True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Raise your hand if you’re baffled by BHAs. Fess up if you’ve no idea what free radicals are. Well, you don’t need a doctorate in dermatology to help care for your skin, but knowing a few important terms is vital when it comes to nailing your skincare routine. Here are ten beauty buzzwords you really should know…

1. AHAs

AHAs stands for alpha hydroxy acids: otherwise known as the darlings of chemical exfoliation. AHAs are water-soluble acids extracted primarily from fruit or milk sugars and formulated within skincare to dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells so they naturally slough away from the surface of your skin. They’re the chemical equivalent to face scrubs or cleansing brushes, helping increase cellular turnover to keep your skin feeling soft and looking radiant and more youthful. The most commonly used AHAs in skincare are glycolic and lactic acids, but citric, tartaric, malic, mandelic are also good examples.
 

2. Antioxidants

An effective skincare routine is nothing unless it contains some kind of antioxidant. But what are antioxidants? Well, they’re basically molecules that prevent oxidative damage to your skin caused by free radicals (see below). They work by stopping free radicals from reacting with and damaging vital molecules like collagen, elastin and DNA which are essential for the health, strength and structure of your skin. When included in a balanced skincare routine, antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide and retinol hinder oxidative stress and help reduce unwanted skin concerns like inflammation, sun damage, dullness, sagging, lines and wrinkles. They’re up there with cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen as the most important weapons in your skincare arsenal.

Not sure where to start with antioxidants? Then go for a vitamin C serum. Vitamin C is not only the most highly researched antioxidant, but it’s a great all-rounder for brightening, protecting, strengthening and improving the quality of your skin. Just remember to always patch test topical antioxidants first as they can be pretty potent – especially if you have sensitive skin.
 

3. BHAs

Just like AHAs, BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) are chemical compounds used in skincare to boost cell regeneration and help exfoliate your skin. However, while AHAs are water-soluble, BHAs are oil-soluble which means they can penetrate beneath the skin’s surface to get deeper into your pores and clear out excess sebum. If you have oily skin or are prone to breakouts, BHAs should be right up there on your list of must-haves. And more good news, there’s really only one BHA you need to know: salicylic acid. Can we have a high-five for that?

4. Ceramides

Ceramides are lipids that make up around 50 percent of your skin’s composition and play a major role in the efficiency of your barrier function. Derms tend to explain ceramides as being the mortar that holds your skin cells (the bricks) together, helping to prevent water loss while protecting your skin from environmental pollution at the same time. Sounds simple enough, right?

The problem is that with age and environmental damage your skin’s natural level of ceramides drops dramatically, resulting in dryness, redness, irritation and dehydration. This is why as far as anti-aging ingredients go, ceramides are up there with the best. Look out for ceramide AP, ceramide EOP and ceramide NP written on your product labels.

5. Cruelty-Free

These days, there are so many misleading terms around clean, green beauty products it’s hard to know what you’re buying into. Are organic products always 100 percent natural? And does ‘vegan beauty’ mean the same as ‘cruelty-free’? Sadly not. In fact, the only way to guarantee you’re buying cruelty-free is to look for the Leaping Bunny logo. This internationally recognized symbol is an absolute promise to you that no animal tests were carried out in the development of any product that shows it on its packaging. We're super proud to be Leaping Bunny approved.

6. Free Radicals

Your skin is constantly exposed to environmental and lifestyle damage that work hard to cause what’s known as extrinsic aging – the term used to describe anything that contributes to how your skin ages other than, well, your age.

Why is extrinsic aging so powerful? Because free radicals. Free radicals are produced by the skin when it’s exposed to light, heat, pollution, stress and the like. They’re highly reactive, unstable atoms that like to snatch electrons from other atoms or molecules (think DNA, collagen and elastin) in a bid to stabilize themselves. This causes damage to all that good stuff in your skin and is one of the main reasons your skin becomes patchy, lined, wrinkly, saggy and so on.

Thankfully, for every skincare villain, there’s an even mightier superhero and in this case, it’s antioxidants. Unlike other skin components that become damaged when they lose electrons to free radicals, antioxidants have the special ability to donate them without losing stability. As we said before, antioxidants are the best.

7. Glycation

Speaking of extrinsic aging, glycation is another beast that works to ruin the look and feel of your skin. Glycation is when excess sugar molecules bind themselves to fat and protein molecules in the skin including collagen and elastin. These combine to form nasty little molecules called advanced glycation end products – or AGEs as they’re so aptly known. AGEs weaken and stiffen your collagen and elastin resulting in dullness, loss of elasticity and all the other visible signs of aging you know and hate. They also make your skin less able to defend itself from bad things like UV damage and cigarette smoke. Not good.

Obviously cutting down on refined sugars and high-fructose corn syrup are great ways to lessen the effects of glycation on your skin, but know that all carbs get converted into sugar by the body so watch what you eat. Everything in moderation and all that.

8. MSM

Otherwise known as methylsulfonylmethane, MSM is a naturally-occurring form of sulfur, one of the most important elements in the human body. Sulfur is often touted as the ‘beauty’ or ‘healing’ mineral because it promotes circulation, fights inflammation and plays a key role in the production and composition of collagen and keratin.

MSM is a sulfur compound that’s used in skincare to not only boost collagen and keratin, but to increase the production of glutathione – one of the body’s essential antioxidants. This makes it awesome for improving wrinkles, firmness, elasticity and dark spots and why we use it in all of our vitamin C products, including the fabulous new Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream. Not tried this yet? You really must.

9. Noncomedogenic

Comedones is the fancy word for blocked pores. Blackheads, for example, are open comedones that have formed bumps and turned dark from oxidization, whereas whiteheads are those that remain closed and the same color as your skin. Once you get a grasp of this, the term noncomedogenic makes much more sense. Simply put, it means a product contains ingredients that have been tested to NOT clog your pores.

Unfortunately, like many skincare terms, the word ‘noncomedogenic’ is not regulated by the FDA, so while any product bearing this term is unlikely to clog your pores and cause a backup of oil and dead skin cells, it’s no guarantee. But it’s a good place to start, especially if you have super oily or pimple-prone skin.

10. NMF

While it might sound more like an early ‘90s alternative rock band, NMF actually refers to your skin’s natural moisturizing factor. Your NMF is a built-in moisturization system that’s located in the epidermis and contains a collection of powerful, naturally-occurring humectants such as amino acids, lactate, urea, minerals, sugars and peptides. These work together to draw in moisture and help protect your skin to keep it healthy, strong and supple.

As with sebum production, your NMF decreases with age which is why including humectants like hyaluronic acid, lactic acid and glycerin into your routine is so important – especially after you hit age 30.

Understanding whether you have normal, dry, oily or combination skin may sound simple enough, but do you really know your skin’s inherent type? Here, we break down the four basic skin types – because yes, there really are only four. Gasp.

Everybody’s skin is different, we know that. Your skin might be fairly normal most of the time, but flares up every now and again due to hormones, diet, stress, whatever. Or your skin could be oily, but hold on because sometimes it feels kind of tight and flaky in certain areas. What the….?

The thing is, while your skin can take on many different guises and needs throughout the various stages of your life, there are only four true skin types: normal, dry, oily and combination. Dehydration? Aging? Sensitivities? Breakouts? Contrary to popular belief, these are skin conditions, not skin types. And skin conditions are super important when determining your skincare routine, for sure, but they’re not your true skin type.

So, what’s the difference between skin types and skin conditions? Well, your true skin type is what’s predetermined by your genes, not a result of other factors like your age, hormones, stress levels or the products you put on your skin. Take dehydration, for example. Dehydrated skin is skin that’s lacking in water (unlike dry skin that’s lacking in oils). This can be due to any number of reasons like changes in the weather, stress, lack of sleep and sun damage. But, it's rarely a genetic disposition which means you can have dry skin that’s dehydrated, but you can also have oily skin that’s dehydrated. Makes sense? We hope so.

How To Check Your Skin Type

Now we’ve cleared that up, are you 100 percent sure of your genetic skin type? Well, one of the best ways to determine yours is to study your skin when it’s completely free of any product or makeup. Wash your face with a mild cleanser, then gently pat it dry and leave it for an hour or so. After this time, study and feel your skin with clean hands. What does it look like? And what about the texture? How does it feel? These questions will all help you understand your skin type – which will fall into one of the following four categories…

Dry Skin

If, after it's left clean and unmoisturized for an hour, your skin feels tight and itchy, and looks dull or flaky in certain areas like around your eyebrows, mouth and nose, it’s likely to be dry. Dry skin has fewer sebaceous glands than other skin types which means it produces less sebum (oils and lipids) to protect and naturally moisturize the uppermost layers of your skin.

Oily Skin

At the opposite end of the spectrum is oily skin. Oily skin will start to look shiny and feel greasy an hour after cleansing, especially around the t-zone area (your forehead, nose and chin). This is the result of having overactive sebaceous glands which produce too much sebum than your skin really needs. Due to the excess sebum, you may also notice enlarged pores over the nose and cheeks which have become stretched and clogged with oil and dead skin cells.

Combination Skin

Combination skin is undoubtedly the most common skin type of them all. There’s much debate over whether it’s a true skin type, but just like dryness and oiliness, it’s something you were born with, so we believe it is. The problem is that unlike dry and oily skin types which are easily defined, combination skin is not a ‘one symptom suits all.’

Combination skin is characterized by unbalanced sebum production, meaning different areas of your face produce different levels of oils. Most people with combination skin tend to have an oily t-zone and dry cheeks but this is not always the case. You might simply have dry patches around your mouth, for example.

Normal Skin

Does your bare-faced skin look the same an hour later as it did immediately after cleansing? Kind of balanced with no shine, no dry patches and very few visible pores? Then you hit the gene jackpot and are one of the very few lucky ones graced with normal skin. Normal skin is neither oily nor dry, but is able to maintain just the right level of sebum-to-water ratio to keep it soft, supple and healthy. The rest of us are so happy for you. No, really ;)

PS...

Knowing your skin type is only the first step to achieving an awesome complexion. But we believe it’s the best step. After all, this fundamental knowledge is the basis for your entire skincare routine. Then and only then can you start to understand your skin, react to its wants and needs, and learn how to care for any conditions you experience as a result.

Overnight skincare won’t transform your skin literally overnight, but apply a few carefully chosen formulations before turning in for the night and your skin will reap the benefits in the long term.

Some skincare sceptics firmly believe that night cream is a marketing con. Fools. The thing is, your skin has very different needs at night than during the day. If all you’re looking for in your routine is the basics (clean, moisturized skin) then sure, you’re going to be just fine with a couple of products for day and night. However, if you want to target, treat and prevent more pressing concerns such as fine lines, dark spots and acne, you’ll be sorely disappointed by the results a bog-standard cleanse and moisturize routine will offer.

An effective morning routine, for example, requires antioxidants and sunscreen to protect you from environmental stressors and free radical damage. It may also benefit from lighter day creams that give your skin almost invisible moisturization – the perfect base for priming your skin and facing the day.

In contrast, when you’re asleep, your skin kick-starts a whole regeneration process making it one of the most important times for rich, collagen-boosting products that help improve the health, look and feel of your complexion.

Studies show that people who get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night have skin that’s more moisturized and better able to protect and heal itself than those who sleep for five hours or less. How so? Because when your body rests, blood flow to your skin increases, collagen production ramps up, free radical damage gets repaired and your skin’s super important barrier function is restored. Cut back on your sleep and you deny your skin this precious time to repair itself. This means that compared to the lightweight, protective formulations your skin thrives on during the day, overnight skincare should revolve around boosting collagen, enhancing moisture, replenishing oils and therefore helping to repair and replenish your skin's protective barrier.

Convinced you need to step up your bedtime skincare routine but unwilling to spend hours in the bathroom before turning in for the night? Then you’ve come to the right place because we believe you need just three nighttime skincare formulations to care for your entire complexion. 

Overnight Must-Have #1. A Skin-Restoring Serum

If you’re serious about looking after your skin, you should always apply an overnight facial serum after cleansing. Serums are light, fast-absorbing formulations that have a much smaller molecular structure than moisturizers, meaning they’re able to deliver active ingredients deeper into your skin. We truly believe everyone needs two serums in their skincare lives – one for the morning and one for night – but the formulation you choose will obviously depend on what the issues you want to address. For dryness, HA is always a winner; for dark spots we love vitamin C or niacinamide, and for acne, serums containing salicylic acid or tea tree oil are always a great shout.

If you’re looking for the true gold standard of overnight face serums, however, try a formulation containing retinol like our fabulous Retinol Serum. Retinol is a clever little ingredient that derms, beauty editors and A-listers all swear by. When applied to your skin it triggers and activates certain genes to increase collagen production and stimulate your skin to turn over more efficiently. This not only helps soften, thicken and plump up the skin but offers no end of benefits for enlarged pores, acne, pigmentation and aging skin. If this wasn’t enough to convince you of its superpowers, research also shows that retinol has powerful antioxidant properties to help combat free radical damage.

Overnight Must-Have #2. An Awesome Eye Treatment

Lack of sleep is hell on the skin around your eyes, causing redness, fluid retention, dark circles, lines and wrinkles. Why do your eyes take the hit so badly? Because the skin in this area is thinner, more fragile and contains fewer sebaceous (oil-producing) glands than the rest of your face, so it ages lightning fast. If you think about it, the skin around your eyes also works pretty hard thanks to repetitive movements like blinking, smiling, squinting and so on. Without a targeted eye treatment product, therefore, it stands no chance in the fight against premature aging. And what better way to repair and replenish it than overnight when your eyes are less subject to the constant, repetitive movements of, well, being awake?

Some of the most powerful ingredients to look for in an overnight eye treatment are hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamin C and retinol. Hyaluronic acid (HA) helps your skin retain water, vitamin C brightens and repairs, while peptides and retinol boost collagen. All great stuff for the skin around your eyes, we think you’ll agree.

Try our Eye Cream which contains potent antioxidants such as vitamins B5, C and E, plus plant peptides and HA. Share a pea-sized amount between both eyes and smooth or tap it gently onto the skin, using your ring fingers for a lighter, less skin-damaging touch.

Overnight Must-Have #3. The Perfect Night Cream

If you have a highly moisturizing serum on the go, you might think you can do without night cream. Big mistake. Serums rarely contain emollient or occlusive ingredients which are important for sealing water and oils into your skin, so while serums are great for delivering ingredients deep into your skin, you still need to follow with moisturizer to lock all that goodness in. Whatever your skin type.

Our new Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream has been formulated to work with your skin’s overnight renewal system to support your skin, stimulate collagen production and strengthen that all-important barrier function. As well as containing one of our favorite antioxidants – vitamin C – this decadent night treatment comes bursting with nourishing and healing botanicals such as aloe, cocoa butter and rosehip oil. For the best results, apply it nightly as the final step in your bedtime skincare routine.

And you're done. See, that wasn't too time consuming, was it? Sweet dreams, y'all ;)

April is Stress Awareness Month and it’s no surprise that stress can be a real bummer when it comes to the health, look and feel of your skin. Here, we take a look at exactly how stress messes with your complexion…

This past year has seen a massive rise in stress levels across the entire world. Covid-19 has not only severely disrupted global health, but work, education and relationships have also taken a massive hit. According to a recent report by the APA (American Psychological Association), almost eight out of 10 adults say the coronavirus pandemic has been a significant source of stress in their lives. And that’s a lot of stress for the nation to deal with.

There are two types of stress: acute and chronic. Acute stress is the short-term stress that makes your blood boil when your significant other doesn’t stack the dishwasher or your BFF is late AGAIN. It’s also the kind of emotional pressure you feel before a job interview or heck, when trying to create that flawless Insta post. These are the things that affect everyone at some point during their lives; the kind of stress that’s there… and then (hopefully) is gone. The good news is that acute stress is usually manageable and can actually have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing, heightening your senses and enhancing your mental state.

Chronic stress, however, is a whole different beast because this is the kind of stress that builds up over a prolonged period of time, making you feel constantly anxious, depressed, exhausted or frustrated. Issues like health, money, your job or a bad relationship are the main causes of chronic stress and your entire body can be affected by it, causing strain on your digestion, mental wellbeing, energy levels and not least of all, your skin.

So, how does stress specifically affect your skin? Well, most problems arise due to your body producing way too much of the ‘stress hormone’ known as cortisol. Stress-induced spikes in cortisol upset your skin’s barrier function, cause an overproduction of sebum, break down collagen, decrease your levels of hyaluronic acid and screw up your skin’s natural pH levels. All very bad in their own, skin-wrecking way.

Herein, the most common signs that stress and its evil side-kick cortisol could be seriously messing with your skin…

1. Dryness & Dehydration

Cortisol upsets the natural protective layer on your skin’s surface, causing an imbalance in pH and a depletion of good oils. Without the correct acid balance and essential lipids, your skin’s protective barrier becomes compromised and it’s less able to lock in moisture and keep irritants and pollutants away. All this causes your skin to feel dry, dehydrated and itchy. Which is super annoying.

Skincare Solution: Switch out harsh toners and cleansers for gentle formulations that help balance and care for your skin’s barrier function. Also, look for moisturizers that blend humectants like glycerin with emollients and/or occlusives like jojoba, evening primrose and rosehip oils. Our awesome NEW Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream contains all these – and more.

2. Bags Under Your Eyes

The skin around your eyes is very thin which means your blood capillaries are right there for everyone to see. More bad news: stress can cause these tiny capillaries to break, leaving you with even darker circles to contend with. Stress also comes hand in hand with a poor diet and cruddy sleep which can cause fluid retention and puffiness around your eyes. Dang.

Skincare Solution: Up your eyecare game with our effective Eye Gel which strengthens and hydrates the skin around your eyes while targeting dark circles and puffiness. Apply it twice daily, using the pads of your ring fingers for a super gentle touch.

3. Breakouts

Research shows that stress is a killer when it comes to acne-prone skin because cortisol makes your sebaceous glands go into overdrive, causing sebum to block your pores and trigger blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and even worse, cysts. These spots will also heal much more slowly due to a weakened immune system.

Skincare Solution: Help fight acne by introducing anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients into your routine like tea tree oil and salicylic acid. Tea Tree Clear Skin Super Serum is an ideal, twice-weekly treatment for acne-prone skin and can also be used daily to spot treat specific problem areas.

4. Fine lines & Wrinkles

Not only does stress make you frown more (hello lines between the eyes), but it also causes your body to produce skin-damaging free radicals which break down essential proteins in your skin such as collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are the main ‘bones’ of your skin, giving it strength, structure, firmness and flexibility, so when you start to lose it thanks to free radical damage, lines and wrinkles settle in like there’s no tomorrow.

Skincare Solution: Antioxidants are always a must for combating free radical damage. Try our Niacinamide Serum which contains niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. These are ideal for stressed out skin as they’re less irritating than some of the more potent antioxidants like vitamin C and retinol.

5. Flare-ups In Existing Skin Conditions

Stress is a well-known trigger of skin conditions like eczema, rosacea and psoriasis because too much cortisol suppresses your immune system and causes an inflammatory reaction in the body. This can manifest itself through many avenues but often causes skin rashes, redness, irritation and flare-ups. These flare-ups then cause more stress… and straight away you have a vicious circle of skin woes on your hands.

Skincare Solution: Seeking advice from a skincare professional is your best bet if you suffer with rosacea, psoriasis or eczema. It’s also wise to avoid overloading your skin with unnecessary chemicals and synthetic fragrances. Instead, stick to a simple, gentle skincare routine.
 
Of course, managing and understanding your mental health is the most important step for keeping on top of stress. How you tackle this entirely depends on you, but evaluating your lifestyle, knowing your triggers, taking up yoga and eating a healthy diet are all great places to start. If you’re feeling seriously stressed and are finding it hard to cope, however, call the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) helpline at 1-800-950-6264.

There’s nothing worse than spending a gazillion bucks on skincare, for it to go ahead and do zip. But if you know how your skin likes to do business and use formulations that contain researched, proven ingredients, you’re well on the way to nailing a great complexion.

We’ve all been lured by the latest gold-infused miracle skin potion that promises (but always fails to deliver) flawless, younger-looking skin in days. To be fair, wanting to believe glossy skincare commercials gets us all every now and again. But those days are over because we now know that a) skincare cannot perform miracles and b) the most important steps for achieving and maintaining fabulous skin only work if you know your skin type. Then and only then are you able to make informed decisions about which products to apply and what to realistically expect.

So, is your skincare routine working out for you? If not, think about what you could be doing wrong. Chances are, it’s one of the following…

1. Do You Know Your Skin?

Understanding your skin and knowing, not only your skin type, but how it to reacts to changes in the weather, the time of the month, even your diet goes a long way to nailing an effective skincare routine.

The best way for you to learn about your skin – right now – is to gently cleanse and dry it, then leave it for a few hours without applying any product or makeup. After this time, look at your skin in the mirror and touch it (with clean hands, of course). If it looks and feels pretty normal then, surprise surprise, you have normal skin. But if it's already shiny or greasy, you have oily skin. If it feels tight, maybe a little rough and looks flaky, you have dry skin. And if it’s a bit of both? You have combination skin.

Only by scrutinizing your skin in the moment, can you really know what’s going on with it at that particular time. Yes, you may have oily skin as a rule, but perhaps it’s currently feeling dry in certain areas thanks to a little dehydration from too many boozy nights. Or perhaps your skin is generally pretty normal, but it’s looking red and feels a tad sensitive due to your hormones or from using too many potent active ingredients.

Getting to know your skin in order to make informed tweaks to your lifestyle and skincare routine? Priceless.

2. Are You Nailing The Basics?

Eye creams, treatment serums and chemical exfoliation are all well and good, but you should never underestimate the powers of basic skincare – namely cleansing and moisturizing. The truth is, without a good cleansing and moisturizing routine, you may as well not bother with the rest.

Cleansing is the absolute foundation of great skin, helping to remove dirt, oil, makeup and bacteria from your skin that can clog your pores, cause irritation and age you up if left to sit around for too long. Good cleansing also prepares and primes your skin for the rest of your routine, allowing your products to penetrate the skin more effectively. To perfect your cleansing game, choose a kind formulation like our Daily Facial Cleanser which is ideal for most skin types and use it to wash your face twice daily – no excuses. Use your hands to gently massage it all over for one or two minutes to help boost circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage.

Another super important step in your routine is moisturizing, which should never be forgotten about. Depending on the formulation, moisturizing helps feed your skin with nutrients, but more importantly it locks in essential hydration to protect your skin’s barrier function. If you fail to moisturize morning and night after cleansing your skin will lose its strength and resiliency in no time.

3. Are You Being Consistent With Your Routine?

Making small changes to your routine is great if your skin is doing something it doesn’t normally do, but if it’s behaving as normal, a consistent routine is worth its weight in gold.

For the best results from your routine, always use your products regularly and as advised on the label. For example, potent retinols and antioxidant serums like our C-Plus Super Serum are best used just two or three times a week, whereas less powerful serums can be applied every day depending on your skin type. Of course, your skin’s tolerance may vary, but once you find your sweet spot, stick with it for at least a few weeks before upping your frequency.

4. Are You Being Realistic With Your Expectations?

Skincare that promises ‘miracle’ results overnight? All lies. While many ingredients have been clinically proven to offer awesome benefits for your skin (oh hi there retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and friends), they are never going to give you the same instantly dramatic results that you might get from Botox or fillers, for example. On the flipside, skincare costs way less and doesn’t involve needles or downtime. So, there’s that.

The main thing to remember is that yes, certain skincare products can give you instant moisturization, subtle brightening or cleansing benefits, but in order to work to their full potential, any product that works on a cellular level will need time (usually around four to six weeks) and a little bit of patience. So, don’t expect miracles. After all, those fine lines and dark spots didn’t just appear one morning; they built, grew and etched themselves into your skin over time. So, how can your skincare products possibly get rid of them overnight? Answer: they can’t.

5. Finally, Are You Overloading Your Skin?

One sure-fire way to irritate your skin and cause unwanted breakouts is to overload your face with way too many active ingredients.

You may think that bombarding your skin with countless serums containing high-performing vitamin C, glycolic acid, retinol and salicylic acid will give you a red carpet complexion much quicker than if you were to stick with one product, but oh how wrong you are. Unless these active ingredients have been carefully formulated into one treatment serum or a board-certified professional has prescribed them, cocktailing is a major no-no. Some ingredients should never be applied together, but do you know which ones they are? Thought not. So, instead, introduce serums into your routine one at a time to see how your skin tolerates it. It's also wise to patch test a new formulation before applying it to your whole face. And give it at least four weeks to take effect before dismissing it.

Or, if it's one of ours, falling in love with it;)

Troubled with pimples on your chest? Annoyed by the dreaded 'bacne'? Then it’s time to take action against body breakouts once and for all. 

Body breakouts… boy, are they stressful. Even during wintertime when your skin is mostly covered by chunky sweaters, they can be painful and itchy. And come summer when you want to start exposing a little more flesh to the world? Then the whole situation becomes downright rude.

So, what causes acne on your back and chest (aka folliculitis) and is it the same as the stuff that plagues your face? Kind of. All acne, wherever it may be located, is caused by excess oils which gets trapped in your pores alongside dead skin cells where, together, they become inflamed. Depending on the level of inflammation and whether the pore remains open or closed, these blocked pores can become anything from blackheads (although these are very uncommon on the body) and whiteheads through to pimples, pustules or full-blown cysts.

Body breakouts most commonly occur on your back and chest where your skin tends to be oilier. However, sweat coupled with friction from tight-fitting clothes can irritate the skin anywhere on your body, causing pimples on your legs, arms, even your butt – yes, butt acne: also a thing.

Whether you do or don’t get plagued by breakouts depends mainly on your genes and your skin’s level of oiliness, but hormones and stress are other major factors. You can also blame COVID-19 if you’ve noticed more flare-ups during this past year than ever before. The combination of worry, being too exhausted to take care of yourself and a poor diet can all increase inflammation and breakouts in your skin. 

How To Treat Body Breakouts

Thankfully, most skin grievances come with simple solutions. And body breakouts are no exception. Below, we’ve rounded up five of the most effective – and easiest ­­– ways to get prevent and treat body acne. You can thank us later.

1. Reassess Your Cleansing Habits

As tempting as it may be to start exfoliating your body like crazy in a vain attempt to scrub those zits away, this is a terrible idea. Harsh scrubs and cleansers will irritate your skin and compromise your barrier function, making matters a whole lot worse in the long term, so file them away for now. Oh and you know those overly fragranced shower creams that feel super moisturising and luxurious? Well, they’re going to do nothing for your body breakouts. Avoid.

Instead, wash your skin gently with an oil-absorbing, balancing cleanser like Skin Clearing Charcoal Face Wash. Charcoal Face Wash contains activated charcoal which helps draw bacteria, toxins, dirt and oils from your skin making it perfect for blemish-prone areas. Cleanse your body after shampooing and conditioning your hair so your conditioner doesn’t leave residue on your skin, and use a gentle mitt or muslin cloth to help exfoliate as you cleanse.

2. Shower Immediately After Working Out

Always remove your workout clothes and take a shower immediately after exercising.

Bacteria loves sweat, so if you like sitting around drinking tea or catching up with emails after working out, this will do your body breakouts no favors at all, increasing irritation and generally giving bacteria the perfect breeding ground to do its absolute worse. To avoid this, thoroughly cleanse your skin as soon as possible, using a gentle wash that contains acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, tea tree oil or, of course, activated charcoal.

3. Moisturize

When you don’t moisturize your skin, your sebaceous glands go into overdrive, producing even more oils to counteract any dryness your skin may be experiencing. These oils will continue to block your pores and make breakouts ten times worse.

OK, so body oils and butters contain pore-clogging ingredients like coconut oil and cocoa butter which are terrible for acne-prone skin… but there are plenty of moisturizers that don’t and are perfect for balancing, soothing and repairing your skin’s barrier function. All of which are important for treating breakouts. Look for moisturizers that are non-comedogenic (this means they’re less likely to block pores) and contain light humectant and emollient ingredients which work to draw water into the skin and lock it all in. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin are especially great for oily, congested skin types. You’ll find both of these in our Retinol Moisturizer which also contains retinol (obviously!) to help boost cell turnover and reduce irritation – win-win.

4. Spot Treat Troublesome Areas

As well as sticking to a smart cleansing and moisturizing routine, try spot treating problem areas with a targeted acne solution. And good news: most products you use on your face will also work on your body. The only ingredient we don’t advise using on body acne is benzoyl peroxide as this can bleach your clothes and bed linen. However,  anything containing tea tree oil, glycolic acid, salicylic acid or lactic acid will do the job nicely.

Tea Tree Clear Skin Super Serum, for example, combines tea tree oil with salicylic acid, retinol and hyaluronic acid for a gentle, but super effective acne treatment. Apply a drop to clean fingers and smooth it over cleansed pimples daily to reduce irritation and promote healing.

5. Think About The Clothes You Wear

Clothes that generate friction or put pressure on your skin can irritate the follicles, causing another type of acne called acne mechanica. You know those pimples you might have had (or still have) due to wearing your facial mask for prolonged periods of time? Maskne as it became known as? Well, that was acne mechanica and just like facial masks can cause breakouts on your cheeks and jawline, tight clothing like snug collars can do the same to your body.

To reduce your chances of getting acne mechanica on your body, steer clear of tight clothing and man-made fibers which can add to sweat and bacteria build up. Choose cotton clothing as much as possible and wear looser clothes for a while to see if this helps with your breakouts.

And it goes without saying, wash your clothes, especially your bra, after every wear.