It’s no secret that CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion PM is one of my fave night moisturisers ever. Ever since it landed in the UK, I barely used anything else.
Their job is to strengthen and waterproof the skin’s protective barrier, so that moisture stays in (where it needs to be to hydrate skin!) and germs, pollutants, and other germs stay out (no irritations!).
A stronger protective barrier also helps skin better withstand the attacks of harsh weather, pollutants, and anything else that’s trying to harm it.
Talking about harm… You know when your barrier has broken down. All of a sudden, your skin becomes dry. Red. Flaky, even. Adding ceramides to your skincare routine can prevent this from happening in the first place – or nurse skin back to health if it’s already happened.
CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion AM SPF 25 has 3 types of ceramides. Plus, cholesterol and Hyaluronic Acid, two more components of your skin’s natural barrier. Together, they make it as strong as it can be.
As moisturiser, apply a pea size amount all over your face after serums and before sunscreen. Done.
If you want to use it as sunscreen, you have to treat it as sunscreen: apply 1/3 of a teaspoon for the face alone. If you apply any less, you won’t achieve the SPF stated on the packaging.
But, it does leave skin looking a little shiny (blame the UV filters for that!). If you have oily skin that shines too much on its own already, this’ll put you off.
My skin is on the drier side, so this isn’t an issue for me. What I need is a cream that helps my skin survive the winter season soft and supple. Does it do that?
Straight after application, my skin feels softer and smoother. But I personally don’t find it as moisturising as the PM version.
While it does help keep my skin in good shape in winter, I think it’s better suited for the warmer spring months – unless your skin is only mildly dry. For severe dryness, you need something more heavy duty.
If you have normal to slightly dry skin and are looking for a lightweight moisturiser that can double up as sunscreen (as long as you apply enough!), this is definitely worth a try.
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Retinol and vitamin C are two of the most powerful ingredients for your skin. Both are known to fight wrinkles, build collagen and fade dark spots and pigmentation.
But fitting them into your skincare routine can be tricky. Should you layer one on top of the other? Which one goes on first? And what about mixing them together?!
In this tutorial, you will learn:
Whether you can apply retinol and vitamin C at the same time
Why you need to consider pH and solubility
The best ways to use retinol and vitamin C in your skincare routine
My top retinol and vitamin C product picks
I’ve also got a free cheat sheet for you to download at the end of this article!
Can You Apply Retinol and Vitamin C at the Same Time?
Adding both retinol and vitamin C to your skincare routine is not as simple as layering one ingredient over the other, or just mixing them together.
In fact, doing either of those things could be a waste of your time and money.
If you’re going to get the most out of these ingredients, you NEED to be aware of two factors: pH and solubility.
Here’s what happens to them when you use retinol and vitamin C at the same time, and why it matters.
✘ The pH Levels May Change
All skincare products that are water-based (aqueous) have been formulated to work at a certain pH. (Skincare products that don’t contain water, known as anhydrous solutions, don’t have a pH.)
Retinol typically has a pH between 5.0 and 6.0, as research has shown that’s where it operates best. The same goes for other over-the-counter retinoids such as retinaldehyde and retinyl esters.
L-ascorbic acid, the active form of vitamin C, needs to be at pH 3.5 or lower in order to effectively penetrate your skin (as this study proves).
Since retinol and L-ascorbic acid have a big gap in pH, using them at the same time will lower the retinol’s pH and raise the vitamin C’s pH.
The result? The retinol will become less active, and the vitamin C will have a reduced ability to get into your skin. Essentially, they will both become less effective!
✘ They May Not Dissolve or Penetrate
The next thing to think about is whether the ingredients are oil-soluble or water-soluble.
Retinol is oil-soluble, so it will only dissolve in oil.
L-ascorbic acid is water-soluble, so it will only dissolve in water.
Oil and water don’t mix. So if you’re adding a water-soluble vitamin C (for example, an L-ascorbic acid powder) into an oil-soluble retinol, it will not dissolve. That means it won’t penetrate your skin, and you won’t get any of the vitamin C’s benefits.
Another thing to keep in mind is that oils can create a barrier on the skin that blocks the absorption of water-based products—another reason not to mix oil-based and water-based solutions.
The Best Ways to Apply Retinol and Vitamin C
Fortunately, there are a few ways to incorporate both vitamin C and retinol in your skincare routine without sacrificing any of the benefits.
You’ve got four options:
✔︎ Vitamin C in the Morning, Retinol at Night
Your easiest course of action is to separate vitamin C and retinol from each other and apply them at different times of day. This ensures that each ingredient can work at its correct pH.
✔︎ Vitamin C and Retinol on Alternate Nights
Most dermatologists believe that retinol should always be applied at night, away from UV light. But did you know that you can apply vitamin C at night, too? This study found that DNA damage continues for hours after exposure to UV light, and suggests it could be prevented with a nightly antioxidant, like vitamin C.
By using retinol and vitamin C on alternate nights, you’ll get the benefits of both, without having to worry about interactions.
✔︎ Vitamin C and Retinol at Night, 30 Minutes Apart
If you must use retinol and L-ascorbic acid at the same time, separate them by 30 minutes. Apply your vitamin C first, since it has the lower pH of the two. Then, wait half an hour before you apply your retinol.
Incorporating the waiting period allows your skin’s pH to return to normal, so each ingredient can work at its intended pH.
✔︎ Vitamin C Derivative and Retinol at Night
If you don’t have time for the 30-minute waiting period, but you still want to use retinol and vitamin C at the same time, then your bet bet is a vitamin C derivative.
Vitamin C derivatives are less potent than L-ascorbic acid, but more stable, and offer many of the same benefits, such as antioxidant protection and brightening.
As long as you choose a vitamin C derivative that is close in pH to retinol, then you can use them at the same time, since they will not destabilize each other.
Choose formulas with one or more of these vitamin C derivatives:
Ascorbyl glucoside (pH 5.0 to 7.0)
Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate (pH 4.0 to 6.0)
Ethyl ascorbic acid (pH 4.0 to 5.5)
Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (pH 6.0 to 7.0)
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate (pH 6.0 to 7.0)
Which ingredient goes on first? In general, you want to apply your products in order of lowest to highest pH. However, be mindful of textures. Lighter, water-based solutions must be used before more occlusive, oil-based ones—otherwise, they won’t penetrate.
Do you need to wait in between layers? When there’s not a huge gap in pH, no—as soon as the first product absorbs, you can apply the second. But if two products are more than 2.0 apart, I suggest waiting if you can.
What if your vitamin C treatment is anhydrous (has no pH)? Anhydrous solutions will contain oils, silicones or oily solvents that the retinol may not be able to penetrate through. In this case, I’d apply the retinol first, let it absorb, and then apply the vitamin C. You can also use them at different times of day or on alternating nights.
The Best Retinol and Vitamin C Products to Try
Now that you’re familiar with the different ways you can use retinol and vitamin C, here are my top product recommendations:
Retinol Treatments
Retinoids from The Ordinary, Drunk Elephant, A313 and Shani Darden.
L-Ascorbic Acid Treatments
L-ascorbic acid treatments from SkinCeuticals, Paula’s Choice, Timeless and Drunk Elephant.
Vitamin C Derivatives
Vitamin C derivatives from Mad Hippie, Skin Inc Supplement Bar, Joanna Vargas and The Ordinary.
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum is a gel-like serum with sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a vitamin C derivative that brightens, fades pigmentation and helps treat acne.
Skin Inc Supplement Bar Vitamin C Serum stars magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a vitamin C derivative that’s good for brightening, lightening pigment, hydrating and boosting collagen.
Joanna Vargas Rescue Serum is minimalistic serum featuring ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, a vitamin C derivative that is used to brighten, even skin tone and increase collagen production.
I hope this guide helps you to make the most out of retinol and vitamin C in your skincare routine!
The key takeaway is that you always want to be using “like with like.” In other words, products that are close in pH, with a similar consistency, can be used together with no waiting.
It’s when they’re dissimilar—whether in pH and/or texture—that you need to be more careful about when you apply them, and in what order. Otherwise, you may not get the results that you’re after.
For those of us looking to use retinol and vitamin C at the same time, we’re lucky to have so many vitamin C derivatives to choose from. However, they can be a lot to remember… which is why I created the Types of Vitamin C Cheat Sheet. Just click below to download it so you have a handy reference for all the different versions of vitamin C, what they do, and where to find them. (It’s FREE!)
Personally, I actually prefer vitamin C derivatives to L-ascorbic acid, even if they aren’t quite as powerful. I find the ones that have a neutral (not acidic) pH are easier to incorporate into my routine, and gentler on my skin. They also have a much longer shelf life, whereas I struggle to finish L-ascorbic acid serums before they oxidize.
But no matter which type of vitamin C you choose, using it in combination with a retinol is a surefire way to get your skin glowing, firm and even-toned. Let me know what results you experience!
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Does your skincare routine include retinol and vitamin C? What results have you noticed so far?
It’s cold, it’s wet and frankly miserable here in Scotland, daylight is scant and I’m already over my New Years resolutions, so you’ll forgive me for using the means of fragrance to escape my current home setting. Fortunately there is a new Jo Malone Cologne Intense to enjoy in the form of delectable and altogether sexy, Jo Malone Cologne Intense Vetiver & Golden Vanilla. I can all but promise that you will be hooked from first spray.
Jo Malone Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense has been created using a combination of two of Madagascar’s prized ingredients: Vetiver and Vanilla – creamy, rich and decadent. It of course wouldn’t be a Jo Malone cologne of any nature without additional notes and often unexpected notes: a spicy dash of cardamon, coupled with grapefruit tea for a fresh yet mellow twist, finished off with a rich and warming crescendo of vanilla bourbon.
“Through Cologne Intense we want to whisk you away on a journey using ingredients that have a true, strong story. We consciously magnified the name of the new fragrance with ‘Golden’ to call to mind the warmth of the scent. It’s glowing and bountiful – like the island of Madagascar itself.” – Celine Roux, Global Head of Fragrance.
Warm is exactly how I’d describe Jo Malone Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense but not in your typical sun soaked fragrance, rather it is doused with an aromatic heat, one that can only be compared to balmy heat of the places that inspired this scent – coconut and sunscreen themed this is not. This is a smoky, unrelenting heat and the promise of taking a trip (imaginary or otherwise) to somewhere off the beaten tourist path.
If you are familiar with Jo Malone Tonka and Myrrh Cologne Intense, then I have a sneaky feeling then you will enjoy the latest arrival – Jo Malone Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense. Although not identical they share a certain fragrant depth and sensuality, not to mention a ridiculously long wear time, as well as being the two most glaringly obvious unisex. Now hear me out, all fragrances are unisex, wear whatever you want and how you want but let’s face it some scents do appeal to certain markets more than others. Jo Malone Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense however is at ease paired with casual dress as it is a suit and tie event, male or female and that is what makes it pretty special.
If you need a scent to help you tread through the rest of Winter and beyond, look no further.
Jo Malone Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense £78-£122 – link.
What are the best antiaging body lotions out there?
Yep, your body needs its fair of antioxidants to fight wrinkles, too. Because, what’s the point of having a flawless face if your décolleté gives away your real age?
Problem is, most creams on the market just moisturize. How do you find the real deal, that elusive cream that reduces wrinkles and prevents them from forming in the first place?
I’ve done the work for you. Here are the best antiaging body lotions to keep you looking younger from head to toe:
Best Exfoliating Body Lotion: Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion ($16.99)
Most exfoliants for the body are physical scrubs that manually remove dead cells… and irritate skin to boot. Ouch! Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion is different: it uses 12% Glycolic Acid, an exfoliant on steroids. For starters, Glycolic Acid works by dissolving the glue that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the brighter and smoothing skin that was hiding underneath. Plus, it draws moisture from the air into the skin to keep it hydrated for longer. That’s not all! The icing on the cake? It boosts the production of collagen, the protein that keeps your skin firm and wrinkle-free for longer. Use it once or twice a week. Exfoliating your skin too often can irritate it.
Best Antiaging Lotion For Reducing Wrinkles: Paula’s Choice Resist Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment ($29.00)
Most body lotions can only prevent wrinkles or make them look smaller. Paula’s Choice Resist Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment goes a step further: it reduces wrinkles. Thank retinol. This form of Vitamin A fights wrinkles on several fronts. One: it boosts the production of skin-firming collagen. Two: it destroys free radicals before they can give you wrinkles. Three: it speeds up the skin’s exfoliating process to smoothen out bumps and even out its texture. Yep, it reduces both wrinkle AND dark spots. Plus, it’s loaded with emollients to moisturise and antioxidants to prevent premature wrinkles. You can use it all over your body or only on areas that are aging a little too fast.
Best Antiaging Body Lotion On A Budget: Olay Total Effects Advanced Anti-Aging Body Lotion ($6.88)
Olay Total Effects Advanced Anti-Aging Body Lotion doesn’t have retinol or antioxidants. Instead, it uses niacinamide, a less known anti-aging superstar that targets every single skin problem you can think of. Studies show niacinamide can strengthen the skin’s protective barrier to keep skin hydrated; soothe redness and irritations; help treat acne; reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots and sallowness; and even regulate oil production! Who knew just one ingredient could do so much?
Best Antiaging Body Lotion For Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lotion ($34.00)
Did you know that inflammation is one of the main causes of premature aging? First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lotion is loaded with soothing ingredients, like colloidal oatmeal, that can reduce it – together with the redness, itching, and irritation that often comes along with it. Plus, some of these soothing ingredients – think green tea and licorice extract – double up as antioxidants to prevent premature wrinkles. Oh, the lotion is very moisturising, too.
What do you think are the best antiaging body lotions? Share your thoughts 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.
One of my small New Year resolutions is to try lesser known and dare I say independent brands, especially in regards to fragrance both for personal and home use. Admittedly I’m fussy when it comes to scents, yet admittedly I do find myself easily lured in by a pretty design. Luckily Saint Fragrance London offers effortlessly stylish candles, in array of slightly unusual yet alluring scents that will appeal to those in the search for a taste of the refined unknown and/or creature companies.
As of the moment there are six Saint Fragrance candles to chose from and to collect – the latter is a somewhat personal goal. Each modern candle comes neatly presented in a slick grey glass container and matching gift box – perfectly unisex, ideal for just about any home decor colour scheme and the perfect gifting solution to the person that has it all.
I have no qualms in stating that I do gravitate towards just about anything that has "Sunday" in the title so surprising absolutely no-one, I have fallen for Saint Fragrance, Sunday Papers candle. With gentle and altogether relaxing notes of Bergamot, Iris and Sandalwood it jiggles and blurs the lines of both fresh and sleepy – the perfect accompaniment to any lazy day, Sunday or otherwise. You’ll be pleased to learn that each Saint London offering is free-from: Animal-derived ingredients: Nanomaterials, Formaldehyde, additional palm oil and genetically modified ingredients.
Without the magic of scratch and sniff, it is somewhat easier to compare this to a category of fragrance that most will be familiar with. In my mind Saint Fragrance, Sunday Papers is somewhat reminiscent of fluffy cotton: warm, comforting and familiar. It also has the dusky presence of "baby powder" type scents without veering sickly nor tacky. In a nutshell nostalgic yet luxurious and so easy to burn and enjoy, any day of the week.
It’s time for another one of those posts that will make people I know in real life avoid eye contact for a little bit, so if you’re a bit squeamish about normal female bodily functions this might be time for you to click away too. But I think it’s important to discuss these somewhat taboo…
Last night’s Golden Globes marked the official start of the 2020 awards season—and all the inspiring beauty looks that come with it!
As always, the vibe is less serious than the Oscars, giving the celebrity attendees and their glam squads a chance to play. This time, that meant lots of flippy bobs and lobs, flushed cheeks and flashes of metallics.
Here are the must-see hair and makeup close-ups from the big night:
Zoey Deutch
Zoey Deutch at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Zoey Deutch at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Bobs were a key hair trend on this red carpet, and Zoey’s slicked-back, flipped-out version was the best. It gives her jumpsuit a playful vibe (an updo would’ve been too serious), and the auburn is an exact match to her eye colour. With such a vibrant yellow, the understated, pretty makeup was the right choice.
Close-up of Kerry Washington at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Love or hate her “boob chain,” you can’t deny that Kerry’s skin looks fantastic. With the creamy, warm red lipstick, silver eyeshadow and chic side-parted bob, I think it’s one of her best beauty looks in memory.
Close-up of Lucy Boynton at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Lucy always does something interesting with her makeup, and this bedazzled winged eyeliner is no exception. I think it looked better in motion than it photographs—and the same goes for her skin! Unfortunately, the silver dress is casting a greyish hue on her complexion. But she gets points for creativity, at least.
Close-up of Zoë Kravitz at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Could Zoë be any more stunning?! I love that her pixie cut is back—all the better to show off her glorious skin and enviable bone structure. As usual, the makeup has a “cool girl” feel, with a velvety red lip, subtle tightlining, freckles and bold brows. Here’s her skincare routine, in case you’re wondering.
Close-up of Margot Robbie at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Margot went for a casual, beachy vibe… maybe too casual, though? I do love the pop of purple along her upper lash lines, and the “your lips, only better” hue of lipstick. But it’s underwhelming compared to her previous red carpet makeup looks, and the loose hair with an inch of visible roots doesn’t seem appropriate for this event.
Close-up of Ana de Armas at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Ana kept things classic, but it’s far from boring. I love the bright cherry red lipstick on her complexion, with matching flushed cheeks. To frame her eyes, all she needs are arched brows, long lashes and just a little soft shading. The ponytail feels more youthful than an updo.
Close-up of Gugu Mbatha-Raw at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Gugu carried the warm tones of her dress into her makeup palette. That orangey-red lipstick is incredible (and notice the way it’s applied, in a perfect curvy shape). I also like the warm shimmer all the way from her lash lines to brows.
Close-up of Salma Hayek at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Although Salma’s hair and makeup were overshadowed by what’s going on below the neck, I do think this is one of her best beauty looks. The berry lipstick and shimmering pinky-copper eyeshadow are gorgeous with her colouring, and the liner and lashes emphasize her eye shape beautifully. The long waves are okay, although they’re not the most current style.
Close-up of Taylor Swift at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Taylor is embracing a more feminine red carpet style lately, which suits her better than the punk and disco looks she’s dabbled with in the past. I especially find this loose updo so pretty. Her skin also looks great, and the soft makeup is fine… I just wish she’d tone down the lashes.
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Reese Witherspoon at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
I may be in the minority here, but I thought Reese’s cute little bob (slicked-back and flipped-out, just like Zoe’s) gave her a very fresh and youthful vibe. But I don’t feel the same way about the makeup. The brown eyeshadow seems too warm and intense for her, and it’s way too concentrated underneath her eyes (to the point where it’s creating dark shadows). I want to see her wear some bright colours!
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Priyanka Chopra at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Priyanka went Hollywood glam from head to toe. We’ve got the vintage waves, the red lipstick, the bold brows and the long lashes. She looks amazing, but I can’t help but feel like it’s too classic—it’s missing that one edgy or unexpected element to make it fresh. (Like at the 2017 Golden Globes, for example!)
Close-up of Sienna Miller at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
I love Sienna, but this has to be one of her most disappointing red carpet ensembles, starting with the colour of her dress. It washes her out, and the makeup does nothing to counteract that. Her hair also has an air-dried texture that makes the dress seem like a beach cover-up. I’m all for low-key beauty, but I think this was the wrong move.
Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Naomi Watts at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
I’m so happy Naomi is still rocking this short blonde bob, dressing it up for this occasion with some smooth waves. She always does red lipstick and a bold brow, but why switch things up when it suits her so well. Let’s also take a moment to appreciate seeing what a real 51-year-old’s skin looks like, without injectables!
Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Sofia Vergara at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Sofia went with her usual—a lipstick in the berry family, with smoky eyes, big brows and long waves. It honestly never changes, except for minor variations on the lip and eye colours. I feel like she could have a lot more fun with her look, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a lighter touch overall.
Dakota Fanning
Dakota Fanning at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Dakota Fanning at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
While I’m not crazy about the Disney princess dress, the delicate purple and pink are good colours for Dakota’s fair skin and light hair. I can’t fault the makeup application, but I feel like she could’ve done something different with her hair.
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Kirsten Dunst at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Unlike Dakota, Kirsten accented her pastel dress with an unexpectedly bold choice of lipstick. I love pink and red together, so I’m a fan. Pink eyeshadow, long lashes, flushed cheeks and side-swept bangs round out the look. I think this all really works for her.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Scarlett Johansson at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
I love Scarlett in red, and she is one of the few people who can pull off such an unforgiving hairstyle. But if you’re going to do that, your skin finish really needs to be flawless, and this isn’t. The concealer or foundation through her mid-face is a full shade lighter and whiter. I love the eye makeup, though!
Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Michelle Williams at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Okay, I’ll say it—I think Michelle’s hair looks like a helmet. I love the bob, and I appreciate the fresh bleach job, but the styling was so much better at the Emmys. At least the makeup is on point, and doesn’t overwhelm her super pale skin.
Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Ronan at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Saoirse Ronan at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
To go with her slinky, ’70s-inspired dress, Saorise pared back her makeup to barely-there neutrals. The key detail is the shimmery beige shadow up to her brows. I don’t mind it, but overall, she looks a little washed-out. I’m also not a fan of the volume near her part, and would’ve preferred a sleek updo.
Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Winnie Harlow at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Winnie looks so glamorous, but it’s not the most modern take on glamour, is it? The most interesting part is the pop of royal blue underneath each pupil, but it gets lost in the dark and heavy eyeshadow, false lashes and drawn-on brows. I’d also love to see her with shorter hair.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Jennifer Aniston at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Jennifer basically wore the same black dress with the same hair and makeup we’ve been seeing for well over a decade. The hair especially is doing her no favours, what with the thin, shattered ends. Imagine how she’d look in a chic blunt cut! The makeup is boring, but not terrible.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Gwyneth Paltrow at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
What do you wear with a sheer brown dress that evokes the poop emoji? 💩 Gwyneth went with a simple beauty look of straight hair, sheer pink blush and lip colour, and extra-long lashes. I can’t even fault anything because the outfit is clearly the biggest crime.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Close-up of Jennifer Lopez at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
With her complexion and bone structure (not to mention her figure!), it’s seriously baffling that this is what Jennifer chose to wear. The foundation and bronzer are the cakiest I’ve seen, to the point where it looks like a mask. And she’s hiding such great skin under there! The smoky eyes are equally heavy (especially with top and bottom false lashes), and the braided updo is over-the-top. It’s all too much, even for JLo!
Who had your favourite (and least favourite) beauty look on this red carpet?
The market for skincare products that lighten and brighten skin is huge! Whether you’re looking to directly target dark spots or you’re just after an overall brighter complexion, these products are the way to go.
The playground of brightening products has been ruled by ingredients such as hydroquinone, arbutin, azelaic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C for quite some time now. However, there’s a new kid on the block ready to give these ingredients a run for their money – enter resveratrol!
Resveratrol? Isn’t that the ingredient that gives wine its health benefits?
Why, yes it is!
However, it is also creeping into many skincare products due to its excellent anti-aging effects!
But, what is resveratrol and how can it brighten skin? Let’s find out…
What Is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol is the powerful antioxidant found in grapes, red wine, and berries, as well as a number of different plants. It has over twice the antioxidant activity of vitamin C and has a wide variety of benefits for the skin.
However, there is one benefit of resveratrol that is often overlooked – it’s ability to reduce pigmentation and brighten skin!
Resveratrol As A Treatment For Pigmentation
One particular benefit that resveratrol has over some other brightening treatments is that it prevents the production of melanin in a variety of different ways.
Melanin is the substance that gives our skin its natural colour and provides us with some amount of natural UV protection (although, definitely not enough to forgo sunscreen!)
Most treatments for pigmentation target an enzyme called tyrosinase which plays an important role in the production of melanin. Specifically, these treatments reduce the activity of or ‘inhibit’ this enzyme which means that it is less able to initiate melanin production. For this reason, they are referred to as ‘tyrosinase-inhibitors’.
In other words, it regulates the way that the different proteins and genes that are involved in the production of pigment communicate with each other. Furthermore, it regulates the activity of tyrosinase within cells if the genetic information has already been shared.
A more recent study found that resveratrol, in combination with baicalin and vitamin E, was able to significantly improve hyperpigmentation after 4 weeks of use, with increased improvements after 8 and 12 weeks of use.
When a 0.4% resveratryl triacetate solution was applied to recently tanned skin twice-a-day for 8 weeks, it led to significant skin lightening compared to a control product. This lightening effect was also observed when the same treatment regime was used on areas of natural hyperpigmentation (e.g. age spots).
0.8% resveratryl triacetate not only reduces pigmentation and lightens skin, but can also improve fine lines and wrinkles after 8-weeks of twice-daily use.
What Are The Best Resveratrol Products For Brightening Skin?
Resveratryl triglycolate and resveratryl triacetate don’t appear to be available in skincare products yet, but there are still resveratrol products that have been stabilised in other ways. Here are some examples of resveratrol products that may help brighten skin.
Best Picks:
Fun fact: Skinceuticals Resveratrol B E was used in the 2014 study, mentioned earlier, that used resveratrol in combination with baicalin and vitamin E.
The Bottom Line
Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that has been overlooked as a brightening treatment. However, it appears to be better at preventing melanin production than a number of the most commonly used products.
There are some concerns regarding the stability of resveratrol which may be why only a few brands have incorporated it into their products. However, recent research has identified a way to stabilise resveratrol by combining it with either acetic acid or glycolic acid.
While reservatryl triacetate and resveratryl triglycolate are not yet available in skincare products, their increased stability may make it easier for more brands to introduce resveratrol into their future products.
So, will resveratrol become the new it-girl of brightening ingredients?!
Probably not.
At least not while it’s stuck in the shadows of other, more popular, ingredients.
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We’re going to start off the New Year with ‘a few things that go wrong’. Some of the examples of failed things I will be sharing with you in coming posts have been accidental, but a great deal of them have been entirely intentional.
Believe it or not, today’s fail took a surprisingly long time to achieve, and to me, it’s a success!
Everyone loves a warm bath don’t they? That’s probably why bath and body treats are so prevalent this time of the year. With so many to chose from it can be a little tricky to navigate the world of skin and hair treats and as such I’ve rounded up the best of the best.
1, Ted Baker Harmony Gift Set, this has beautiful blue box to be the ultimate bath and body treat with a wide assortment of showering treats including sheet masks, body lotions, gels and scrubs, all in luxurious and refined fragrances.
2, The Soap & Glory Holiday Heroes Gift Set is like a selection box of scented bath and body treats, all of which are perfectly sized for travel. Inside the dinky little pouch there’s something for every whim including dry shampoo, face wash, hand cream, body lotion and much, much more.
3, Another great little kit that offers plenty of variety and is wonderfully sized for sneaking into stockings is the Lee Stafford Ultimate Hair Mask Collection. Whatever your hair woe may be this set will have you covered and then some.
4, Speaking of hair the new range of Lee Stafford brushes make a wonderful and dare I say practical gift. I personally rate the slightly unusual try super handy Lee Stafford Shampoo Massage Brush, it’s great for thoroughly massaging the scalp and helping to de-tangle in one step.
5, For those looking to protect their hair then I suggest a dinky little bottle of Morrocan Treatment Oil for a nourishing treat. For something similar but a little more sizeable there’s also the Bumble and Bumble Invisible Hairdresser Hot Oil set, with several applications in one little box it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
7, Dry Shampoo has come a long way, so much so that the Styledry Dry Shampoo Compact has pride of place in a gift guide. This nifty powder smells wonderful and is pocket sized so it neatly fits into any bag or pocket!
8, A huge bath bomb with a solid rubber ducky soap inside? It could only be Soap and Glory A Christmas Quacker of course and from here on out if my bath bombs don’t contain a floating soap I’m frankly not interested.
9, For a more refined bath and body treat, I can not recommend Olverum Bath Oil enough. A luxurious Bath Oil that smells incredible and cocoons the skin in moisture.
10, I love bath treats, I love storage so the Sanctuary Spa Jar of Treats is a no brainer; not only do you get an entire array of bath and body treats but a beautiful keep safe jar too.
11, Is it really Christmas without a few L’Occitane goodies, at the moment my personal favourite scent of the bunch has to be Festive Garden which is available in many products including cuter than cute soap and hand lotion.
12, A warm after a long day at work is the definition of bliss, go one step further and scent your bubbles with Laura Ashley Foam Bath. The huge glass bottle is the height o sophistication and the gentle floral scent is a real crowd pleaser.
13, Admittedly this isn’t technically a bath and body Gift Set but really can you go too wrong with a lip balm? In a word no. Not only does the Burts Bees Vanilla Bean Gift contain a lip balm and cuticle balm but it comes complete with a dinky little tin that can be used as a candle holder and more.
It’s time for another one of those posts that will make people I know in real life avoid eye contact for a little bit, so if you’re a bit squeamish about normal female bodily functions this might be time for you to click away too. But I think it’s important to discuss these somewhat taboo…
Dawn Siler 