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When is an exfoliant more than just an exfoliant? When it’s glycolic acid.

When it comes to proven, butt-kicking skincare ingredients, glycolic acid is one of our big three. Retinol and vitamin C are the other two, since you asked. But we digress. With years of science-backed research under its belt, glycolic acid not only helps fight the visible signs of aging (dark spots and wrinkles be very afraid!), but it also works to minimize pores and reduce acne breakouts. Valid bragging rights, right there.

Here's everything you need to know about this powerful exfoliating acid.

What Is Glycolic Acid?

Like lactic and citric acids, glycolic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid. Or an AHA, if you will. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help accelerate cellular turnover. Your skin is constantly going through its own repetitive cycle – a process called desquamation – in which cells form, move up to the surface, then die and slough away. As a young adult, this process is like a well-oiled machine, which is why youthful skin is brighter, softer and more hydrated. However, as you get older desquamation starts to become lazy and slow. And this is when problems can start to arise. Anything from dull skin and dryness through to itchiness, irritation and acne breakouts can all be linked with poor turnover.

Thankfully this is where exfoliants come to the rescue – nudging skin turnover to move along quicker and more efficiently. There are two types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants are the ones that most often come to mind. They’re the scrubs, cleansing brushes and facial mitts of the world that require pressure and physical movement to exfoliate your skin. Chemical exfoliants, however, are a whole different ball game because they simply sit on your skin and harness the power of active ingredients to break down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This encourages them to shed naturally, without the need for massaging or scrubbing.

Which is best? That depends on you. However, we’re big fans of chemical exfoliation because it’s gentler on the skin. Chemical exfoliants include AHAs, BHAs and PHAs which all work slightly differently, with AHAs being the most commonly used and loved. Derived from sugar cane, glycolic acid is one of the most potent and effective AHAs out there thanks to its small molecular structure which allows it to penetrate your skin quickly and efficiently.

What Does Glycolic Acid Do For Your Skin?

By loosening the bonds that hold together those tough, outer layer of dead skin cells, glycolic acid offers benefits longer than your arm. It goes without saying that by ditching the old stuff and revealing fresher, newer skin cells, your complexion will automatically look better as a result. Think brighter, softer, smoother skin that’s also more even in both tone and texture, for starters. Glycolic acid also helps to keep your pores clean and free of dead skin cells, which makes them appear tighter and stops them from becoming blocked and inflamed. That’s code for fewer acne breakouts.

Then you’ve got all the other stuff that’s going on below the surface of your skin. Because glycolic acid has such a low molecular weight, it can get deeper into your skin than other AHAs, stimulating collagen production and working extra hard to keep your skin firm and plump while staving off premature lines and wrinkles.

Does this make glycolic acid the best anti-aging tool you could ever use on your skin? Yes and no. Yes, because it’s potent and clinically proven to work. No, because its potency means it has its downfalls and needs to be dealt with carefully.

The Dos & Don’ts Of Glycolic Acid

1. DO… Patch Test First

Patch testing any product that contains active ingredients is probably one of the most important skincare rules to live by. Yet, it’s commonly dismissed. We get that the excitement of a new product makes it almost impossible to wait 48 hours while you patch test it on a discreet area of your skin to check it’s safe. And sometimes your skin might be OK with that.

Until it’s not.

Glycolic acid, retinol and vitamin C are just a smattering of ingredients that can potentially cause your skin to freak out. Nine times out of ten, your skin will be fine. But what about that one time? Wouldn’t you rather be sure you’re not going to be dealing with irritated, itchy skin BEFORE it happens? We know we would.

2. DO… Start Slow

After testing your glycolic acid is safe, make sure you introduce it slowly to your regular routine to allow your skin time to acclimate. This means applying it just one or twice a week to start with, building up to daily use after a few weeks if your skin is OK with that. Skin feeling a little irritated and looking kind of red? Then go back to weekly rather than daily use. You’ll still feel all the awesome benefits, but without the downsides. Slow and steady wins the race, remember?

3. DON’T… Apply Retinol At The Same Time

We love retinol with all our hearts, but retinol and glycolic acid are not a match made in heaven. In fact, they shouldn’t be applied at the same time. Ever. The reason? Although they work differently, retinol and glycolic acid are extremely powerful ingredients that work hard to boost cell turnover. And instead of furnishing you with double the benefits, applying them together risks thinning your skin, leaving it feeling irritated, inflamed, dry, itchy, flaky and super sensitive. Not. Worth. It.  

Don’t want to give up your retinol for glycolic acid? We don’t blame you. Just make sure you don’t apply them on the same days. In fact, skin depending, it’s often wise to wait a few days between applications.

4. DO… Pair Glycolic Acid With Plenty Of Hydration

Like most active ingredients, glycolic acid has the potential to cause dryness and dehydration – no matter your skin type or how slow you go. This means it’s wise to ensure your routine includes plenty of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients.

Our Ocean Minerals Super Toner (which contains glycolic acid) is chock full of nurturing goodies like aloe extract, jojoba oil and plant extracts while the brand new AHA/BHA/PHA Liquid Exfoliant is thoughtfully balanced with one of our favorite hydrating superheroes, glycerin.

All this will help counteract the drying effects of the mighty glycolic acid, but still, don’t forget to follow with plenty of moisturizer – day and night.

5. DON’T… Skip Sunscreen

Anything that boosts cell turnover will make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s powerful rays. Which makes slathering on plenty of broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning even more important than ever. But you do that anyway, right? RIGHT? Then it might be time to stock up on your SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C. Just saying!

PSA: when you’re feeling jaded, the skin around your eyes is the first to give the game away.

With the holidays just around the corner, tiredness, in some shape or form, is a sure thing. From the anxieties involved with cooking the perfect Thanksgiving dinner to a little too much festive partying and the panic of gift giving, it’s no wonder the holiday season has officially been crowned the most stressful time of the year.

Now a little bit of low-key stress is OK in small doses. But when it takes over your well-being and stops you from getting that much-needed rest and restorative me-time, your skin is going to suffer. And no place more so than the skin around your eyes.

What’s So Special About The Skin Around Your Eyes?

The skin around your eyes is slightly different to the rest of your face. For starters, it’s around ten times thinner which makes it super susceptible to the visible signs of tiredness and premature aging. Thanks to its natural thinness, underlying tissue and blood vessels are also more prominent, causing shadows and dark circles. And this is even more obvious when you miss out on your valuable shut-eye. How so? Because a lack of sleep not only encourages blood and fluid retention, but it also makes your skin appear paler due to a limited time to regenerate itself overnight.

The skin around your eyes also has a very short supply of fat and muscle. This means that collagen and elastin are even more important than ever for keeping the skin in this area strong and supported. And as you know, aging, environmental nasties, and a lack of sleep can be total killjoys when it comes to quality collagen and elastin. 

But that’s not all. Ever noticed how the skin on the outer corners of your eyes often feels drier and more irritated than the rest of your skin? The reason for this is a serious lack of sebaceous (oil-producing) glands to keep it healthy, moisturized and soft. Dang!

When you add all this together and throw in constant muscle movement (DYK you blink around 15,000 times every day?), it’s no wonder the skin around your eyes feels fatigued so darn easily. We’re exhausted just thinking about it.

How To Refresh Tired Looking Eyes

1. Get An Early Night

Sleep is the obvious way to win the battle against tired, beat up skin around your eyes, but it’s also the most important one. When you’re asleep cell turnover accelerates, collagen production revs up, antioxidants kick in to help repair damage and blood flow increases to nourish your skin with valuable nutrients. Important business, right there.

Sure, it can be difficult to get your regular zzzs but a lack of sleep causes water retention, makes the blood vessels dilate and decreases moisture levels in your skin. You might as well just invite dark circles, puffy eyes and dry skin over and have done with it.

Not on board with that? Then try to go to bed at a decent hour each night in order to get your seven hours in. Also, make sure your pillow is high enough to prop up your head a little. Lying flat messes with your circulation and can lead to water retention and bags under your eyes.

2. Use A Potent Eye Treatment

Quality eye treatments are vital if you want to keep the skin around your eyes moisturized, nourished, bright and healthy. Regular moisturizers are all well and good but they can be too rich for this delicate area, plus they’re lacking in the targeted ingredients your eyes need.

Things like hydrating hyaluronic acid, age-defying bakuchiol, firming caffeine and collagen-boosting peptides are all hella good for the skin around your eyes, so keep your, er, eyes peeled for those. We have three awesome eye treatments to choose from, including the brand new Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream which is packed with incredible ingredients to help your eyes look radiant and youthful.

Just remember, never overload the skin with too much eye cream (a pea-size amount is usually enough) and be gentle as you apply it. We like to use our ring fingers to lightly press the product around the eye area. This naturally reduces the amount of drag and pressure you place on the skin.

3. Balance Booze With Water

Alcohol is not going to do your eyes any favors at all, causing tiny blood vessels to dilate and thus contributing to swelling, puffiness and dehydration. So, if you like a tipple or two make sure you balance every alcoholic drink with a glass of water. Your eyes will not regret it. And neither will your hangover.

4. Chillax Your Skin

Applying a cold compress to your eyes is an age-old trick. But it’s a goodie. You see, cold temperatures constrict your blood vessels and help to tighten up puffy skin. And it really is as simple as that.

Keep a couple of teaspoons in the refrigerator and place these over your eyes for ten minutes in the morning for an instant pick-me-up. Or alternatively try cold, used teabags, slices of cucumber or pieces of potato. Cucumbers, in particular, are very hydrating and have incredible anti-inflammatory properties, while potatoes contain skin-brightening enzymes. 

It's also not a bad idea to keep your eye cream in the fridge if that floats your boat. Then you’ll get a little hit of refreshing coolness every time you apply it. Your eyes will be all over that.

5. Fake It With Makeup

Sleep and great skincare practices are more important than anything, but oftentimes an emergency fix is the only way to go. Especially when you’re in a pinch. Well, thankfully, there are some awesome makeup tricks for dealing with tiredness around your eyes.

Under eye concealer is, more often than we like to admit, our go-to makeup product during the holiday season. Because it really works. Just remember to choose yellow rather than pink-toned formulations as these help to neutralize dark circles.

Another fabulous beauty cheat is to use blue-black or navy mascara – the cool undertones help make the whites of your eyes look brighter and clearer. And when all else fails? Focus the attention away from your eyes and sport a bold, red lipstick instead. Cunning huh?

There are tons of things you could be doing to cause irritation, redness, itching and dry skin. Not sure what they are? Then you’re in the right place…

While many sensitive skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis are thanks, in part, to a genetic predisposition, many are self-inflicted. In fact, we are regularly our skin's worst enemies, causing flare-ups and upsets because of silly actions that upset the skin’s barrier function, disrupt sebum production or over-stimulate cellular turnover.

Behold, eight common ways you might be aggravating your skin, triggering existing conditions and generally screwing up the look and feel of your complexion…

Mistake #1. Cleansing Your Face With Hot Water

Oh, how tempting it is to run your water as hot as possible – especially as fall turns to winter and life turns somewhat chilly. But using scorching water temps to wash your face (and, in fact, your whole body) strips the skin of natural lipids and proteins, damaging your epidermis and opening your skin up to irritation, inflammation, itchy skin and dryness. It can also lead to your sebaceous glands going into overdrive to try to combat the dryness, resulting in all of the above, plus excess shininess and possible breakouts to add insult to injury.

If you notice any of the above and know that you're guilty of languishing in super hot showers, turn down the temperature and stick with lukewarm water instead. Also, try to limit your time in the shower to five minutes. This’ll not only help save your skin, but our water supplies, too.

Mistake #2. Exfoliating Like It’s Going Out Of Fashion

Skin exfoliation is a fabulous way to accelerate turnover and slough away dead skin cells. And we love a bit of gentle exfoliation as much as the next person. But ‘gentle’ is the operative word. For starters, exfoliating your skin with harsh, scratchy scrubs can cause tiny micro tears in the skin. And that’s just asking for trouble. Similarly, exfoliating too often – whether through physical scrubs or exfoliating acids – can compromise your barrier function and trigger sensitivities.

Our advice? Listen to your skin. If you’re exfoliating once or twice a week and your skin is still looking dull, with no sensitivities, you can probably afford to up the ante. But if it’s looking red and feeling uncomfortable, slow it down. You should also try our NEW 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which is formulated with glycolic acid, salicylic acid and glucolactone for fantastic exfoliation with fewer of the troubles.

Mistake #3. Not Washing Your Pillowcases Regularly

Sure you might cleanse your face before bed but how often do you wash your hair before turning in? The dirty truth is that pillowcases are full of sweat, oil, dead skin cells, hair products and dirt. And if you leave them to their own devices for too long, all that grime can lead to bacteria and/or microscopic dust mites. And that’s a one-way ticket to skin irritation and acne breakouts.

Change your pillowcases every two to three days. No arguments. Similarly, wash your face towels and makeup brushes as regularly as possible.

Mistake #4. Using Overly Fragranced Skincare Products

Contact dermatitis is when a certain substance comes into contact with your skin and triggers an allergic reaction. This usually takes the form of a red, itchy rash. Of course, these symptoms will go away as long as you remove whatever’s causing the reaction. But therein lies the problem. Exactly what is the cause?

When it comes to ingredients in your skincare routine, fragrance is the number one cause of contact dermatitis in the US. So, if you’re experiencing itchy-type symptoms or weird facial redness, it might be worth checking the labels on all your skincare (as well as your haircare and laundry detergent) labels to make sure you're steering clear of the scented stuff.

The frustrating part of all this is that under US regulations, fragrances can be listed simple as ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum,’ rather than the raw ingredient used. Specifics are rarely revealed because they’re thought of as ‘trade secrets’ by the FDA. Go figure.

Stick with ‘fragrance-free’ products, however, and you should be OK.

Mistake #5. OD-ing On Active Skincare Ingredients

Retinol... vitamin C... glycolic acid... all of these skincare powerhouses are incredible for tackling wrinkles, reducing the appearance of dark spots and generally improving your skin. But you have to be careful and use them only in moderation. Overloading your skin with such potent active ingredients can irritate even the strongest of skin types. And if you’re already predisposed to sensitivities, they can spell disaster.

There are a few golden rules to remember when dealing with active skincare ingredients. First, don’t layer more than one active treatment product at a time. Many serums are formulated with more than one active, for sure, but skincare manufacturers know what they’re doing. Piling on serum after serum can seriously traumatize your skin. Secondly, go slowly – after patch testing first. This is so much better than applying a new product day after day only to have a reaction a week later when it's too late.

Finally, search out the more sensitive sides of active ingredients. Try bakuchiol rather than retinol, lactic acid instead of glycolic acid and sodium ascorbyl phosphate instead of l-ascorbic acid. These will have similar effects to their powerful cousins, but with far fewer side effects. We’re currently head-over-heels for our new Rejuvenating Longevity Serum which packs a punch against skin aging thanks to nature’s gentler answer to retinol, bakuchiol.

Mistake #6. Skipping Sun Protection

It goes without saying that the sun has to make an appearance here. Because, sorry sun, but you’re bad news for the skin. And even worse news for sensitive skin.

Sensitive skin can be very reactive to weather temperatures and conditions, becoming flushed, prickly, tingly or itchy when exposed to things like wind, cold, heat, and especially sunlight. Sun skin allergies are also real. So much so that it’s a medical condition with a fancy name: polymorphous light eruption (PLME).

This is why sunscreen has to be a non-negotiable step in your skincare routine. Just remember to stick with mineral formulations that use gentle ingredients like zinc oxide to protect your skin. Our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C is a winner.

Mistake #7. Smothering Your Face In Sulfates

Synthetic fragrance isn’t the only irritant in skincare. Sulfates can also be a complete pain for certain skin types.

Sulfates are used a great deal in skincare formulations because they’re damn good at cleansing the skin, removing oils, dirt and product residue very effectively. However, they’re kind of too good if that makes sense, drying out your skin and often causing problems like dryness, itching, redness and breakouts. Especially around the sensitive eye area.

We avoid using the worst sulfate bad boys – sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) – in favor of kinder-to-skin surfactants that care for your barrier function instead of stripping its life away. Our Soothing Cleansing Milk is the best bet for sensitive skin.

Mistake #8. Ignoring Food Sensitivities

Don't forget, what you put into your body can be just as relevant as what goes onto your skin.

Most people with serious skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis or rosacea are well aware how important diet and food allergies are. Anything from tree nuts (think almonds, walnuts and macadamias), to dairy and yeast can all cause unwanted flare-ups. And the relationship between food, allergies and the skin doesn’t stop there. If you have an allergy to a certain type of food, it may also be mindful to not only avoid eating it, but to stay well away from it in your beauty products. 

Food and skin allergies are tricky to self-diagnose but they’re important to nail down so if you think you might have an allergy or intolerance to something, it’s wise to get help from an allergist or dermatologist straight away.

Want to better the texture of your skin and help transform the rough into the smooth? Done.

Skin concerns can vary greatly. Whether it’s hormonal breakouts that just won’t let up, puffy morning eyes after too much of a good time, or pesky dark spots that crop up on your cheeks every year – no matter how prudent you are with the sunscreen – there’s always something.

Take rough, uneven skin, for example. Poor texture might not be life threatening or even that noticeable to the untrained eye. But we get it, touching your skin and feeling bumps, flakes and rough patches instead of baby-smooth skin is as frustrating as hell. 

So, why is uneven skin texture such a royal pain in the butt? Well, bumpy skin can be super persistent for starters. It's also impossible to cover up with makeup. In fact, makeup often makes it look ten times worse. And then there are the gazillion reasons why it’s there in the first place. OK, maybe there aren’t that many, but you get the picture.

If you’re fed up with bumpy skin simply not letting up, read on for some important intel that might just help you say ciao to the rough stuff…

First Up, What’s Causing Your Uneven Skin Texture?

Oh, if only we had a straight answer to this question. But alas, when it comes to the health of your skin, things are never quite that black and white.

Poor skin texture can be caused by any number of things which is pretty unhelpful, we know. Thankfully they can, at the very least, be put into four main camps: chronic skin disorders; sluggish cell turnover; an overly complicated skincare routine and surprise, surprise, the sun.

First up we have skin disorders like rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and acne. All of these can make your skin feel bumpy and rough to the touch – especially during flare-ups. And if you’re not careful, scarring from severe acne can also leave you with textural issues in the long-term. So, if you think you might be dealing with some kind of chronic skin complaint like the aforementioned, the only real way to get a handle on what’s going on is to get a professional diagnosis from a dermatologist. Trying to solve these on your own (particularly when you don’t know what you’re dealing with) can be a long, hard struggle and even then you might never achieve the best results.

Other textural issues are most commonly caused by sluggish cell turnover which allows dead skin cells to persistently stick around at the surface of your skin. This results in dullness, dehydration and rough, clogged pores. And then there’s an overly complicated skincare routine that’s packed to the brim with active ingredients. Active ingredients are great in moderation, but too much of a good thing can totally over-stimulate your skin, leaving it feeling bumpy and irritated.

Finally, the sun. This is the one thing you can blame for almost all of your skin woes. And it’s valid. UV radiation disrupts your collagen supplies and causes your cells to prematurely break down and die, leaving you with seriously uneven skin texture (and tone, for that matter!).

How To Boss Smoother Skin

As mentioned, for slightly complicated issues like rosacea and eczema, get thee to a derm. However, if you think your textural issues are more a case of poor cellular turnover, cruddy skincare and/or too much time in the sun, here are five fantastic ways to help smooth things over…

1. Exfoliate On The Reg

The best way to accelerate cell turnover and reduce build-up on the surface of your skin is to exfoliate more often. Don’t get us wrong, most people don’t need to exfoliate daily – that can exacerbate the problem – but two or three times a week with a physical scrub, or three to four times a week with a chemical exfoliant can do wonders for bumpy skin.

Our awesome NEW 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant is a great choice for textural issues because it’s formulated with a sweet blend of glycolic acid, salicylic acid and glucolactone which provide the ideal amount of deep exfoliation and oil control, without upsetting the balance of your skin.

2. Don’t Skip Your SPF

UV radiation is a devil on the skin, screwing up your pores and totally messing with collagen production. Both of which are bad news if you want to get anywhere near the heady heights of smooth skin.

Protect your skin every day with a mineral sunscreen that has a minimum of SPF 30 and is also broad-spectrum. The latter is super important because it means it protects your skin not only from UVB radiation (which is what the SPF denotes) but UVA radiation as well. And that’s the stuff that gets right through those clouds on cold, wintry days, damaging your skin, rain or shine. Try our fabulous SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C as the last step in your morning routine.

3. Make Retinol A Bedtime Favorite

Of course, one of the best ingredients for uneven skin texture is retinol. As per! Although totally different to exfoliants, retinol also has a clever way of boosting turnover and accelerating collagen production to help improve texture, tone, acne, the works. Retinol is not always advisable for rosacea or eczema-prone skin because it’s a potent little beast, but as long as you introduce it slowly and carefully into your routine, it can have skin-transforming results for most skin types.

Give our Retinol Facial Serum a go in the evenings, two or three times a week, after cleansing and before moisturizing.

4. Dose Up On Vitamin C

When it comes to waging war on skin-roughening free radicals, vitamin C gets our vote every time. A major player in the world of antioxidants, vitamin C helps neutralize the many free radicals caused by sun damage, environmental pollution and the like. But that’s not enough for our vitamin C because it also works like a dog to inhibit melanin production, therefore keeping a beady eye on your skin tone as well as its texture.

Like retinol, however, vitamin C can be a pretty powerful addition to your skincare routine so we believe sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) should be your ultimate go-to. SAP is a salt form of pure vitamin C which makes it a) more stable and b) less irritating. It’s the only kind we use across all of our vitamin C products.

5. Never Underestimate The Power Of A Good Moisturizer

Dry and/or dehydrated skin is seriously bad news for the smoothness of your skin so moisturizing is totally non-negotiable. You should moisturize your skin after every cleanse, ideally following a treatment serum that addresses any other concerns you may have.

Look out for moisturizers that contain a good blend of humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or aloe (these draw water to the surface of your skin) as well as ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil or cocoa butter that help lock all that moisture in. And for an extra boost of free moisture? Apply your product while your skin is still slightly damp. Our current fave is our new Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream but we have a whole bunch of moisturizing whizz kids right here.

It might be thought of as an ‘extra’ step in your skincare routine, but exfoliation can make or break the condition of your skin.

Reckon you’re a dab hand at exfoliating? Got the product, worn the t-shirt and all that? Well, as great as you might be, there’s always room for improvement. Whether it’s getting your frequency absolutely correct, knowing when is the best time to exfoliate or learning how to exfoliate your face and neck without damaging your skin there are many ways to do better.

So if you hate resting on your laurels when it comes to the health of your skin, read on for five important exfoliating lessons you need to know…

1. It’s Better To Under-Exfoliate Than To Over-Exfoliate

The first, and undoubtedly the most important rule when it comes to exfoliating your skin is to never, ever, overdo it.

Here’s the thing, exfoliation is your way of stimulating your skin to turn over at a faster rate, removing dead, hardened cells from the skin’s surface while encouraging the fresher, younger ones to reveal themselves. All this helps remove toxins, unclog pores, control breakouts, fade surface level dark spots, smooth lines, balance oil production, allow the rest of your skincare routine to work better and, well, you get the picture.

Of course, your skin has its own pre-programmed way of shedding millions of dead skin cells every day – a process called desquamation – but things like aging and environmental damage slow this process down from around 28 days to as long as 80 days. And this is not good news. Slow, sluggish cell turnover means that instead of naturally sloughing away, dry, old skin cells get stuck at the surface causing your skin to look dull, patchy, congested and dehydrated.

So you get the picture that exfoliation is pretty important. Well, here’s the catch. Exfoliating your skin too hard or with high concentrations of super-potent ingredients will speed up cell turnover way too much. And this can totally upset your skin’s barrier function, stripping away important proteins and oils, leaving it open to irritation, breakouts, redness and stinging.

This is why it’s key to be gentle. If you like to use physical exfoliants like scrubs, cleansing brushes or facial mitts you should only ever use very light pressure, and avoid harsh tools and products that make your skin sting or hurt. On the other hand, if you prefer chemical exfoliants that harness the powers of hydroxy acids such as glycolic, salicylic and lactic acids, try to avoid super high concentrations and don’t attempt any kind of DIY mixology. Mixing and matching such potent ingredients is best left to the skincare professionals. Otherwise it inevitably does not end well.

2. Yes, You CAN Alternative Between Physical & Chemical Exfoliants

While we’re on the subject of physical and chemical exfoliation, the good news is you don’t have to choose between the two. Of course, you should never scrub your skin and then immediately apply a chemical exfoliant afterwards. Or even on the same day for that matter. This is completely over-egging the pudding, plus you know all that irritation we just spoke of? Well, double exfoliation is opening up the door for sore, sensitive skin.

However, you can certainly alternate between the two if you tread carefully and don’t overdo it. Just remember to stick to two or three times a week with your face scrub, then on alternate days, apply a gentle-on-the-skin chemical exfoliant.

And boy, have we got just the product for that!

Say hello to our new 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which is formulated with an incredible blend of glycolic acid (an AHA), salicylic acid (BHA) and gluconolactone (PHA). Together with vitamin C this fragrance-free, pH-balancing treatment has been specifically formulated to offer an effective way to increase skin turnover, with less of the irritation often associated with acid exfoliants. The key is the 6 percent sweet spot which we believe is just the right amount to care for all skin types – yes, even sensitive.

3. Cleansing Can Be Effective Before OR After Using Face Scrub

Exfoliating your skin with a physical scrub, washcloth or mitt should never replace your cleansing routine. In fact, you should still cleanse your skin whenever you exfoliate.

But should you do it beforehand or after exfoliating? Well, surprisingly you can do either.

Most skincare experts recommend cleansing before exfoliating because this helps remove surface debris like makeup, oils, sunscreen and sweat, allowing your exfoliator to really get to business straight from the off. However, doing the opposite lifts away those dead skin cells first which gives your cleanser a better chance to wash all that debris away.

In short, cleansing first allows for a deeper, more effective exfoliation, while exfoliating first gives you a better cleanse.

Of course, if you prefer chemical exfoliants like our new 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant, this whole point is null and void. You must always apply chemical exfoliants to clean skin for the best results. End of discussion.

4. For Excellent Results, Exfoliate In The Morning

Never quite sure whether to exfoliate before bed or after you wake up? To be honest, any time of the day is good and it really depends on your skin type, needs and routine. However, if you really want to get the most out of your exfoliant, it can be better to use it in the morning.

During the night, your skin repairs and renews itself from the daily grind, leaving you with more dead skin cells to slough away come the morning. Also, most people apply their retinol treatment at night so over-stimulating your skin before using such a powerful product can increase the potential for irritation.

All this combines to, in our opinion, give morning exfoliation the win. And when you add in the fact that our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant contains skin brightening, free radical-fighting vitamin C to shield your skin from daily damage, it really is a no brainer.

5. Treat Your Exfoliant Like A Retinol Treatment

As previously mentioned, exfoliation isn't like cleansing, moisturizing and applying sunscreen, which should all be carried out on a strict, daily basis. In fact, one of the worst things you can do is to dive in head first, going from no exfoliation at all, to a vigorous scrub every morning.

As with retinol, proceed your exfoliation routine with caution. Start with a gentle product just once or twice a week (having patch tested any new product first, of course), then slowly build up to more frequent use as your skin acclimates. Depending on your skin type, you may be able to work up to daily exfoliation, alternating between scrubs and acids, or you may find your skin prefers a less frequent approach. Everyone’s skin is different so you’ll need to be the judge of that. Just remember, exfoliating shouldn’t sting, cause peeling, or make your skin look red.

And this applies to your body, just as much as your face and neck.

When it comes to skincare heroes, ceramides have to be up there with the very best. Here’s why…

It goes without saying that skincare ingredients are everything to us. From the classic stalwarts like retinol and vitamin C to some of the most exciting discoveries in decades (bakuchiol for the win!), they make up the absolute foundation of every one of our TruSkin formulations.

The truth is, ingredients can make or break a skincare product. Apply a moisturizer that’s packed with synthetic fragrance, for example, and it could cause your skin to feel even more dry than it did beforehand. Similarly, if you wash your face with a super-strong formulation that’s packed to the brim with kick-ass sulfates, your skin could end up feeling dehydrated, irritated or inflamed. Not cool.

Now, we know you’re well versed in some of the best ingredients out there, but what do you know about ceramides? They might be less hyped than retinol and  less glamorous than hyaluronic acid, but ceramides are an integral part of any healthy skincare regime, helping to improve the quality of your complexion – no matter your skin type. In fact ceramides are pretty much all pros, zero cons.

Read on for the lowdown on these unassuming but very important skincare powerhouses.

What Are Ceramides?

Contrary to popular belief, ceramides are not just fancy-sounding ingredients that you hear about in skincare commercials. In fact, they’re important lipids found naturally in your skin’s structure. And they’re not just there to make up the numbers either. They take up somewhere between 40 and 50 percent of your skin’s composition. That’s kind of a big deal.

Your skin contains many different types of ceramide and each one plays a major role in the efficiency of your barrier function. Not only do they bind the cells together – kind of like the mortar to your skin’s brick wall – but they maintain strength and stability to its whole structure. They also help prevent water loss and protect your skin from environmental pollution, offering vital support to your skin’s entire functionality. As we said, big deal.

In a perfect world, your level and quality of ceramides would remain at their optimum best for your entire life. Ha, if only. Unfortunately the aging process, as well as things like stress and environmental damage, completely screw with your skin’s ceramides, causing them to progressively drop after you hit your mid-20s. Just like your collagen! This compromises the integrity of your important barrier function (bad news) and can result in all manner of issues including dryness, redness, irritation, rough skin and dehydration (more bad news).

The Benefits Of Ceramides In Skincare

Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom because ceramides can also be found in your skincare products – synthetically produced to mimic the natural stuff that works hard within your skin’s structure. Even better, topical ceramides are extremely well tolerated by all skin types (dry, oily, sensitive, the works) and they offer some extremely important benefits as your skin matures…

1. Ceramides Boost Moisture In Your Skin

The main job of ceramides is to lock moisture into your skin by sealing and preserving your skin’s barrier function ­­– its natural protective, top layer. By keeping this barrier function in shape, ceramides work hard to reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL) which is all the moisture that evaporates from your skin’s surface on a daily basis. Research shows that the average amount of water lost is around 300-400 ml per day but if your barrier function starts to fail then this can increase like nobody’s business. And that’s when dehydration and dryness can kick in.

Upping the number of ceramides through your skincare routine helps replace those lost by aging and environmental issues like sun damage. And this, in turn, helps keep your skin hydrated and moisturized.

2. Ceramides Help Strengthen Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is thanks, in part, to a weakened barrier function that's failing at its job of keeping moisture in and irritants out. Your barrier function is the uppermost layer of your skin, AKA the stratum corneum, and its integrity is vital when it comes to how your skin reacts to external stressors like harsh skincare products, sunlight, pollution and so on. It makes sense, therefore, that anything you can do to fortify this barrier function is going to help manage sensitivities and improve irritation.

Various studies show that many people who suffer with chronic skin conditions like eczema have fewer ceramides in their skin, yet they show a marked improvement when topical ceramides are added to their skincare routine. This drives us to put ceramides up there at the very top of the list of must-haves for sensitive skin types.

3. Ceramides Are Great For Aging Skin

Dry and/or dehydrated skin highlight any fine lines and wrinkles you may have much more than normal or oily skin. It makes sense, therefore, that in order to keep those tell-tale signs of aging on a back burner you need to keep your skin well hydrated and moisturized. Moisturized skin = plumper, firmer, smoother skin. It’s simple science.

By fortifying your barrier function ceramides also hit aging from another angle. How so? Well, all that extra protection helps to minimize free radical damage which often results from things like smoking, UV radiation and a poor diet. As you know, free radicals are the main cause of external skin aging, killing your skin’s collagen and elastin supplies. Seriously, they're not something your skin wants to have to deal with. However, the stronger your barrier function, the better protected your skin will be as a result. And that, coupled with topical antioxidants and daily sunscreen is the key to gorgeous, healthy-looking skin. 

How To Include Ceramides In Your Skincare Routine

Ceramides can be formulated into all sorts of skincare products, from eye treatments and cleansers to lotions and night creams. The fact that they’re super gentle on your skin and work well with other active ingredients also gives them major kudos.

We believe the most effective way to incorporate ceramides into your skincare routine is through leave-on products like facial serums and moisturizers. That’s why we’ve packed three essential ceramides (NP, AP and EOP in case it comes up at your next trivia night!) into our NEW Firming Collagen Day Lotion and Smoothing Collagen Serum. The ideal combination for protecting, repairing and hydrating your skin, this duo helps encourage healthy aging by not only caring for your vital collagen and elastin supplies but by boosting ceramides at a surface level.

That’s what we call a win-win situation right there.