The 3 Anti-Ageing Skincare Products You Need

Affiliate Disclosure: I receive a small commission for purchases made via affiliate links. With many skincare products marketed as anti-ageing, what do we actually need in our routine? There are 3 staples we recommend for the ultimate anti-ageing skincare regime – retinol, vitamin C and hydroxy acids. Each tackles the 3 major signs of skin ageing. These 3 signs being fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and dull skin. Keep reading for product recommendations and to learn how these skincare products do their thing. Retinoids for collagen loss (fine lines and wrinkles) Retinoid is used as an umbrella term…

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A-Z skincare ingredient cheat sheet

Here is your go-to cheat sheet of skincare ingredients – this post should help you identify and learn the role of some key ingredients in skincare products. AHA Aka alpha hydroxy acid, a chemical exfoliant. These compounds are water-soluble acids that help get rid of dead skin cells. Alpha-Tocopherol Aka a type of vitamin E (see below). Antioxidant Antioxidants protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are reactive species which damage cells and might contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The body can be exposed to free radicals from environmental exposures (as well…

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Bakuchiol: a better alternative to retinol?

What is Bakuchiol? Everyone and their grandmothers are talking about bakuchiol right now. So what’s the big deal? You’ve probably heard bakuchiol being discussed in the context of retinol – i.e. that it’s a great alternative to it. You may have heard bakuchiol has all the anti-ageing perks of retinol but manages to avoid the irritation that can come with the use of one. In this post we will explore whether bakuchiol is a better alternative to retinol and how they compare. So what’s bakuchiol? Despite being compared to retinol, bakuchiol is in no way related to retinol in structure…

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Myth: 80 per cent of skin ageing caused by UV rays

From the daily mail to high-quality, reputable journals, the statement ‘UV rays account for 80 per cent of skin ageing’ is plentiful. First of all, there are many causes of skin ageing such as the natural ageing process, pollution, gravity, diet, smoking, illness and stress. So ‘UV rays cause 80% of skin ageing’ is a pretty bold statement to make. It seems almost absurd that anything could have more of an effect on skin ageing than the inherent ageing process. So let’s explore this claim. Skin basics Firstly, let’s explore the structure of our skin. For a more in depth…

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Retinoid vs Retinol: What’s the difference?

Affiliate Disclosure: I receive a small commission for purchases made via affiliate links. What are retinoids and retinols? I presume you’re reading this because you are aware of all the great things retinoids and retinols can do for your skin, but are confused over the terminology. This is where a PhD in organic chemistry comes in handy. Let me deconstruct their differences and why it matters. Retinoid and retinol are different but also the same. Huh? Let me explain. Often, Retinoid is used as an umbrella term for any compound derived from vitamin A (a vitamin A derivative). A vitamin…

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