Have you ever spent 30 minutes pampering your skin with an arsenal of products at night only to wake up with a splotchy complexion in the morning? Or maybe you’ve left the house with flawless skin only to be greeted by red patches in the office bathroom mirror?

There are a lot of reasons why, despite your best efforts, your skin could be flaring up. We asked two dermatologists to share their tips on getting to the bottom of the issue and because you can’t always control redness, the best remedies for calming down your complexion fast.

What’s going on?

Stress, spicy foods, alcohol, product sensitivity, exercise and even the temperature outside can all cause facial redness.

To help pinpoint your triggers – the first step in managing the issue – note if the redness developed after experiencing any of the factors listed above.

A red complexion could also be a sign that you’re not taking care of your body. “A few lifestyle habits that can help reduce facial redness include adequate intake of water, getting at least seven hours of sleep every night, consuming a balanced diet with good portions of fruits and vegetables and taking probiotics,” says Steve Wang, a New Jersey-based dermatologist and co-founder of Dr. Wang Herbal Skincare.

Or, your flushed cheeks could be the result of a common skin condition like rosacea, but more on that later.

How to Treat It

Incorporating calming products with anti-inflammatory ingredients into your routine may not erase redness completely, but can help prevent flare-ups and tone them down.

According to  Wang, one of these ingredients is licorice root, which can be found in the Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Advance Serum, a lightweight formula that smoothes and soothes.

Another is chamomile, a star ingredient in  RE:P’s Bio Fresh Mask With Real Calming Herb.

For redness related to dry skin, New York City cosmetic dermatologist Sejal Shah recommends nourishing ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide.

The SKINRx MadeCera Face Cream contains the latter and plumps, hydrates and brightens the complexion.
Shah will sometimes advise her patients to whip up a calming mask at home (always consult with your dermatologist before trying any DIY treatment). Her personal recipe contains oatmeal, honey, turmeric, chamomile and plain yogurt, which all have soothing effects. She’ll also apply a cool green or chamomile tea bag over an inflamed area. “It works wonders,” she says.

When to See An Expert

If the redness persists for one to two weeks, is concentrated around the cheeks and nose and includes other symptoms like broken capillaries and acne-like bumps, you may have rosacea, and Shah recommends visiting your dermatologist.

While not curable, Dr. Shah says that treatments, like topical medication and laser therapy, can be more effective if you catch it early.

Bottom Line:

You can finally start to get yourself on the path to stop asking yourself, “Why is my face red all the time?” Simply start making some lifestyle changes and start using the recommended products above. If the redness persists, it’s time to see a derm.

+ What are your best tips for combatting redness? Share them below!

The post The Reason Why You Can’t Seem to Get Rid of Your Facial Redness appeared first on The Klog.

If you would have told me three years ago that I would develop rosacea, a common skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels in your face, I would have never believed you. Why, you may ask? My skin has a tan, caramel complexion and I never knew — before I developed this — that brown girls could be affected by rosacea. I assumed it was something that only happened to fair-skinned peeps. Boy, was I wrong and in for a surprise!

RELATED: Why Your Skin Is Red and How to Calm It Down

While it’s less common, POC can also develop rosacea and it is especially triggered during the winter. Cold temperatures, strong winds, dry air and indoor heating are the main culprits responsible for causing the onset of rosacea’s red patches. While my rosacea tends to be mild throughout most of the year (it can pass for a subtle blush), during December, January and February it can really act up depending on the weather. Here are a few of my favorite products and techniques I’m using to keep it under control this winter!

I simplify my skin care routine.

I usually use a vitamin C serum underneath my moisturizer and SPF to keep my skin bright and the dark spots at bay. Once January weather starts to kick into full gear in NYC, I have to resort to only gentle products. I can’t even use regular makeup remover. Instead I remove my makeup with a gentle oil cleanser specifically made for sensitive skin that also doesn’t clog pores. I’m obsessed with the Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil [PHA]. I then follow up with a gentle water-based foam cleanser for double cleansing like the Dr. Oracle A-Thera Cleansing Foam.

I replace my toner with rose water.

On the days — or I should say seasons — my rosacea is acting up, I skip my toner all together and instead spray a gentle rose water after cleansing. I like using the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater. It keeps my skin calm and hydrated. A K-beauty alternative that has gotten nothing but good reviews from others to keep the face staying refreshed is the COSRX low Ph PHA Barrier Mist.

I use rosehip oil.

I usually use serums instead of oils underneath my moisturizers. But when my rosacea is flaring up, rosehip oil keeps my skin super hydrated — which is the trick to keeping redness in check. I apply a few drops to my face and then follow with a gentle moisturizer. I really like the Boscia Rosehip Omega Face Oil .

I moisturize like crazy.

After applying my face oil, I follow with a gentle, oil-free emulsion like the Dr. Oracle A-Thera Emulsion. This lightweight formula provides my skin with the necessary moisture it needs without clogging my pores or causing breakouts. It’s also loaded with green tea extract to help soothe my irritation-prone skin.

SPF is absolutely necessary.

I use a facial SPF all year long — no matter what — but it’s especially important when my rosacea is acting up because rosacea tends to be triggered by the sun. I love the Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40. It’s a totally weightless and scentless formula that doesn’t irritate my skin whatsoever. However, a great Korean skin care option that works for sensitive skin is the Suntique I’m Safe For Sensitive Skin sunscreen.

I’m selective with what face masks I use during this time.

Clay masks and charcoal tend to really irritate my rosacea. During the winter I like to use masks that contain soothing ingredients that calm my skin and give it a bright, radiant glow. I’m a big fan of Skinfood’s Black Sugar Wash-Off Mask.

The post The Skin Care Products I’m Using to Calm My Rosacea This Winter appeared first on The Klog.

It’s not easy to please my very delicate and easily irritated complexion, which is why I tend to turn to skin care products specifically designed for sensitive skin types like the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream. This beauty find has literally been like a gift from the skin gods. 

It’s one thing to have sensitive skin, but it’s another thing to have sensitive skin that’s also oily and occasionally prone to hormonal breakouts. Most acne topical treatments irritate and dry the hell out of my skin, while most soothing formulas for irritated and stressed skin either don’t do the trick or occasionally break me out — depending on what’s in them. But after learning about how the innovative Klairs cream works to both calm and strengthen the barrier of extremely sensitive skin, I knew it was worth trying. 

RELATED: How to Tell if You REALLY Have Sensitive Skin

Rosacea is a big part of my sensitive skin struggle. If you’re not familiar with rosacea, it’s a skin condition that causes your skin to blush, flush or develop redness more easily than other people. It can spread anywhere from the nose, cheeks, to the forehead and chin. And in severe cases, rosacea can form into bumps, appearing like acne-like breakouts. It’s also a lot more common among women of color than you’d think. But depending on how dark your skin is, rosacea can be easily missed or even confused for something else. 

I’ve been fortunate to have a very mild case that looks more like my cheeks are flushed and is usually triggered by extreme increases or drops in temperature, intense humidity, or harsh ingredients in skincare products. Most days I’m good, but when it does form, it’s hard to get my skin to calm as quickly as I’d like. I usually deal with it by applying some tinted moisturizer to cover my red cheeks and keep it moving. But recently, I decided that I wanted to actually treat — instead of disguise — the problem. 

Believe it or not, what initially struck me about the cream was its airy blue shade. Blue is not even my favorite color or anything, but it undeniably gives off a calming and healing vibe, which makes sense considering light therapy uses blue lights to heal sensitive and damaged skin. In fact, what’s behind the beautiful blue shade is actually the star ingredient in this cream: guaiazulene. It’s a powerful agent extracted from chamomile oil that works to calm irritated skin. The skin-soothing moisturizer is also formulated with centella asiatica which helps to deeply hydrate skin while relieving it of redness.

The first night I tried it I applied a thin layer and my skin instantly felt calmer and like I had just splashed my face with a major boost of moisture. I’m also convinced that I slept better that night. I’d had issues sleeping for weeks due to certain life circumstances I’ve been dealing with, and I slept like a baby that evening. That’s because guaiazulene is an anti-inflammatory that also aids in sleep.

The next morning I woke up to smoother, more supple and calm skin — no red cheeks here! Seriously, where has this cream been my whole adult life?

The post An Ode to the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream appeared first on The Klog.

As someone with oily skin, I’ve always been wary of using oils on my face. I mean, adding oils to an already oily surface just sounds like it would make the problem worse, right? Especially in summer, which is by and far the most dreaded season for oily skin types, I treat my skin very cautiously to avoid producing excess sebum and clogged pores.

Until recently, I had only used oils on my face sparingly – a dot of rosehip oil to cure a dry patch or carrot seed oil to repair a dark spot. But last week, I tried the Rovectin Barrier Repair Face Oil, and let’s just say that the results were surprising.

Before getting into what it did for my skin, let’s talk ingredients and formula.

Two of the Rovectin Barrier Repair Face Oil’s key ingredients are neroli and sunflower seed oils, both non-pore-clogging and good for acne-prone and oily skin types. It also contains nourishing and restorative ingredients like squalane and tocopherol (vitamin E). The formula is clean, lightweight, and has a fast-absorbing texture.

What it did for my skin:

I began using the face oil by dropping two to three small drops onto my palms and patting it into my skin after cleansing my skin at night. After one use, I woke up with soft and supple skin. When I put my makeup on that morning, it felt like it was going on more smoothly, and my skin felt hydrated throughout the entire next day. Other face oils I had tried in the past left my skin feeling sticky and smothered after putting them on, but this one immediately felt light and nourishing. Throughout the day, it didn’t feel like my skin was being stifled by the oil in the heat; instead, it felt as though I hadn’t applied anything extra at all but my skin had magically been refreshed overnight.

For day two, I decided to mix the face oil with my usual nightly moisturizer for extra hydration rather than using it alone. With only two drops added to a dime-sized pump of moisturizer, my skin was glowing the next day – not shiny, and some dry spots on my chin had even vanished. By day three, my face felt like silk to the touch. Adding the face oil to my routine didn’t make me more oily or clog my pores at all.

I was surprised but excited to find that while using the oil in my routine, it took longer for my face to get oily and shiny throughout the day. My skin is already youthful and firm, but the oil improved my overall complexion by making me look more bright, awake, and refreshed; I even looked more hydrated and moisturized.

Bottom line

The Rovectin Face Oil is extremely lightweight, and adding it to my skin care routine didn’t make my other products feel thick or slimy like I expected, but rather like an extra layer of hydration. Personally, I prefer to mix it with my moisturizer and apply both at the same time before bed to obtain the benefits from both products simultaneously and add some fluidity and hydration to my moisturizer, but using it in replacement of moisturizer works just as well. 

The post The Non-Greasy Face Oil You’ll Actually Want to Apply This Summer appeared first on The Klog.

Fact: It’s easy for your skin to get red and inflamed. It could happen if you test too many skin care products at once (guilty). It could also happen if you just have really sensitive skin and a new skin care product has irritated it. Or it could be happening right now because it’s winter and this season has no chill when it comes to icy cold winds blasting your cheeks. Either way, skin redness is a drag and it can be quite confusing to know how to get rid of it.
Thankfully, we tracked down two top derms to give us the answers on what to do to calm your angry skin. The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly why your skin is red. Certain lifestyle habits, like stress, diet, and water intake, in addition to dehydrating indoor heating and cold and windy weather can all cause facial redness.
Annie Chiu, a dermatologist in Hermosa Beach, California, breaks down some other potential causes below:
Acne: If you’re red because of acne, Chiu says you should “work with your dermatologist to develop a treatment plan that’s appropriate for your type of acne.”
Contact dermatitis: This is temporary irritation that’s usually caused by a new skin care product that your skin doesn’t react to the right way. “If you have sensitive skin, do a spot test to determine if you will become irritated by something new,” says Chiu. “If you have an allergic reaction to something and it is not dramatic, try some hydrocortisone cream and apply a cold compress.”
Eczema: “It’s hard to know if you have eczema, but a dermatologist can help,” says Chiu. “Mild eczema can easily be treated by changing some of your daily habits, but more severe eczema may need a prescription.’ Either way, Chiu says it’s best to use mild soaps that won’t dry out your skin, and make sure you don’t take long hot showers. “This is true for everyone; hot water dries out your skin,” says Chiu.
Over exfoliation: Chiu says the first thing to remember is that you should never be exfoliating every day. “I prefer chemical exfoliators to physical exfoliators, and don’t use several products that exfoliate in your regime–stick to one,” she says.
Rosacea: Rosacea is chronic redness and it’s probably one of the most common reasons for tomato-colored skin. “There is no cure for rosacea, but the redness can be decreased by creams and serums,” says Chiu. Additionally, “you want to make sure to use the appropriate skin cleansers and moisturizers to hydrate and calm it,” says Joshua Zeichner, the director of clinical and cosmetic dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. “Stick to hydrating cleansers that won’t disrupt the skin barrier.” Look for cleansers that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid (Klavuu’s Pure Pearlsation Revitalizing Facial Cleansing Foam is a great option), to improve hydration, as well as ceramides to help repair the outer skin layer.”
The Best Ingredients For Treating Redness
Hyaluronic acid is a super hydrating ingredient found in a bunch of products, and adding moisture to your inflamed skin will help it heal faster. The Plant Base Waterfall Moist Balanced Hyaluronic Acid 100 ampoule contains 100% pure sodium hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid that is able to better penetrate the skin than other forms due to its small molecular size. It can be used alone or mixed in with moisturizer for an extra hydrating and redness-fighting boost. 
Ceramides, on the other hand, are a natural oily wax that already exist in your skin that help your skin keep water in and regulate cells. They can also help retain your natural skin barrier, which is super important when you’re dealing with redness. You can find them in the COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream, along with edelweiss extract to target inflammation. 
Both Chiu and Zeichner recommend products with licorice root extract and niacinamide (a vitamin B3 component) to further calm inflammation. Here’s a great cure to super-irritated skin: Slap on the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Mask—a sheet mask infused with licorice root extract, along with centella asiatica and aloe vera and made with pure organic cotton to relieve all sensitive skin types. Then, give your skin an extra dosage of hydration by spritzing it with the Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist. Its milky texture coats skin in a blanket of hydration, and the formula, that contains licorice root extract, centella asiatica and bamboo water, is brightening, soothing, and moisture-locking. 
A product that contains the best of all worlds is SMD Cosmetics Saromae Snail Secretion Cream, a luxe serum that contains snail mucin extract, licorice root, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
Bottom Line
To recap, the key to quelling your red skin (as long as it’s not from acne or eczema) is to give it some soothing loving with ingredients that moisturize and help build the skin’s barrier back to tip-top shape.

+What other questions do you have about reducing facial redness? Share them in the comments below!

The post Why Your Skin Is Red and How to Calm it Down appeared first on The Klog.

I have this persistent, soft-focus fantasy of being the kind of person who wakes up bright and early every morning, ready to take on the day; the kind of woman who gets her energy from sun salutations before work and sucks down green juice and lemon water without ever falling prey to the 3pm slump; the kind who credits their clear skin and shiny hair to clean living and never, ever touching caffeine.

This is not the kind of person I actually am, as the mid-afternoon espresso shot I’m currently nursing can attest, and if we’re being honest here, it’s probably not the kind of person you are either. After all, studies suggest that over 90% of Americans consume some form of caffeine daily, with half of us taking in 300 milligrams (2-4 cups of coffee’s worth) or more.

Of course, caffeine has made its way into a lot more than cups; in fact, you’re almost as likely to find it in your face creams as you are to pour cream in your coffee. But while you know what caffeine does inside of your body (makes sure you don’t fall asleep on your keyboard after lunch) do you actually know what it’s doing when you apply it to your skin?

Caffeine’s effect on skin:

Applied topically, caffeine has a couple of different effects, the big ones being vasoconstriction, diuretic effects, and free radical fighting.

Vasoconstriction, in case you skipped out on high school biology like I did, is the (temporary) shrinking of blood vessels; it’s what happens in your eyes when you put in drops to “get the red out.” On skin, that helps out with ruddiness and flushing, but it also can give you a serious leg up in the undereye area if you have particularly pale or thin skin that’s prone to dark circles. That amazing shrinking action can also go to work on your pores, making them look smaller and the surface of your skin look and feel firmer.

Speaking of firmer, if you’ve ever seen body creams that tout their cellulite diminishing power, it’s a fair bet you’ll find caffeine somewhere on the label. That’s thanks in part to vasoconstriction, but also to caffeine’s diuretic effects, which allow it to dehydrate fat cells for a short period of time, making the skin look smoother. On your face, that same effect lets caffeinated skin products purge puffiness, especially the kind you get first thing in the morning around the eye area. Noticing a trend here?

The last major contribution that caffeine makes for skin care is in its antioxidant benefits. While there’s limited data on exactly how much free radical busting topical caffeine brings to the party, animal studies have shown that the buzz-bringer can fight against the effects of UV damage, while one Harvard study found that people who drink coffee have a reduced risk of skin cancer compared to caffeine avoidant types. And since caffeine along with other antioxidant powerhouses like flavonoid-rich green tea, and this is one time you can feel good about working more caffeine into your routine.

Product recommendations:

If you’re ready to give your skin a wakeup call, one of our favorite caffeine-infused products is the Licorice pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream from Acwell. The hydrating formula also features licorice water and licorice extract to brighten dark circles and hyper-pigmentation. Peptides and antioxidant-rich ingredients like glutathione, green tea and blueberry extract provide anti-aging benefits and caffeine tightens and reduces inflammation and puffiness.

The SNP Cafferonic Body Lotion is great body care formula that loops in the benefits of caffeine thanks to arabica coffee. It provides a a lightweight layer of hydration with 5 different types of hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and shea butter while the caffeine works to firm up the barrier and provide an antioxidant boost.

Looking for a caffeinated essence? The Skin Essentials Activating Treatment Lotion by Rovectin hydrates, firms, exfoliates and soothes skin in just one step. The formula features a hydrating barrier repair complex to boost the skin’s natural barrier. Other key ingredients are seven different types of hyaluronic acid, natural enzyme exfoliants to speed up cell turnover and caffeine extract to depuff!

+Do you use caffeine in your skin care routine? Let us know which products you recommend below! 

The post Ingredient Spotlight: How Caffeine Can Reduce Redness, Puffiness and Make Pores Look Smaller appeared first on The Klog.

This week’s question comes from commenter Mawi & Co who asked: “I have a sensitive combination skin with rosacea. Would you have any routine or products recommendations to reduce redness?”
Here, a Soko Glam skin expert’s answer:
—
Before diving in, it is important to understand that there are a number of different causes for facial redness. I’d recommend checking out our redness and inflammation FAQ first. If your redness is being caused by a more serious skin condition like rosacea or eczema it’s best to talk to a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
If your redness is not a skin condition and more of a constant natural pink flush that you’d like to reduce, then following a consistent, targeted skin care routine can be your first line of defense for a clear and even skin tone. Our makeup-wearing friends may even find that they can retire their green color correctors!
RELATED: 5 Skin Care Ingredients That Will Fade Your Redness For Good
When looking to craft your perfect routine, the two basic considerations are skin type and skin concern. For you, your skin type would be sensitive and your skin concern would be redness. Let’s explore the ingredients and formulations that could make up your perfect routine!
Oil Cleanser: Banila Co Clean It Zero Purifying
The Banila Co Clean It Zero Purifying balm is perfect because it’s formulated for sensitive skin, and contains the redness-reducing ingredients centella asiatica extract and licorice root extract.
Water-Based Cleanser: Acwell No 5.5 pH Balancing Micro Cleansing Foam

The Acwell No 5.5 pH Balancing Micro Cleansing Foam is low pH and contains allantoin to moisturize, making it great for sensitive skin types. The calming ingredient in this product is again that yummy licorice root extract!
Exfoliant: NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Cica Pad
These pre-soaked pads are formulated with PHAs (a type of acid that’s gentler than BHAs and AHAs) to chemically exfoliate your skin without causing irritation. The soothing and inflammation-fighting essence also includes centella asiatica extract and hyaluronic acid.
Toner: Round Lab Mugwort Calming Toner
This lightweight toner is made with mugwort extract, an anti-inflammatory ingredient, and includes madecassoside. It’s soothing, healing, and even helps to strengthen sensitive skin’s moisture barrier.
Moisturizer: SKINRX LAB MadeCera Cream
This 2018 Best of K-beauty winner is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, and has an amazing pillowy texture that melts into the skin while providing intense hydration. It also contains inflammation-fighting centella asiatica extract and madecassoside, making it perfect for reducing redness as well.
SPF: Suntique I’m Pure Cica Suncream
Sun protection is a non-negotiable step for all! Here’s a moisturizing SPF that is formulated for sensitive skin with EWG green ingredients.
Mask: RE:P Bio Fresh Mask With Real Calming Herb
Applying a wash-off clay mask is so effective for drawing out impurities that collect in and on the skin throughout the week. This mask is formulated for sensitive skin and both calms and minimizes redness thanks to the crushed calendula and chamomile herbs that are visible in the mask.
Bottom Line
Although it can be overwhelming when trying to piece together a routine, I hope this helps demystify the process. By focusing on both the skin type and the skin concern, we were able to design a gentle and sensitive skin-friendly routine that effectively tackles redness!

Warmly,
Your Skin Expert

+What question do you want our Skin Expert to answer next week? Share in the comments below!

The post Dear Soko: Can You Recommend a Skin Care Routine That Tackles Redness? appeared first on The Klog.

Whichever legend you want to believe, this much is true — green tea is a delicious and healthy beverage that has been enjoyed in much the same form for almost 5000 years. Thought to have originated in Southwest China, cultivation of the tea shrub quickly spread across the continent. So prolific was its spread, the biggest consumer of tea isn’t even in Asia! That crown belongs to Turkey, whose people drink on average over 37 lbs of tea per year!

Black, white, yellow, oolong, matcha, and green tea all come from the same evergreen shrub, Camellia sinensis. You may recognize that name from the ingredient list of some of your favorite skin care products and from camellia oil which is the oil extruded from its seeds. Different types of processing make the different types of tea. In general, green tea is the least processed — the leaves are not allowed to wilt, oxidize, or ferment.

Green tea’s lack of processing helps it retain the highest amount of potentially health benefiting compounds; catechins like epigallocatechin gallate, caffeine, theogallin, the amino acid theanine, and others. While it may look like a simple, pale, and green liquid, experiments have found its delicate aroma is composed of over 600 compounds! Most surprising, by weight, dry tea leaves are almost 30% catechins — an average cup contains between 300 to 400 mg. Modern empirical science is beginning to link the compounds found in tea to its various health benefits. And, some of those include benefits to the skin!

Studies on humans have looked at the potential for green tea to benefit the skin. The amount consumed varies, and it often comes in the form of a capsule or extract instead of a steeped tea. As with any dietary change or supplement you should consult your doctor or health practitioner first.

Some of the research on green tea is contradictory, and some of it can’t be directly compared, but there is some evidence to show that consuming green tea and its supplements may benefit our skin by improving photoprotection, solar damage, photoaging, maybe even acne, and by giving us a healthy glow!

A 2 year-long study performed at Stanford University provides some of the strongest research for green tea as a beautifying superfood.

The study used 250 mg of green tea polyphenol supplements, given twice daily. Dermatologists found that the women taking the green tea supplements had improvements in redness, broken capillaries, and overall solar damage in the skin at 6 months and 12 months. There were no changes in skin moisture, or wrinkling. Subjects themselves taking the green tea supplements noticed a decrease in pore size.

Interestingly and confusingly, at the end of the 2 years, both the placebo group and group receiving the green tea had the same reduction in solar damage! The researchers think that the green tea supplements may have sped up the improvements compared to the placebo.

So if you haven’t already made a pot of green tea, or dunked a tea bag into your favorite mug: go do it now! For maximum antioxidant extraction steep it for 2-5 mins at 194 °F or 90 °C.

Next time, we’ll take a look at how green tea and its extracts can benefit the skin — whether it’s in your skincare products or apply it your face!

Are you a green tea fan? How do you drink / apply / bathe in this antioxidant rich superstar ingredient?

The post What Drinking Green Tea Can Do For Your Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B3 that’s a superstar skin care ingredient. It’s an essential nutrient in your diet that can be found in meat, fish, nuts and mushrooms. Your body turns it into substances needed for important biochemical reactions that occur in every living cell.

Niacinamide penetrates into your skin easily, where it has a bunch of fantastic effects:

• It increases the antioxidant ability of your skin, allowing it to soak up free radicals which cause skin damage, cancer and premature aging.
• It improves your skin’s barrier function, helping it stay hydrated for longer and making it more resistant to irritating and harmful substances. It’s thought that this happens because niacinamide increases the production of essential fatty molecules called ceramides in your skin, and by speeding up the replacement of skin cells.
• It decreases redness, splotchiness and aging-related yellowness
• It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and smooths out the skin (possibly due to its ability to increase the production of collagen).
• It evens out skin tone and reduces hyperpigmentation (brown spots on the skin that can result from things like sun damage and acne scarring) by preventing packets of melanin pigment from reaching the outer layers of skin. In clinical studies, hyperpigmentation was faded significantly after as little as 4 weeks.
• It’s been found to be as effective as an antibiotic cream in reducing acne, without the risk of bacterial resistance.
• There’s also some evidence that it can reduce sebum production, which is fantastic news for my fellow oily skin sufferers, since almost nothing else works!

One problem with niacinamide is that it can convert into another form of vitamin B3 called nicotinic acid or niacin in some products. Nicotinic acid also has beneficial effects on skin, but it has one big downside… it expands blood vessels temporarily, leading to a hardcore tomato-red face! It’s not harmful, but it feels uncomfortable and looks a bit silly. It isn’t possible to tell from the ingredients list or pH whether this will be a concern, so check some reviews before you choose a niacinamide-containing skin care product.

A recent study also found that dietary niacinamide supplements could prevent certain types of skin cancer with very few side effects, so you’ll probably be hearing a lot more about niacinamide soon!

The post Why We’re Crazy About Niacinamide appeared first on The Klog.

Every beauty expert says the same thing. The best way to know if you should buy a product and the best way to figure out if a product is going to work for your skin is to check un-biased reviews.
Meet Michelle and Anita, new contributors to The Klog who are just as obsessed with skin care as you. Here’s what they thought of one of Soko Glam’s most popular curations: The SKINRx Lab MadeCera Cream.

Anita, 34-years-old, Oily/dehydrated skin

First, tell us about your skin.
I have been dealing with acne since I was in middle school, and as I aged, my acne has decreased a lot. That was until I gave birth to my first child about seven years ago. I started to get painful acne around my jawline and neck, AKA hormonal acne. At first, I didn’t know what it was; I thought I was just having random breakouts that would never really go away. People told me to change my diet, so I did. But it didn’t change my skin condition much. Finally, about two years ago, I realized that my hormonal acne would flare up before, during, and after my period or when I am in heavy-polluted place.
Aside from suffering from painful and embarrassing hormonal acne, I also have other skin issues. I have oily dehydrated skin (I never knew such a condition actually existed until half year ago), acne scars, skin texture, uneven complexion, and my skin is sensitive. I easily get flushed when my skin is exposed to hot or cold temperatures, and I also have some fine lines and skin elasticity issues.
What are your thoughts of the SKINRx Lab MadeCera Cream?

Packaging:
It comes in a pretty fuchsia pink tin tube, which I like because it’s very convenient to use, reduces the risk of leaking, and is just more hygienic. Although it comes in a tin tube, it is easy to squeeze out the product.
Texture:
It looks like a white cream but it’s actually a very light pink cream and has a slightly gel-like characteristic to it.
Scent:
There’s a light flowery scent and there’s fragrance included but it’s not overpowering and it didn’t linger after application. The good thing is that fragrance is listed as last in the ingredient list.
Finish:
It spreads out easily on my skin but it takes a while to absorb. It tends to sit on my skin and gives a slightly tacky finish that will dissipate after a while. It’s not to the extent where you want to wash your face again and it didn’t make me feel uncomfortable at all, but I know there are some people who dislike tacky finishes. It didn’t give me any greasy feel but rather a satin finish with a subtle glow.
How I used it:
I used this cream for 10 days straight in my morning and nighttime routine as the last step to seal in all the hydration I’ve layered. The first time using it, I squeezed some out and dotted it on parts of my face and neck before I gently massaged it in with a patting motion. I found that it’s easy to use too much with that application method and I would sometimes end up with a slightly greasy finish after a couple hours. So I developed a new method to use less of it. I would squeeze a pea-sized amount into my palm, rub it between my palms, and then gently massage it on my face and neck with a patting motion. It works better that way.
Sometimes I applied an extra layer on drier areas, like my forehead. A little goes a long way. 
While testing out this cream, I didn’t use any other skin brightening products or sheet masks. I did use spot treatments and pimple patches (I was having my time of the month while testing it), but that’s about it. My skin care routine also remained the same for these 10 days. This is all to ensure that nothing would affect the result of this cream.
Anita’s results:

Right before I used this cream, I had a major breakout. My hormonal acne flared up and this cream helped calm that down a lot. Usually, after my hormonal acne flares up, my skin is left with acne scars and I’ll incorporate vitamin C in my nighttime routine to help fade the scars, but this time I didn’t. After a week of using this SKINRx cream, I could see that my red scars had faded tremendously. I still had some new pimples that popped up, but it was all due to my hormones—this cream itself didn’t break me out or clog my pores.

After using this cream, I don’t wake up with tight forehead anymore, which is hard to achieve lately due to cold weather and dryness from my central heater. Though my skin is still a bit oily, the amount of oil production has decreased a lot.
I also realized that my skin has become softer and smoother. Usually I exfoliate my skin at least one to two times in a week but I only exfoliated once in these 10 days. My skin is glowing even more lately and there is less redness on my cheeks.
As for anti-aging, I haven’t see any visible improvement on my fine lines since I have only been using it for 10 days. However, my cheeks feel bouncier and plumper.
Anita’s bottom line:
This cream is a game-changer for me! Though it might be a bit heavy to use in warm weather or humid areas, I would still use it, but only at nighttime. If you want to look for a multi-tasking product that can help brighten, fade, and calm redness, while also strengthening your skin barrier, you might want to give this a try.

Michelle, 44-years-old, Dry/combination skin

What kind of skin care issues were you dealing with before trying this product?

I grew up in the 90s to early 2000s in the West coast, where having a tan was sexy and necessary. I happen to have very white, pale Asian skin and I was always criticized for it everywhere. For this reason, I never wore sunscreen on my face. Actually, I made it a priority to save money so I could go to tanning salons (and yes, I dyed my hair caramel blonde). Now, I’m in my 40s and I am paying the price!

My main concerns are discoloration, age spots, redness, and uneven skin tone caused by sun or UV damage, aging, and yes hormones too; I also have severe dryness, discomfort/sensitivity, and more redness/irritation during the winter season. I have a lot of fun with my skin in the winter trying to figure out which product is the most soothing and the most hydrating.

How would you describe this product? 

SKINRx Lab MadeCera Cream has a soft white rich texture; the cream feels very smooth, it’s soothing, and it melts upon application (I did not feel any stickiness). I do smell a hint of a botanical herbal-like scent, but it’s very light and subtle.

How did you use this product in your routine?

I did nothing different in my winter skin care routine except replace my moisturizer with the MadeCera cream twice a day. My routine consisted of double cleansing, applying toner, using a propolis essence, a serum (vitamin C, retinoid, or peptide), the MadeCera cream in both the morning and night, and then my sunscreen during the daytime.

Initially, on the first night, I thought, “this may not work for me in the winter,” since it doesn’t seem to be moisturizing enough during the prickly harsh winter nights (it was not “as rich in thickness” as my prior moisturizer). It was not until the second morning after washing my face that I observed the reddened areas around my nose and cheeks were so much less red and my skin appeared calmer and smoother (and not angry).

Did it change your skin?

I hated my skin in the winter! Every day when I’m outside I would deal with “cold, icy, prickly breeze smacking your face” weather and then enter my home and my face would be blasted with suffocating, dry heated air. My plan was to really try to get rid of my angry, irritated, and sensitive skin. I’m truly glad I was introduced to this moisturizer.

I’m not saying this cream was the magical sword I found in the magical forest, but I am saying it really is a gem (especially during harsh winters). My before and after pictures only depict one and half weeks of consistent use; it has not even been a month and my skin is calmer, smoother, and a lot less red (which is a big deal to me). My husband and daughter even said, “Your face looks smoother.” So, yeah, I got their stamp of approval!

What would you change about the product?

Right now, I would not change anything about this product. I like it the way it is. However, skin care is not simple…my skin is always changing its course.

What is your skin like now?

My skin is calm right now and not angry. Its smoother and I also have less bumps around my chin area.

Who do you think the product is for?

I am a huge fan of ceramides for mature skin! The ingredient list for this product has a lot to offer aging damaged skin and definitely for someone who has uneven skin tone.

Michelle’s bottom line:
My before and after photos (in such a short period of time) reflect how my skin feels. Yes, I like this product…a lot. I’m loving the star ingredients (ceramides, niacinimide, and madecassoside) all packed into this one tube. I enjoy the texture, and oh yeah, it’s not sticky! Actually, it feels very soothing.

+ Have you tried the SKINRx Lab MadeCera Face Cream? If so, let us know your thoughts in the comments! If not, what’s your favorite redness-busting cream?

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