5 Common Skin Conditions Explained

It’s no secret that zero actual humans have the poreless, perfect skin portrayed in airbrushed ads and flawless Instagram accounts.

In fact, in recent years, a little something called the ‘skin positivity movement’ is helping us rethink the way we talk about and treat our skin.

By seeing skin conditions such as acne, eczema, hyperpigmentation and rosacea represented on our screens, the language around skin being either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is finally changing. Hurrah!

But while we’re all about normalising real, unretouched skin, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to treat it with tender loving care.

Whether you’re addressing acne, dealing with dryness, working to nourish fine lines and wrinkles or trying to reduce redness — here are 5 common skin concerns with product suggestions to help you smash your skin goals while embracing your natural beauty.

Acne/pimples

Didya’ know… acne is a super common skin condition. In fact, it affects 85% of Aussies aged 15-25 with some folk continuing to have acne into adulthood.

Acne occurs when your skin’s pores become blocked with oil, dirt and dead skin cells. Unfortunately, a plugged pore is the perfect warm and cosy home for bacteria baddies to throw a mega pimple party in. The build-up of bacteria can cause infection and inflammation, resulting in pus-filled or angry, red breakouts. Uh oh!

Whatever you do, DO NOT pick or squeeze acne spots. Yes, it’s totally tempting, but it’ll only make your skin crankier. Popping a pimple before it has formed a complete head can cause the trapped dirt and bacteria to break out under your skin, leading to infection. Plus, picking at your skin is more likely to cause scarring. So, keep your hands off!

When it comes to preventing and treating acne, the key is to keep skin clean and balanced. Regular cleansing washes away daily grime and helps prevent clogged pores and subsequent breakouts.

Balancing acne skin is all about managing oil production. You do this by making sure you avoid any product (including cleansers) that will dry your skin and strip it of oils. It’s hard to believe, but oily skin actually needs oil, and if you take all that oil away it will just go into overdrive producing more and more oil to compensate.

When it comes to cleansers, the You've Got This Charcoal Cleansing Gel is specifically designed for oily, acne-prone skin. It contains white tea to purify and charcoal to absorb impurities and excess oil, as well as natural AHAs to gently exfoliate the skin. It’s also non-drying so you don’t get that “argh-my-skin-is-super-tight” feeling!

To balance acne or pimple-prone skin, the FG Serum 02 - Clear is the perfect serum choice. This ultra-lightweight serum contains fermented noni to reduce oil production, moth bean extract to assist skin recovery, antioxidant Vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid to maintain hydration. Sounds pretty neat, eh?

TIP: Given we now live in an era of mask-wearing, make sure you keep your mask clean or grab a new one (if using disposables) daily. Why? Dead skin, bacteria and sweat can easily get trapped in the fibres of the mask. Wearing the same mask for days will expose your skin to unwanted baddies — like acne-causing bacteria!

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation refers to areas of your skin that become darker compared to the surrounding skin. Sunspots, freckles, age spots and melasma (AKA the ‘mask of pregnancy’) are common terms that refer to hyperpigmentation.

This can happen for many reasons. It can be due to excess melanin production from sun exposure, an annoying side effect of medication, or a result of a skin injury or inflammation. Heck, it can even be caused by genetics, as well as hormonal changes — for example in pregnancy. The question is what can be done about it?

To regain your even complexion, try introducing a few antioxidants and skin brightening ingredients into your daily regime. Vitamin C, for example, is a superhero at helping to fade dark spots and inhibit the production of melanin. Try the Perfectly Happy Light Vitamin C Cream or Good Vibes Brightening Face Oil which both contain high amounts of this wondrous ingredient.

Also, look out for products containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), as they gently exfoliate the surface of your skin, leaving it clearer and more even. We recommend This Is Me Enzyme Exfoliating Mask, which brightens your skin but also targets blemishes. Got to love a multi-tasker!

TIP: SPF is a must if you really want to protect your skin against hyperpigmentation. Use it every day, all year. No excuses!

Lines/wrinkles

Lines and wrinkles in your skin are a perfectly normal part of ageing. We actually call them ‘wise lines’ or ‘happy lines’, because they’re a beautiful testament to growing wiser each and embracing life each and every day.

At the same time, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to nourish your noggin’ as you get older, and reclaim your radiant glow with a natural pro-ageing routine. We adore natural Vitamin A alternatives (aka bio-retinols) to boost collagen production for plumper-looking skin. Vitamin C and E are also great at putting up a gnarly fight against free radicals, as well as hydrating shea butter, hyaluronic acid and coconut oil.

Try Spoonful of Sugar Exfoliating Scrub to gently slough away dead skin and reveal a glowier complexion.

Then treat yourself to the award winning FG Serum 01 -Glow to plump and smooth your skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and uneven skin tone.

For bright-eyed peepers, B-Happy Eye Serum Coming Soon.

TIP: SPF is not just your hero when it comes to hyperpigmentation, it’s also your BFF when it comes to caring for fine lines and wrinkles. Apply daily to help keep free radicals at bay. Are you seeing a pattern here?

Dehydration/dryness

Contrary to popular belief, dehydration and dryness are not the same thing. Wait, what? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. You see, dry skin is a skin ‘type’ where the skin lacks oil (usually because your skin’s natural oily barrier is damaged). Dehydrated skin is a ‘condition’ characterised by a lack of water.

And sorry to be the bearer of bad news but, unlike dehydrated skin which can be temporary, dry skin ain't going anywhere. Okay, here comes the good news…you can effectively treat (read: nourish) dry skin to help improve its appearance and prevent it from getting any drier.

PINCH TEST FOR DRY vs DEHYDRATED SKIN: This quick test can be useful for skin sleuths to help identify whether your skin is dehydrated or dry. Pinch your skin (the back of your hand is a good spot) and watch how long it takes to return to its normal state. If it takes a while, then your skin is dehydrated. If you see wrinkled, tight, and irritated skin at the corner of your pinch then it's a sign that you have dry skin.

Both dry and dehydrated skin benefit from being slathered with super hydrating humectant ingredients (like hyaluronic acid), which draw moisture into your skin. Dry skin types should then lock in the moisture by applying a richer, oil-based product over the top, helping re-build your damaged skin barrier.

For your body, we recommend Serenity Hyaluronic Body Serum—hyaluronic acid and aloe vera gel make this the ultimate skin drink! For an extra boost, add an oil over the top like TLC Intensive Repair Oil.

For your face, Raindrops Hydrating Tonic will deliver a much needed hydration hit. Our dry-skinned friends will love to pair Raindrops with the Sweet Dreams Ultra Rich Beauty Cream to impart deep down moisture and smooth the appearance of lines and wrinkles. If you tend to be more Oily or Combination, the Make My day Bio-Retinol Gel Cream is incredibly light yet provides insane amounts of hydration (plus it contains bio-retinols to help with calming and clearing too).

TIP: To keep skin feeling refreshed throughout the day, try spritzing your face with Raindrops Hydrating Tonic.

Redness and rosacea

Most of us have dealt with facial redness at some point in our lives. Like that time you realised your skirt was stuck in your knickers! Jokes aside, skin redness as a result of rosacea is common. And it’s not just the redness that can be frustrating, many people suffer from burning, stinging and swelling too.

While we don’t really know the root cause of rosacea, triggers can include spicy foods, alcohol, stress, air pollution and extreme weather. The best way to approach skin redness is with calming, soothing and restorative ingredients and products.

Cloud 9 Deep Cleansing Balm is soap-free and ultra-soothing, perfect for those that have rosacea, as it gently melts away dirt and grime so no need for harsh rubbing or scrubbing.

Follow with the Laugh Out Loud Nourishing Face Oil – free from harsh ingredients and fragrances, this de-stressing formula contains jojoba, which is hypo-allergenic and uber gentle. The natural vitamins and minerals in Jojoba oil can also help address inflammation and counteract the itch and dryness associated with rosacea.

TIP: Protect your skin from the sun year round with a good quality SPF. The sun can worsen rosacea, and is actually one of the most frequent causes of a rosacea flare-up.

Sensitive/sensitised skin

Is sensitive skin the same as sensitised skin? No, Siree!

Sensitive skin tends to have a thinner or ‘compromised’ skin barrier (epidermis). This means moisture easily escapes, leading to dryness and causing irritants to be more, well…irritating! Sensitive skin is a ‘skin type’; people are born with it (hello, genetics!).

Sensitised skin, on the other hand, is a ‘condition’ that can affect all skin types. It’s typically triggered by various factors, such as airborne pollutants, stress, diet, medication or certain weather conditions.

Nevertheless, when it comes to treating both sensitive and sensitised skin, the same approach is needed. Embrace a simple routine, using gentle products that help to repair and support your delicate skin barrier.

A modest cleanse and moisturise skin regime is the perfect place to start. Start with a mild cleanser—such as 3 Cheers Cleansing Oil, which is gentle and non-drying, followed by a hydrating moisturiser.

‘Over the Moon’ Rich Repair Cream blends shea butter and aloe vera with Vitamin B3 and MSM to soften and hydrate, while protecting your skin’s barrier function.

If you're ready to add a calming serum to your routine, our FG Serum 03 - Calm  is a perfect match for sensitive skin.

TIP:To prevent flare ups, try to avoid fragrances and harsh synthetic ingredients in your skincare products. Always opt for ultra gentle, nourishing and soothing ingredients (preferably courtesy of Mama Nature).