If you follow me on Instagram, you already know I’ve gone a littlekind of seriously chili crazy as of late. There have been all sorts of infusions and brews ongoing with different oils and different chili strengths on the scoville scale in my lab, and it’s all for a reason.
Well, several reasons.
My interest in capsaicin (that’s the active component in capsicum plants) is multi-faceted. I want to see what it has to offer with different kinds of topical use.
Poor Tea Tree Oil. It knows it’s up to the job, but no one takes it seriously. Why is that?
What The Heck Is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea Tree Oil is a slightly yellow liquid derived from the Australian plant melaleuca alternifolia. The Aborigines have been using it for millennia for its antiseptic and anti fungal properties. Now, it seems scientists are waking up to the fact it could cure acne, too.
Can Tea Tree Oil Kill Acne?
Yep. Tea Tree Oil is an antimicrobial agent that kills P.Acnes, the bacteria that causes acne. Plus, it reduces inflammation. Guess what acne is? An inflammatory disease.
A 1990 study compared a 5% Tea Tree Oil gel and a 5% Benzoyl Peroxide lotion for the treatment of acne. The results? Both worked but:
Tea Tree Oil was slower than BP at treating acne
Tea Tree Oil had fewer side effects than BP
Benzoyl Peroxide does the job so well because it’s harsh. I get it that acne is an awful disease that makes you feel ugly and robs you of your self esteem. You want something that works, and FAST, too.
But if it’s leaving you with dry, red, peeling patches of skin, don’t you think it’s worth it to try something that cures your acne more slowly but is gentler? I personally think it’s a good trade off. 🙂
Don’t get me wrong. This doesn’t mean that Tea Tree Oil has no side effects.
Tea Tree Oil has a strong fragrance that can irritate (and even cause allergies) in some people. If that happens, stop using it immediately.
But, usually, fewer people react negatively to Tea Tree Oil than Benzoyl Peroxide. If BP is too harsh for you or you want to try a natural alternative first, Tea Tree Oil is the way to go.
Most Skincare Products With Tea Tree Oil Don’t Work
Before you go out and stock up on skincare products with Tea Tree Oil, hear this: most of them DON’T work.
Tea Tree Oil must be used in concentrations of 5% or greater to cure acne. Most skincare products only put a few drops of it in their products. Enough to trick you to buy them. Not enough for them to do anything.
You’re much better off buying pure Tea Tree Oil and diluting it (do NOT put it on your skin as is!).
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a natural way to cure your acne, turn to Tea Tree Oil. Just make sure you’re using enough of it to do the trick!
Have you ever used Tea Tree Oil as a treatment for acne or blemishes? Share your experience in the comments below.
Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
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What are the worst skincare mistakes you’ve ever made?
Me, I could write a book about them. Like, all those years I went without sunscreen because no one bothered to tell me the sun gives you wrinkles. Or the times when I went to bed without makeup because I was too lazy to take it off. Ugh.
I cringe when I think about it now but… you don’t know what you don’t know. And I want you to know before it’s too late.
That’s why I’m sharing my worst skincare mistakes with you today – so you won’t have to learn the hard way like I did!
Skincare Mistakes #1: Not Using Sunscreen Daily
Not using sunscreen every single day since I was a little girl is the biggest skincare mistake I’ve ever made – by far.
I didn’t know it back then, but UV rays are to blame for up to 90% of premature aging. Those wrinkles you blame on genetics? Nah. Playing with your friends outdoors without sunscreen in the summer gave you those.
My mum always warned to wear a hat but she never mentioned sunscreen once. Back then, it was something you only wore at the beach. For many Italians, it’s still like that. *sighs*
FYI, don’t think sunscreen is only a summer thing. Those pesky UV rays can penetrate through clouds and windows and even be reflected on snow. Rain or shine, until the sun comes down, your skin’s not safe.
The Fix
Wear sunscreen EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. You’ll save yourself a lot of wrinkles and dark spots (and reduce your risk of skin cancer, too).
Shop My Fave Sunscreens
Skincare Mistakes #2: Not Knowing My Skin Type
Like most teens, my skin used be on oil overdrive and covered in pimples. Ugh.
I blamed it on hormones. But it was all my fault. Little did I know back then that slathering a rich cream like Nivea all over my oily face was a sure recipe for pimples.
My skin type needed lightweight gels but… I had no idea. Heck, I didn’t even know what my skin type was! Once I’ve figured that out, the breakouts disappeared.
Skincare Mistakes #3: Not Choosing Skincare Products Wisely
This is closely related to mistake #2, obviously. If I had no idea what my skin type was, so my oily criteria to buy skincare products was the price. The cheaper, the better (hey, I was a broke teenager back then).
No wonder most of the stuff I used didn’t work – or made things worse. It’s not that they were bad products (ok, a few were), they just weren’t the right products for me.
These days, I know better. When I’m shopping for new skincare products, I look for textures and ingredients my combo skin can’t leave without.
The Fix
Step 1: Figure out what ingredients can fix your skincare woes:
Step 2: Look for skincare products rich in the ingredients your skin type needs.
Step 3: Use them.
Skincare Mistakes #4: Not Removing Makeup Before Going To Bed
I know, I know. I should have known better.
But, when you come home at 4am after a night out clubbing with your friends, all you want is your bed. Even the thought of staying up for 5 more minutes to take off my makeup was too much.
Of course, I paid the price. Often, a pimple or two would pop on my chin or nose a few days later.
Take off your makeup every night. Don’t even think of using wipes. All that rubbing irritates your skin and, in the long run, gives you wrinkles. Instead, opt for oil-based cleansers that melt away even the most stubborn makeup in a minute.
Shop My Fave Makeup Removers
Skincare Mistakes #5: Not Caring For The Rest Of My Body
You’d think moisturising after a shower is a given but… I didn’t do it back then. I didn’t exfoliate either. It’s like the rest of my body didn’t exist. *sighs*
The worst was my hands. I never bothered with hand cream until, in winter, they got so dry and cracked, they started to bleed. Stupid, I know.
These days, I moisturise all over.
The Fix
Take care of your body like you take care of your skin. If not, your face may look younger, but everything else will give away your real age!
What skincare mistakes did you make when you were younger? Share them in the comments below.
Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
This article may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Summer is here, and you know what that means—sweaty skin, frizzy hair and a higher risk of sun damage and breakouts! That’s why I created this guide with my top beauty essentials for the season. Whereas our faces are …
This powerful antioxidant brightens your complexion and keeps wrinkles away, but it’s so unstable, it often goes bad before you can finish a whole bottle. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to pay full price if I can’t get the full benefits…
Clinique’s solution? Putting Vitamin C in an isolation zone. Literally.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that comes in many forms. The pure – and most powerful – is L-Ascorbic Acid. Research shows it:
The catch? There are two:
Irritation: In high doses (10% and higher), it irritates sensitive skin
Instability: It’s highly unstable and spoils quickly when exposed to light, air and heat
Instead than meddling with L-Ascorbic Acid, Clinique focused on creating packaging that’d keep it away from all its enemies, giving it the best chance of survival. Did it work?
Like the name suggests, the cleanser comes in powder form. You need to mix it with water to turn it into a lightweight, slightly foaming cleanser you can massage onto your skin to remove dirt and impurities.
Why the extra step? Vitamin C doesn’t like water. The more it stays in touch with it, the sooner it goes bad. That’s why water-based Vitamin C serums often go bad within a couple of months.
By adding the water to the mix the second before Vitamin C touches your skin you ensure the antioxidant stays fresh and effective.
Not that it does you much good in this case… If you want to get all its anti-aging benefits, you need to leave Vitamin C on your skin, not rinse it away and down the drain…
Vitamin C fiasco aside, Clinique Renewing Powder Cleanser with Pure Vitamin C is a good cleanser. It uses a gentle blend of surfactants (Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate , Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate) to help water mix with oil and dirt so they can be rinsed away.
These surfactants are so gentle, they remove all traces of excess sebum and impurities (but not makeup) from your skin without drying it out or stripping it bare.
I have mixed feelings about this cleanser. I do like the formula a lot, but I’m not willing to waste a few seconds every day for an extra step that turns out to be useless.
Not to mention, the waste all those plastic packets generate. I guess they can come in handy for travel, but for my everyday routine, I’ll pass.
I’m a bit bummed the antioxidants don’t include Vitamin E and ferulic acid. Research shows they boost the effectiveness of Vitamin C and help protect you from sun damage.
Still, it’s an excellent formula… If you can be bothered to use it. Here’s what you need to do to pour it out of the bottle:
The first time you use it, remove the foil seal at one end of the bottle (the one opposite to the needle-like dispenser)
Press the button previously hidden by the foil to release the powdered Vitamin C into the serum.
Shake for 15 seconds to activate it.
Press the button again to dispense the serum out of the bottle.
Either apply it alone or mix it with your fave moisturiser.
Sounds complicated? Clinique has included instructions (with pictures) on the packaging to help you out.
Again, I’m on the fence. On the one hand, I understand this type of packaging keeps Vitamin C safe and effective for longer. Until you press that button, you can keep the vial on your skincare cabinet for months and it won’t go bad.
On the other hand, it’s a hassle to use and is not environmentally friendly. I personally prefer to stick to ready-made Vitamin C serums even if they have a shorter shelf life.
But if you don’t mind the extra steps and want something that lasts longer, Clinique Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10% is a good option to consider – especially if you have sensitive skin. The serum is fragrance free and doesn’t contain any common irritants.
The gel-like texture is super lightweight and sinks quickly into the skin without leaving any sticky residue behind. It makes my skin softer and a little bit brighter, too.
I usually use serums with 15% or higher concentrations of Vitamin C. This isn’t as brightening, so I don’t recommend switching down.
This is for people who can’t tolerate higher doses or want to try Vitamin C for the first time. It’ll give you good enough results to make you fall in love with this antioxidant and get you started on your antiaging journey.
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
This post is sponsored by Bioderma. As you might have seen on my Instagram (@labmuffinbeautyscience), I recently went with Bioderma to their headquarters in Aix-en-Provence in France to learn more about the brand and their products. I also got to tour their research and development labs and their manufacturing facilities. As you probably already know,…
We feel like the Fourth of July really kicks off summer because it gets us in holiday-mode, and, when we think of summer, we think of vacations and weekends at the beach and outdoor barbecues. Of course, here at Pibuu, we’re also thinking of skincare and how to keep skin at its healthiest during these hot summer months, especially when we’re outdoors and in the sun.
Here are five ways to care for your skin during these summer holidays!
SPF!
This is a no-brainer! Sunscreen is one of the key ways to protect your sun from the UVA/UVB rays that can harm skin. It might seem like a chore, but find a sunscreen you like and just get into the habit of applying it as the last step of your routine in the morning — then re-applying every few hours throughout the day.
Recommended product: the Village 11 Factory Daily Mild Sun Cream applies easily, doesn’t leave a whitecast, and protects your skin from both UVA/UVB rays!
Keep Skin Clean!
Sweating is unavoidable in the summer, but it can actually be great for skin because sweat can help remove impurities and bad bacteria from skin. (It’s why spas have steam rooms and saunas!) The potential negative effect of sweat, though, is when that sweat, full of those same impurities and bad bacteria, sits on your skin and dries down as you cool off. That’s why we like carrying around little cleansing cloths to swipe away that sweat throughout the day!
Recommended Product: Ariul’s Stress Relieving Purefull Cleansing Tissues gently remove impurities and help refresh skin. They do remove makeup, though, so please keep that in mind!
Protect Your Lips!
Lips don’t have oil glands or sweat glands, so they can get dry and flaky in the hot summer weather. If you’re constantly licking your lips, that can make lips feel even drier and possibly make them peel. Carry your favorite lip balm around with you to give your lips the hydration, nourishment, and protection they need wherever you go!
Recommended Products: the Peach & Lily K-Beauty Rescue Balm is great not only for lips but also for dry patches, ashy elbows, cuticles, flyaways, everywhere on skin from head to toe, basically! Any of the Peach Slices Beary Lip Balms are also great for lips—and they’re just so ridiculously cute.
Moisturize!
The type of moisturizer you use during the summer may vary depending on the climate you’re in. If you’re in a more humid climate, it might be tempting to skip your moisturizer because it’s another layer to apply to skin, but don’t! Opt for something lightweight instead, that absorbs into skin and gives it that protective occlusive barrier to help keep hydration in skin. If you’re in a drier climate, you might want something that’s heavier, more like a cream; look for one that’s super-absorbent and hydrating.
Recommended Products: we love the Peach Slices Citrus-Honey Aqua Glow as a lightweight, gel moisturizer in humid weather and for oily-to-combination skin. For drier skin types or those in drier climates, the Peach & Lily Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream absorbs quickly and hydrates deeply.
Mist!
Korean facial mists aren’t just water in a nice spray form; the formulas are actually packed with hydrating, nourishing ingredients. Misting is an easy way to cool skin down and give it a burst of hydration—just hold the mist about a foot away from your face, spritz evenly all over, and pat the excess into your skin!
Recommend Product: The Pure Lotus’ Lotus Leaf & Lemon Mist not only hydrates, it also helps fight free radical damage and brighten, thanks to lemon peel oil!
iPhones have a feature called “Screen Time” that shows you data about your phone usage. Well, I just checked my data… Last week, I was on my phone for an average of 3 hours and 49 minutes per day! Yikes!!! I can’t help but think of all the other things I could’ve been doing with […]
I’m not a fan of using more than one exfoliating acid in your skincare routine – unless they come in the same product.
The reason is simple. If you’re trying to fit 3 exfoliants in your regimen, chances are you’ll be exfoliating every single day. For most people, that’s more than their skin can take. Cue dryness, irritation, sensitivity. It’s skin hell.
But if the acids come in a single product? You can use it only when you need it. Plus, you know the acids were formulated to get along and work well together, so you don’t accidentally end up giving your skin more of the wrong acid.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the 3 most popular exfoliating acids are glycolic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid. Where can you find them all together?
I’m a huge fan of exfoliating acids. They work by dissolving the glue that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the brighter, smoother skin hiding underneath.
If you have combination skin that needs the extra hydration from AHAs and the acne-busting properties of BHA, both of these exfoliants are made for you.
No matter how gentle you are, exfoliation always has the potential to irritate skin, especially if it’s sensitive. Glycolic acid is often the culprit here.
Drunk Elephant relies on good old aloe vera and green tea, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and photo protective properties. Studies show it prevents wrinkles, soothes irritations and boosts sun protection.
Moon Juice opted for niacinamide (more on it soon) and allantoin, a plant-based soother that fights inflammation and moisturises skin to boot.
I wouldn’t say one combination is better than other. I’m just glad that both products got this covered.
Have you tried Moon Juice Beauty Shroom Exfoliating Acid Potion and/or Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum? Share your experience in the comments below.
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
Short version: a lightweight, grease-free moisturizer for oily skin.
Long version: originally created as a lighter moisturizing alternative for oily skin, brands are now trying to market essences as the “missing step” between serum and moisturizer.
I don’t know about you, but I need an extra skincare step like I need a hole in the head…
Missha Super Aqua Ultra Waterful Control Emulsion is the perfect example. It’s clearly a light cream that’ll moisturise only oily skin, but Missha website wants you to believe it’s suitable for those with “chronic, dry skin”. It’s NOT.
Oily skin? Let’s talk:
Key Ingredients In Missha Super Aqua Ultra Waterful Control Emulsion
Shea Butter To Moisturize Skin
I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t shea butter thick and greasy?” Guilty as charged.
I admit I’m not the right person to review this. My t-zone produces a little more oil than I’d like, but I can’t describe my skin as oily.
I guess I’m one of those people Missha wants to use the emulsion in between serum and moisturizer. But when I did, I can’t say that I’ve noticed a dramatical difference in my skin.
Sure, the essence gives my skin a little extra boost of moisture that helps keep it soft and smooth. But I’m fine without it, too.
Instead, I can see it working well for oily skin. If you’re the kind who usually avoids moisturisers because they’re too rich for your skin type, you’re gonna love this. It’ll just give you that extra bit of moisture and protection without leaving a greasy mess behind.
The best part? This bottle is huge! You can use it for six months straight without running out. That’s what I call a good deal.
The scent doesn’t bother me, but if you have sensitive skin, proceed with caution. With your skin type, there’s always the chance that fragrance may trigger a bad reaction.
Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.
This post is sponsored by Bioderma. As you might have seen on my Instagram (@labmuffinbeautyscience), I recently went with Bioderma to their headquarters in Aix-en-Provence in France to learn more about the brand and their products. I also got to tour their research and development labs and their manufacturing facilities. As you probably already know,…
Dawn Siler 