For the legions of consumers that are looking for a skincare product that’ll work for them, the fact that beauty has become liberated is key.

Voting in an efficient democracy means casting a ballot for the people that’ll give you what you want and do what’s best for you. You want to trust that they’re representing your ideas, supporting your interests and working to find solutions to your problems. You probably want the same from your beauty products. After all, this is the cleanser you’re relying on to get rid of any post-workout sweat, the serum you’re hoping hydrates and brightens and the exfoliator that you’re counting on to get rid of your hormonal acne.

Democratising beauty

A real democracy is inclusive too. It’s not about sameness. A real democracy welcomes different, varied opinions and is able to say “let’s include everybody in this conversation so we can hash it out and reach a happy medium.” For us, that means recognising that there isn’t one beauty standard. Consumers can determine what makes them feel good, what they love and what they want to add to cart. A real democracy is also about community: everyone has something to say, and we’re excited to take the conversation forward. There’s no limitations, censorship or interruptions, and there won’t be any here either. This is a space where you can comment, compare products, and share tips with each other.

Furthermore, we are focused on being honest, open and transparent. Things you want from a ruling party, and from the makers of the skincare products you’re trusting to hydrate your dry skin or soothe your red zit. We’re telling you what we’re making our products with, who we’re doing it with, why we’re doing it, and what you’re actually going to get out of it. This means the truth, and then nothing else. If you’re relying on something day in and day out, you’ll want it to be easily accessible. That’s what we’re promising.

Reaching your skin goals—whatever they may be for you—doesn’t have to be insanely expensive, confusing or scary. Your skincare goals shouldn’t be about being told what you need, but rather about asking you what you want. If you’re a skincare newbie, you might not know how to read an ingredient label. Terms like Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and matrixyl-3000 may sound like a foreign language. We’re trying to change that. We want you to understand what’s in your product, so you know what’s good for you, and what’s really working. Good skin—skin you feel comfortable in—is the great equaliser, and that’s a manifesto we can all get behind.

Tell us what you think about equal rights for all skin types! Talk to us anytime on WhatsApp!

Peanut butter and jelly, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Vitamin C and ferulic acid. Some matches are made in heaven. But in the realm of lotions and potions, mixing and matching could be risky business instead. Learning to (not to) layer skincare is an art.

The benefits of your favourite skincare actives—Vitamin C! Niacinamide! Retinoids!— are all over the internet. It is easy to fall prey to the cure-all layering routines that promise smooth, poreless skin in just a few weeks. But that get-glow-quick scheme can leave your skin overstimulated if you’re whipping dangerous skincare cocktails. These are not only be harmful together, but could also cancel each other out. If you’re a neophyte, you may want to keep these ingredient non-pairings in mind before putting your routine together.

Retinoids + Vitamin C = redness, irritation and potential sunburns.

Retinoids are Vitamin A derivatives that rev up skin cell turnover. This unclogs dead skin cells and helps improve collagen production. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that blocks tyrosinase production (which is responsible for pigmentation) and scavenges free radicals too. Both these powerhouse ingredients are anti-ageing marvels. But when layered together, they leave your skin photosensitive, which can increase chances for sun damage. These ingredients have a huge pH gap, so if you wear both together, you could be lowering the retinoid’s pH and raising the Vitamin C’s pH levels. This means that both ingredients could be rendered useless. For best results, use a Vitamin C serum in the AM and then apply a Vitamin A-based product on at night.

Retinoids + Alpha Hydroxy Acids = raw, painful skin.

Retinoids and AHAs (like lactic or malic acid) both improve cell turnover, bolster collagen production and promise to leave your skin blemish, fine line and pigmentation-free. But if you’re tempted to use both together in an attempt to get brighter skin quicker, wait! Both remove dead skin layers on the top, thinning out the skin in the process. This can cause contact dermatitis, burns or scarring, especially if your skin isn’t used to exfoliation.

Retinoids + Benzoyl Peroxide = Irritation, and zero effects.

The theme here is to use retinoids carefully—they’re good servants, but bad masters. This is especially so when used with benzoyl peroxide. The two anti-acne ingredients work in very different ways, and may actually cancel out each other when used together. Benzoyl peroxide is able to kill the p.acnes bacteria that causes acne. Because when it is applied, it degrades and releases oxygen, which is able to kill the bacteria on the surface. Retinoids, on the other hand, work by reducing comedone creation by reducing pore obstructions by keratin and debris.

Benzoyl Peroxide + Vitamin C = no results.

If you have a zit and a patch of pigmentation, you may want to fix both, ASAP. But if you spot treat with BPO and then apply a Vitamin C-based toner, neither will actually work. Benzoyl peroxide works by creating oxygen, which oxidises the already-unstable L-ascorbic acid molecules, rendering them both useless.

We did an in-depth dive into the perils of acne and how to fix them, here.

Niacinamide + AHAs = potential irritation and redness.

Niacinamide helps restore cellular energy, repair damaged DNA, which makes it a cure-all ingredient that most pros love to suggest. While some people can tolerate these two ingredients together, some with sensitive skin may be worried about the niacin flush—which occurs when niacinamide hydrolyses into nicotinic acid when combined with an acidic product. This conversation can cause facial flushing, which can result in redness and tingling.

There really can be too much of a good thing—and some power duos are best used separately instead of together. It might be best to ease in actives and space them out, because too many strong ingredients–while they may feel satisfying in the short run—can hurt more than they can help.

The list of skincare DON’Ts is never ending – and we are happy to discuss it all with you! Click on our WhatsApp icon to chat with us at any time!

You can get away with skipping a serum, ditching your exfoliator or taking a break from a moisturiser. But sunscreen? That’s always going to be the protagonist in your routine.

We haven’t met a dermatologist, skincare junkie or well-wisher that doesn’t extoll the benefits of sun protection. If there’s anything you want to be on top of in the skincare realm, it’s your daily sunscreen application. UV rays from the sun can age skin cells, cause fine lines, exacerbate DNA damage and even cause skin cancer. So whether you’re working at home, in the car, on a flight, out at lunch or in transit, you’ll want to slather on sunscreen—a whole ½ a teaspoon all over your face.

Here’s how UV rays can wreak havoc

Ultraviolet radiation consists of three wavelengths—UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and are the primary cause of weakened elasticity. UVB rays target the outermost layers of the dermis and can cause sunburns and cancers. Collagen and elastin fibres are housed in the dermis, which is sandwiched between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue. When these fibres are broken down, there is nothing to hold up the skin cells, which then can lead to fine lines, wrinkles and droopiness.

Added to the loss of collagen, which forms the building block of cells and keeps them plump and healthy, too much sun exposure can cause the formation of free radicals. These are unstable molecules that damage cells down to the molecular level. Even sunburns, which may feel transient and innocuous, are caused due to the breakdown of DNA in some skin cells. This can lead to red, irritated, painful skin.

What should you look for on a sunscreen label?

The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is the amount of time it would take for you to get deep skincare damage (a sunburn, most often!) if you didn’t have sunscreen on. It filters out a certain percentage of the sun’s UVB rays and blocks them from damaging skin. So an SPF 30 can filter about 93% of UVB rays while SPF 50 can block out nearly 98%! This means that a sunscreen with a SPF 50 rating would keep you protected from UVB rays 50x longer than without. A sunscreen which is broad-spectrum, it contains ingredients that deflect UVA rays, making it a safer pick against all sun damage.

Sunscreens today have an added requirement—it is best if they protect from blue light. Blue light is the ever-pervasive visible light from your phone screens, computers and TVs. This high-energy visible (HEV) light causes changes in your skin cells, causing cell shrinkage and death, leading to pigmentation and a lack of elasticity.

Once you’ve found the SPF number you need (depending on how much sun you’re in, how long you’re going to be out for, and how often you’re willing to reapply), you can choose between a physical and chemical formula. Physical sunscreens are formulated with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which form a physical barrier on the skin and deflect light. The caveat—they can leave a white cast. The higher you go, the more likely you’ll get a glue-like, gloopy texture. If you’d rather use a chemical sunscreen, you’ll find avobenzone and oxybenzone, which absorb UV rays and break them down.

Can’t pick? Enter today’s hybrid sunscreens—which can combine the elegance of a chemical-active based formula with the broad-spectrum coverage of mineral ingredients. You’ll get a sunscreen that feels comfortable to use, doesn’t get chalky and protects without sensitising. Ultimately though, the best sunscreen is the one you’re ready to wear every single day. You’ll wear it when you’re just binging TV shows in bed. You’ll have it handy when you go on vacation. And you’ll layer it on under makeup when you’re going to brunch. Eventually, sunscreen is at the very crux of your skincare narrative, and it’s saying, loud and clear: apply me, don’t forget about me, and tell all your friends about me too.

We think SPF is the most important part of flawless, glowing skin. If you want to know more about how to pick the right one for you – contact us on WhatsApp!

When she looks back at herself a decade ago, skinfluencer Ria Biyani (@rithink_skin) wishes she could give her younger self two major tips. First and foremost: it’s okay to have acne. Your acne doesn’t define who you are as a person. Next up? When you do, keep your hands off. “I wish I knew that picking, popping & scrubbing at my face would not make my acne disappear overnight or ever. And I wish I knew that it was a better idea to get the right kind of help from the right person instead of being my own doctor.” Now, after learning the hard way, the beauty influencer takes the same approach to the skin and portrays it through her content—keeping things real through every reel, photo and video she shares. Ria spoke to Foxtale about how she does that, why she relies on her skincare routine and what her favourite beauty wishes would be.

“For me, beauty means happiness and growth, being able to respect yourself and empathise with others and finding pleasure in the little things,” she says.

I think about __ a lot.

The impact of the unachievable beauty standards we have grown up with, about the mental & social impact these beliefs and taboos have had on young impressionable men & women and continue to have today. I also think about how I can facilitate change for the future generations so they can grow up to be kinder & more accepting of everyone around them.

What place does skincare have in your life?

Skincare is my place of solace. When I’m doing my skincare routine, it’s where I feel most connected with myself and my thoughts. Taking those few minutes out of my day to pamper and love myself gives me the confidence I need to be myself. I’ve had a full 360 degree journey with my skin, and I was ashamed of it for years. I thought I needed to hide it from the world because it made me feel ugly. So when I finally found the mental acceptance & the right combination of products that actually worked to keep my skin healthy, it changed how I perceive myself & gave me this confidence that I never knew I had.

What is your AM skincare routine?

My routine is always focused around protecting and hydrating my skin. I usually cleanse in the shower, with a gel-based non-stripping cleanser. Then I use a mist or a toner to rehydrate. Next, I apply an antioxidant-rich serum (I like Vitamin C!) because it helps with pigmentation, which is one of my biggest skin concerns and then go in with a lightweight, gel moisturiser. And I never skip sunscreen—3 finger lengths of the product to cover my face and neck, and then an SPF-based lip balm on my lips. I love using ice rollers in the morning to wake myself up. I always have one in the freezer and on days I feel puffy, tired or sleepy, I use it for 2-3 mins on my face.

Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common skincare issues faced by Indian women and women of colour – read what we have to say here!

You have just a minute to grab your 5 favourite beauty products before you leave for a month-long vacation. What are you carrying?

Sunscreen, cleanser (a 2-in-1 cleanser that removes light makeup & gives a deep cleanse), moisturizer, concealer and a lip tint.

Instagram is a treasure trove for the newest products and trends. What are you obsessing over right now?

An Instagram famous product I really want to try is the Glow recipe Niacinamide Dew Drops. It looks like the perfect mix of skincare and makeup with beautiful packaging. A trend I’ve tried—but still haven’t mastered—is the bold coloured graphic liner look. I feel like they’re simple but still so playful, and can instantly switch up a look.

If a genie could grant you three beauty wishes, what would you wish for?

A lifetime supply of sunscreen, for my skin to always look healthy and dewy, and for my hair to never be frizzy & always look blow dried with zero effort.

If you had to create a skincare product (that doesn’t exist yet!) what would it be?

I’d create an all in one hydrating tinted moisturizer/ serum/ essence which intensely hydrates each layer of your skin. It should have brightening + anti-aging + barrier supporting ingredients and must have a lot of antioxidants too. The texture would be a creamy lightweight gel-cream that absorbs easily and doesn’t feel tacky or sticky. It should have an almost non-existent but subtle fresh scent that disappears quickly. I’d choose a dual pump type packaging. One side would be tinted with SPF, and the other side would be un-tinted and could be used as an eye cream as well.

What’s your evening skincare routine like?

My evening skincare is where I like to use my actives and focus on repairing & regenerating my skin. I usually always double cleanse—an oil based cleanser followed by a water based cleanser. I examine my skin and see if there are any concerns I specifically want to target and pick products based on those concerns. Then I apply 2-3 layers of toner depending on the consistency, and next, I apply a hydrating/ barrier supporting serum. Then I apply my active if I am using one that night—usually an AHA, BHA, retinoid or acne treatment.

I only use one active on any given day to avoid overwhelming my skin. And there are days where I skip this step altogether. Next I use a thicker barrier-supporting moisturizer mixed with a lightweight oil. I like to follow some kind of weekly timetable at night, so I’ll exfoliate 2 times a week, use a retinoid 2 times a week and for the remaining days I focus on hydration & moisture.

You have just one skincare tip to share with your best friends. What are you telling them?

Wear your damn sunscreen. Everyday. Rain or shine, indoors or outdoors. It’s important to get into the habit of applying sunscreen regularly so you don’t have to think about it everyday and it just comes naturally to you.

Follow Ria on Instagram:

Want to know how to add Ria’s tips in your routine in the best way possible? Do you have more questions about how you can create a routine just like hers? Click on the WhatsApp icon to chat with us!