much moisture as possible.

Packed with super nutrients, this is skin nourishment in a nutshell.

2. Vitamin C Super Serum+

If you know anything about vitamin C, you’ll know that countless science-backed studies prove that it offers almost unbeatable, skin-changing results to dull or discolored skin. It’s also one of the most effective antioxidants available which makes it a shoo-in for any and almost every skin type.

Our Vitamin C Super Serum+ harnesses the powers of vitamin C and blends it with another big favorite among dermatologists and skin experts the world over – retinol (aka vitamin A). Like vitamin C, retinol has undergone decades of clinical research to study its effects on the skin. And the results don’t lie… it’s good stuff. Like really good stuff. By communicating with your skin at a cellular level, retinol boosts the production of collagen and elastin and improves cell turnover to strengthen your skin while improving elasticity and reducing the visible signs of aging.

This powerful serum also enjoys an added zing of niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, MSM and essential oils making it a beautifully balanced treatment for ageless, gorgeous skin.

3. Ocean Minerals Super Toner

Finally, may we present to you our Ocean Minerals Super Toner which offers a fantastic, all-round hit of skin nutrition that’s often hard to come by in a toner? Toners are often swept aside in terms of their importance in your skincare routine. Big mistake in this instance.

Turbo charged with goodies like MSM, peptides, vitamin C and glycolic acid for that extra boost of exfoliation, this revitalizing spritz contains no less than 90 deep ocean minerals to stimulate your skin into action and help accelerate cell regeneration for brighter, fresher-looking skin. The addition of essential oils, plant extracts, aloe vera and witch hazel offer a further boost of hydration, protection, clarity and strength which is almost unheard of in a toner. Just saying!

When it comes to your skin we can’t think of a more mind-numbingly frustrating phrase than – wait for it – hormonal acne. Are we right or are we right? Here’s what we know about dealing with these pesky, recurring breakouts…

Hormonal acne might sound like one of those distant horrors from your teenage years when angry pimples plagued your chin on a monthly basis. But sadly, filing this common skin condition away in the annals of pubescent history isn’t the case for everyone. In fact, hormonal breakouts can affect you at any age. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects more than 50 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 29, while just over 25 percent of those between 40 and 49 are also suffering. What’s more, studies show that acne hits adult women way more frequently than men.

Joy.

Acne is caused by one thing and one thing alone – excess sebum that gets trapped in your pores and may or may not become inflamed. Nobody’s arguing this. But it’s the hows and whys your skin overproduces sebum that can change from person to person. Oh how simple it would be if you could point the finger at chocolate, poor cleansing or your parents (because, genes), right? Instead, a whole host of factors trigger acne. And one of the most common? Yup, hormones.

Read on for everything we know about how to deal with these pesky hormonal breakouts…

What Exactly Is Hormonal Acne?

While not strictly a term used in the medical profession, hormonal acne occurs when an imbalance in hormones stimulates the skin to produce excessive amounts of sebum and consequently (although not always) break out. These breakouts are cyclical and commonly coincide with periods in your life (no pun intended) when your body experiences major shifts in hormone levels. Think menstruation, pregnancy, child birth and the menopause.

The hormones in question here are estrogen and progesterone which fluctuate like crazy during these times, creating imbalances with your levels of testosterone.

However, not all hormonal acne is down to inherent hormonal fluctuations. That may sound like a contradiction in terms but all we mean is that certain medications can also throw your hormones out of whack, as can emotional stress which produces an excess of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is known as ‘the stress hormone,’ and it’s a major trigger of excess sebum production and inflammation. Say no more.

How To Tell If Your Breakouts Are Hormonal

If you’ve noticed your skin is breaking out monthly, around the time of your period, this is a tell-tale sign you have hormonal acne – especially if you’re experiencing red, inflamed pimples in the same places each time, and they’re mainly concentrated on your chin, around the jawline or across your back and chest. Even if you’re menopausal, hormonal fluctuations still occur on a regular basis as your reproductive hormones systematically decline.

Some hormone replacement therapies also use different hormones to replace those which your body is losing. And all this can cause a similar type of cyclical adult acne. So, there’s that.

During pregnancy, or postpartum is another common time as, again, your hormones are all over the place, sending your sebaceous glands into turmoil and creating excess oil at the surface of your skin. And if you’re super stressed? This won’t help one bit.

Of course, self-diagnosing hormonal acne is no mean feat so if you’re not sure whether your flare-ups are hormonal or thanks to some other trigger, it’s always wise to seek professional help from a board-certified dermatologist.

5 Ways To Help Treat Hormonal Acne

There are plenty of ways to help keep hormonal acne under control. At the doctor’s office, things like laser treatments, hormone-regulating meds and prescription topicals can reap awesome rewards for severe acne. However, if you’re dealing with mild to moderate breakouts these at-home acne treatments are also well worth it…

1. Keep Your Pores Clean

Dirty skin doesn’t cause acne, per se, but if you allow dirt and surface debris to build up in your pores, well, this won’t help at all. This means a great cleansing routine is imperative if you’re suffering right now. Don’t make the mistake of cleansing like your life depended on it, however, as harsh formulations and over-zealous scrubbing will completely strip your skin’s protective layer which accelerates oil production even further.

Instead, choose balancing products that, yes, whisk away dirt, oil and impurities but, no, don’t suck all the life out of your skin. Try Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser which contains activated coconut charcoal to decongest your pores, along with reishi mushrooms to hydrate and ylang ylang blossom to fight inflammation. Cleanse twice daily, using lukewarm rather than hot water, and always after exercising.

2. The Same Goes For The Rest Of Your Home

Keeping clean doesn’t begin and end with the skin on your face. If you’re a face-toucher, oil and dirt from your hands will constantly transfer itself straight to your face which is bad news for your pores. So a) wash your hands regularly and b) try to stop touching your face as much.

Also, wash your pillowcases, bed linens and makeup brushes at least once a week, and do your face towels and smartphone even more regularly – daily if you can.  

3. Make Tea Tree Oil Your BFF

One of the most effective topical ingredients for targeting acne is tea tree oil. Naturally antifungal, anti-inflammatory AND antimicrobial, this incredibly therapeutic essential oil has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and is scientifically proven to treat and heal mild to moderate acne. It’s also less drying and irritating than other acne-busting favorites such as benzoyl peroxide which makes it awesome for sensitive or more mature skin types. It can still be pretty potent, however, so stick with diluted, carefully curated formulations that have been specifically created for safe use on your skin.

Try Tea Tree Super Serum+ which combines tea tree oil (well, dur!) with salicylic acid, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to create a purposeful, well-rounded treatment for clearer, healthier-looking skin. What’s more, it might be gentle, but it’s still mighty powerful so you only need to use it two or three times a week for awesome results. And remember, always do a patch test first.

4. Look After Yourself

Emotional anxiety and constant stress put your mental wellness on edge. They also encourage your body to produce excessive amounts of cortisol which upsets the balance of your hormones and triggers an inflammatory response in your skin. Now we’re well aware that being told to chill out and stress less rarely reaps the desired result, but if you can do a few things to improve your emotional wellbeing, this will really help the health of your skin.

Exercising regularly and making sleep a top priority are great ways to manage your levels of stress so try to go to bed at the same time each night, and do a fitness class or go for a brisk walk two or three times a week – or whatever your schedule allows. Just don’t stress about it. Because, well, you’re trying to reduce stress, not build on it!

It’s also worth taking a look at your diet as overdoing things like sugar, dairy and processed carbs are thought to increase inflammation in your body. And anything you can do to avoid inflammation is a very good thing.

5. Invest In Some Butt-Kickin' Retinol

Not only is it seen as the gold-standard in anti-aging, but retinol can have a huge impact on acne-prone skin. Retinoids have been proven to speed up cell turnover to help regulate sebum production and keep your pores clean and clear. They’re often the first port of call for the treatment of hormonal acne at the doctor’s office.

Prescription retinoids, however, can be pretty harsh on your skin – especially if it’s super sensitive – and some people simply don’t get on with them. Think redness, irritation, dryness and flaky skin which, when coupled with breakouts, is so not the desired effect. This is why many people turn to retinol, which is kinder to the skin and much more highly tolerated by the skin.

Try our powerful, but gentle Retinol Moisturizer or give Retinol Facial Serum a go which also contains vitamin E to aid healing. You could even layer them both, depending on your skin’s tolerance to retinol, of course. Just remember to patch test them first, then introduce them slowly into your routine – two or three times a week – building up to nightly use.