There are a lot of The Ordinary products I really like (the Squalane Cleanser, Natural Moisturising Factors and Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution are some of my favourites), and I really appreciate the fact that they (and Deciem in general) really emphasise understanding the ingredients in skincare. But their powders are something I’ve never really been on board with. There …
This post is sponsored by Avène. I’ve been really happy to see more vitamin C products hit the marketplace recently. Vitamin C is one of my favourite skincare ingredients – it’s a powerful antioxidant that’s fantastic for soaking up free radical damage, which makes it great for evening out skin tone and reducing fine lines. As someone who’s very prone to …
What is tranexamic acid? Tranexamic acid (TXA for short) is a relatively new ingredient in skincare. It’s a synthetic derivative of the amino acid lysine: You can take tranexamic acid orally as a tablet, apply it topically on your skin as a cream or serum, or have it injected into the lower layers of your skin (the dermis). Oral tranexamic …
Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives, and they’re some of the most popular ingredients in skincare. They’re anti-aging, anti-pigmentation and anti-acne, plus their effectiveness is backed by lots of studies. But like everything else in skincare, there are lots of myths and half-truths about how they work and how you’re meant to use them. Here’s the video on YouTube – keep scrolling for …
I’ve been seeing a lot of people say that it’s impossible to see results from retinoids (vitamin A derivatives used in skincare, like retinol, tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene) for a certain amount of time. This time varies: some people say 2 months, or 3 months, or 6 months. While it’s true that retinoids can take months to start working, they can …
This post is sponsored by Azclear. Here’s a breakdown of the science behind a cult Australian skincare nerd favourite: Azclear Medicated Lotion. What Is Azelaic Acid? Azelaic acid is an active skincare ingredient that’s great for a range of skin conditions, including mild to moderate acne and papulopustular rosacea. You’ll mostly find it in creams and gels, at concentrations between …
Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) are by far the most raved-about ingredients by both dermatologists and skincare junkies. They’re absolutely fantastic for treating both acne and the signs of aging skin. Unfortunately, retinoids tend to be irritating for most people, turning your face into a dry peeling mess if you’re too heavy-handed (me, a lot of the time). That’s why there’s a …
I recently posted a Skincare Ingredient Bracket on Instagram. This is a bit like a tournament – for each match-up, you pick your preferred skincare ingredient, and then at the end your favourite ingredient wins. It’s pretty fun to fill in! I also polled my Instagram followers on their picks for each match-up, so we could see what the most …