Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been the skincare world’s favorite hydrating agent for a long time now. It’s a powerful humectant, which means it can absorb and hold onto water. There are plenty of humectants in skincare, but two factors make hyaluronic aci
It doesn’t make much sense to do a retinol vs hyaluronic acid comparison. The two ingredients function differently, with different effects and benefits. Plus, they’re very compatible, so there’s no reason to choose between one or the other. With that
For anyone with a modern skincare routine, using both retinol and hyaluronic acid together makes perfect sense. The two are the ultimate glow-makers, and they’re ideal if you’re interested in achieving skin that looks smoother and healthier. First of
If you do experience a reaction to your patch test, stop the patch testing process and forego using the product altogether. Once you stop, the reaction will likely resolve on its own within a few days. If it doesn’t, speak to your doctor about potent
If your skin is acne-prone, consider patch testing for comedogenicity. This means testing a product on an area where you normally break out, to see whether it leads to acne. Your acne patch test should go on for at least two weeks since the timeline
There are some questions and complications that can come up with patch testing, so here are a few things to keep in mind:. Stay safe with a patch test. A skincare patch test might not save you from an allergic reaction, but it’ll help minimize its re
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Here’s how to do a skin patch test, with a few additional tips depending on the product you’re testing:. Read the full blog post here
So how will you know if you’re reacting to a product? Here are the key symptoms of contact dermatitis, which is the kind of reaction you’ll have if you’re allergic or sensitive to a skincare product:. Read the full blog post here
Reactions to skincare products are very individualized. What might be irritating for one person might be fine for another, which is why patch testing is so important. Some ingredient categories are considered more likely to irritate, such as fragranc
The incredible thing about retinal is that it delivers the same dramatic benefits as retinoic acid but without the same risk of irritation. Retinol, while largely non-irritating, just doesn’t have the same profound impact on the skin. In other words,
In skincare, retinal has many of the same effects as other forms of vitamin A. It’s excellent for improving skin texture, addressing fine lines, and increasing skin clarity and evenness. When you apply retinaldehyde to your skin, it interacts with na
We already touched on how retinal is gentler than retinoic acid, but does it have any potential side effects? As with any potent skincare ingredient, there are some very mild potential retinal side effects that you might want to be aware of, even tho
When choosing the right cosmetic or OTC retinoid for you, you should take into account what skin concerns you’re actually dealing with. These are our recommendations. Best for wrinkles and photoaging. Retinal, the activated form of retinol, is a supe
Retinoids (sometimes incorrectly referred to as retinol) are a class of skincare ingredients related to vitamin A. These ingredients are remarkable, giving a smoothing and anti-aging boost by speeding up the skin’s own renewal mechanisms. The most po
Retinal is vitamin A in a form that’s especially ideal for the skin. Its name is short for retinaldehyde, but don’t let the long, scary-sounding name fool you. Retinal is an aldehyde of vitamin A, which means that it belongs to a class of organic com
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that has become very popular in skincare, and for some very good reasons. On the skin, retinol converts into retinoic acid through a two-step process. Retinoic acid regulates and increases the reproduction of skin cells
If you’re just here for the basics, with no time to waste on long, boring explanations, we’ve got you covered - here’s the closest thing to a universally ideal skincare routine. All other routines are just simple variations on this depending on your
Starting out, make sure you have a good understanding of the basic skincare routine steps:. Start with your top active. The first leave-on product that goes on your skin is going to have the most profound impact. Anything you apply next will have to
Generally, your skin type isn’t something you need to change with skincare, but just something you want to slightly account for. Skincare products are meant to visibly improve the look of the skin, especially when you’re shopping for serums with acti
It’s perfectly safe to use retinol and hyaluronic acid together. The two ingredients work well together, and there is no need to worry about interactions or overwhelming the skin. While it’s important to be careful when mixing retinol with other skin
From oily to dry with everything in between (along with the outliers), here are the main skin types, and what you need to know about each one. That said, if you’re still at the beginning of your skincare journey, it’ll be useful to understand what ma
Active ingredient pairings. Some skincare ingredients can inactivate others if they’re used within the same skincare session, so you’ll want to split them up. Here are some examples:. Aside from these basics, it’s mostly a question of avoiding irrita
Step-by-step and with all nuances explained, here’s how to use serum for your skin:. Read the full blog post here
Serums are light emulsions usually rich in water, with a texture that’s a little more viscous than liquid but thinner than the average cream. They tend to be transparent, but not always. Serums can serve as very effective delivery vehicles for specif
Blackheads are disruptive clogs in the skin. Their medical name is “open comedones,” and they’re considered an acne symptom, along with whiteheads and inflammatory pimples. They’re made up of sebum and dead skin cells that harden and clog up the pore
Before we dive into the differences between blackheads vs sebaceous filaments, here are the key questions to ask yourself to figure out which one you’re dealing with:. Read the full blog post here
And now, let’s dig deeper. These are the key differences between sebaceous filaments and blackheads:. Appearance. If you want to figure out if you have blackheads or sebaceous filaments, you’ll want to start by examining your skin’s appearance. Black
Sebaceous filaments, sometimes shortened to SFs, are little plugs that form inside the pores or hair follicles. They’re most common on the nose, but can also show up on the cheeks, chin, or around the mouth. They look just like little plugs inside th
Sebaceous filaments form because of the skin’s natural oil production and dead skin cell shedding process. When dead skin combines with sebum it becomes sticky and paste-like. It can stick to things, including to the “peach fuzz” hairs that grow out
6 ways to get rid of sebaceous filaments. #1. Salicylic acid/beta-hydroxy acid (BHA). Salicylic acid, a type of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), is the best ingredient for clearing and preventing sebaceous filaments. It’s an oil-soluble chemical exfoliant th
Because sebaceous filaments show up even when your skin is functioning healthily, there isn’t a treatment that’ll get rid of them forever. That said, a consistent skincare routine that promotes healthy skin renewal will keep the pores looking clear,
Yes! Salicylic acid is a phenomenal ingredient for sebaceous filaments. This beta-hydroxy acid works by breaking down oils and exfoliating within the pore, which makes it a gentle but speedy sebaceous filaments treatment. Read the full blog post here
Rather than asking if you can pluck sebaceous filaments, it’s better to ask if you should. It’s possible, especially if you have SFs attached to more prominent hairs. However, plucking out the hair and dead skin from the pore could be damaging to the
You can think of sebaceous filaments and blackheads as existing on the same spectrum. With both, the pore gets filled with a collection of dead skin and sebum. The difference is that with SFs, the plug forms around the hair that grows out of each por
Sebaceous filaments might not be a cause for major concern, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat them. If your skin is looking congested and textured, you’ll benefit from any of the sebaceous filament treatment suggestions we made in this post.