Skin Notes

A thick swirl of rich white moisturising cream swatched across a pale ceramic tile on dusty rose linen

The Best Moisturisers for a Damaged Skin Barrier

What a repair moisturiser actually needs in it, what to avoid, which ones we recommend, and why how you apply it matters as much as which one you buy.

The Best Moisturisers for a Damaged Skin Barrier

What a repair moisturiser actually needs in it, what to avoid, which ones we recommend, and why how you apply it matters as much as which one you buy.

Overlapping translucent circles graduating from dark tan to pale, representing dark spots fading over time

Korean Skincare for Hyperpigmentation: What to ...

A full Korean routine for pigmentation, morning and night, with the order to introduce things and the mistakes that set people back months.

Korean Skincare for Hyperpigmentation: What to ...

A full Korean routine for pigmentation, morning and night, with the order to introduce things and the mistakes that set people back months.

Fresh round centella asiatica pennywort leaves with water droplets on dusty rose linen

Centella Asiatica: What Cica Actually Does for ...

Centella, cica, madecassoside, tiger grass. What the ingredient behind half of Korean skincare actually does, and what it does not.

Centella Asiatica: What Cica Actually Does for ...

Centella, cica, madecassoside, tiger grass. What the ingredient behind half of Korean skincare actually does, and what it does not.

A dark amber dropper bottle in low evening light casting a long shadow, representing night-time retinol use

Retinol for Beginners: How to Start Without Wre...

Most bad retinol experiences come from starting too fast. A week-by-week schedule, the right strength to begin with, and how to tell purging from irritation.

Retinol for Beginners: How to Start Without Wre...

Most bad retinol experiences come from starting too fast. A week-by-week schedule, the right strength to begin with, and how to tell purging from irritation.

Barley and wheat grains beside pale rose petals and a glass dropper bottle, representing azelaic acid derived from grains

Azelaic Acid: The One Ingredient That Works on ...

Azelaic acid treats redness and pigmentation at the same time, which almost nothing else does. How it works, who it suits, and when to see a doctor instead.

Azelaic Acid: The One Ingredient That Works on ...

Azelaic acid treats redness and pigmentation at the same time, which almost nothing else does. How it works, who it suits, and when to see a doctor instead.

An open jar of pale cream with a wooden spatula on folded linen, representing a minimal barrier repair routine

How to Repair Your Skin Barrier on Your Face: A...

A week-by-week plan for repairing a damaged barrier on your face, including the test that tells you when you can safely use a retinoid again.

How to Repair Your Skin Barrier on Your Face: A...

A week-by-week plan for repairing a damaged barrier on your face, including the test that tells you when you can safely use a retinoid again.