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Investing in an awesome face serum is all well and good, but if you don’t use it properly you could miss out on all of its important benefits.

Having the knowledge of when, how and why to use a specific skincare product is golden. Granted, some are pretty self-explanatory. Cleanser? Easy, you use it twice daily to, well, cleanse your face and get rid of any debris that’s built-up over the past 8-12 hours. Moisturizer? Also, a fairly simple concept that comes at the end of your routine and helps seal moisture into your skin.

But what about serums? Touted by everyone from beauty influencers to dermatologists as the key to youthful, healthy skin, face serums sound easy enough, but know this – there’s a definite right and wrong way to use them. Apply yours like a skincare pro and you’ll see some incredible results after regular, continued use. Use it incorrectly, however, and you may as well have saved your money for those new Chloé shades you’ve been eyeing up all spring.

Serums are created to specifically target your most annoying skin concerns. They have a smaller molecular structure than moisturizers which means they’re able to penetrate much deeper and quicker into your skin. They also contain high concentrations of active ingredients like retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid or vitamin C. All good stuff, right? You’re not kidding. In fact, this super powered combination of quick delivery AND awesome ingredients means that facial serums are among the most important products in your skincare routine.

But only if you use them properly.

Of course, the most important thing to do before using any new skincare formulation is to a) read the instructions thoroughly so you know what you’re dealing with, and b) patch test your product first. Patch testing is crucial when dealing with serums because their potency can lead to skin irritation if not handled with caution. Simply apply a small amount of serum to a discreet area of your skin (behind your ears is a great spot) and leave it for 24-48 hours to check for a reaction. See nothing? Feel nothing? Then you should be good to go.

Then, follow our guide for expert serum application. Honestly, we abide by these rules every single day – morning and night.

1. Always Work On Clean Skin

This feels a bit like a moot point but you’d be surprised by how many people think they can just shove on their skincare products without first cleansing their face and neck. Such a crazy mistake. You simply have to get rid of debris from the surface of your skin before applying any type of skincare product that’s formulated to penetrate the top layers of your skin. Otherwise it’ll have to work extra hard to even reach your skin if it has a blanket of sweat, sebum, dirt and makeup to wade through.

The tricks for great cleansing are to avoid hot water, be thorough but never heavy-handed, and always choose gentle ingredients tailored for your skin type. If you have dry skin, for example, go for our fabulous Soothing Cleansing Milk which combines rice and oat milks for thorough, but kind-to-skin cleansing. If you’re mega oily, however, you might be better off with Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser which is a great product for balancing excess sebum and detoxifying troubled skin – without drying it out, of course. Massage your product all over your skin (neck included) then rinse thoroughly and pat with a clean face towel.

2. Don’t Use Too Much…

… which begs the question, exactly how much is too much?

Most serums will give you a guide as to the correct amount to use for each application, but the general rule of thumb is that a pea-sized amount or a few drops should be plenty. Remember, serums are super concentrated and they smooth on your skin very easily, so a thin, even coating will deliver plenty of the good stuff to your complexion. Any more, is just going to be a waste.

3. Try Applying Your Serum To Damp Skin

Damp skin is more permeable than dry skin and therefore more receptive to active skincare ingredients. This is why we love to apply our serum straight away after cleansing or toning while the skin is still ever so slightly damp.

Apply a couple of drops to your hand as quickly as you can, then press rather than rub your serum onto your face using clean hands. And don’t worry about massaging it in, either. All you need to do is gently tap your skin all over to ensure you cover all areas of your face.

4. Exfoliate First

Getting rid of build-up and dead skin cells is a great way to ensure your serum has nothing getting in its the way. You want your skin to absorb and penetrate the skin deeper down where all the good stuff happens; not to sit on top, trying to contend with all those dead skin cells that, quite frankly, shouldn’t even be there in the first place.

If you’re a scrub kinda person, try our new Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub which is the ideal way to prepare your skin to take on all those awesome actives in your serum. Not a big fan of face scrubs? No problem, we also have a fabulous chemical exfoliant that contains glycolic and salicylic acids plus a whole host of other skin reviving ingredients to accelerate cell turnover and boost the results from your favorite face serum. 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant is its name and rejuvenating your skin is its game!

5. Finish With Moisturizer

No matter how hydrating a serum is, you must always apply moisturizer afterwards. Hark back to when we talked about all those small molecules that make up a serum’s structure, giving it a thin, silky-smooth texture. Well, this is because serums don’t contain ingredients like occlusives or emollients which are important for creating a moisture-sealing layer over the surface of your skin. That’s where your ‘actual’ moisturizer comes to the forefront.

Moisturizers are thicker than serums which makes them super important for locking your serum and all of its ingredients into your skin. So, do not miss this important step.

And sunscreen. But that goes without saying, right? RIGHT?

What is glass skin and how can you get it? Read on for the lowdown on this shiny, dewy skin trend that shows no signs of going away.

Skin trends are an odd phenomenon. Unlike your hair and makeup which you can temporarily change with different colors, tricks, techniques and updos, your skin is what it is. Sure, you can improve its condition with better lifestyle choices and an awesome skincare routine, but you can’t fundamentally change the structure of the skin you were born with. It’s called genetics.

It’s still kind of cool to keep up with beauty trends that concern your skin, however. But, really, it’s all about trends in skincare, not actual skin. Think skin cycling, product personalization, skinimalism (which is still all over TikTok, btw), that kind of thing.

And the latest trend we (and the rest of the world) are into? Glass skin.

What Is Glass Skin?

Originating from Korean beauty practices where dewy, hydrated, uber healthy skin reigns above all else, glass skin is all about looking after your skin so that it looks and feels its absolute best. Pop words like ‘smooth,’ ‘glowing,’ ‘crystal-clear,’ ‘plump,’ ‘radiant’ and ‘fresh’ to the top of your skincare goals and you’ll be on the right track.

Glass skin is basically the skin ideal. We don’t like to think of it as skin perfection because that’s way beyond most of our reaches, but it’s about cleansing like a pro, layering on hydration and using skincare products and techniques (rather than piles of highlighting makeup) to help your skin look radiant and luminous. Just like glass.

Of course, getting your skin to behave in a glass-like fashion is not easy. If you have oily skin, for example, it can be a slippery slope from glowy skin to greasy-looking skin. Similarly, if your skin is dry, you’re going to need some darn good layers of moisturization in order to get glass-like skin.

It’s important, therefore to listen to your skin and adapt your glass skin routine to suit you.

That being said, there are a few key steps that can help you along the road. To follow, five of our favorites.

1. Try A (Gentle) Double Cleanse

Double cleansing splits the beauty world. Some swear by it, others believe it to be completely unnecessary. And us? Well, we sit somewhere in the middle. It’s very effective for those who sweat a lot, wear a good amount of makeup or have particularly oily skin. But it can be too much for sensitive skin types and is kind of pointless if you live your life wearing zero makeup. That’s our take, anyway.

If you want to have the cleanest, clearest skin of your life, however, and take care as you do it, double cleansing can be a great place to start. It’s also another K-beauty concept, so go figure!

Double cleansing is basically the act of cleansing your skin twice – first with an oil-based cleanser or makeup remover to dissolve things like makeup, sebum and sunscreen, then a water-based cleanser to rid your skin of other impurities like sweat and pollutants. By cleansing your skin twice you ensure you completely remove all kinds of debris that may have built up throughout the day. And by doing this you keep your pores clear and your breakouts under control. Because, while pimples and in-your-face pores aren’t the end of the world, they’re no friends of glass skin.

If you fancy giving double cleansing a go, do it at night only – when your skin has the most build-up on its surface – and use the gentlest formulations possible to avoid drying out your skin. We have plenty of incredible cleansers to choose from but our Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser is a smart option for step two as it also helps amp up your radiance at the same time.

2. Exfoliate Regularly

Exfoliation is another awesome step to do at night because it’s a fantastic way to slough away dead skin cells and accelerate cell turnover while you sleep, helping you to wake up with smoother, brighter-looking skin.

Whether you choose a chemical exfoliant like 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant or a physical scrub like Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub our most important advice is not to go too crazy. Be extra gentle with your skin, exfoliating just once or twice a week, and if you feel like your skin can’t handle that, cut it back to find your sweet spot.

Exfoliation is awesome for glass skin, irritated skin is not.

3. Invest In A Hydrating Toner

Toner might feel like one of those skincare steps you can really do without, but it can be a fabulous way to start boosting your hydration levels as early as possible. And glass skin is nothing without hydration.

Unlike the toners of the ‘80s which stripped all the life from your skin, modern day formulations are crafted to balance your skin’s pH levels, up its moisture content and prepare your skin to soak up all the goodness from the rest of your skincare routine. They really are the first step to ultimate skin hydration – which is basically the opposite of their predecessors!

Our Rose Water Refreshing Facial Toner, for example, contains just one ingredient – pure Moroccan Rose Water – to gently refresh, hydrate, soothe and refine your skin, while Ocean Minerals Super Toner is charged with powerful minerals, vitamin C and glycolic acid to revitalize and hydrate a dull, flagging complexion.

Apply your chosen formulation immediately after cleansing and then get ready to start building on this great hydration foundation with the rest of your routine.

4. Layer Up With Serum

Facial serums are your next port of call for the dewy skin of your dreams so don’t miss this important step – night and day. Serums are able to penetrate your skin much better than moisturizers which is why they’re often packed with concentrated active ingredients to treat your skin at a deeper level.

In terms of glass skin goals, the best ingredients to look out for are water-loving humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, alongside vitamin C for brightening, vitamin E for soothing and niacinamide for smoothing texture and improving tone. Fruit acids are also a good shout for encouraging cell turnover while peptides help improve firmness and keep collagen synthesis in good working order.

Of course, you don’t want to overload your skin with too many actives (cue irritation!) so choose your serums wisely and if you want to work on a few different concerns, try using one serum in the morning and a different one at night. You could also try our incredible Multi-Vitamin Facial Serum which is fantastic way to target a whole number of skin concerns.

Just remember to apply your serum immediately after toning to help seal in moisture, and use just a small amount. More than a few drops is a total waste.

5. Finish With Moisturizer (& Sunscreen EVERY Morning!)

Last but not least, in fact last but most of all, is moisturizer – the final step in the glassification (hmm, made-up word?) of your fabulous complexion.

Now is not the time to look for mattifying formulations but instead go for the richest moisturizer your skin will take. That’s what’s going to help seal in all that hard hydrating work you’ve already accomplished. If your skin is oily, you’ll want to steer clear of super heavy creams and butters in favor of lighter lotions, but if your skin is dry, they’ll lap up all that richness.

Ingredients like fatty acids, ceramides, shea butter and sunflower seed oil are ideal for imparting a gorgeous glow and truly moisturized complexion – even better when combined by brightening antioxidants like vitamin C or the hydrating powers of aloe vera.

We’re currently loving our Firming Collagen Day Lotion in the morning and Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream before bed, but we have plenty where those came from, right here.

To finish, don’t forget to generously apply SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C every morning without fail. Sun protection might not seem the obvious choice for nailing a glass-like complexion but if you allow the sun to destroy your collagen it’ll age you up at lightning speeds and your skin will never have the plump luminosity that glass skin requires.

Retinol is arguably one of the most lauded skincare ingredients out there. We don’t dispute that. But if you don’t get on with retinol, what are the alternatives? Read on for eight other skincare greats that can be just as effective for aging skin.

Retinol? We approve. In fact we have a whole bunch of skincare formulations, including an awesome serum and moisturizer, based around this skincare powerhouse. However, while its benefits to your skin are undeniable, it’s not the only ingredient that helps aging skin. Sure, it’s been proven time and again to nudge collagen synthesis and encourage faster cellular turnover. And yes, this simultaneously works to improve the visible appearance of pimples, dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. But retinol is not without its faults. Ask anyone with sensitive skin and they will attest to its sometimes irritating, redness-inducing qualities.

The good news is that when retinol isn’t playing ball, there are tons of other incredible ingredients that can help deal with your skin woes just as well. Some might even be a more effective option for you – depending on your skin goals, of course. So let’s check them out, shall we?

1. Bakuchiol

New (ish) to the skincare game, but already giving retinol run for its money, bakuchiol is your guy if you’re looking to replicate the effects of retinol, but are so not in the market for dryness, redness, peeling or irritation.

Bakuchiol (pronounced bah-koo-chee-awl) is nature’s best alternative to retinol. Extracted from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant, it’s been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and, if recent clinical studies are anything to go by, it’s shown real promise for dramatically improving the surface of the skin. How does it do this? By stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating cellular turnover at a deep, below-the-surface level. And if this sounds familiar, that’s because this is exactly what retinol does. The difference is that bakuchiol is more gentle on the skin so has way fewer side effects. If any at all.

We’re big fans of bakuchiol (if you couldn’t tell!) and based an entire range of healthy aging formulations on this awesome ingredient. Try the lot with our Longevity Regimen Bundle which includes Renewing Moisturizing Cream, Depuffing Eye Cream and Rejuvenating Serum to tackle the signs of aging from all angles.

2. Ceramides

We know you’ve heard of ceramides, but do you know what they actually are? Well, ceramides are important lipids found naturally in your skin’s structure where they play a major role in the efficiency of your barrier function, binding your cells together while helping your skin to maintain strength, stability and protection from the outside world.

Unfortunately, skin loses ceramides as it ages and this compromises your barrier function, resulting in anything from the odd bit of dryness through to rough texture and some serious premature aging. Not cool.

Topical ceramides, however, can be a great addition to your skincare routine, boosting moisture, strengthening your BFF (barrier function friend, that is!) and, in turn, helping to fight back against wrinkles and sagging skin. Try our fabulous Firming Collagen Day Lotion and Smoothing Collagen Serum dynamic duo to get your fill.

3. Glycolic Acid

As a fully paid up member of the AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) club, glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant that helps accelerate cell turnover by breaking the bonds between dead skin cells and encouraging them to split. Retinol does the same, albeit it in a very different way.

Full disclosure, glycolic acid’s potency is on a par with retinol so it does have a tendency to overpower certain sensitive skin types. But as long as you use it carefully, introducing it slowly and not overdoing it, it can be a great way to brighten and smooth the skin while helping to fade dark spots.

Glycolic acid is also a smart choice if you’re looking to reduce acne breakouts. (Ha, no thanks we’ll keep them as they are, thanks – said nobody, ever!). It works by helping to keep your pores clean and free of dead skin cells, which makes them appear tighter and stops them from becoming blocked and inflamed. Want in on some of that? Then treat your skin with 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant two or three times a week. You won’t regret it.

4. Hyaluronic Acid

Without a decent amount of hydration, skin is nothing. Moisture helps keep your skin plump, soft, smooth and youthful-looking, reducing the appearance of redness, fine lines and wrinkles while smoothing rough texture and firming sagging skin. It figures, therefore, that if you don’t keep your well hydrated it will age up in no time. And no amount of retinol will be able to stop it!

Enter hyaluronic acid (HA) to the skincare scene. A master of hydration, HA can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, drawing moisture to the surface of your skin when applied topically. It’s also very well tolerated by all skin types (your skin naturally contains HA so, of course it loves it!).

Granted, hyaluronic acid doesn’t have the ability to boost skin turnover, but don’t hold that against it because it does have antioxidant powers to protect your skin against environmental free radicals and safeguard your all-important collagen and elastin supplies. We’ll take that. Try our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum and see for yourself what a fantastic ingredient it really is.

5. MSM

Otherwise known as methylsulfonylmethane, MSM is a naturally-occurring form of sulfur that’s regularly used in skincare. It often gets overlooked, however, because big guns like retinol, vitamin C and glycolic acid like to take all the glory. Pretty unfair if you ask us – especially because it’s so freakin’ good!

Sulfur is one of the most important elements in the human body and it’s often touted as the ‘beauty’ or ‘healing’ mineral because it accelerates healthy blood flow, reduces inflammation, and plays a key role in the production of collagen and keratin. MSM does all this AND works hard to fight environmental damage by helping to increase your production of glutathione, one of the body’s most important, naturally occurring antioxidants.

MSM also gets extra bonus points for increasing your skin’s permeability. This allows toxins to escape more easily and enhances your skin’s ability to absorb all those delicious, active ingredients in your skincare products, allowing them to penetrate the skin quicker and deeper. AKA better. Try our turbo powered Vitamin C Super Serum+ for your fix of MSM… as well as other skin-restoring greats.

6. Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and a total powerhouse for mature skin, helping to address all manner of concerns including dehydration, discoloration, dryness, poor texture, fine lines, wrinkles and even redness and irritation.

An absolute go-to for sensitive souls, niacinamide is an awesome alternative to retinol because it’s well tolerated by all skin types and even helps to calm and soothe irritation caused by chronic skin conditions like rosacea and eczema. It works by increasing the production of ceramides in the top layers, helping to look after that all-important barrier function and improving the strength, resiliency and moisture levels of your delicate skin. As you know, dry skin is terrible for the appearance of line and wrinkles so anything you can do to help maintain a legitimate amount of hydration will simultaneously help your skin look more youthful and glowy.

Niacinamide also fights free radicals and regulates oil production so it’s a pretty fabulous choice for oily, aging skin. But that being said, it’s a pretty fabulous choice for ALL skin types. Which is why our Niacinamide Facial Serum is such a baller.

7. Peptides

When it comes to boosting your supplies of skin-loving collagen and elastin, peptides have your back. How so? Well, just like proteins, peptides are chemical compounds made up of amino acids. And because they’re so closely related – peptides are short chains of no more than 50 amino acids, whereas proteins are much longer molecules of multiple peptides – peptides signal your skin to be more efficient in its synthesis of vital proteins like collagen and elastin. Some peptides also encourage your skin to produce more hyaluronic acid which is great for hydration and free radical protection.

Of course, some peptides are better than others. Many are unstable, some are too large to be able to penetrate your skin and others just don’t perform that well. So make sure you’re looking for the good ones when choosing your anti-aging weapon.

Matrixyl 3000, for example, is a combination of two peptides that has been independently proven to boost collagen in your skin, offering true results for a whole host of skin concerns including fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and hormonal breakouts. We also love palmitoyl tripeptides-1 and -5, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 which combine to offer a true force for pumping up your much-needed supplies of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Find them in our incredible Peptide Facial Serum.

8. Vitamin C

Last, but never least, is vitamin C which, as you know, means the world to us at TruSkin. With no less than eight skincare formulations based on the prowess of this antioxidant dreamboat, we basically live and breathe vitamin C. No word of a lie!

The reason we love it so? Simple. Vitamin C is one of the most trusted and clinically-proven ingredients known to skin. It provides the very best in environmental protection (read stronger, healthier skin), controls melanin production (hello brighter skin and a more even skin tone) and gives your sunscreen an extra helping hand to shield your skin from the daily onslaught of damaging UV radiation. All of this adds up to stronger, youthful-looking skin that maintains its firmness, radiance, smoothness and evenness. Yes, even if you are closer to 80 than 20 ;)

Our classic Vitamin C Facial Serum is always a winner, no matter your skin type, but you must also try the divine Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream before bed each night to restore your skin as you sleep and power it up for another day.

Face scrubs can be fabulous for the health of your skin. Using yours incorrectly, however, is not. So, don’t be that person who screws up their exfoliation routine and makes their skin pay for it.

With the launch of our awesome new Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub, we’ve finally made it into the wonderful world of exfoliating scrubs. Can we have a group hug for that, please? Packed with some of the most incredible, skin-boosting ingredients, our new scrub instantly wakes up your skin, encouraging efficient cell turnover and healthier collagen to give your skin the best (but most gentle!) exfoliation of its life.

Yet to try Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub? Don't worry, a) you’re forgiven, it’s very new, after all and b) here’s a quick lesson in what you need to know. For starters, this super lightweight scrub is fragrance-free which is very important if your skin flares up at the mere mention of synthetic fragrance in your skincare routine. And instead of fruit seeds or ground nutshells (which can cause micro tears in your skin) we use white Bora Bora sand to exfoliate. This superior type of sand is much finer than your regular beach sand, helping to gently buff your skin without risk of irritation.

If all this wasn’t enough, Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub also contains a whole host of plant-powered ingredients including our new bestie, yuzu lemon which is brimming with vitamin C. We combine this with another C-vit favorite, sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) to provide top quality antioxidant protection and a hard-to-break shield against free radical damage.

So, what’s the best way to use our new scrub without causing your skin to freak out? Well, we cut out the harsh ingredients and over-scrubby particles to help you out there. But, still, you have to do your bit, so read on for seven deadly (dramatic, much?) face scrub mistakes you do not want to make…

Face Scrub Mistake #1. Exfoliating Too Often

You know that phrase about having too much of a good thing? Yeah that. When it comes to how often you use your face scrub, always keep that phrase front of mind. Daily exfoliation, for example, can send your barrier function into a total frenzy, stripping it of essential moisture and leaving it vulnerable to breakouts, dehydration, dryness, redness and sensitivities.

If you’re experiencing any of these right now and reckon your over-excited scrubbing routine could be the culprit, pare it back by a good 50 percent.

Face Scrub Mistake #2. Not Exfoliating Enough!

Of course, not exfoliating your skin enough (or, gasp, at all!) can be just as detrimental for your skin, allowing your pores to become clogged, collagen synthesis to become sluggish and your skin to become dull or congested as a result. As you know, exfoliating your skin helps to remove dead skin cells and debris like oil, makeup, and dirt which can build up on the surface if you allow it. So don’t. Introduce a face scrub to your routine to keep your skin healthy and glowing but remember to listen to your skin and find your exfoliating sweet spot depending on your skin type and concerns.

If you have oily skin, for example, you might be able to get away with more frequent exfoliation to help balance sebum – maybe three or four times a week. Dry skin, on the other hand, is more susceptible to irritation so once or twice a week could be enough for you.

Face Scrub Mistake #3. Bombarding Your Skin With Other Exfoliating Formulations

Exfoliation comes in two different guises: chemical and physical. Chemical formulations like our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant use ingredients like fruit acids to sit on your skin and break down the bonds between dead skin cells, whereas physical formulations (like scrubs) require pressure and movement in order to exfoliate your skin.

Both are great in their own special ways, but it’s not the best idea to use both at once. Again, too much of a good thing. Of course, your skin might be able to cope with a scrub one day and a gentle chemical exfoliator the next, but don’t double up at the same time. And always read your skin – any signs of irritation, redness or inflammation is a red flag and you need to cut back.

Face Scrub Mistake #4. Being Too Rough With Your Scrub

Sure, physical exfoliation requires physical pressure (the clue’s in the name, after all!) but let’s not get too physical, OK?

Scrubs are excellent for sloughing off dead skin cells but you do not need to rub away at your skin like your life depended on it. This can cause micro-tears in your skin, leaving it red, raw, sore and inflamed. Not only that, but it will compromise the delicate balance of your barrier function, encouraging irritation and dryness. Conversely, it could also over-stimulate your sebaceous glands, causing your skin to become super oily and break out.

Basically nothing good can come of exfoliating too hard, so apply gentle pressure only, using your hands and the pads of your fingers to massage your scrub lightly all over your skin. Also, remember to be extra careful when dealing with thin, fragile areas like around the eyes and over your décolletage.

Face Scrub Mistake #5. Skipping Your Cleanser

Are you one of those people who uses their face scrub instead of a face wash? Then you’re doing your skin a real disservice. A face scrub shouldn't substitute your cleanser but should be used alongside it – as and when your skin needs it, of course.

There really is no rule about which comes first, however – cleanser or face scrub – because both ways have their benefits. Cleanse before exfoliating (the more common combo) and you’ll have prepped your skin to give your face scrub a beautiful, clean base to work on. But exfoliate before cleansing and your fresh skin will reap the benefits of your cleanser much better.

Try them both to see which you prefer. Just don’t ditch your cleanser. Ever.

Face Scrub Mistake #6. Not Moisturizing Post-Scrub

While you’ll love the look and feel of your skin after physical exfoliation, it’s crucial to replenish any lost moisture and nourishment by following with a good moisturizer and, even better, a healing or hydrating serum. What’s more, freshly exfoliated skin will accept other skincare products more readily, allowing all those fabulous active ingredients in the rest of your routine to penetrate the skin and get to work more effectively.

We love the awesome combination of Smoothing Collagen Serum and Firming Collagen Day Lotion which, together, help to ‘feed,’ firm and strengthen your skin while boosting collagen production and restoring moisture.

Don't miss this vital, post-exfoliation step in your routine. You'll regret it if you do. Simple as that.

Face Scrub Mistake #7. Forgetting Your Sunscreen

And then there’s sunscreen which is vital every day of the year, but especially on days when you’ve exfoliated and removed the dead, uppermost layers of your skin. Those new, fresh cells are extremely vulnerable and likely to burn and age up in the sun in no time. Which kind of defeats the purpose of exfoliation in the first place.

Get involved in our SPF 3 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C every day, applying it after or instead of your moisturizer depending on your skin type. Trust us, this gorgeous sun protection cream is so good you will actually want to wear it!

When something as important as exfoliation comes in two completely different guises, how do you know which is best? Read on for a complete breakdown of the highs and lows of both chemical and physical exfoliation…

Exfoliation is one of the simplest, most effective skincare habits for transforming dull, sad skin into the brightest, healthiest-looking skin of your life. It works hard to smooth out annoyingly bumpy skin texture, reduce the frequency of pesky breakouts, decrease excess oil, and even minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

But exfoliation is often plagued by contradictions and it can be hard to navigate the facts. Should you or should you not exfoliate every day? Are scrubs better than exfoliating masks? Or is the opposite correct?

Of course, the truth usually depends on your skin type and its current condition (because, yes these are two very separate things), but one thing’s for sure, exfoliation takes on two very different forms. And it’s important you know what’s what so you can make the right decision about what’s right for you and your skin.

Before we go any further, however, let’s have a quick refresh on the basics. As you know, skin renews itself every day, shedding millions of cells as it produces fresher ones deeper below the surface. This process is called desquamation and it’s a pretty efficient way of keeping your skin fresh, healthy, moisturized and well protected from the slings and arrows of daily life. Like most good things in life, though, this process slows down as you age, allowing dead skin cells to hang around at the surface and encouraging dryness, dehydration, blocked pores and the formation of lines, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.

The good news is that exfoliation – both physical and chemical – is here to save the day, sloughing off dead skin cells (as well as other nasties like grime, pollution, makeup and excess oil), boosting circulation, accelerating cell turnover and helping to keep your skin’s barrier function ticking along nicely. Technically, both physical and chemical exfoliation do the same thing. But they work in completely different ways.

So first up, let’s take a look at the most ‘classic’ and well-known form of exfoliation: the physical kind.

What Is Physical Exfoliation?

Physical exfoliation is the one you’ll be most used to. Remember those scrubs you made as an enthusiastic teenager that contained all manner of kitchen ingredients like mashed banana, oatmeal and yogurt? Well, thanks to the oatmeal, that’s a physical exfoliant right there.

Physical exfoliants are abrasives and basically include anything that requires some kind of manual force or motion in order to remove dead cells from the surface of your skin. Face scrubs, which contain grainy elements like sand, sugar, salt and fruit seeds, are the most obvious choice, but mitts, loofahs and cleansing brushes also fit into the same camp.

Then there are the professional treatments like microdermabrasion and dermaplaning. If you’re not acquainted with these, microdermabrasion works by combining microcrystals with a vacuum suction to exfoliate dead skin cells and stimulate collagen production. Dermaplaning, meanwhile, employs a tiny razor to gently shave the skin’s surface. This helps remove peach fuzz, but is also helps get rid of the upper-most layer of dead skin cells as an extra bonus.

Is Physical Exfoliation For You?

When used carefully, gently and not too often (two or three times a week is usually the sweet spot), physical exfoliation can be a great addition to any skincare routine.

We find they’re particularly great for:

* Improving poor skin texture
* Oily skin
* Boosting circulation
* A truly deep clean
* Instantly brighter skin

In? Then Try: Our brand new Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub which we’re super excited about. Abrasive without being too hard on your complexion, this delicious scrub harnesses our favorite type of vitamin C, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, alongside antioxidant-rich yuzu lemon (which is also naturally chock-full of vitamin C) to work on dull, lifeless-looking skin fast.

All this combines with the smoothness of Bora Bora white sand which is no ordinary sand. Ultra-fine, it's extremely gentle on the skin to help promote cell turnover and remove rough, dead skin cells without the irritation often experienced with inferior face scrubs. Add in some soothing, hydrating aloe and all this makes for the ideal twice weekly scrub in a nutshell. Although, fyi, no nutshells were used in the making of this scrub. Nutshells do not have a smooth, uniform shape which makes them notorious for creating micro-tears on the surface of your skin. And we do not want that for you.

What Is Chemical Exfoliation?

Instead of using physical movement to boost cellular turnover, chemical exfoliants use topical ingredients (usually acids) to dissolve and break down the bonds between dead skin cells so they slough away more efficiently. Again, there are skincare products you can use at home, but also professional treatments like chemical peels can offer very powerful results.

Most at-home chemical exfoliants use AHAs, BHAs or PHAs as a means to get the job done.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are water-soluble chemical compounds that are usually extracted from fruit or milk sugars. Glycolic acid is probably the most well-known AHA because it has a very low molecular weight which makes it very good at penetrating the skin. Sometimes, too good if your skin errs towards the sensitive side. And this is where lactic acid comes into its own. Lactic acid has a larger molecular size than its glycolic cousin which makes it way gentler and more readily tolerated by sensitive skin.

Unlike their water-soluble AHA cousins, beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are oil-soluble substances which means they’re able to cut through the lipid layers between your skin cells to penetrate into your pores and exfoliate your skin on a much deeper level. As well as being darn good at exfoliating your skin, BHAs also target and reduce excess sebum to clear and brighten the skin – that’s a big deal for anyone struggling with oily, inflamed or acne-prone skin, btw. Examples of BHAs? Frankly there’s only one worth mentioning, salicylic acid which has been studied for decades and proven to not only target pores and increase cell turnover, but to offer incredible antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Last, but not least, you have poly hydroxy acids (PHAs). Much newer to the exfoliation scene, PHAs are a new generation of water-soluble AHAs with all the benefits… but with less of the side-effects. The reason for their gentle nature is that they’re formulated with multiple strands, so they have a larger molecular size and are therefore unable to penetrate the deeper layers of your skin. Instead, they work exclusively on the skin’s surface to boost cell renewal without irritating your complexion. They’re basically your go-to if you have super-sensitive skin but are concerned about the visible signs of aging. Main players include gluconolactone (sometimes referred to as gluconic acid) and lactobionic acid which is an oxidized form of lactose and extracted from cow’s milk.

Is Chemical Exfoliation For You?

Just like their abrasive co-workers, chemical exfoliants work for all skin types as long as you patch test them first and use them as often (or as little!) as your skin allows.

They’re specifically good for…

* Sensitive skin
* Targeting dark spots
* Acne-prone skin
* Fine lines and wrinkles
* Enlarged pores

In? Then Try: 6% AHA, BHA + PCA Liquid Exfoliant which, as the name suggests, combines all three chemical exfoliants (and vitamin C, of course!) to gently but powerfully boost cell regeneration and promote brighter, younger-looking skin. Simply apply it to cleansed skin before your serum and moisturizer for a daily glow-getting fix and watch your skin continue to get better and better.

Are eye creams an important part of an effective skincare routine? Or are they just fancy moisturizers in smaller packages? Read on for everything we know about the skin around your eyes and why an eye cream can actually be a very smart choice.

Skincare companies like ours exist because we want to help you make the most of your skin. We’re not here to pull the wool over your eyes or force you to spend your $$$s on pointless lotions and potions that you don’t actually need. That’s why we think about every single product before launching, ensuring we produce only the very best formulations for your skin, with the highest quality ingredients and years of skincare intel.

This leads us neatly to a slightly contentious skincare topic: eye cream. Cynics might believe these are just industry hype, but they’re so much more than luxurious items that do very little. In fact, an eye cream can really take your skincare routine to the next level – especially if you have specific concerns about the skin around your eyes.

Of course, if you’re young and haven’t yet had the pleasure of welcoming things like dark circles, crow’s feet, puffiness and sagging skin to the eye party, you’re probably OK living without an eye cream. For now, anyway. However, if you’re long past those glory days of youth, this small but unassuming skincare great can be a powerful weapon against the visible signs of aging around the eyes.

What’s The Deal With The Skin Around Your Eyes?

Skin is skin, right? Wrong. Sure, the general structure of your skin is similar all over your body, but it’s not the same.

The skin around your eyes, for example, is way thinner than the rest of your face. This means its barrier function is similarly thin and collagen is less readily available. This small area of your face also contains very few sebaceous glands which, as you know, are important for producing sebum and helping to keep the skin soft, supple and moisturized. Couple all this with the fact the skin around your eyes also lacks muscle and fatty tissue and it’s no wonder that it ages up much quicker than the rest of your face. It can be drier and more sensitive. Underlying veins and vessels can also be more visible, and the skin under your eyes, in particular, is prone to becoming loose and lax lightning fast.

So there you go. The skin around your eyes is very different from the rest of your face. And it consequently has quite different skincare needs.

Is This Why Eye Cream Is Important?

In a word, yes. Eye creams are quite different to regular face creams because they’re built to tackle a different kind of skin with a whole bunch of unique issues. For starters, sure, most eye treatments contain those all-important moisturizing ingredients but, in general, eye formulations are way gentler than classic face moisturizers which can easily overload the skin around your eyes.

Another way eye creams and face creams differ? Their level of potent, active ingredients. Things like retinol and exfoliating acids, for example, are a great way to tackle the signs of aging on your face and neck, but the concentrations used for your face can often be too powerful and irritating for your eyes. It’s also wise to avoid strong alcohols, synthetic fragrances and harsh preservative around your eyes. But, tbh, we also like to avoid them on our entire faces and bodies. Just saying!

Then there’s all the stuff that eye creams do contain – intentionally put there to deal with eye-specific concerns like dark circles, puffiness, sagging, volume loss and fine lines. You’ll often find ingredients like caffeine, licorice and kojic acid in eye products which work hard to treat under-eye bags. But do you really need those in your regular face cream? Probably not.

And that’s the honest truth about eye creams. Sure, a gentle face cream is fine if you simply want to keep the skin around your eyes moisturized. But if you want to target deeper issues than pure moisture, then a treatment tailored for this specific area is priceless.

3 Of The Best Eye Creams To Try Now

With all that in mind, we couldn’t leave without a nod to our awesome line-up of eye-loving skin treatments…

1. Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream

Part of our new Longevity range which launched last year this healthy aging eye cream is already proving to be a huge hit. The secret to its success comes from bakuchiol, an ingredient that’s still fairly new to skincare but has been quite rightly deemed nature’s answer to retinol. And that, dear friends, is no mean feat.

Studies show that bakuchiol offers all of the skin-regenerating benefits of retinol – improving cellular turnover and accelerating collagen synthesis – but is way kinder to your skin, making it absolutely perfect for the delicate skin around your eyes. This lightweight eye cream combines bakuchiol with coffeeberry extract and lingonberry stem cells to not only strengthen the skin but to help improve the appearance of dark circles and puffy eye bags at the same time. We call this one of our ‘must-try’ products.

2. Hyaluronic Acid Eye Cream

Say hello to our creamiest, dreamiest and most hydrating eye treatment that steadily and effectively promotes firmer, brighter skin around your eyes without overloading it with heavy ingredients. Because that is so not want you want in an eye cream.

Hyaluronic acid is the name of the game here, which visibly plumps the skin by drawing moisture to the surface and bidding farewell to unwanted dehydration. But that’s not all this weightless treatment has to offer. Oh no. It also contains vitamins E and B5 to offer antioxidant protection while soothing, nurturing and empowering your barrier function to keep up the hard work of keeping moisture in, and the bad guys out. Add in a little glycolic acid and vitamin C for their awesome brightening powers and you’ve got yourself a pretty fabulous all-round powerhouse for tired eyes.

3. Peptide Eye Gel

Powered by peptides and with a feather-light gel formulation, this daily treatment is your go-to for tackling fine lines, battling eye bags, sorting out dark circles and basically dealing with pretty much any eye concern you throw at it.

Peptides are known for helping to support collagen and elastin so we harnessed this knowledge and teamed a special peptide complex with plant stem cells, licorice extract (a whizz for reducing puffiness) and hyaluronic acid to offer the skin around your eyes everything it deserves in an eye treatment. We’re talking antioxidant protection, awesome hydration, anti-inflammatory care and gentle, plant-powered potency. Skin aging, beware, this eye gel is truly a force to be reckoned with.