True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Let’s get real, expensive skincare does not always equal better skincare. In fact, affordable brands are often the true heroes in your routine.

Ever asked yourself, is your $200 moisturizer truly worth it, or is it all glossy packaging and clever marketing? The truth can be a bit of a gray area, but at the end of the day, skin doesn’t give a hoot about hefty price tags. What it cares about is ingredients that actually ‘do’ something. For example, a great moisturizer should boost hydration and seal moisture into your skin. Sunscreen needs to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB radiation. And a good cleanser should gently but effectively clean the skin without causing irritation or stripping away its important barrier function. And honestly, products are perfectly capable of doing this without breaking the bank.

So, why are some products 10x the price of others? And, the most important question of all, do so-called ‘premium’ products honestly work any better?

What Makes Expensive Skincare So Expensive?

There are many reasons why luxury skincare products come with eye-watering price points. Some are valid, but not all of them are for the good of your skin. Here are the most common reasons you might have to shell out a little bit extra...

1. Fancy Packaging

Packaging is extremely important in the luxury skincare market. Shiny metallic boxes, beautiful glass bottles, gold embossing, they’re all used to create the illusion that what’s inside is of the highest quality and therefore worth paying more for. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. 

2. Clever Marketing

Double page ads in Vogue or huge TV commercials cost money – especially when a brand has bagged a big celebrity name to flaunt its wares. Well, this money needs to comes from somewhere. Guess where? Yes, your pocket.

3. Proprietary Ingredients 

Proprietary ingredients are what set certain skincare products apart. But just because a product contains a unique ingredient this doesn’t necessarily make it more beneficial to your skin. More often than not, it’s the clinically proven ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, glycerin and niacinamide that do all the heavy lifting. 

4. Potency Of Active Ingredients

While affordable skincare products are often formulated with the same ingredients as their pricier cousins, it’s true that sometimes they don’t contain as much. And this can be reflected in the price. Strong retinols, however, can irritate certain skin types, which doesn’t always make higher price points the best option. Working with your skin and using products that are beneficial, but don't sensitize or irritate, is important here.

What REALLY Matters When Buying Skincare

Don’t get us wrong, we’re not here to totally bash luxury skincare. If you can afford an expensive, bells and whistles moisturizer and it makes you feel good while, crucially, benefiting your skin, then no harm done. Oftentimes, even just the ritual of smothering your body in a beautifully expensive body butter makes it worth every cent.

However, if you’re really stretching yourself to buy something just because the latest A-lister told you to do so, but you’re not really seeing visible results, why bother when there are so many results-driven products out there that come at a fraction of the cost?

Instead of focusing on premium price tags, here are some smarter shopping tips for building an effective, affordable skincare routine…

Focus on Science-Backed Ingredients

Ingredients that have been clinically tested to benefit the skin are the single most important factor in any skincare product. Superheroes created scientifically in a lab include retinol, vitamin C, peptides, niacinamide, vitamin E, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Then you have all the natural botanicals that also work wonders on your skin. Think jojoba oil, green tea, aloe vera and tea tree oil to name just a few. Do your research and look out for these big hitters and you’ll know that a product is going to truly get things done. 

Check The Running Order Of The Ingredients List

Skincare products don’t generally offer up the exact concentrations of their ingredients, but the label will give some of the game away. How so? Well, skincare brands are required by the FDA to print their ingredients in order, starting from the highest in concentration, working down to the lowest. When it gets down to 1 percent or less, however, they can be listed in any order. 

All this is good to know because if a vitamin C serum lists its vitamin C way down the ingredients list, hovering around the bottom, this shows that it contains very little and potentially won't be as effective as one that lists vitamin C nearer the top. Make sure the good stuff is in the top half of a product’s ingredients label. It doesn't need to be at the absolute top (some active ingredients are way too powerful for that!), but top half is a good rule to follow.

The vitamin C in our Vitamin C Facial Serum, for example, is third on the list after water and aloe. That’s good stuff, right there – and it won't make your wallet burst into tears, either.

Understand Your Skin Type & Needs

Way more important than buying into fancy beauty brands with eye-watering price tags, is to be aware of your skin type and find products that work for you. Do a bit of homework getting to know your skin, then you can focus on the things you’d like to improve. Research ingredients that are proven to help certain concerns ­– eg. hyaluronic acid is fantastic for hydrating thirsty skin whereas tea tree oil can work wonders on breakouts –  then do even more homework by looking into formulations that include those ingredients (in decent concentrations). This helps target your routine to suit your needs without buying into fluff your skin can seriously do without.

Don’t Be Duped By False Promises

Creams that promise to be ‘better than Botox’ are never to be believed – no matter their price. The truth is that skincare can only do so much. A 24k gold-infused moisturizer that costs you hundreds of bucks, for example, is unlikely to moisturize your skin any better than one that was $20. Because yes, gold is super indulgent but at the end of the day, it doesn’t moisturize your skin. It’s all the other stuff inside (which didn’t cost the manufacturer $$$s) that does all the talking, not the fancy fillers and inflated price.

Our advice? Stick to science-backed ingredients that are proven to benefit your skin. 

Remember, The Right Product For You Is The One You Regularly Use

Doing your research and making informed decisions are extremely important because, while we’re big advocates of effective skincare that doesn’t cost the earth, there are some fantastic, pricey products out there… as well as some not-so-great inexpensive options.

Research, research, research. Trust us, you’ll know when you find ‘the one’ because you’ll look forward to using it. And that means you'll use it consistently and regularly and therefore be rewarded with the best, most visible results.

Showing your skin love isn’t about overly expensive skincare products and complicated routines, it’s about being positive, listening to what your skin needs and reacting with kind. Here’s how to get on that…

Remember when you learnt in school that your skin is your body’s largest organ? Well, your teachers weren’t lying. The average adult human has around 22 square feet of skin which, even though it’s only a few millimeters thick at its thickest point, weighs around 8 lbs.

That’s a lot of skin right there. 

If you’re here, we imagine you’re already into practicing good skincare habits. We bet you already cleanse like a pro, apply moisturizer vigilantly and rarely leave the house without slapping on your broad-spectrum SPF. Good work. 

That being said, it’s easy to forget that skin sometimes needs a little extra love and attention. Whether the weather has been taking its toll, work has gotten on top of you or certain hormonal changes are happening in your life, understanding your skin’s needs and adapting your habits is crucial for making the most of your skin and encouraging a healthy glow.

In the market for giving your skin a little added TLC right now? Then read on for 10 proven skincare practices and lifestyle habits for showing your skin just how much you care.

1. Get To Know Your Skin Better

Before going any further, remember that your skin is totally unique to you so understanding when it’s feeling good and when it needs help is crucial if you’re striving for healthier-looking skin. Knowing your skin type (normal, oily, dry or combination) is the first step, but there are plenty of other factors at work here ­– your age, environment, lifestyle, diet, they all play their part and dictate how you should adapt your habits to suit. 

Action Stations: To understand your skin better, cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser like Soothing Cleansing Milk, pat it dry, then look in the mirror without applying any other skincare products. Feel your skin and look at all the various areas of your face and neck to see what’s going on right now. Once you know this, you can think about what you can do to help.

2. Concentrate On The Good Stuff

It’s easy to reel off the things you don’t like about your skin ­– crow’s feet, breakouts, a sagging jawline ­– but when was the last time you thought about the stuff you do like? Being positive about your skin is crucial, not only for your mental wellness, but also for your skin itself. How so? Because when you know what you like about your skin you can accentuate and highlight these areas. 

Action Stations: Do you have the smoothest forehead, like, ever? Then pull your hair back and flaunt it. OK, maybe you have the odd wrinkle or two, but good news, your complexion is fairly even in tone. Then don’t be afraid to go foundation-free. Show off your good bits, people, it’s very liberating. Plus, it stops you sweating over the other, 'not so great' stuff.

3. Boost Your Glow With Antioxidants

Facial serums are to skin what red lipstick and stunning earrings are to an outfit – the true icing on the cake. You see, serums have a smaller molecular structure than creams and lotions so they’re able to truly penetrate your skin and target your concerns.

Depending on what these are, we have a whole collection of plant-powered serums packed with ingredients to help hydrate, plump, firm, smooth and boost radiance.

Action Stations: Our bestselling serum, year after year is the OG, Vitamin C Facial Serum. Packed with skin-loving sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a gentle form of vitamin C skin loves), as well as soothing vitamin E and hydrating powerhouses hyaluronic acid and aloe, it’s the bee’s knees for great skin. Apply a few drops to your face and neck after toning and before moisturizing for better-looking, incredible-feeling skin in both the short- and long-term.

4. Take Compliments… And Return The Favor

Hands up if you’re terrible at receiving compliments? You’re not alone. But the thing is, people say nice things because they genuinely like or appreciate something about you and want to let you know about it order to make you feel good.

Action Stations: Next time someone tells you how great your skin is looking, smile and enjoy the compliment. They wouldn’t say it if they didn’t mean it. Plus, you’ll feel so much better than if you shrugged it off. Similarly, whenever your friends look good, let them know. Share the love!

5. Don’t Skip One Of The Best Skin Tonics Around

Toning used to be a vital part of any skin enthusiast’s all-important three-step skincare routine. Ask anyone older than 30 and they'll you that, back in the day, skincare was strictly about cleansing, toning and moisturizing. Then the world realized that most toners on the market were stripping the skin of essential nutrients and oils, and were, honestly, doing the skin much good at all.

Not so, any more. These days, toners are often the exact product your skin has been looking for, helping to increase hydration while cooling, reducing redness, calming irritation, firming, the list goes on.

Action Stations: The great thing about applying toner is that, sure, it might be an extra step in your routine, but if you choose a spritz formulation it'll only add on mere seconds. At most. Try our Ocean Minerals Super Toner after cleansing and before applying serum and your skin will instantly lavish the effects of radiance boosting vitamin C, glycolic acid, ginseng and MSM. All that from one spritz? You better believe it.

6. Watch Out For Changes In Your Skin

When skin is unhappy, it will tell you so. So don’t ignore it. The end. OK, not quite…

Action Stations: Pay attention to changes in texture and tone, increased sensitivity, irritation, breakouts and dry patches. These are all sure-fire signs that your skincare routine might not be cutting it, so adjust yours accordingly. If your skin is feeling irritated, for example, cut back on active ingredients for a bit to give it a chance to reset and ‘breathe’ again.

7. Know That Sleep Time Is Crucial For Your Skin

The term ‘beauty sleep’ didn’t occur by accident. Sleep, is in fact, the single most important time for your skin to repair and rejuvenate itself. When the rest of your body and brain are at rest, blood flow to your skin increases, collagen production amps up, antioxidants get to work and cell turnover picks up speed. Skip your important shut-eye and your skin loses out on all this important stuff. Not cool.

Action Stations: The National Sleep Foundation recommends between seven and nine hours of sleep every night for healthy adults. OK, this might not always be possible, but try to go to bed at the same hour every night to get into a regular pattern. Keep your room at a comfortable (neither too hot nor too cold) temperature and make sure it’s dark and quiet to optimize sleep. Also, make sure you help your skin out as it gets to work overnight. Cleanse before bed, apply a collagen-boosting serum like Rejuvenating Longevity Serum and follow with a rich moisturizer like Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.

8. Carve Out Some Skin-Love Time

Giving yourself a DIY facial is a fantastic way to spend some quality time in your own company, improving your wellness and your complexion as a result. Facial massage, in particular, boosts circulation and helps lymphatic drainage to significantly improve the appearance of your skin. Not to mention how incredibly healing the power of touch can be.

Action Stations: Put aside 30 minutes each week to pamper your skin. This can be anything from giving yourself a facial massage to relaxing on your bed with a face mask and a couple of cold, used teabags over your eyes. Just remember to lock the door to ensure your kids, housemates or partner leave you well alone while you enjoy some much-needed me-time. 

9. Exfoliate: But With Caution

We love skin exfoliation for removing dead skin cells, improving sluggish cell turnover and generally getting your skin’s glow on. However, it’s important to get the sweet spot just right. Too much and you could compromise your skin’s barrier function. Too little and you won’t experience the full benefits.

Of course your sweet spot depends on the strength and tolerance levels of your skin, but the general rule of thumb is that two or three times a week should do it.

Action Stations: There are two primary ways to exfoliate the skin: physical and chemical exfoliation. If you love the feel of a good scrub on your skin (that’s the physical version) try our Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub which is fast becoming a favorite. But don’t forget, we also have our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant for all your chemical exfoliating fans. Neither are bad choices. It’s simply up to you how you prefer to keep your skin ticking over.

10. Finally, Celebrate The Improvements

Healthy skin is a journey that requires time, patience and the willingness to adapt your routine and lifestyle as it changes. When you get on top of this, your skin is likely to reward you in the best way possible ­– looking better, feeling better and consistently behaving better. Big win.

Action Stations: Pat yourself on the back for listening to your skin, reacting positively and seeing results. And keep at it!

Elastin is the unsung hero of resilient, bouncy, healthy-looking skin. So, sure, collagen needs your undivided attention, but don’t forget about this other important protein working hard to keep your skin in shape.

Put your hands up if you dream of the bouncy skin you had when you were young. And, while we might not remember our own, how adorable is the skin of a young baby? It’s. Just. So. Plump. Not to mention insanely springy and so incredibly soft. Gosh, why doesn’t our 30/40/50/60/70-something skin have the same bouncebackability? Not fair!

The thing is, just like the entire human body, your skin changes as you get older. It’s as inevitable as day turning to night. The clocks tick, life continues and your body ages. And that’s never going to change.

The structure of your skin is super important when it comes to how strong, supple, soft and smooth it remains during the aging process. Of course, collagen is the biggie – mainly because it’s the most abundant protein in the body, accounting for between 70 and 80 percent of all proteins within the skin alone. But collagen can’t do it all alone. It needs a wing man.

Enter elastin, the Robin to collagen’s Batman. The Watson to its Sherlock, if you will. And officially the unsung hero of bouncy, fabulous-looking skin.

What Is Elastin, Anyway?

Elastin is a structural protein (just like collagen) that’s produced by the fibroblasts in the middle layer of your skin, aka the dermis. While collagen provides the backbone to your skin, giving it strength and firmness, elastin helps the skin seamlessly work with your body’s natural movements, allowing it to stretch, flex and bounce back to its original position.

During childhood your skin is literally chock full of collagen and elastin. But as you race past early adulthood, you get to say a slow farewell to your skin’s strength and supple nature. It happens around your mid-20s ­– give or take ­– when your body starts to slow down and all the good stuff that made your skin so plump and baby-soft ups and leaves. Not only does your skin produce fewer of these important proteins but all the existing stuff begins to break down. 

Of course, natural aging is the major factor here, but don’t forget that many of your lifestyle choices also play their part in the rate at which elastin packs its bags and leaves town. And they’re the things you can actually do something about. UV radiation from prolonged sun exposure is one of the biggest elastin-killers, as is chronic stress, environmental pollution and a diet that’s high in things like processed carbs and refined sugar. All these things trigger inflammation and oxidative stress which break down your skin’s elasticity at lightning speeds.

The result? Skin becomes weaker, thinner, less supple and less resilient. Which is why serious action is required. You know what they say, prevention is better than cure. And in this case, never a truer word has been spoken.

5 Ways To Protect & Preserve Your Skin’s Important Elastin Supplies

Stopping time is not something even the latest AI technology can accomplish. So, instead of worrying about your age, let’s focus on some of the things you CAN do to help protect your elastin (and your collagen as an added bonus!)…

1. Never Scrimp On Sunscreen

We know it’s tempting to lap up the sun’s warming, skin-bronzing rays, but UV radiation is the biggest cause of external aging. And science has proven it so. You see, UV rays actively break down elastin fibers by creating free radicals in your skin. And these free radicals compromise the structure of all the good proteins that keep your skin ticking over nicely. Nothing good comes from free radicals so you must do everything you can to keep them to a bare minimum. The easiest way to accomplish this? Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen like SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C to any areas of exposed skin. Do this every day (even when it’s cloudy) and you can pat yourself on the back for safeguarding your skin and simultaneously protecting its important stash of collagen and elastin. Take that, sun.

2. Double Down With Topical Antioxidants

Did you know that topical antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea and niacinamide also act like your skin’s very own personal repair crew? While sunscreen limits the number of free radicals that form in your skin in the first place, antioxidants help to neutralize any that manage to slip through the net. Clever, right?

All of our facial serums are packed with antioxidants so if you’re not sure which is best for you, check out our guide right here.

3. Rethink Your Dietary Habits

As we mentioned earlier, sugar is one of the worst culprits for screwing up your collagen and elastin. The problem is a process called glycation.

Glycation occurs in the skin when excess sugar binds itself to vital proteins, leading to the formation of advanced glycation end products, aka AGEs. AGEs are everything their name suggests. They degrade collagen and elastin and thus compromise the entire integrity of your delicate skin, aging you up way quicker than you signed up for.

Try to avoid sugar-laden foods and alcohol and, instead, enrich your diet with foods that are rich in vitamin C (fruit and veggies), zinc (meat, eggs, beans and seeds) and omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna, walnuts and chia seeds). Also, stay hydrated. And if you are partial to an alcohol beverage or two, make sure you counteract every glass with equal measures (or more) of water.

4. When In Doubt, Pick Retinol (Or Bakuchiol!)

As gold standards in skincare go, retinol is more often than not the pick of the crop. A form of topical vitamin A, retinol is a smart little cookie because it’s able to ‘communicate’ with your skin at a cellular level to truly rev up its production of both collagen and elastin.

Of course, retinol is not all moonlight and roses because it’s an extremely potent beast and can upset sensitive skin if it’s not used carefully. Follow a few retinol rules, however, and most people can use it comfortably and to great effect. We truly believe, for example, that if you patch test our Retinol Facial Serum or Retinol Moisturizer first, then introduce it slowly into your routine, you’re on to a real winner. Not convinced? NP. Try our Rejuvenating Longevity Serum which harnesses the powers of bakuchiol – that's nature’s gentler alternative to retinol, in case you’re yet to be acquainted. Note to self: it’s real good.

5. Manage Your Levels Of Stress

Stress raises your levels of cortisol and boosts the number of free radicals in your skin which upsets your skin’s barrier function, screws up your skin’s natural pH levels and seriously ruins its supplies of collagen, elastin, even hyaluronic acid. Nothing good comes from stress like that.

However, with today's busy lifestyles, keeping your stress levels under control is often easier said than done. But it's not impossible. Some of our favorite ways to de-stress include yoga, going for walks, reading, taking a bath or trying a new hobby. Basically, do whatever you can do to carve out a little me-time on the reg (even just a few minutes will help) and you will immediately help reduce your levels of stress and therefore look after your skin as an added bonus. 

Want to crush lit-from-within skin this spring? Then you’d better start your glow-getting routine immediately.

We don’t know about you, but this time of year is when we generally start thinking about getting our skin prepped and primed for spring. After all, brighter sunshine, longer days and warmer temps mean more time spent outside and so we want our skin to reflect the joys of springtime weather – bright, radiant and full of life.

Don’t get us wrong, we’ve done everything we can to keep our skin moisturized and looking good all winter long, but it’s not always easy, especially after the holidays when the focus has been more on wine and cheese than topical antioxidants and deep moisturization.

So what’s on the ‘must do this’ list for getting skin glowing and ready for spring? Follow these pointers and you’ll be well on the way. 

1. Focus On Moisture

Winter is notorious for drying out the skin. You can blame the weather, for sure, because dry, cold air sucks all the hydration from the skin’s uppermost layers. But there are plenty of other things going on that ruin your skin’s moisture mojo. Central heating has to take some responsibility, as must things like hot baths and comfort foods.

If your skin is still feeling somewhat thirsty after battling the elements all winter long, stick with what you’ve likely been doing for the past few months. It’ll pay off eventually – promise. Invest in a humidifier for your bedroom to boost the moisture content in the air as you sleep and make sure your diet includes plenty of water-rich foods like cucumber, watermelon and tomatoes, as well as omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish and seeds.

As for your skincare routine, we love to layer a hydrating, nourishing serum under moisturizer as this supercharges the skin’s levels of moisture, without it needing to rely on super-heavy creams that can weigh it down.

Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is always a smart choice but you could also try our much-loved but often underestimated Peptide Facial Serum which combines three of the best hydrators we know – aloe, glycerin and panthenol – alongside collagen-enhancing peptides. Apply your serum of choice under moisturizer morning and night and your skin will soon have a brighter pep in its step. Plus, it'll feel downright amazing as an extra bonus.

2. Get Friendly With Exfoliating Acids

Chemical exfoliants are awesome for gifting your skin with a smoother (and therefore brighter) surface. Unlike facial scrubs which use grains like fine sand or salt and require physical motion to work, chemical exfoliants simply sit on your skin and go about their business with no effort at all. They work by breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells so they’re able to slough away quicker and more efficiently. Simple as that. 

Furthermore, if you choose wisely and opt for a kind-to-skin formulation that harmonizes different kinds of chemical exfoliants, you may even be able to use it every day. Take our 6% AHA, BHA and PHA Liquid Exfoliant, for example. This hard-working, but never too hard-on-your-skin toner accelerates cell turnover with a perfectly balanced blend of glycolic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA) and gluconolactone (PHA). And, yes, we know that might sound like a lot of exfoliating acids for one face, but fear not, we made sure to include just the right amount of each to gently exfoliate without leaving your skin feeling stripped or dry.

It’s the perfect product to give your skin the coveted glow you’ve been seeking since September said goodbye.

3. OD On Vitamin C

One of our favorite skin mottos is ‘when in doubt, reach for topical vitamin C.’ And do you know what? It’s never let us down. In fact, vitamin C is what’s known at TruSkin HQ as the ultimate brightening powerhouse. Not only is it one of the most trusted and tested antioxidants (reminder: antioxidants fight free radicals and keep your collagen levels in check) but it’s also thought to inhibit melanin production which means fewer dark spots, less patchy areas and a more glowy, even-looking complexion all round.

Of course, we don’t literally want you to OD on vitamin C. Some forms can be extremely potent and even a little irritating if you use them too much and apply them too often. So you have to tread carefully. Our advice? Introduce new products slowly into your routine, patch test them first, and stick with sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP). SAP is a salt form of the pure stuff which makes it more stable and therefore much gentler.

You'll find vitamin C, and more specifically SAP, in a ton of our skincare formulations so you really can pick and choose depending on your skin’s needs and preferences. Serums are the obvious choice, but since you're likely concentrating on hydration with your facial serum right now, how about trying our Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser instead? With a name like that, it would be rude not to.

4. Think Of Bedtime As TLC Time

You might be under the impression that overnight skincare is a bit pointless when you’re tucked up in bed doing nothing but dreaming of the teenage skin you wish you still had. But on the contrary, your skin does its best repair work when you’re asleep. Cell turnover peaks, collagen production revs up, blood flow increases and your body’s natural antioxidants system kicks in to help neutralize any pesky free radicals that may have built up during the day. Leave your makeup on and go to bed with dirty, unmoisturized skin, however, and all this good stuff becomes basically redundant.

To encourage the magic to happen, cleanse your face and neck gently but thoroughly before bed and start a slow-building retinol regime to naturally accelerate cell turnover and collagen synthesis. Our Retinol Facial Serum has your back here as it’s also infused with vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to boost radiance and hydration both in the short- and long-term.

Mimic your morning routine by always following your serum with moisturizer. In this instance try Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream which contains that all-important, glow-getting vitamin C, as well as ‘nature’s beauty mineral,’ MSM which is one of the most underrated but overachieving ingredients for healthy skin. And we don’t say that lightly.

5. Make Massage A Must

We can think of little better for waking up your skin than a morning massage. The benefits of a facial massage are undeniable. For starters, it boosts blood flow and therefore allows more oxygen and nutrients to rush to the surface of your skin. Hello big-time glow! It also improves lymphatic drainage to help remove toxins away from the skin, reducing things like puffiness and inflammation. Not to mention how relaxing and stress-reducing a morning facial massage can be.

Don’t worry, though, we don’t expect you to learn all the tricks of the massage trade just like that. You can actually do this facial massage quickly and easily in mere minutes. You can also do it while cleansing, or applying facial oil – it totally depends on your jam. 

Simply work your chosen product all over your face and neck, using the pads of your fingers, then sweep your fingers down your nose a few times, across your cheeks from the center outwards, then up and around your forehead. After your forehead, take your hands down to the middle of your chin and use sweeping motions to lift the skin up and out towards your ears. Finish with your neck, using the palms of your hands to perform light strokes from the base of your neck up to your jawline. Repeat this as many times as you like, using medium pressure to work the skin and get everything flowing.

Now, how long until March, again?

It’s time to break free from the irritating cycle that is itchy, persistently dry skin. And we’re here to help.

Similar to how oily skin is often plagued with acne breakouts, dryness and itchy skin frequently go hand in hand. And while we’re sure anyone who has to deal with oily skin on the reg would happily trade places with their dry skin friends, it works both ways with dry skin sufferers being prepared to give anything to swap a little extra oil for a lot less itch. 

The grass is always greener and all that.

The unfortunate thing is that the amount of sebum (oil) your skin produces is not something of which you have complete control. Yes, you can help balance things out with better skincare and smart lifestyle choices, but your overriding skin type is the one you were born with. Annoying? Maybe. But the good news is that it's usually pretty manageable. 

Extreme dryness that’s coupled with dehydration, tightness and makes you want to scratch away at your poor, delicate skin 24/7? Well, that’s a whole other issue.

Why Is Your Skin So Itchy?

Itchy skin (aka pruritus) is basically the evil partner to skin dryness. And while the amount of sebum your skin produces is an important player, there’s also another factor at work. And that’s your skin’s barrier function which is its outermost layer, aka the stratum corneum. 

If itchy skin is not the norm for you, this is a red flag that something’s going on with this important protective layer which acts like your skin’s very own personal bodyguard, keeping moisture in and toxins, allergens and irritants out. When this barrier function becomes compromised thanks to things like extreme weather, harsh cleansing, overly active skincare products or even a lack of sleep, it weakens, becomes unable to do its job efficiently and cries out for help. Moisture, oils and important nutrients start to escape way too easily. Not to mention the free rein given to external irritants to do their worst on your skin. 

All this can result in serious bad news for your poor skin. Dryness and dehydration are the first signs of a weakened barrier – all thanks to the skin’s inability to retain moisture. Then there’s the redness, sensitivities and inevitable itch. Itching, in particular is all thanks to your nervous system being activated by irritants that have made their way through the weakened barrier. 

What To Do About Dry, Itchy Skin: Your Barrier Function Rescue Plan

The most common triggers of a compromised barrier function will come as no surprise. Emotional stress, insufficient sleep, extreme weather, overbathing and environmental pollution are all major contenders, so it's important to avoid these by working on the following things…

* Look after your mental health. Breathing exercises, yoga, even brisk walks are great ways to help reduce anxiety and stress.

* Go to bed at a decent hour and try to stick with a regular sleep routine. It’s also smart to invest in a bedroom humidifier to reduce overnight dehydration.

* Increase your intake of omega-3s and vitamin-rich foods to ‘feed’ your skin from the inside out.

* Stick with lukewarm, rather than hot showers and baths. And don't wallow for too long!

* Keep your air conditioning and indoor heating at reasonable, rather than extreme temperatures – sudden changes in temperature are a killer on dry skin.

Your skincare routine also deserves your undivided attention.

Gentle cleansing is crucial because certain ingredients like harsh alcohol, synthetic fragrance, strong sulfates and unnecessary fillers can really screw with your barrier function. Instead, look for cleansers that are non-stripping and nourishing with ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid, soothing oat milk and gentle, skin-friendly oils like sweet almond. Our Soothing Cleansing Milk is a total winner in our eyes.

You should also dial back on exfoliation and reduce your use of active ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid – at least temporarily. Pause them for a week or two until, fingers crossed, your skin recovers. Then you can slowly introduce them back if your skin is up to the job. If not? Well, maybe it’s time to rethink your routine. You could always switch out potent retinol for bakuchiol or niacinamide which both thrive on sensitive skin. Try Rejuvenating Longevity Serum or Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum.

Then there's the most important step of all: moisturization. 

The Best 3-Step Moisturization Regime

Keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized is everything. But it doesn’t begin and end with face cream. To truly ensure your skin has all the moisture it needs, you have to think outside the box and treat it on three different levels.

1. Start With A Soothing Toner

Toner might not be front of mind for dry, itchy skin, but if you steer clear of alcohol-heavy, pore-stripping formulations, the right toner can bring a lot of benefits to the table. Our Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner, for example, contains only pure Moroccan Rose water (honestly, that’s it!) and is a great way to kick off the ultimate hydration plan, gently toning, refreshing and calming inflammation. 

2. Sandwich With A Hydrating Serum

After toning, don’t reach straight for the face cream. Layer up with a facial serum to lavish your skin with a quenching hit of moisture. Serums contain smaller molecules than moisturizers which means they’re able to penetrate the skin at a deeper level, thus tapping concerns that a face cream might otherwise not reach.

Our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is a fabulous choice here, but we also love Smoothing Collagen Serum which simultaneously helps to strengthen the skin barrier with peptides, ceramides and superfruit extracts.

3. Finish With The Best Moisturizer For Dry Skin

Your choice of moisturizer is important. Go too light and you risk not bringing enough moisture to the skin. But go too heavy and you could potentially clog your pores and exacerbate breakouts and itching. The key is to look for creamy emollients that replace lost lipids, seal in water and help replenish your barrier function.

Our favorite moisturizers for dry, itchy skin are Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream in the morning and Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream before bed. Of course, UV protection is also non-negotiable so always finish your morning routine with a broad-spectrum sunscreen like SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C.

Finally, Know When To Call In The Heavies

Most dryness and itching issues can be dealt with at home, but if your symptoms persist longer than a few weeks, or they get worse despite doing everything you can to keep them under control, it may be worth seeking professional help from a dermatologist. Underlying chronic skin conditions like eczema and rosacea are major culprits for causing dryness, flaking and itchiness, and oftentimes these need more than at-home TLC can offer.

If you suffer with regular breakouts we bet you often wonder about the best skincare ingredients for acne. Well, wonder no more, we got you.

Acne breakouts, whatever your age, are no joke. They can be frustrating, confidence-destroying, challenging and sometimes downright painful. Nobody wants that. But sometimes life just deals you a bad hand, and being prone to breakouts (or not) is exactly that. You don’t get pimples, blackheads and whiteheads because you have poor personal hygiene or eat too much chocolate. You get them because your genes dictate the makeup up of your skin and, in this case, are encouraging it to produce too much oil. This excess oil (or, more specifically, sebum) then teams up with dead skin cells and bacteria to have a party in your pores, leading to all sorts of congestion and potential breakouts.

Granted, it’s all well and good knowing your pimples aren’t your fault, but this doesn’t make them go away. So what can you do to control oil production, balance your skin and help keep zits from upsetting your mojo? Well, understanding what you put on your skin and, more specifically, knowing which skincare ingredients mean business is a great place to start.

Behold the best ingredients for acne-prone skin – in our (and most skin experts') humble opinion.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that’s steam distilled from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia (tea) tree. Chock full of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, it’s been used for centuries to heal the skin, and as an acne-fighter, it’s pretty unstoppable.

Exactly how does tea tree oil work on acne? For starters, it works hard to kill certain acne-causing bacteria that sit on the surface of the skin. Couple this with its ability to calm redness, reduce swelling and soothe irritation and it becomes a great choice for anyone wanting to deal with breakouts with a natural, effective skincare ingredient.

Word to the wise, however, tea tree oil is full-on potent so you should never apply it in its purest form. Instead, leave it to the pros to curate an effective formulation you can use every day.

Try: Tea Tree Super Cleanser+

Salicylic Acid

Keeping your skin ticking over is super important if you’re susceptible to the slings and arrows of blocked pores and acne breakouts. When your skin fails to turn over at a reasonable rate, dead skin cells get stuck at the surface, where they love to hang out in your pores causing total havoc. 

As you may know, the rate at which your skin turns over seriously slows down as you get older. This is why it’s super important to kick-start this process with exfoliation. Scrubs are great for removing dead skin cells and encouraging the skin to turn over more efficiently, but to really tackle acne-prone skin, your best bet is to choose skincare containing salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) which means it’s a oil-soluble chemical exfoliant. Hydroxy acids work by breaking down the bonds between your skin cells so they slough away easily and make way for the new stuff. However, unlike glycolic acid, which is a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), BHAs cut through grease which gives them the extra edge with oily skin, allowing them to truly work on your sebaceous glands and balance oil production. 

Another point in salicylic acid’s favor? It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. And if you have angry pimples or facial redness, you’re so going to want to get in on that.

Try: 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant

Retinol

A go-to in the skin aging world, retinol, a topical form of vitamin A, also offers some pretty impressive results for acne-prone skin. Who knew? Well, we did, but then again that’s what we’re paid for! 

Similar to exfoliating acids ­­– although it works very differently to salicylic acid and friends – retinol promotes cell turnover to ensure your pores stay clear of unwanted dead skin cells. Instead of breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells, however, retinol works by attaching itself to nuclear receptors in the center of each living cell where it activates certain genes to accelerate turnover.

It might not be the most obvious choice for when your skin breaks out, but use it on a regular basis and it’s been proven to reduce the frequency and improve the severity of breakouts. Plus, if you’re of a certain age, you get all the added age-fighting benefits as an added bonus. Put like that, it seems silly not to.

Try: Retinol Moisturizer

Niacinamide

If you’re stuck with the double-whammy of acne and sensitive skin, you’ll know only too well how difficult it is to find skincare formulations that improve your breakouts but don’t irritate your skin. The struggle is real. However, it’s not impossible. And one ingredient that should top your must-tries? Niacinamide.

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is one of the most effective active ingredients for sensitive skin. It also makes the list for best ingredients for acne-prone skin. And that’s no mean feat.

As well as being one of our favorite antioxidants, working hard to counteract the damaging effects of environmental free radicals, niacinamide also increases the production of ceramides in the skin’s uppermost layers. Ceramides enable the skin to remain strong, supple, hydrated and able to protect itself from unwanted irritation. Sweet.

But what about acne breakouts? Which is why we’re here, after all. Well, niacinamide has been proven to reduce inflammation (check), regulate sebum production (check) and it can even help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores when used regularly and together with a great cleansing regime. Research also shows it may have antimicrobial effects, helping to destroy acne-causing bacteria that may be lurking in your skin’s microbiome. Hells yeah!

Try: Niacinamide (B3) Facial Serum

Finally, A Few Important Things To Remember

1. Always patch test new ingredients on a small area of skin before regular, all-over use. Not sure how to do this? No problem, here's a guide on how to patch test your skincare products.

2. Introduce potent, active ingredients gradually into your skincare regime. Start once or twice a week to begin with, then build slowly as your skin acclimates. This will allow the product to work its magic with fewer risks of irritation.

3. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, without fail. Active ingredients encourage fresh skin cells to the surface, so they need extra TLC to protect them from UV damage. No arguments.

4. Don’t expect miracles overnight. Skincare formulations that treat at a deeper level aren’t an immediate fix so be patient and give them the time they deserve ­– two to three months is usually the sweet spot.

5. Skincare alone may not be enough to manage persistent or severe acne, so consider seeking professional help from a dermatologist if yours simply won’t go away.