on April 02, 2020
There's a lot of jargon thrown around the skincare space. Fluffy words and fluffier Instagram photos. It's easy to get confused and a little lost, physically in beauty aisles and mentally in beauty buzzwords. #letsbefrank, I'm here to set the record straight on a few popular skincare rivalries: what each means, what the difference is, and which one comes out on top.
Battle 1: Chemical vs. physical exfoliation
In the pink corner: chemical exfoliation. Chemical exfoliation uses (pause for dramatic effect) chemicals. These include natural elements like gentle acids and enzymes, like the ones found in my Glow Mask.
Special skills: dissolves the glue that holds dead skin cells together. Fights through oil that gets stuck in pores. Clears away congestion. Fades the appearance of acne scars and fine lines over time. Always holds your hand in public.
In the purple corner: physical exfoliation. Physical exfoliation uses small particles or textures to exfoliate, like my Original Face Scrub.
Special skills: buffs away the top layer of dead, dull, damaged skin for an instant glow. Helps boost circulation and lymphatic drainage. Texts you goodnight.
The winner: it's a tie. While my Original Face Scrub delivers more visibly immediate results, my Glow Mask is about deep, long-term results. Both types of exfoliation work together, complementing each other to give you your brightest, softest skin ever.
Battle 2: Mask vs. serum
In the pink corner: the face mask. Face masks are applied after cleansing. They come in many forms: clay, sheet, overnight, peel-off. Rinse-off masks, like my Glow Mask, are applied after cleansing but before the rest of your routine.
Special skills: targets specific skin concerns. Helps other products work better. Makes you feel like a babe.
In the purple corner: the serum. A serum is a product you apply after cleansing and before moisturising, to deliver powerful ingredients straight to your skin.
Special skills: also targets specific skin concerns. Easy to apply. And remembers your dad's birthday.
The winner: mask. Masks give you highly effective, concentrated attention, helping your skin absorb more active ingredients in one hit. But for the full routine, pair your mask with a serum like my Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum for the best of both worlds.
Battle 3: Moisturising vs. hydrating
In the pink corner: hydrating. Hydration is all about the water content inside your cells. Hydrated skin is plump and bouncy. The opposite of hydrated skin is dehydrated skin.
Special skills: reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Makes skin brighter and bouncier. Always has the perfect response to a flirty text.
In the purple corner: moisturising. Moisturising is all about trapping and sealing in water to keep your skin smooth and soft. The opposite of moisturised skin is dry skin.
Special skills: locks in and seals moisture in the skin barrier, keeping it healthy. Balances with active exfoliators to reduce dryness. Knows when to give advice and when to listen.
The winner: that depends on you, babe. Consider whether your skin is dry or dehydrated. For dry skin, reach for my Caffeinated Face Moisturiser. Light and non-greasy, it keeps skin soft and supple without clogging your pores. For dehydrated skin, drink 2L of water a day to keep your skin happy from the inside out.
x frank
