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This is the last of our September Spotlight series and we’re marking the occasion with the newest member of our TruSkin family: Caffeine Facial Serum.

Caffeine might be one of your biggest vices due to the number of cappuccinos you consume in one day. But as skincare goes, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, caffeine is a fantastic ingredient for energizing your skin and amping up its level of (or more to the point, it’s lack of!) radiance.

You see, while drinking too much caffeine (more than around four cups is considered excessive) can dehydrate your skin, screw up your sleep and trigger stress-induced acne breakouts, applying it to your skin improves blood flow, helps reduce inflammation and works hard to combat the effects of environmental pollution. Nothing but good stuff, we think you’ll agree.

We’ve long since known about the extraordinary benefits of caffeine, as well other powerful antioxidants and nutrients found in abundance in matcha and regular green teas. We just weren’t sure what to do with all that knowledge… nor how to successfully create an effective skincare treatment that put it all into practice.

But that all changed earlier this year when we launched our incredible Caffeine Facial Serum. With ten facial serums in our line-up you’d think we already had it all. And yes, we’re incredibly proud of being able to cater for all skin types, tones, colors and concerns with serums packed with skincare greats like vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid and peptides.

However, who are we to believe we had no room for something new? And what kind of skincare company would we be if we didn’t continue to innovate and create? A pretty lazy one, tbh.

So, today, we introduce you to serum #11, Caffeine Facial Serum.

What Caffeine Facial Serum Is All About

Simply put, Caffeine Facial Serum delivers the boost of energy your skin has been longing for. It’s like the skincare equivalent of a shot of double espresso in the morning – minus the lows, of course.

How does it work? Well, research shows that caffeine has a very small molecular structure which means it’s able to penetrate the top layers of the skin to absorb deeper and get to work quickly, effectively and exactly where it’s needed most. Its benefits are pretty impressive and include boosting collagen, improving blood flow, reducing inflammation and even slowing down the visible signs of skin aging thanks to a whole bunch of hard-working antioxidants that help neutralize collagen-damaging free radicals.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re not the first to harness the powers of caffeine in a facial serum. We know that. However, our Caffeine Facial Serum offers so much more than the competition and has quickly become a fan favorite for tired skin that needs a reboot. And that’s because caffeine is not the only revitalizing ingredient it has to brag about…

What Makes Caffeine Facial Serum Different From The Rest?

1. 5% caffeine combines with EGCG for the ultimate energizing results

Many over-the-counter caffeine serums contain around 3 percent caffeine, which we don’t think is anywhere near enough to truly hit the spot. This is why we added a much more effective concentration of 5 percent, giving your skin more antioxidant protection and a way bigger boost of energy. Any more than 5 percent has the potential to irritate the skin but, don’t worry, five’s just right to make your skin come alive. It’s not like drinking a triple espresso on an empty stomach or anything like that!

Instead of risking sensitivities by going even higher with the caffeine, we figured it was much safer to add another revitalizing ingredient to boost the buzz and help improve hydration at the same time. And we landed on EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), another fantastic antioxidant that’s extracted from green tea and plays super well with caffeine.

2. Caffeine Facial Serum also contains niacinamide to strengthen the skin

Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 that works on the skin in many awesome ways. For one thing, it helps increase the production of ceramides in the uppermost layers which is crucial for maintaining a strong, protective barrier function and improving the overall resiliency of your skin. By strengthening your skin and reducing moisture loss from the surface, it also works hard to reduce the drying effects of active ingredients like caffeine. 

Oh, and it has a whole bunch of antioxidant qualities of its own to further protect your skin from the damaging effects of free radicals.

3. Matcha tea offers an extra boost of nutrients and antioxidants

As if caffeine and EGCG weren’t enough to lift flagging skin, Caffeine Facial Serum also delivers a punchy hit of matcha green tea leaf extract. Unlike regular green tea whose leaves are steeped and then thrown away, we use the entire matcha leaf to ensure your skin gets as much of its goodness as it possibly can. And, full disclosure, it has a lot to give.

Just like regular green tea, matcha is super rich in antioxidants. It also helps regulate sebum production, remove impurities, enhance moisture retention and control inflammation which is great news for oily, sensitive or acne-prone skin.

You've gotta love this stuff.

4. Then there’s ginseng, a traditional medicine favorite for revitalizing the skin

Last but not least comes one of the most revered ingredients in Asian traditional medicine: ginseng. The OG of superfoods, ginseng is a root packed with skin reviving vitamins and minerals that help increase blood flow to really zing up your skin; strengthening at a surface level and ramping up collagen production. But energizing your skin isn’t its only MO. It’s also been shown to inhibit melanin synthesis to help control dark spots and a patchy, uneven skin tone. Love that.

More great news: ginseng contains natural anti-inflammatory properties which are essential if you suffer with facial redness or annoying breakouts.

How To Make Caffeine Facial Serum Work For You

Caffeine Facial Serum has been formulated for all skin types, but no matter how kind and gentle it is, it still contains active ingredients that have the potential to irk super sensitive skin. Patch test it first to check for irritations. That is all.

Once you’re good to go (which, we’re convinced, most of you will be), apply three to five drops to clean hands, then smooth or pat this over cleansed, toned skin. You can even use it under your eyes if this area needs a little extra pep in its step. Just avoid direct contact which your actual eyes, OK?

Caffeine Facial Serum can be used morning, night or both depending on the rest of your skincare routine but don’t mix and match it with other serums as this could overload your skin. Do you like to apply Retinol Facial Serum before bed? Then limit your Caffeine Facial Serum to the mornings only. You get the picture, right?

Finally, give your serum a minute or so to settle then apply moisturizer and sunscreen as normal.

Your skin should feel raring to go and ready take on the world in no time.

Face scrubs are awesome but they’re not the only option for exfoliating your skin. Our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant does all that and more – and there’s not a grainy particle in sight! Here’s what you need to know about this fabulous leave-on exfoliating lotion.

Like cleansing, moisturizing, using treatment serums and applying daily sunscreen, exfoliating is an important part of a healthy skincare routine.

Your skin has its own system of turning over in order to rid the surface of dead skin cells and allow fresher, brighter cells to to reveal themselves. And it’s a pretty efficient system. Until it isn’t. Over time, as your body ages and you subject your skin to environmental and lifestyle stressors, this whole process become sluggish and this is when problems start to arise like blocked pores and dull, tired-looking skin.

Cue: exfoliation. Exfoliation is one of the most effective ways to help improve both the tone and the texture of your skin. However, it’s the one skincare habit that’s incredibly easy to get wrong. Use a harsh, grainy scrub that’s chock full of crushed nutshells and you risk causing micro tears in your skin. Exfoliate too often and you could end up with red, irritated skin that’s worse off than it was before.

Instead, one of the best ways to avoid exfoliation overkill is to use a leave-on, chemical treatment. Chemical exfoliants use topical ingredients (usually hydroxy acids) rather than physical movement to dissolve and break down the bonds between dead skin cells so they slough away more efficiently. Think glycolic, lactic, salicylic acids and friends. Of course, some of these acids can be extremely potent so you have to a) know what you’re doing and b) use smart, curated treatments that have been thoughtfully blended to deliver results, without the headaches of itchy, red raw skin.

And one such product is 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant.

What Is 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant?

Launched two years ago, 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant was our first dip into the exfoliation market (we’ve since launched Vitamin C Face Scrub for all your scrub fans!) and it became an instant hit. Having tried a bunch of exfoliating acids over the years – both hit AND misses – it took us a while to formulate this treatment because we knew that we needed to get it spot on right from the off. We felt strongly about harnessing the potency of glycolic acid. However, we didn’t want to put all our needles in one glycolic-shaped basket. Because glycolic acid is effective, for sure, but it can be pretty kiss-ass if it’s used in hefty quantities. And not in a good way!

After months of playing around with different concentrations and ingredient combinations we finally cracked it. And the result is 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant, a blended exfoliating lotion that uses not one, not two, but three of the best ingredients for exfoliating your skin.

What Makes 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant Different From The Rest

1. It combines three exfoliants… because three’s a charm, right?

Many of our top competitors use just one type of chemical exfoliant: an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), beta hydroxy acid (BHA) or a poly hydroxy acid (PHA). But we believe they’re all equally as good as each other, so we figured why not formulate a treatment that includes all three?

Quick refresher: AHAs are water-soluble exfoliants like glycolic acid while BHAs like salicylic acid are oil-soluble substances. PHAs, on the other hand, are much newer to the exfoliation scene and are a new generation of AHAs crafted to have a larger molecular size and thus be more gentle on your skin. They work exclusively at a surface level to boost radiance without irritating your complexion and include things like gluconolactone and lactobionic acid.

So why create a product that uses the whole kit and caboodle? Simple, with our harmonic combination of glycolic acid (the daddy of exfoliation), salicylic acid (the oil balancer) and gluconolactone (the gentle guy) this unique exfoliator is able to work incredibly hard to improve skin turnover while remaining kind enough for all skin types, even sensitive.

Now everybody can say hello to healthier, smoother, clearer skin. Because, fairness.

2. Then there’s the added benefit of vitamin C

Among other things, exfoliation is all about creating a brighter complexion. And what other ingredient literally has ‘brightness’ as its middle name? Vitamin C. So how could we resist adding just a smidge of our favorite type of topical vitamin C: sodium ascorbyl phosphate?

Of course, pure vitamin C (aka l-ascorbic acid) is great, but it’s super powerful (read, a tad irritating) and it breaks down when it’s exposed to light and air which forces its superpowers to dwindle lightning fast.

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP), however, is a salt form of the pure stuff which gives it the edge when it comes to resilience. It’s also way gentler on your skin. Some might call it the GOAT.

3. It’s so gentle, you can use it every day

Thanks to the inclusion of SAP, kind-to-skin gluconolactone (a PHA) and hydrating glycerin, 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant is absolutely fine to use every day. In fact, if your skin is up to it, we highly recommend it. And that’s not something every exfoliator gets to brag about.

4. Calming and soothing botanicals make it a shoo-in for all skin types

If you hate exfoliating your skin because you always end up with facial redness, itching, dryness or even flare-ups of existing skin conditions, we hear you. And we’ve also been there. 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant, however, was formulated to be extra sensitive to your skin’s quirks and foibles. In fact, it was created specifically with sensitive skin in mind. Organic reishi mushroom, for example was added to support hydration, strengthen the skin’s barrier function and help reduce inflammation. Then there are the added benefits of turmeric root extract, another anti-inflammatory which is known to accelerate the healing process.

How To Make 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant Work For You

While our leave-in exfoliator is gentle enough for daily use, your skin might not need or in fact like to be exfoliated every day. The key is to listen to your skin and work with its tolerance levels. Patch test your product first (here are some helpful tips for that) then start off using it just two or three times a week. You could also alternate it with your favorite facial serum or scrub, or try using it at night only. It’s all about a bit or trial error for the first few weeks until you know your sweet spot.

Apply a small amount onto freshly cleansed, dry skin using your fingers or a cotton pad (reusable, of course!), then leave it to dry for a few seconds before following with serum, moisturizer and sunscreen every morning.

Want in? Then what are you waiting for, add 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant to cart this minute.

Love the idea of including retinol in your skincare routine but not sure where to begin? Then try our incredible Retinol Facial Serum, the focus of this week’s September Spotlight.

Retinol, as any beauty fan knows, is one of the absolute pinnacles of skincare ingredients. With an innate ability to ‘communicate’ with your skin at a cellular level to encourage skin turnover, boost collagen production and protect your skin from environmental damage, retinol is widely seen as the gold standard. And it truly deserves every inch of praise it receives. Use it consistently and your skin will be brighter, clearer, stronger and smoother. That's a strong statement, we know, but decades of research prove it.

So, what’s the catch? Because there's always at least one, right? Otherwise we’d all be dousing our skin with vats of retinol every minute of the day. Well, while retinol helps sweep away dead skin cells, clogged pores and dull, patchy skin, simultaneously softening fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots, it can be a pesky little ingredient to master, often causing unwanted side effects like redness, dryness and irritation. The problem is it’s just too good.

Thankfully, today’s retinol treatments have been carefully formulated to minimize unwanted repercussions. By combining this powerhouse with other skin-soothing and calming ingredients, it’s no longer impossible to work a retinol serum into your skincare routine – no matter your skin type.

Take our Retinol Facial Serum, for example which is one of our best-selling and most popular treatment serums here at TruSkin.

What Is Retinol Facial Serum?

A true gem for skin that needs a little assistance looking its best (and frankly, whose doesn’t?), our Retinol Facial Serum is a veritable go-to for enhancing your skin’s youthful appearance.

It gets to work on everything from fine lines and wrinkles through to dehydration, dullness, rough texture and uneven skin tone. And if you’re thinking all this comes at a price, you couldn’t be more wrong. Retinol Facial Serum is kind to both your skin and your wallet.

So, What Makes Retinol Facial Serum Different From The Rest

1. Our retinol is at just the right concentration for results, minus irritation

We truly wanted to create a retinol serum that offered the best of both worlds – great benefits, but minimal irritation. And while we could have gone down the easy route of using a retinol derivative like retinyl palmitate to make our serum extremely gentle on the skin we knew, deep down, that this wouldn’t have offered the same awesome results. And that’s just annoying all round. Therefore, we spent a long time (like, months!) formulating our serum to contain the ideal amount of retinol (yes, pure retinol) to deliver effective results, without making it impossible to use should you have anything less than super strong, will-take-anything skin. And the reviews speak for themselves…

“I love this product. I’ve been using it for years and at 73 have few wrinkles. I use the product daily and it does not irritate my skin,” explains Kathy from New Hampshire.

Big cheers all round.

2. Still worried about sensitivities? Vitamin E to the rescue!

Vitamin E is a great addition to any facial serum, but alongside retinol it’s crucial. How so? Well, as explained, retinol can be a tad drying so you have to make sure you're replacing all that lost moisture. And vitamin E is just what the skin doctor ordered.

Vitamin E has fabulous emollient properties, meaning that it helps fill in, repair and smooth the tiny cracks in your skin that appear when it’s dry and/or dehydrated. Sealing these cracks strengthens your skin’s barrier function, thus reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and helping your skin to retain vital moisture. That’s extremely important if you want your skin to stay soft, hydrated and irritation-free.

3. Retinol Facial Serum offers a three-pronged approach to hydration

While vitamin E soothes, calms and strengthens your skin’s important barrier protection, hyaluronic acid (HA), glycerin and aloe have also been included for extra hydration.

Known as humectants in the business, these ingredients work like water magnets, maximizing moisture in the air and pulling it into the skin, or even drawing it up from deeper layers of your skin to hydrate at a more surface level. And when you’re applying retinol on a regular basis, your skin is going to want and need as much surface hydration as you can give it.

HA is seen as the king of hydration but glycerin is just as good (some say it’s even better but we don’t like to play favorites!). And aloe? Well that’s a given for soothing, calming and hydrating the skin.

4. Organic green tea helps reduce redness and inflammation

Besides being the brew of choice for a bold caffeine fix, green tea makes for a fabulous skincare ingredient.

Thanks to its abundance of EGCG, green tea is a super effective antioxidant (just like vitamin e, HA and retinol), working hard to combat environmental stress. Furthermore, it’s thought to help reduce sebum production, soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. So if you’re using Retinol Facial Serum to help minimize acne breakouts, this will be music to your ears.

How To Make Retinol Facial Serum Work For You

Retinol Facial Serum should be applied to cleansed skin before moisturizing. But, to be honest, that’s a given for all types of serum. If you err on the side of sensitive, however, don’t apply Retinol Facial Serum to damp skin – dry skin is generally better for reducing irritation. Start by using it two or three times a week to allow your skin to acclimate, then slowly build up to nightly use. Oh and don’t forget to apply sunscreen EVERY morning.

The most important thing to remember when trying any new retinol serum for the first time is to patch test it on a small area of your skin first. This gives you reassurance that your skin is not going to freak out from any of the ingredients in your formulation. Our Retinol Facial Serum has been carefully curated not to cause issues for most skin types, but there’s always a small chance, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

To patch test your serum, apply a small amount behind your ear or on the back of your wrist and leave it for 24-48 hours. Fingers crossed you won’t experience any unwanted side effects during this time, and if this is the case you’re good to apply it to your skin as directed. However, if you feel any burning, pain or discomfort then you’d be wise not to continue. Don’t worry, though, as we have just the serum for you: Rejuvenating Longevity Serum which contains nature’s kinder answer to retinol, the mighty bakuchiol. Read all about that here. 

This week, our September Spotlight Series highlights the always awesome Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum. Never a bad choice for your skincare routine, this hydrating treatment serum deserves all the love…

Unless you’ve been living underground for the past 10 years, you’ll have heard a lot of chat in the beauty world about hyaluronic acid. Granted, you might not know its chemical formula or the fact that it’s an anionic, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan (what the…?) but what you will know is that it’s touted as one of the most hydrating ingredients in skincare.

However, like its other top-of-the-class friends, retinol and vitamin C, hyaluronic acid (HA) isn’t just a one-trick pony. Yes, it’s an awesome humectant but it’s so much more than a tool for drawing moisture into your skin. It’s also super important for strengthening your skin’s barrier function to fight off irritation and premature aging. Oh, and it works hard to help keep free radical damage to a minimum. So there’s that.

In our opinion, almost all skin types can benefit from a boost of HA in its life, so if you’re yet to get on board and want to treat your skin to the best hyaluronic acid serum around (minus the eye-wateringly huge pricetag), here’s what you need to know…

Say Hello To Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

One of our best-selling serums for all skin types, Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is your go-to if you want to cocoon your skin in delicious, nutritious hydration. And who doesn’t want that? After all, dehydration is one of the main triggers for accelerating premature aging, sucking the life out of your skin and highlighting fine lines and wrinkles. You see, your skin naturally contains a healthy amount of HA, but just like collagen, elastin and other important components that keep your skin in great shape, you lose a bunch of it as you age and subject your skin to the perils of the daily grind. Things like UV radiation, pollution, stress, poor sleep and smoking all work together to accelerate HA degradation and suck the moisture from your skin. And that’s why you have to do everything you can to retain what you have and replenish that which is lost.

A great solution for moisture loss is to include a butt-kicking humectant in your skincare routine. Humectants attract water from their surroundings and draw it into the epidermis where it holds it in like a sponge to moisturize the upper levels of your skin and reduce dryness, flakiness and cracking at the surface. If your environment has enough humidity, humectants will pull water vapor from here, but they may also draw it up from the underlying levels of your skin. And the best humectants in skincare? Glycerin, aloe and, of course, hyaluronic acid.

From the first use, you’ll notice how lightweight our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is. That’s because combined with HA are other skin-loving ingredients, purposely included to offer you the ultimate hydrating experience without making your skin feel sticky or weighed down.

What Makes Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum Different From The Rest

1. It Offers Triple, Yes Triple Hydration 

While our vegan, plant-derived hyaluronic acid has been crafted to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, we wanted more. Because when it comes to the health of your skin, we’re greedy for the best. So what did we do? We also pumped our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum with aloe vera and kosher vegetable glycerin for triple-whammy hydrating effects.

Be afraid, dehydration, be very afraid.

2. Botanical Essential Oils Help Seal In Moisture

Humectants are fantastic for your skin, replacing moisture loss and helping to keep your barrier functioning properly. There’s no denying that. However, the thing with humectants is that while they’re great for drawing in moisture, they’re not so hot at keeping it there.

For humectants to work to their best ability, they need to be sealed into your skin with an emollient or occlusive ingredient like some kind of butter or oil. Otherwise all that moisture can evaporate into thin air, making the whole process kinda pointless. This is why you’re always advised to apply moisturizer on top of your serum.

Thankfully, we planned ahead for this kind of vicious circle by including organic jojoba oil into our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum. One of the gentlest and most skin-friendly oils around, jojoba is a big favorite for locking in moisture without blocking up your pores. You see, we’re not just a pretty face.

3. We Also Harness The Powers Of Cica

Cica might not be in your everyday skincare vocabulary but this K-beauty soothing ingredient has been gaining popularity for a few years now. And it's well-deserved.

A staple in Chinese medicine for centuries to treat wounds, cica (which is often referred to as gotu kola or tiger grass) is a leafy green herb that’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids which all work in harmony to firm, repair and soothe the skin. It’s probably one of the best ingredients for soothing sensitive skin, calming inflammation and reducing redness. And these often come hand in hand with dehydration. You can see where we’re going here, right?

Look out for this guy on your ingredients listings. It’s going nowhere fast.

4. Where Would We Be Without Vitamins C and E?

Vitamins C and E are just too good to ignore, so we can’t help but include them in a ton of our serums. And Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is no exception. Topical vitamin C, however, comes in many guises, the most common of which is l-ascorbic acid which is extremely potent and often a bit much for sensitive, dry or dehydrated skin.

This is why, instead, we use sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) which is a salt form of vitamin C and way gentler on the skin. It’s the perfect partner to hyaluronic acid, upping its antioxidant prowess but without any risk of irritating the skin. Add in the soothing, emollient powers of vitamin E and you’ve got a total winner on your hands.

We think so, anyway.

How To Make Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum Work For You

Hyaluronic acid is easily tolerated by most skin types so this serum can be used daily, even twice daily if you like. Of course, we always advise patch testing any new product first (just in case!) but this treatment is one of our gentlest formulations so it’s unlikely you’ll have any unwanted side effects. Unlikely, but not impossible.

Always apply your serum to clean skin, after cleansing and before moisturizing. Pop no more than five drops into the palm of your (clean!) hands then gently smooth it all over your face and neck. You could also try smoothing it on while your skin is still damp to maximize all that extra free moisture. Just don’t forget to moisturize to further lock it all in. And if you fancy an added boost of HA for the eye area, why not try our super hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream?

Check them both out, right here.

We’re back again with our September Spotlight series and today we’re singing the praises of our fabulous Vitamin C Super Serum +. Yet to be acquainted with this super powered brightening serum? Then let us introduce you…

Vitamin C is one of the hardest-working ingredients in skincare. It’s like the Taylor Swift of skincare: never tiring, always delivering.

If you’re a true TruSkin fan you’ll be well aware of our Vitamin C Facial Serum which has been around for over ten years now (gosh, where did the time go?) and continues to brighten skin up and down the country thanks to its harmonic blend of rejuvenating vitamin C, beautiful botanicals and other skin-nourishing ingredients.

But we’re not all Vitamin C Facial Serum this and Vitamin C Facial Serum that at TruSkin HQ. In fact, we have many other incredible facial serums in our arsenal. And one you really should know about is Vitamin C Super Serum +. Because if you’re a C fan, you will be all over this potent, skin-changing treatment.

What Is Vitamin C Super Serum +?

Often thought of as Vitamin C Facial Serum’s more grown-up sibling, Vitamin C Super Serum + is one of the most powerful skin treatments we have in our serum collection. The name ‘Super Serum’ kind of gives it away, right? And we weren't joking when we named it because it really is super by name and super by nature.

Of course, it’s greatest superpowers come from vitamin C which is one of the most trusted skincare ingredients we know, packing a punch against environmental damage and helping to keep your skin bright, radiant and healthy-looking. But vitamin C is really just the tip of the iceberg here, for Vitamin C Super Serum + is powered by so much more.

And if you think it’s going to be heavy and too rich for your skin, think again. It may be concentrated and packed with ingredient heavyweights, but its texture is the exact opposite – lightweight and an absolute joy to use. So good, you’ll want to use it every minute of the day, in fact. Full disclosure: don’t do that. More on how to use Vitamin C Super Serum + safely and effectively to follow…

But First, What Makes Vitamin C Super Serum + Different From The Rest?

1. It contains a special type of vitamin C called sodium ascorbyl phosphate

Just like the Vitamin C Facial Serum (and all of our vitamin C products, actually), our Super Serum + doesn’t contain pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid). Wait… what? Ha, of course it contains a certain type of vitamin C, just not the pure stuff. Why? Two reasons. One, we believe it’s way too potent which, sure, that can be a good thing. Until it isn’t. The hard truth is that many skin types can’t handle pure vitamin C as it’s kind of irritating – especially if you have sensitive skin.

Secondly, pure vitamin C is very unstable which means it breaks down when it’s exposed to light and air and thus loses efficacy. Which is kind of annoying.

Instead of l-ascorbic acid, we load up our vitamin C formulas with sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) which is a salt form of the original. This little gem is much more stable and longer-lasting, plus it’s way gentler on your skin. But don't worry, it's still packed with all the same benefits. It's just better. We think so, anyway.

2. Retinol and salicylic acid add further power to this potent blend

As if the mighty forces of vitamin C weren’t enough to power up this serum, it also comes chock full of other skincare greats. Do retinol and salicylic acid mean anything to you?

Some skincare experts scoff at the thought of using vitamin C and retinol together and, true, if you try cocktailing them at home, you could end up with disastrous results. However, when they’re blended thoughtfully and smartly by the experts (that’s us, btw!) they team up perfectly to help smooth and brighten your skin while defending it from environmental damage and supporting collagen production. Say hello to youthful-looking skin for years to come.

When you add salicylic acid into the mix you also get a little gentle exfoliation as an extra bonus. This helps your vitamin C (and retinol) penetrate the skin better and more effectively. And that’s what we call a skincare win-win.

3. Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide help keep skin calm and collected

If all this sounds like a whole bunch of irritation waiting to happen, fear not. Granted, Vitamin C Super Serum+ may include a combination of some of the hardest-hitters in skincare, but it’s also balanced with hydrating, soothing and calming ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

It’s also free of common irritants like synthetic fragrance, silicones, parabens and sulfates which makes it surprisingly gentle on the skin as long as you don’t apply it too frequently. 

4. Unlike inferior vitamin C serums, it smells incredible

Of course, the smell of skincare isn’t the most important thing in the world, but we believe it plays a crucial part in the way you experience beauty products. Scent evokes emotions and memories: it can make you feel alive and energized (hello citrus and mint), and it can similarly make you feel sleepy and relaxed (here’s looking at you, lavender and chamomile).

This is why Vitamin C Super Serum+ is infused with a light touch of grapefruit essential oil. Fresh, subtle and uplifting, grapefruit is thought to help reduce stress and balance your mood. And who doesn’t want a piece of that?

How To Make Vitamin C Super Serum + Work For You

The most important thing to remember about our Vitamin C Super Serum + is that you don’t have to use it every day to see incredible results. In fact, we advise against it. Instead, we find that two or three times a week is enough for most skin types to reap the benefits of its four-way age defense formula.

On your days off, alternate it with Vitamin C Facial Serum, or any other of your TruSkin favorites for that matter. Have you tried our NEW Energizing Caffeine Facial Serum, for example? That one's a real goodie and an incredible morning wake-up call for tired, flagging complexions.

Apply a couple of drops of Vitamin C Super Serum + to clean skin and gently pat or smooth it over your face and neck. Give it a minute or so to settle into your skin, then finish with moisturizer. And remember, this juice contains tons of potent, concentrated ingredients which accelerate cell turnover to help you enjoy your freshest skin ever. So don’t ruin all of that hard work by skipping your morning supply of SPF. Generously treat your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. And yes, we said every day and we mean it.

Now go and load up on Vitamin C Super Serum + while it's still front of mind! 

Welcome to the first of our September Spotlights in which we highlight some of the best-selling, hardest-working skincare products TruSkin has to offer. And where better to start than with our OG, the mighty Vitamin C Facial Serum?

Some skincare ingredients come and go, but you know you’ve got a good one on your hands when it sticks around and is always up there as one of the most searched skincare ingredients on the internet. Retinol is going nowhere fast (for obvious reasons!) and hyaluronic acid is also among the most highly regarded ingredients for the good of your skin –  after all, they’re both clinically proven to offer real results.

And then there’s vitamin C.

Your skin actually contains a good amount of naturally-occurring vitamin C to help support, strengthen and protect it from the daily onslaught of environmental pollution, UV radiation, emotional stress and so on. You see, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, which means it helps neutralize free radical damage that builds up from all of the above and, well, life in general. We could go on forever about the awesome effects vitamin C has on your skin but just know this: vitamin C promotes healthy collagen which is super important if you want to age slowly and beautifully. Vitamin C also inhibits melanin production which helps your skin maintain a bright, even tone. Oh, and it’s also thought to aid in healing which is crucial as skin matures and the healing process slows down.

So, why do you need topical vitamin C if your skin has enough of it already? Well, therein lies the key. Sure, you’re born with a decent amount of vitamin C, but as you age and expose your skin to daily aggressors, your levels drop dramatically, causing free radicals to take over and do their absolute worst on the look, feel and overall health of your skin.

Enter Vitamin C Facial Serum

Our first born and still a team favorite, Vitamin C Facial Serum launched in 2013 when we were just a twinkle in the eye of our founders. We knew we were onto something right off the bat, but we could never have predicted just how successful this little plant-powered face serum was going to be. At last count it had clocked up a mighty 145,000 incredible reviews on Amazon – far outweighing the best of the rest, btw – and it continues to be our best-selling product year after year.

Lightweight and easy to use, Vitamin C Facial Serum harnesses the powers of vitamin C (although you probably got that already!) to help eradicate free radicals from your skin and keep it healthy and youthful-looking. However, it’s unlike many other formulations because it works hard, for sure, but is also kind on your skin, meaning you can use it every day without fear of your skin freaking out.

What Makes Vitamin C Facial Serum Different From The Rest

1. We use a special type of vitamin C called sodium ascorbyl phosphate

Topical vitamin C comes in many guises, the most common of which is l-ascorbic acid. Now don’t get us wrong, l-ascorbic acid is great. It’s super powerful and really does what it promises. However, it’s very unstable which means it breaks down when it’s exposed to light and air. This means it loses its powers quickly. Not ideal, we think you’ll agree. L-ascorbic acid can also be kinda irritating on the skin, often causing unwanted effects like dryness, redness and itching.

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP), however, is a salt form of the pure stuff which makes it a) more stable and longer-lasting, and b) way gentler, but still effective, on your skin. No brainer, right?

2. Our vitamin c serum also contains witch hazel

So what, you may ask? Well, witch hazel is an astringent which combines really well with SAP, helping to reduce inflammation, mop up excess oil and tighten your pores. It also has antioxidant properties to amp up the powers of your vitamin C and give your skin a real boost.

3. MSM helps vitamin C play harder and better

MSM (or methylsulfonylmethane if you really want to know) is a fabulous ingredient that rarely gets the praise it deserves. But we adore it. How so? Well, it plays a vital role in the production of collagen and elastin while also promoting healthy blood flow, fighting inflammation and helping to protect your skin from environmental damage. And that’s not all. It’s also thought to make the skin more permeable, allowing toxins to escape more readily and other active ingredients in your skincare products like vitamin C to absorb better.

4. It contains a nutrient-rich blend of ingredients to soothe and hydrate

If that’s not enough for you, our Vitamin C Facial Serum also contains a bunch of other fantastic ingredients proven to counteract irritation and keep your skin soft, healthy and hydrated. This incredible line-up includes vitamin E, aloe vera, cica, hyaluronic acid, kosher vegetable glycerol and jojoba oil.

How To Make Vitamin C Facial Serum Work For You

One of the most challenging things about topical vitamin C is getting it to go about its business without irritating the skin. But we think we nailed this by using SAP rather than the pure stuff, and combining this with a whole bunch of soothing, hydrating wonder-ingredients as above. And this, IOHO, makes it the best vitamin serum for sensitive skin. It also goes without saying that it’s fabulous for all other skin types, too.

Simply apply a small amount to clean skin in the morning, gently patting or smoothing it over your face and neck. However, don’t use too much – it won’t work harder or quicker, but is just a waste of product! Somewhere between three and five drops of serum should be plenty. And if you find you have more than you need, you can always smooth it over the back of your hands to give them some much-needed TLC.

Give your facial serum a minute or so to settle then apply your moisturizer and sunscreen as normal. You can also apply it at night if that’s your jam – it’s fine to use twice daily if your skin can tolerate it – but we prefer to use vitamin C in the morning and a different treatment (maybe Retinol Facial Serum) before bed. Because, you know, it’s nice to mix things up a little as long as it’s done safely (aka you don’t apply more than one serum at the same time) and smartly (by patch testing first).

Convinced your skin needs a little vitamin C in its life? Then you simply have to try Vitamin C Facial Serum today.

You won’t regret it.