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Serum this, serum that – it gets confusing, I know. With skincare popping onto the scene and different serums, oils, and creams being thrown at you it’s hard to know what’s what. But don’t worry, I’m here to help! Let’s start with Retinol.

Retinol brings countless benefits to your skin, which is why you’ll find retinoids on the ingredients list of some of the biggest products. So why are people hyping up this acid so much?

Retinol Can Clear Acne and Scarring

I know, this incredible feat sounds like a superpower to some, but it’s true! Retinol can unclog those pesky pores, getting deep into the skin which can prevent future breakouts. Retinol works as a chemical exfoliant, getting rid of old and dead skin cells from the surface. When this occurs, fresher, more youthful skin is left exposed, leaving you with a face smoother than a baby’s bottom.

Retinol Can Fight Signs of Aging

On top of acting as an exfoliant, retinol also aids in increasing your skins collagen levels. Now I know what you’re thinking – what on earth is collagen?? Collagen is the main protein found in your skin as well as other tissues. It’s responsible for your skin’s structure, texture, and elasticity to name a few. When we use retinol to increase collagen levels, our skin is able to “bounce back” and absorb moisture more efficiently. Those wrinkles along your forehead will say sayonara in no time.

How do I use it?

With these benefits and more, you might be thinking retinol is the “golden” ingredient in your journey to skin health. While this can be true, there are risks involved.

To start off, you should only use retinol products at night. Because retinol brings fresh skin cells to the party, your skin becomes extra sensitive to light after use. In order to avoid unwanted sun and light damage, it’s best to apply these products once the sun has set for the day.

Additionally, as with any new product, always do a patch test and ease your skin into it. Don’t go from 0-100 with retinol treatments in hopes of fresh, clear skin. Retinol is an acid at its core, which can lead to visible signs of irritation. Instead, begin using retinol 1-2 times a week while your skin adjusts. Eventually, you’ll be able to increase this frequency to as much as 3-4 times a week.

Despite the amount of information, articles and videos about Toners, I think a lot of people are still confused as to what a Toner really is. You’ve definitely heard of it, you’ve definitely seen it in skincare videos and you’ve probably seen your significant other use it - but what is it?

There’s a lot of misconceptions and confusion around Toners, are they good for you? Do they dry out your skin? Is it necessary? 

Toners had its evolution - the first generation of toners were strictly focused on treating acne and oily skin, so it contained a lot of alcohol and was very drying on the skin. But toners today are known to treat a variety of skin concerns and no longer cause the dryness and irritation that it was known for. 

What does it look like? 

Toners can come in water or gel-based consistency. Depending on the toner, it can contain acids (not the bad type), glycerin, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. 

What does it do?

1. Acts as another cleanser - it removes the last traces of dirt, bacteria and impurities on your skin. 

1. Minimizes the appearance of pores - because toners remove excess oil and cleans the skin, removing the dead skin cells that accumulate around the pores, your pores will look tighter and smaller. 

1. Restores skin’s pH level - this is a benefit of Toners that is underrated. Restoring your skin’s pH level is very important, without a balanced pH your skin will be prone to flakiness, redness and acne. Balancing this will help your skin look smooth, and will improve your complexion. 

When should you use it? 

• Apply your toner after cleansing, before your treatments like serums and moisturizers.
• Apply it both in the morning and evening. When applying toner in the morning, make sure you finish your routine with sunscreen. 

How to apply?

You can do so in two ways:

Apply with a cotton pad or your palms. Make sure you don’t miss your neck too! 

Stress is mentally tiring and of course, physically too. Stress makes us tired, groggy, grumpy, and even anxious. Stress affects us in so many ways and it can also show up on our face.

Actually, for people of colour, it can show easily.

The #1 thing you can do for the health of your skin is slathering on sunscreen everyday, throughout the day, all year...rain or shine.

Here’s what sunscreen does:

Let’s get to know what pores are. They are the small openings that surround our skin, it acts as a tunnel for releasing oils and sweat. So, when excess oil and sweat are produced, they come through your pores and onto your skin. 

Why do pores get clogged?

Are you a Person of Colour (POC)? Those of us who have higher levels of melanin are lucky, why? Well, because you and I don’t have to worry about getting sunburns easily, but that doesn’t mean we can’t.

It is recommended that everyone - black, white, brown, purple green, rainbow - wear sunscreen. It will protect us from sun damage and not to mention, premature aging. No thanks, wrinkles. 

You’re intrigued, I know. You see your girl’s routine and her skin looks great. But the bathroom sink looks like an apothecary. It’s intimidating.

I got you. 

I’m gonna give you a simple skincare routine, key word: SIMPLE. And soon your girls gonna ask you what you’re using, so read on, Brotha...

Why is growing facial hair so different than growing hair on your head? There are so many factors that come into play that impacts your ability to grow a beard. 

Let’s dissect and analyze...

There’s so much information on the internet - tutorials on Youtube, life hacks on Tiktok, influencers on Instagram - it can be overwhelming! Everyone seems to have all the answers, so it’s more important than ever to educate ourselves and seek out accurate information. 

That being said, let’s talk about the most common misconceptions about growing, or having a beard: