True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could turn back the clocks and retain the skin you had in 2005? Well, sadly we live in the real world and time machines just aren’t an option. However, with some effective skincare and a few tweaks to your lifestyle habits you can definitely delay the visible signs of aging.

Wrinkles, dark spots, dullness and sagging skin are four of the most common signs of aging skin. And while the likes of Botox, dermal fillers and microneedling are extremely effective ways to reduce these concerns and nail younger-looking skin, needles aren’t everyone’s jam. But skincare is. Granted, you’ll never get the same dramatic results from skincare that you would from aesthetic treatments at the doctor’s office but that’s OK, because we know some of you don’t even want such dramatic results. Just to soften those fine lines, add radiance and fade discoloration would be nice, right?

Done. Here’s how.

1. Wear Sunscreen ALL YEAR ROUND

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation around 90 percent of all external skin damage is caused by the sun. Scary, huh? And the main culprits? UVA and UVB radiation. UVA radiation is the real skin ager as it penetrates deep into the skin where it breaks down and damages vital proteins such as collagen and elastin. UVA can also increase your risk of developing melanoma skin cancer which is nasty business. Meanwhile, UVB is the one that tans and burns your skin while potentially increasing your chances of developing non-melanoma skin cancers like basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

All in all, there may be no better feeling than the sun on your skin, but it's seriously bad news so we cannot stress enough the importance of year-round sun protection. We like to think you’re savvy enough to slap it on every day during the summer months when that big ball of fire in the sky is a constant reminder to look after your skin. But fess up, are you as vigilant in the winter when the days are cold and miserable? Thought not.

The thing is, the sun can be just as intense on cold days as it is in summertime. Yes, clouds work to partially block the sun’s damaging rays, but according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), up to 80 percent of UV radiation can still penetrate your skin on cloudy days. And that’s a lot. 

Most derms will agree that your best defense against aging is to wear sunscreen every day. And not just any sunscreen. Stick with a formulation that’s broad-spectrum (this means it offers protect from UVA and UVB), never go lower than SPF 30, apply it vigilantly and you’ll be golden. Oh, and don’t scrimp when you apply. You’ll need a dime-size amount for your face and another one for your neck, chest and hands if these are going to be exposed.

2. Get On The Retinol Train

After sunscreen, a retinol product is arguably the second most important weapon you can have in your skincare arsenal. Especially if you’re in the market for an ageless complexion and, well, who isn’t?

Retinol is an active form of vitamin A that gets converted into retinoic acid by the skin. Here, it works to fight environmental damage, increase collagen production and stimulate cell turnover. It’s one of the most researched ingredients in skincare and is a huge favorite with dermatologists, skin experts and beauty editors alike for its powers to thicken, firm and brighten the skin. In fact, studies have shown that regular use of retinol offers a significant improvement in fine lines after just 12 weeks of use.

Full disclosure: retinol is a potent, active ingredient so it requires a lot of respect. Always do a patch test before applying then introduce it slowly into your routine. Retinol is best applied at night to reduce dryness and redness from exposure to the sun, so start by applying a low concentration such as 0.5 or 1 percent every third night to clean skin before bed. As your skin acclimates, you can up your application to every other night, then after a few weeks, if your skin is tolerating it well, move to every night. If you start to experience redness or peeling, go back to twice a week, or try layering your favorite moisturizer on top.  

3. Fight Free Radical Damage With Antioxidants

After years of abuse from the environment, it’s no wonder the skin you had in your teens is not what it used to be. Overexposure to light, heat and pollution produces free radicals which work like demons to damage everything from DNA to collagen and elastin.

One of the most effective ways to battle the effects of environmental skin damage such as dark spots and wrinkles is to add an antioxidant serum into your daily routine. Antioxidants fight free radicals by diverting their attention away from damaging the good stuff in your skin. And they work. Boy do they work. Super effective antioxidants include vitamins C, E and B3 (niacinamide) – all of which you’ll find in our fabulous serums. Again, just make sure you patch test any new product before getting too slap happy with it.

Also, don’t forget to include as many antioxidant-rich foods in your diet to help your skin and body fight free radicals from the inside. We’re talking berries, kale, spinach, asparagus, carrots, beans and (let’s have a round of applause for…) dark chocolate.

4. Stop Eating All That Sugar

OK, so you know that sugar’s the actual devil when it comes to dental health and your weight, right? Well, it’s also a real contender for skin enemy of the year. And here’s why: it ages your skin like crazy through a process called glycation.

Glycation is a natural process in which sugar in your bloodstream attaches itself to collagen and elastin to produce free radicals called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs which is a clever acronym in itself, don’t you think? These nasty little AGEs cause your collagen and elastin to become weak, stiff and rigid which ends up manifesting itself in dullness, sagging, fine lines and wrinkles. Before you put every ounce of the glycation blame on sugar, however, it’s worth nothing that glycation is a fact of life and always happening within your skin as you age thanks to hormones, sun damage and the other usual suspects. It’s just that a high sugar diet unnecessarily speeds up this process and prematurely ages you up with little to no warning.

The obvious answer is to avoid refined white sugar and simple carbs, but don’t forget the more hidden sweet stuff like high-fructose corn syrup which is often used to sweeten soda, bread, breakfast cereals and salad dressings. Corn syrup is quite possibly the worst of the lot.

5. Look After Your Eyes

Never forget, the skin around your eyes is way thinner, drier and more fragile than the rest of your face which means it’s one of the first areas to show signs of aging such as fine lines (crow’s feet), puffiness and dark circles.

To be honest, crow’s feet are kind of inevitable, but this doesn’t mean you should admit defeat and let nature take its course because there are many way to slow down this particular aging journey. How so? Stop squinting at your computer (maybe an eye test is in order?), wear sunglasses as much as possible, get more sleep (preferably on your back) and up your skincare game with a targeted, moisturizing eye cream that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, green tea, ceramides, peptides and antioxidants – yes, those again.

One last thing: remember to apply your eye cream with as little force as possible – rubbing it in too heavily will do nothing but drag and damage the skin. Instead, use your ring fingers to tap it gently around the orbital bone and then let it sink in on its own.
 
Who needs Botox, anyway?

If you have sensitive skin, your best defense isn’t to overload it with a gazillion products in an attempt to ‘cure’ your sensitivities. Instead, it’s all about going back to basics to strengthen and care for your skin’s barrier function.

It's a fact, the uppermost layer of your skin really gets put through the mill. From constant cleansing through to the daily grind of heat, cold, sun, wind, pollution and central heating (need we go on?), its job to protect and defend your body comes under so much stress it’s a wonder it copes.

But that’s the thing: oftentimes, it doesn’t. And this is when problems like inflammation and flare-ups set in.

So, let’s have a look at the skin barrier to see what we can do to keep it at its very best, shall we?

What Exactly Is The Skin Barrier?

Your skin consists of three main layers. At the lowest level is the hypodermis (also known as subcutaneous tissue) which keeps your skin attached to your bones and muscle, supplies it with blood, and pads and insulates your body. Next, you’ll find the dermis which is where you’ll find your hair follicles, sweat glands, blood vessels and connective tissues. And at the very top is the protective layer, the epidermis, which serves primarily as a barrier to things like water, pollution, infection and damage.

The epidermis is split into many more layers but the uppermost layer is the one we’re concerned about here: the stratum corneum. Why? Because when we talk about your skin’s barrier function, the stratum corneum is where it all happens.

The stratum corneum is your body’s first line of defense and it works super hard to protect you from the environment and everything it throws at you. It’s kind of like a brick wall, built from around 20 layers of cells – although this is different for everyone and varies in certain areas of the body. These layers are made primarily of keratin, held in place by lipids such as ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. Together with your skin’s NMF (natural moisturizing factor) these work to keep the skin soft, supple, healthy and moisturized.

What Happens When Your Barrier Function Is Compromised?

Simple: if your stratum corneum is thin and/or weakened it won’t work as efficiently as it should to retain moisture and block out irritants. Cue dryness, dehydration and sensitivities such as itching, inflammation, redness, rashes and so on. And that's not all. Skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis and rosacea are also thought to be exacerbated or even triggered by an impaired skin barrier.

But why do some people have a weaker barrier function than others? Well, everyone’s skin composition is different (hello genetics), but there are a few factors to take into consideration when determining how strong and healthy your personal barrier function is. For starters, pale skin generally has a thinner stratum corneum than darker skin types which means its barrier doesn’t function as well and it’s more prone to irritation. Oh, and guess what? Your skin barrier weakens as you age, so while your skin might have been super strong and resilient in your 20s, by the time you hit your 30s this might no longer be the case. Aging. Ruthless.

5 Ways To A Better Skin Barrier Function

The good news is there are plenty of ways to care for your barrier function, strengthen your skin and therefore reduce sensitivities. Here are five simple ways to do all of the above.

1. Ditch The Harsh Cleansers

One of the worst things you can do for your skin’s barrier is to strip away all of its natural oils when washing your face. Be kind as you cleanse by using lukewarm, never hot water and choose your ingredients wisely. Surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) are often used in cleansers because they’re very good at cleaning the skin. But we think they’re a little too effective and this can end up leaving your barrier dry and compromised. This is why sulfates get a big no from us. Instead, look for gentler surfactants in your cleansers like disodium laureth sulfosuccinate and disodium 2-sulfolaurate. We use these in our cleansers as they’re known to be much kinder and way more skin-friendly than SLS and SLES. 

2. Don’t Over-Exfoliate

As with the downsides of over-zealous cleansing, exfoliating your skin too much or too often can also damage your poor old stratum corneum. Skin cells have a life cycle of around 28 days in which time they form, mature and shed. This cycle often becomes sluggish and needs a little kick up the butt with things like exfoliation and chemical peels, but if you go too crazy you can end up causing more harm than good.

If you’re a fan of chemical peels, ask your derm to recommend the best frequency plan for your skin type and when it comes to at-home exfoliation? Replace super harsh scrubs that contain damaging particles like ground nut shells with gentle chemical exfoliators like lactic acid.

3. Embrace Antioxidants

Environmental stressors such as pollution and sun exposure are massive threats to the skin’s barrier function which is why we truly believe that protecting your skin is just as important as treating it well. Make sure you wear a daily, broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or above and never underestimate the powers of a good antioxidant serum to help counteract the damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin E and niacinamide are great options because they help repair barrier function and are tolerable by most skin types.

4. Boost Your NMF With The Right Ingredients

Your skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF) is a clever and very efficient way for your skin to keep itself naturally hydrated and healthy – but as you get older and subject it to the daily grinds of life, it needs help with some choice moisturizing ingredients.

Most derms and skin experts will tell you that ceramides are some of the most important ingredients for helping to up your NMF and restore your skin’s barrier. Ceramides are lipids that hold everything together in the stratum corneum but they’re greatly reduced by aging and environmental damage, so it totally figures that adding extras into your skincare routine will be beneficial in the long-term.

Similarly, humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe and urea are great ways to draw water into the skin, while emollient or occlusive ingredients like jojoba oil and colloidal oatmeal will seal it all in to help your barrier heal and repair itself.

5. Eat Well, Sleep Well & Try Not To Stress

This may be easier said than done but leading a healthier lifestyle in which you keep stress to a minimum, get eight hours of sleep and eat a balanced diet will go a long way in protecting and repairing your skin’s barrier from the inside out. Stress and lack of sleep have both been proven to weaken the skin’s barrier by slowing down its healing process, so do everything you can to be more zen and get your zzzs on a regular basis. This is important stuff, OK?

When it comes to what you eat, avoid refined carbs and sugars which are the devil and introduce more healthy fats such as omega-3 into your diet. Omega-3 is vital for a top dollar barrier function, so up your quota by eating more fatty fish like salmon and mackerel.

Finally, if your skin is causing you real concerns, it probably needs more help than you can offer it at home, so never hesitate to seek advice from a skincare professional. It may be that you’ve become intolerant to a certain ingredient in a product or become allergic to a specific type of food. And these are not things you can easily diagnose at home. Trust us, we've been there... 

Winter officially begins on Monday, December 21, so it’s time to switch up your skincare routine and say goodbye to chapped, winter skin.

Whether you love winter or hate it, one thing’s for sure, the cold, harsh weather coupled with the inevitable cranking up of indoor heating can make your complexion totally freak out. So, if you want to keep your skin calm, nourished and radiant rather than dry, red and itchy, here are ten ways to get your skin through the cold snap relatively unscathed.

1. Say No To Harsh Cleansing

Three words pretty much epitomize our skincare mantra for the winter months: gently does it. And this is never more important than when it comes to cleansing. In summer, it’s super tempting to want to zealously rid your face of all that sweat, oil and sunscreen, but you should never cleanse your face like your life depended on it – and especially not in the winter.

Cleansers that are laden with harsh chemicals like sulfates, fragrance, additives and unnecessary alcohol can strip your skin of its natural oils which is extremely drying on your complexion. And that’s never good when cold temps, low outdoor humidity and dry indoor heating are already doing a great job of that on their own. Even if your skin is super oily, stick with gentle formulations that contain skin-loving ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, vitamin E or oatmeal. The same rules apply if you’re a toner fan – go gentle all the way, baby.

2. Limit Hot Baths & Showers

Soaking in a hot bath on a cold Sunday night surrounded by your favorite winter-spiced candles and a nice glass of pinot? Bliss. But not, for your skin. You know how your fingers and toes sometimes look all crinkly after too long in a hot bath? Well, this is all down to moisture being drawn out from your skin which causes surface dehydration. Eek. Hot water basically strips away the protective lipid layer from your skin’s barrier which means all those lovely fats and proteins – which are vital for keeping your skin healthy – are able to escape.

Sure, bathing and showering can both be effective ways to help put moisture back into your skin, but only if you use lukewarm, rather than scorching hot water and limit bath time to 10-15 minutes. Then, after bathing make sure you apply plenty of moisturizer to seal water into your skin. According to the National Eczema Association it’s vital to apply moisturizer within three minutes of bathing to avoid your skin becoming even drier.

3. Don’t Forget Some Light Exfoliation

To give dull, sluggish winter skin a kick up the butt, a little gentle exfoliation is exactly what the skin doctor ordered. But again, we mean gentle with a capital ‘g’ because too much scrubbing will further impair your barrier function and exacerbate dryness and inflammation.

Two or three times a week, swap out your regular cleanser for one containing a small percentage of urea or exfoliating AHAs such as lactic or glycolic acid. Lactic acid is one of our favorite chemical exfoliators because it helps remove surface skin cell buildup without causing too much irritation.

As well as adding some much-needed radiance to your wintry complexion, gentle exfoliation also means moisturizers don’t have to fight with dead skin cells in order to effectively penetrate your skin. Win win.

4. Layer Up

Just like your winter wardrobe, a first-class skincare routine is all about layering. And what better way to layer up dry, thirsty skin than with a moisturizing serum?

Serums are potent, fast-absorbing treatments that have a much smaller molecular makeup than creams and lotions. This means they're able to penetrate deeper and faster into your skin for amazing results. In winter, look to gentle moisturizing serums with antioxidant protection like our HA Serum which contains the mighty hyaluronic acid combined with aloe vera, vitamin E, jojoba oil and green tea. Always apply your chosen serum to clean, dry skin then follow with moisturizer.

5. Switch To A Heavier Moisturizer

Sticking with the same moisturizer all year long might work for some, but for many their trusted summer lotion just doesn’t pack enough of a punch when the cold weather sets in. If this sounds familiar, step it up with a heavier cream rather than a gel or lotion, and check your labels for clinically proven emollient or occlusive ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil and squalane. These will help create a barrier on the surface of your skin to help prevent moisture loss and protect it from environmental nasties.

6. Be Smart With Your Accessories

Face masks aren’t going away for a while, but the constant rubbing of fabric against your skin not only causes maskne, but can seriously exacerbate dry skin conditions around your cheeks and jawline. Scarves, gaiters and high-collar coats can also cause similar itchiness and irritation to the skin on your chin and neck if you’re not careful. But it’s a pretty simple fix. Just make sure you choose natural, breathable fabrics and frequently wash anything that regularly sits close to the skin on your face.

7. Eat More Fats

No, not donuts and cheese ­– come on, you know better than that. When we say eat more fats, we’re obviously talking about good fats like omegas-3 and -6 that have been shown to help improve dry skin and which you’ll find in oily fish, olive oil, eggs, seeds, nuts and avocados. BTW, avocados are also rich in vitamin E which is a double bonus for the skin. Meanwhile, research has shown that flax seeds, and in particular flaxseed oil is particularly effective at improving skin barrier function, making it super beneficial for dry, sensitive skin. Avo and flax seed oil toast, anyone?

Also, avoid too much caffeine and alcohol as these both cause dehydration which will just undo all that hard work.

8. Look After Your Lips

If, like, us, you love a good lip balm you probably don’t need telling how important it is to avoid chapped lips (cheilitis for all you fancy folk) – especially in winter.

So, why do your lips suffer more than the skin on the rest of your face? Because the skin on your lips is thin, delicate and lacks sebaceous glands to keep it naturally moisturized. That’s why a hydrating balm is imperative. To best moisturize chapped lips, skip drying ingredients like menthol and camphor and swap them out for soothing ingredients such as green tea, cucumber, aloe vera and honey.

Also, STOP LICKING YOUR LIPS. Lip licking leaves saliva on the skin which evaporates into the atmosphere and strips away any excess moisture. Saliva also contains digestive enzymes like amylase and maltase, warn experts at Healthline. Over time, these enzymes can wear down the skin and make your lips more vulnerable to dryness. Sad times.

9. Invest In A Humidifer

As we’ve mentioned before, dry air = dry skin so if you really want to help reduce the amount of moisture that evaporates from your skin in low humidity, treat yourself to an at-home humidifier. Humidifiers increase moisture levels in your home by emitting water vapor or steam to counteract the drying air. Depending on where you live this might not be needed all year long, but most people's home humidity levels drop to as low as 15 percent in the winter, which is way lower than HVAC’s recommended 30-50 percent.

To really benefit your skin, place a humidifer in your bedroom as this is the room in which you spend most of your time (sleeping, obvs).

10. Keep Up With Sunscreen

Snow is a devil for reflecting the sun’s damaging rays right back onto your skin where it can burn it, dry it out and age you up like nobody’s business. But even if you’re not in snowy climes, the sun is still right there behind the clouds just waiting to cause havoc on your poor old skin. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Simple slather up with a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen – all year round. End of discussion.

What you put on your skin is only the half of it. Turns out, the way in which you apply your skincare products is just as important.

Finding your skincare products’ sweet spots can be a real art form. Does slathering your face in oceans of moisturizer somehow make it more effective? Or is less always more? Then you have your application technique to think about. Should you be ‘pressing’ serum into your skin or massaging it in with your fingers?

Yeah, yeah, we know that's a lot to think about. But you've got this. Because, while for some people it’s a miracle they even remember to take their makeup off before bed, we know you’re way more skincare savvy than that. After all, you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.

So, just how much of your products should you be applying? And is there a right and a wrong way to apply them? Here’s what we know about five of the most important steps in your skincare routine…

How To: Cleanse

This first step in your skincare routine is the best time to massage your skin to help boost circulation and ensure a thorough cleanse. Do this using the pads of your fingers – but remember, keep long nails well away from your delicate complexion to avoid scratching and damaging your skin.

Wash your hands first, then wet your skin with lukewarm (never hot) water. Squeeze cleanser into the palm of your hand, then apply it all over your face and neck before working it in with your fingers. Press your fingers along the brow area and up your forehead a few times, then work from the center of your nose and out along your cheeks towards the hairline, rubbing the cleanser into your skin in large circles. Do this a few times, then continue with the same motion over your chin and jawline. To finish, smooth your fingertips up your neck, then rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

How Much Cleanser Should You Use? A dime-sized amount should be plenty to effectively cleanse both your face and neck.

How To: Apply Serum

Serums are undoubtedly our favorite players in the skincare world because they pack a real punch and, is it just us or do they not feel really amazing to apply? Like they instantly work on contact or some such skincare wizardry?...

Serums require a delicate touch so, whereas cleansing is the time for working out your skin using light massage, this step is the complete opposite. Apply a little serum onto the base of your thumb (as below) or the palm of one hand, then work it between your fingertips and use the pads of your fingers to pat it evenly over your face. By all means, smooth it gently all over your face and neck for an even coverage but then leave it alone, allowing the serum to absorb into your skin without too much rubbing or massaging.

How Much Serum Should You Use? Serums are pumped with potent, active ingredients so less is definitely more. Go for a pea-sized amount (unless instructed otherwise) to create a thin, even layer over your skin.

How To: Apply Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes is thinner, drier and way more fragile than the rest of your face so, again, being heavy handed with your eye cream is a major no-no. Instead, pump a little onto the tip of one of your ring fingers, then press both your ring fingers gently together to distribute it evenly between them. Next, dab the cream around your eyes, working in gentle tapping motions to evenly apply the product around your orbital bone. Using your ring fingers rather than your forefingers helps you maintain a delicate touch and reduces any risk of dragging your skin.

How Much Eye Cream Should You Use? Overloading the skin around your eyes can cause problems like puffiness, so stick with a pea-sized amount, shared between both eyes.

How To: Moisturize

Once any serums, treatments and eye creams have settled, it’s time to moisturize. The best way to apply moisturizer is by applying light pressure to massage it all over your face and neck. Work a little between the palms of your hands and fingers, then put your hands in a prayer position and place them over your nose before smoothing your hands out and up towards your hairline. Repeat this a few times to ensure an even layer, then do the same over your forehead and finally your chin and jawline. 

How Much Moisturizer Should You Use? Stick with a quarter-sized amount of moisturizer for your whole face – whatever your skin type. If your skin is super dry and you feel like this isn’t enough, chances are you don't need more product, you simply need a different formulation. Time to switch up your moisturizer, people.

How To: Apply Facial Sunscreen

Apply your sunscreen exactly as you would your moisturizer – easy. Just make sure it’s the final step in your morning skincare routine.

How Much Sunscreen Should You Use? This is where you can afford to be more generous because you want nothing less than an even layer of sun protection all over your face. Similar to your moisturizer, a quarter-sized amount should be sufficient, but if you’re planning to be outside all day, make sure you apply a little more than that.

One Last Tip Before We Go. If you’ve been a bit handsy and poured out way too much serum or moisturizer, don't be tempted to slap it all on your face and hope for the best. Instead, smooth it over your neck and décolletage or even over the tops of your hands. Sharing the skincare love is way better than overloading your face.

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas and happy Holidays from Santa to one and all!

Now, you might be a bit confused to receive a letter from Santa. Usually it goes the other way around! But I really wanted to send a little note of thanks to my friends at TruSkin for giving a hand to me and my elves.

You see, I had something of a problem this year. While the elves were busy crafting presents for all the nice children - and adults, of course - around the world, I was sitting at my desk wondering what on Earth I could get for Mrs Claus.

Imagine that. Santa couldn’t come up with a present for someone!

But one day, I heard Mrs Claus tell some of the elves that the biting cold we have here at the North Pole was being especially hard on her skin this year. And that’s when it hit me! I would get a special skincare product, made especially for her.

So, I rushed to Google for the best skincare products around (that’s right, we have computers at the North Pole these days too!). That’s how I found out about TruSkin! Without delay, I sent them a letter asking for help to make the perfect present for Mrs Claus.

Wishlist for Wonderful Ingredients

I heard back from TruSkin right away. In their reply, they said they were honored that Santa himself had asked them for help, and that they would be more than happy to help make a special present for Mrs Claus.

However, to make something truly special, the good folks at TruSkin asked me to give them a hand in return. They were about to make a whole new product, just for Mrs Claus, and for that they would need help getting some ingredients.

I’m not one to turn down a wishlist, so of course I agreed! The things TruSkin was asking for weren’t something that I could find just laying around in my workshop, so it looked like Santa had to go on a little trip.

It was not quite Christmas yet, so taking off in my sleigh wouldn’t have been quite appropriate, don’t you think? That’s why I instead climbed into Santa’s very own helicopter with my trusty elf pilot!

The Perfect Serum For Mrs Claus

The first item on TruSkin’s wishlist was called niacinamide. It’s a high-performing antioxidant that reduces redness, irritation, and sun damage - among other skin issues - while also improving hydration and elasticity. In other words, it was the perfect cure for Mrs Claus’ chapped winter skin!

The second ingredient was organic aloe that helps moisturize and soothe skin that’s been dried out by North Pole’s arctic temperatures. Finally, to top it all off, TruSkin wished for some avocado oil to provide powerful hydration and combat signs of aging - not that I think Mrs Claus needs to worry about that.

It took me a bit of traveling, but a lot of people around the world were more than ready to help Santa out! Soon enough, I was on my way to TruSkin’s skincare workshop.

Their technicians got to work right away, and I must say, they’re just as hardworking as Santa’s elves. It didn’t take them long to complete Mrs Claus’ special present - the brand new TruSkin Niacinamide Serum!

Now, the elves take care of all the chemistry at my workshop, so the exact formulations of the serum went a bit over my head. But TruSkin assured me that the nutrient-dense Niacinamide Serum is gentler than other vitamin-based skin serums, which will work great with Mrs Claus’ sensitive skin.

The serum is also specifically formulated to minimize pores, which helps reduce oiliness. All in all, it will support skin elasticity and give Mrs Claus a strong, resilient skin that will resist the North Pole’s weather.

And as a cherry on top of it all, TruSkin packed the bottle in a pretty new gift bag. Now isn’t that nice!

Santa’s Favorite Skincare Products

While I was waiting for TruSkin’s folks to work their magic on Mrs Claus’ serum, I got to looking around their workshop. Flying around in my sleigh on Christmas eve does take its toll even on Santa’s face, so I asked if there was something they could recommend for me.

And of course there was! My first issue was that my sleigh is open-topped, so my face is fully exposed to all the soot and pollution up in the air, not to mention the… Well, shall call it “reindeer exhaust”.

To help clean my face after my sleigh-ride, TruSkin recommended their Charcoal Face Wash. I must admit that I was a bit skeptical at first, since I do regularly get covered in coal soot when going through chimneys.

But just one try of the face wash and I could see that TruSkin knew what they were talking about! The activated coconut charcoal - together with the organic aloe that also went into Mrs Claus’ serum - left my face clearer and cleaner than it had been in ages.

My second problem was the windburn I get on my sleigh that leaves my face dry and wrinkled. TruSkin had an answer for this too - their Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

And sure enough, this innovative formulation has made Santa’s skin hydrated and plump, and looking a good bit younger! With just a few weeks of regular use, my face no longer has the wind and sun damage that was bothering me.

I finally asked for something that would return the rosy glow to Santa’s cheeks that everybody seems to love so much. That’s when TruSkin brought me the Vitamin C Moisturizer.

I must say, I’ve been very happy with this lotion. It’s packed with plant-based nutrients that work to keep my face hydrated and fresh, and return a healthy redness to my cheeks - at least to what you can see from under my beard!

Back to the Pole

And so, with Mrs Claus’ present neatly wrapped and my own skincare products bagged, I returned back to Santa’s workshop at the North Pole. This just goes to show that when you need help with something, it’s best to turn to professionals - even if you’re Santa!

Since I got back, I’ve been looking into getting my workshop expanded with the same kind of facilities I visited at TruSkin. Mrs Claus keeps asking why I’m so interested in skincare all of a sudden, but I tell her the whole project was the elves’ idea, based on some letters they’d read with me.

I’d love to give Mrs Claus her present already, but that’d be unfair towards everyone else on my nice list. She’ll have to wait until Christmas, just like everybody, but I’m sure she’ll be more than happy with her present!

But, I think I now hear the elves calling for me, so it’s time for Santa to get back to work. 

I know you’re all on the nice list, so I will see you soon! Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Best regards,

Santa

Good news: at night, while you catch up on valuable zzzs, your body and skin go into overdrive to repair damage from the day. And this, dear friends is why we truly believe that sleep is one of the most important players in your skincare arsenal. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there are very few skincare tricks as effective as a good night’s sleep. Yes, daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is imperative for warding off the signs of premature aging, and if you skip moisturizer on a regular basis, especially as you get older? Well, you can say goodbye to that baby-soft skin you took for granted in your teens and early 20s.

But when all is said and done, if you deprive yourself of quality sleep time, you might as well throw the rest of your skincare routine in the trash.

Here, we lay out the facts about beauty sleep and why you 100 percent need it – if nothing else but for the sake of your wrinkles.

1. If you’re anywhere between the ages of 18 and 64, the National Sleep Foundation recommends between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. This means if you’re up every day at 7 am to workout before work or take the dog for a walk, you need to be turning in at midnight at the very latest – but preferably by 10 pm.

Why do we need so much sleep? Because it ‘powers the mind, restores the body and fortifies virtually every system in the body,’ explain sleep experts at the foundation.

2. What does this mean specifically for your skin? Well, as your brain goes into rest mode, your skin does the exact opposite. Blood flow to the skin increases which nourishes it with valuable nutrients; cell turnover accelerates to bring fresh, healthy skin cells to the surface, and collagen production revs up big time. Collagen is a super important protein in your body that works like glue to hold everything together. When it comes to your skin, collagen is basically responsible for its structure, firmness and plumpness. In short, lots of collagen is very good. Short supplies, not so much.

Aging, a cruddy diet, too much sun and smoking are all major enemies of collagen, but sleep is its BFF. So, beauty lesson number one? More sleep = more collagen = more youthful-looking skin. 

3. Plenty of other things are also going on while you sleep, so let’s talk about hormones for a hot minute.

First up, is cortisol, or as it’s otherwise known, the stress hormone. Cortisol not only regulates your levels of stress, but also your blood pressure, immune system and metabolism. Levels of cortisol vary throughout the day, being high in the morning and gradually decreasing into the evening. When you fall asleep these levels drop dramatically, which means if you miss out on valuable sleep your body continues to produce cortisol. This puts unwanted stress on pretty much every important internal bodily function, and spells disaster for your skin as too much cortisol completely wrecks its ability to heal and regenerate. It can also cause flare-ups and exacerbate skin conditions like rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.

4. While we’re on the hormone topic, melatonin also needs a mention. Melatonin – often thought of simply as a sleep supplement you buy from your local CVS – is actually a hormone produced naturally by your body when it’s dark to help it repair itself as you sleep. It has awesome antioxidant properties, so just like vitamin C and niacinamide, helps reduce skin aging by fighting damaging free radicals that are caused by those environmental bad guys: namely UV radiation and pollution. 

Beauty lesson number two: lack of sleep = less melatonin = more skin damage.

5. The last hormone we’d like to bring to your attention is HGH, the human growth hormone. Like melatonin, this is produced naturally by your body during deep sleep to help maintain your organs and build strength in your tissues and muscles. HGH production decreases with age which is why it becomes increasingly harder to build muscle, bone density and exercise stamina as you get older. It’s also one of the reasons your skin becomes thinner over time.

Note to selves. Up your sleep levels to help your body produce as much HGH as your age will allow.

6. As we previously mentioned, sleep is vital for maintaining a balanced metabolism. Well, it also helps regulate your blood sugar levels which is super important for reducing sugar cravings.

A diet that’s high in simple carbs and refined sugars results in a process called glycation which leads to inflammation in your skin and a significant disruption to your collagen and elastin production. Glycation also produces skin damaging free radicals which drive a further nail in the coffin of your hopes for a long-lasting youthful complexion.

7. If you’ve ever woken up after a night of poor sleep (wine, what wine?) only to be faced with puffy eyes and dark circles, you’ll be more than aware of how much the skin around your eyes feels the hit of sleep deprivation. But why? Unfortunately, the exact science is a little unclear, but lack of sleep definitely makes eyes dry and irritated, so this could be one reason for the inflammation and/or swelling. It also causes the blood vessels under the thin skin around your eyes to dilate which increases blood retention and creates that infamous dark tint.

Too much cortisol may also be partly to blame for eye puffiness. High levels in your bloodstream change the salt balance in your body which makes it retain water and cause unwanted swelling.

8. The process of repair and regeneration that happens as you sleep also helps strengthen your skin’s natural, protective barrier. If your skin barrier is compromised – which may happen if you keep up a shabby sleep routine – it fails in its job to hold the good stuff (water) in as well as to keep the bad stuff (chemicals, UV, pollution and bacteria) out. 

And there's life lesson number three: lack of sleep = poor barrier function = dry, dehydrated skin.

So, what should you take away from all this sleep intel? Simple. Number one, never underestimate the power of a good night's rest. If your skin is looking particularly sad or your under eye circles are out of control, turning in early should be an absolute priority. No arguments. And number two, overnight is a great time to help boost your skin's natural healing and repairing processes with some quality skincare products. Look to ingredients like retinol to amp up your anti-aging game, try hyaluronic acid to moisturize or go for salicylic acid to help unblock pores and improve cell turnover.

Trust us, your skin will be super grateful come the morning.