What’s your biggest skin concern? You probably didn’t have to think too long. The truth is that everyone has skin hang-ups. Even if you have “good” skin, you feel the pressure to maintain it. The good news is that there’s a sk.in product for every skin concern - from ageing to acne. Here’s a look at the hero products to try now, according to your biggest skin woe.
Your superpowered skincare regimen starts here - and just in time for a new year!
acne, pores & oily skin
Much about acne is still a mystery. What we do know is that blemish-prone skin is predominantly a result of excess sebum production. What causes an excess of sebum? Physical and emotional stressors on the body like a lack of sleep and poor diet can cause an increase in cortisol - the “stress” hormone - which then signals to your body to produce more oil (the skin’s natural defence system), which leads to blocked pores and breakouts. Plus, more and more adults (particularly women) are reporting breakouts. Which goes to show that acne isn’t just a problem in adolescence. Besides working on stress management, there are topical treatments that’ll give you clearer skin.
For a more in-depth understanding of acne, pores & oily skin please read my article: all about oily and acne-prone skin.
spot-fighting superhero salicylic acid
If salicylic acid had a superhero alter ego its name would be “Acne-Zapper”. The beta hydroxy acid (BHA) can penetrate deep into the pores to stop excess sebum in its tracks, reduce pore size and unclog pores - all without exacerbating acne.
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dry skin
Dry skin happens when your skin doesn’t have enough natural oils to keep itself hydrated. Dry skin can manifest in different ways, from itchy to flaking and even cracked skin. Ouch. If you have dry skin then your skin’s barrier is compromised. This is not ideal, because your skin isn’t able to protect you from disease, pathogens and irritation. So not only does dryness make your skin look less than glowing, but it can be dangerous.
The skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin's surface, and it consists of cells and lipids (fats). The best way to understand the skin barrier is to use the analogy of a brick wall, developed by Dr Peter M. Elias who described the cells (corneocytes) as the bricks and the lipid bilayer as the mortar. Corneocytes are dried out, non-living skin cells that are ready to shed. However, the mortar - the stacked lipid bilayers that surround the corneocytes - should ideally act as a highly impermeable barrier, to prevent the loss of water from the skin and to prevent the entrance of harmful microorganisms or irritants.
The skin barrier plays a vital role in maintaining the outer skin mantle, sebum production, keeping water within the corneocytes and the overall health, look and feel of the skin. This retention of water allows them to swell up, which in turn prevents the formation of gaps between these cells. Any changes in the skin barrier function or gaps between the corneocytes are the primary reason for all dry skin conditions, and changes in the skin surface, resulting in rough or textured skin.
ah-mazing antioxidants
Vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid ester - a powerful trio of antioxidants - work together to repair and protect your skin barrier. A healthy skin barrier locks moisture in and keeps the environment out. Barrier-boosting ceramides are the icing on the cake. Ceramides - fatty acids in the skin - plump up cells and help them to retain moisture, so skin looks dewy and radiant all over.
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fine lines & wrinkles
Fine lines and wrinkles are caused by a combination of intrinsic ageing - breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue - and environmental factors like UV damage and free radicle aggressors found in pollution. The most effective anti-ageing treatments combat all of these things.
All of our products - that’s right, every single one of them - have been developed using ingredients that target fine lines and wrinkles.
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hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation - like dark spots and melasma - is one of the most common and tricky to treat skin conditions. It manifests as darker patches on the skin’s surface, as a result of hormones, sun exposure, and even medication. Luckily, there are effective dark-spot correctors available on the market. For a more in-depth view on the causes and treatments for hyperpigmentation please read all about hyperpigmentation.
corrector combo
We recommend using a combination of glycolic acid to help exfoliate away excess surface pigment, vitamin A (or retinol, which is a derivative of vitamin A) for increasing skin cell turnover, and vitamin C to inhibit melanin and brighten the skin. Together all these ingredients work in synergy to even out and prevent hyperpigmentation.
