As our relationship to skincare keeps evolving, we’re learning more and more about buzzy new ingredients, cutting-edge formulations and the coolest technology out there. But with all the information we have out there, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the soup of ingredients on the back of the bottle. If you scroll through Instagram, Reddit or Facebook, you’re likely to come across arguments, points and counterpoints for a lot of these picks—parabens, phthalates, essential oils, mineral oils, synthetic ingredients. Recently, conversations about fragrances in skincare products have been brought to the focus too. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, fragrance is actually considered the leading cause of allergic reactions on the skin, and a lot of people struggle with redness, peeling skin, eczema and dryness thanks to it. Most times they might not even know the culprit. So why do brands use fragrance in their formulations so often? Is there a way to use a skincare product with fragrance in a safe manner that won’t hurt your skin? This is what we know.

Skincare will never be a one-size-fits-all approach. For some consumers, a floral fragrance or a fresh wake-me-up scent might be the reason they pick a product off the shelf. Fragrances appeal to the olfactory centers in the brain to create an emotional connection to the product, making them enjoyable to use—and keep using. The thing is, skincare is more than just its end result. For a lot of people, it is the routine that grounds them at night or wakes them up in the morning. It is the self-care regimen that calms them down or helps them focus. 

Sometimes it’s also a formulation choice. If the original product is rife with raw, earthy ingredients, brands may have to add in a scent to cover it up to make the product palatable. It brings to light the question: if a product is great—with active ingredients that truly work—but smells too terrible to actually use, what would be the point of it?

What Kind Of Fragrances Are In The Products You Use?

A natural fragrance is a composition of raw materials from nature (like a scent made up of actual roses) while a synthetic one is man-made in the lab. The latter is usually longer lasting than the former, but natural fragrances are sometimes more true to the real scent, so most perfumes are a mix of these two. It might seem like natural fragrances are safer and better to formulate with, but that may not always be the case, as they might not always interact with the body in the same way every time. But when it comes to synthetic ingredients, there might not always be a lot of transparency. Brands are allowed to sell products with ‘parfum’ as an ingredient on the back of the bottle, which grandfathers in a lot of ingredients that they might not always have to disclose. 

Can You Formulate A Safe Product—With Fragrance?

Yes. The EU has a list of fragrances that are believed to cause allergies and reactions in a majority of consumers. We at Foxtale formulated without these, choosing largely certified allergen-free synthetic fragrances in super tiny quantities—so when you decant the Ceramide SuperCream Moisturizer or the Daily Duet Face Wash, you can enjoy the experience without being worried about any ill-effects. But all skin isn’t the same. Even if a product is considered allergy-free, you may not tolerate it as well as other people, so patch testing is important. Apply a new product to your forearm or behind your ear before you use it all over your face to figure out if anything is sensitizing your skin. If it's a specific fragrance listed on the ingredient list, you’ll know it’s that one. 

POV: It’s your big day (or your best friend’s, sister’s, or cousin’s wedding weekend), you’ve likely already figured out your outfits, planned your makeup looks, and prepped your body for three full days of dancing. With so many things on your plate right now, skincare might not be on your priority list. But prepping your skin is just as important—how you treat it in the run-up, as well as the morning of, will show up in your final look. If you want to look as radiant as Alia Bhatt or Anushka Sharma did on their wedding day, we have curated just the perfect tips you can use to achieve the most flawless bridal glow ever seen. 

Figure out what you’re looking for 

If you’re a bride-to-be and you’re not sure where to start, you must be receiving a lot of advice from everyone (be it relatives, friends, and whatnot). While this may seem overwhelming, it is best to make an appointment with a dermatologist or aesthetician to discuss what your wedding day skin is. They’ll be able to get you on the right regimen, and you’ll have a ritual that you can follow.

If you’re a wedding guest, the stakes are pretty high too. You’ll have the photos forever, and with all the different makeup looks you’ll be trying, you’ll want to have your skin being the perfect base. As opposed to just purchasing every product you can to get glowing skin, take some time to figure out exactly what you’re looking for. Is it reducing acne? Do you desperately need to hydrate your skin? Do you need to work on anti-ageing? Answering these questions will help you take the steps you need. 

Allow for enough time before starting a new product

Whenever you are trying out a new product like retinol or salicylic acid, you’ll want to add it to your routine 3-4 months before the big weekend. Your skin needs to get used to the ingredient you’ve picked. Foxtale's Retinol anti ageing night serum is the perfect tool for brightened, firmer, and more taut skin. Additionally, you can sandwich the ingredient with a soothing pick like the Ceramide Moisturizer to strengthen your skin barrier and get the best results from both products. 

Exfoliate 

You’ll want to find an acid that works for what you need. AHAs (or alpha hydroxy acids) can improve cell turnover and provide great results when it comes to dullness, acne, or texture issues. BHAs (or beta hydroxy acids) break down the bonds between dead skin cells, so they can be swept away. The result? Glowy skin (the one you’re manifesting). While you're exfoliating your face, remember that your back, arms, and neck need a deeper "reset" for those backless blouses and sleeveless outfits. To achieve a seamless head-to-toe glow, integrate the Detan Body Wash into your shower routine.

Look for ingredients that’ll brighten

Glowing or dewy skin is on your bucket list and do you know what will help you achieve it? Foxtale’s  C For Yourself Vitamin C Serum — it’s the hero we all root for. Not only is it good for most skin types but also helps with pigmentation, reducing free radical damage, brightening the skin, and boosting collagen production. It upgrades your skin's natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells. If you’re new to the ingredient, start using it a couple of months before the wedding weekend. On the day of, use Vitamin C along with hydrating agents like hyaluronic acid to create the perfect canvas for your makeup. P.S. Never forget the sunscreen!

Stop spots in their tracks

Getting a pimple on your D-day is nothing short of a nightmare. If you have pimples that have just popped up, tackle your trouble spots by using a drying lotion with salicylic acid like Foxtale’s Acne spot corrector gel which helps in your fight against acne, it unclogs pores and cleans them deeply, and decreases sebum production leading to fewer breakouts. To prevent your skin from drying out, make sure to layer the Ceramide Super Cream Moisturizer along with the spot treatment to protect the skin from peeling or redness.

Make your skin the perfect canvas

The ideal base for makeup is hydrated, firm, and supple skin, so your makeup artist can focus on enhancing your features rather than concealing and correcting them. Look for ingredients that’ll hydrate and balance your skin, especially ones that’ll support your natural skin barrier.

Your skin needs pampering and Foxtale’s Hyaluronic acid serum will do just that. It makes your skin plumper and reduces uneven skin tone, giving you a perfect canvas for your makeup. 

Hydrate yourself 

Weddings though fun can be super stressful and during times like these, we can easily forget to hydrate ourselves. Hydrating yourself, especially during such busy times can do wonders for both our skin and body. Ensure you have at least 2-3 litres of water everyday to get the radiant glow and shine you want on your wedding day. 

Integrate CTMP

It stands for cleanse, treat, moisturize and protect. No matter how busy or worn out you may be in the mornings and at night, do not neglect these four steps. Cleansing your face is crucial because it helps remove all the dirt and grime that accumulates there during the day. Foxtale’s hydrating facewash is a deeply hydrating cleanser that emulsifies to remove makeup, unclogs pores, and gets rid of dirt and sebum gently.

When it comes to treating your skin, it deserves the best. Foxtale’s Eye candy firming gel visibly reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. It won't clog your pores and will firm the under-eye.

The next essential item in your pre-bridal skincare regimen is a moisturizer, which you should use both at night and during the day in order to lock in moisture to give skin that's supple, radiant, and soft. To protect your skin, it is important to use sunscreen that will protect you from sun damage and reveal healthier skin. Foxtale’s matte finish sunscreen is perfect for oily and acne-prone skin while the dewy sunscreen will suit normal to dry skin.  

Conclusion

Weddings are considered to be one of the most important days of your life and achieving the perfect skin will be the extra cherry on top. Taking extra care of your skin and yourself is a key step to achieving the skin of your dreams. So sit back, relax and follow the right routine that will help you achieve youthful and radiant skin! 

Is having a hydrated and radiant skin in your bucket list? With summers taking a backseat and winter taking the lead, your skin must be feeling much drier than usual. On colder days, your skin tends to be dry and you need to care for it a lot more than usual. Slapping on moisturizers now and then might not be the best way out here. Your best defense in this scenario is to treat your skin mindfully by choosing the best ingredients in your winter skincare.

But how do you know what ingredient is right for you? There is a plethora of information on this buzzing topic so it can be confusing. Fret not, 'cause we have got it all in one place. Keep on scrolling to see the list of seven ingredients we created to implement in your winter skincare. 

7 Best ingredients for winter

1.Ceramides

Ceramides naturally make up about 50 per cent of your skin and they are produced by the skin to hydrate and nourish it. So why would you need to apply it over topically? Unfortunately, factors like a bad skincare routine, weather, over-exfoliation, and even ageing can stop your skin from producing enough ceramides. So to replenish and make up for all the lost ceramides, you need to use skincare products that include ceramides.

 Foxtale’s smoothening moisturizer is the perfect way of protecting yourself from the dry winter air and maintaining your skin barrier.  The major role of ceramides is to act as a protective layer of your skin which makes them one of the best anti-ageing powerhouse ingredients!

2.Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid or HA is one of the most talked-about ingredients in recent years and we think it was all worth it. According to research, this is a naturally occurring carbohydrate that can absorb and retain up to 1000 times its weight in water. This increases the moisture level of your skin.

When your skin is hydrated with this ingredient, the skin cell regeneration process is also increased. Foxtale’s Hyaluronic acid serum helps improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and it also creates a plumping effect on the skin. 

3.Olive oil

Olive oil is not the most talked about, popular ingredient all over the internet yet, but it will become one very soon once people get to know a little secret about it. The hydrogenated form of olive oil is a soft lipid-derived that is known to have nourishing properties to support healthy skin. Research has shown that it is 4 times more effective than Squalene, which keeps your skin hydrated and strengthens the skin barrier.

If you are looking to introduce all these three superfood ingredients in your winter skincare, check out Foxtale’s Smoothening moisturizer. The lightweight yet hydrating texture, skin-loving ingredient checklist, and radiant look post-application will make your skin fall in love with it instantly.4

4.Vitamin B3

Niacinamide or Vitamin B3 is often considered only to be an ingredient that treats acne and hyperpigmentation, but in reality, it can do much more than that. It is a super versatile ingredient that strengthens the skin barrier, enhances texture, and retains moisture. Foxtale’s Acne spot corrector gel contains this hero ingredient which helps in clearing out pores to reduce acne overnight and lessens pimple-related redness and inflammation. If you experience dull/dry skin and wish to brighten up your skin, incorporate this ingredient in your winter skincare. 

5.Vitamin B5

Can you think of an ingredient that can help you achieve that hydrated, healthy, and smooth skin instantly? If you can’t think of it, here’s your answer: Panthenol, or Vitamin B5 it is! Brands use panthenol in their products as a softening, soothing, and anti-inflammatory agent. Foxtale’s Hydrating face wash contains this essential vitamin that promotes faster healing of the skin resulting in a reduction in acne and blemishes over time. Studies have shown that because of its viscous texture, it helps to build a strong skin barrier and in turn reduces water loss from the skin, making it a superb addition to your winter skincare.

6.Vitamin E

Another powerhouse ingredient that you shouldn’t think about before adding to your winter skincare is Vitamin E. If you have been waiting to break up with your dry and parched skin, look for products that incorporate Vitamin E. Not only will it moisturize your skin, but it will also protect your skin from free radicals and harmful UV rays.

Our dewy finish sunscreen and matte finish sunscreen are lovely formulations that use all the three Vitamins talked about above. Include these magical potions in your winter skincare now! 

7.Vitamin C

One of the best known anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and antioxidant ingredients is here in front of you, Vitamin C! It is a very popular ingredient that minimizes the appearance of fine lines, protects skin from free radicals, boosts collagen production, and helps you achieve beautiful and healthy-looking skin.

If you are looking to incorporate this super awesome ingredient in your winter skincare, don’t look any further and try our C For Yourself Vitamin C Serum. It is packed with one of the most potent and purest forms of Vitamin C, L-Ascorbic acid. Whether you are drinking Vitamin C (orange juice) or adding this ingredient to your routine, you are doing the right thing!

Easy tips to incorporate in your winter skincare routine

Although ingredients play a major role in keeping your skin healthy and in great shape, we believe that lifestyle changes alongside would be as effective. Here are a few simple tips you must include in your routine to get better results.

1.Stay hydrated-

It is a common habit to forget to hydrate yourself especially during a cold season like winter. It's a bad habit to forget to drink water, especially in the winter when it's freezing outside. However, during such dry times, our skin is unable to retain moisture, thus it is crucial to stay hydrated. You can always drink fruit-infused drinks if you find it difficult to drink plain water.

2.Put on sunscreen

Its a common misconception that during winters you shouldn't put on sunscreen SPF 50 because your skin is less exposed to sun's rays. Even if the sun's warmth is soothing, your skin can nevertheless suffer serious harm from the UV rays. Always remember to use sun protection, even on gloomy winter days. 

3.Avoid taking hot showers

It can be tempting to turn up the heat, especially in the winter, but hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils and make it more prone to drying out, cracking, and peeling. To retain as much moisture as you can, try using lukewarm water. 

4.Use moisturizer on damp skin 

Using moisturizer immediately after you shower helps lock in the moisture as it helps to keep skin moist.

5.Take extra care of your lips 

Since the skin on the lip is thinner and continuously exposed to the weather, they can become very dry in the winter. Additionally, unlike the rest of our skin, lips do not contain oil glands that keep them hydrated. So, it is necessary to generously use lip balms and oils to get those perfect moisturized lips.  

If you’re a first-time mom, you know that the list of do’s and don’t is long. You’re doing everything to keep yourself healthy, safe and supportive of your body, while making sure that your baby is as safe as possible. In the process, pregnancy books and websites will make it seem like you have to toss out every single product in your beauty kit and that every ingredient is scary to use. But taking all your favorite skincare products out of the assortment may not be warranted either, you may just have to do some rejigging.

First, talk to your doctor and your dermatologist 

This isn’t the time to play fast and loose with what you know from the internet. There are a lot of ingredients that aren’t the best to use when you’re pregnant, and you may not always check the back of the bottle before using it on yourself. If you do have specific issues you’re trying to fix, a dermatologist may be able to prescribe certain medical-grade products that are safe and efficient to use.

You’ll want to take some products off your roster

Retinoids, which are considered the gold standard to fight acne and fine lines, are not safe during pregnancy because they can affect embryonic development and result in birth defects.

Popular anti-acne and anti-pigmentation ingredients like salicylic acid are mostly frowned upon too, because studies have not been done on its pregnancy safety.

Essentially, most ingredients that can enter the bloodstream through topical application should be skipped, so chemical sunscreens, antibiotics and hydroquinone are better left for post-pregnancy, according to most doctors.

You’ll want to add some in too 

There are safe alternatives to all your favorite products. Loved retinol’s anti-ageing properties? Bakuchiol, a plant-based ingredient works with the same kind of receptors and helps to improve the look of pigmentation, elasticity and firmness. For brightening, lactic, azelaic and glycolic acid are considered safe, and they improve cell turnover without causing any peeling or redness. 

Focus on sun protection

Melasma can be due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and can be made worse from sun exposure. The brown or gray-brown patches can appear most often on the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin, so sun protection is necessary. There might not be too much information about chemical sunscreen usage, so it is best to use a physical sunscreen with broad spectrum zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that protects the skin by deflecting UV rays.

Hydrate dry skin

Hydrating and moisturizing the skin is super important. Look to coconut oil, cocoa butter, peptides and hyaluronic acid, which work in tandem to improve elasticity and leave the skin supple. Find your stomach feeling itchy, uncomfortable and dry? Lather on balms, oils and creams on the area to soothe and help the skin stretch naturally (aka help prevent the look of stretch marks). 

Give yourself grace! 

When you’re pregnant, your body is going through a lot. While some women may be blessed with a “pregnancy glow”, others struggle with melasma, raging acne and terribly itchy skin. It helps to remind yourself that you’re growing a baby and your body (and skin’s) needs might be changing, so allowing yourself to figure out your new regimen within the new constraints might just take a little trial and error. Oh, and those stretch marks? They’re only a sign of major transformation.