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Real skincare advice — for real skin, not marketing copy. The Skin Journal is where we break down what actually works, from the science behind retinol and niacinamide to honest advice on routine-building, ingredient layering, and identifying a damaged skin barrier.
Every article is grounded in dermatology research and reviewed for accuracy. We don't recommend products we wouldn't use on our own skin, and we don't write puff pieces dressed up as guides. If a popular active is overrated for most people, we'll tell you. If a £8 drugstore SPF outperforms a £60 luxury one, you'll read it here.
The articles below cover the core of a working routine — actives like retinol and niacinamide, supporting steps like hyaluronic acid and SPF, structural decisions like morning vs. evening order, and condition-specific deep dives like hormonal acne and skin barrier repair.
Latest guides
12 articles
Ingredients
Vitamin C for Beginners: How to Choose, Use & Layer It
Comparison
Best AI Skin Analysis Apps in 2026 — Honest Comparison
Ingredients
How to Read a Skincare Ingredient Label
Repair
5 Signs Your Skin Barrier Is Damaged and How to Fix It
Ingredients
Retinol for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
SPF
Understanding SPF: Your Complete Sun Protection Guide
Ingredients
Niacinamide Benefits: Why Dermatologists Recommend Vitamin B3
Acne
Hormonal Acne: Causes, Treatments, and What Actually Works
Ingredients
The Science Behind Hyaluronic Acid
Guides
Morning vs Evening Skincare: What Goes When?
Routines
How to Build a Skincare Routine for Your Skin Type
Where should you start?
There's no single "right" first article. Pick the path that matches where you are right now — whether you're rebuilding after over-exfoliation, starting your first proper routine, or chasing a specific concern.
If you're new
You've never had a routine
Start with the basics. The four steps every routine needs and how to layer them without overwhelming your skin.
Read: Build your routine →If your skin is reacting
Sudden redness, stinging, peeling
Your skin barrier is probably compromised. The fix isn't more product — it's far less. Here's how to spot it and recover.
Read: Skin barrier repair →If you want results
You're ready for actives
Retinol is the most-researched anti-ageing ingredient in skincare. Start it wrong and you'll quit in a week.
Read: Retinol for beginners →If you struggle with acne
Hormonal breakouts on jaw + chin
Adult acne isn't the same as teenage acne and topicals alone often aren't enough. Here's what actually works.
Read: Hormonal acne guide →Want advice that's actually personal?
These articles are general guides — useful for anyone, perfect for no one. Your skin is the result of your genetics, your age, your hormones, your environment, your diet, and the products you've used for years. Generic advice can only go so far.
DermLens AI turns a single selfie into a clinical Skin Score, a biological Skin Age, and a fully personalised AM/PM routine that audits your existing products — keeping the ones that fit and replacing the ones that don't. Three days free, no card required.
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