Dorm Life Skincare

It's the end of August, which means college campuses are starting to hum with activity; freshmen are hauling pin-boards and bean-bag chairs into their dorms and fraternities and sororities are throwing open their doors. If you're an upper classman, chances are you've already moved off campus, which means you likely have a private bathroom. For those experiencing dorm life for the first time, however, the idea of shared, grade school-style bathrooms might give you more butterflies than the prospect of a 300-person lecture hall. I won't deny that it's gross finding strands of strangers' hair on the shower stall walls or that it's annoying to wear flip-flops just because you want to brush your teeth without contracting athlete's foot. But one of the bigger challenges about acclimating to dorm life is maintaining a healthy skincare routine.

First, there's the issue of the shared bathroom. You won't have a private vanity in which to store your cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. Instead, invest in a small plastic tote container that you can use to shuttle your skincare essentials from bedroom to sink.

Second, moving into a new living situation can be stressful, and, as we know from last week's post, stress is a major factor contributing to acne. To avoid this, don't load up on killer courses your first semester; try to ease into academic life. Also be sure to get plenty of sleep. This might be tricky at first—especially if you are lucky enough to land a roomie with a heavy metal addiction or a love of late-night telephone chats. Solution? Bring earplugs!

Lastly, one of the biggest changes that accompanies dorm life is the advent of dining halls. No longer must you indulge your mother in "Meatloaf Monday." Now, your options are limited only by your school's food budget. Unfortunately, with 24-hour soft-serve ice-cream dispensers, many students forget all they learned about nutrition when they walk through the doors of the dining hall. Remember, your diet plays an integral role in the health of your skin. Sure, you can indulge every once in a while, but be conscious about getting a proper balance of whole grains, probiotics, protein, and anti-oxidants. Bonus: doing this will also keep the dreaded Freshman 15 at bay.

Not sure what products to bring along. Try the GR8/SKN line, developed specifically for young adult skin. See the products here!  

Back-2-School: Back-2-Breakouts

I've always liked the first day of school. A new outfit. The ability to see friends who have been away all summer at camp. A fresh set of teachers and classes. It's certainly exciting.  Unfortunately, from my experience, those early September days often bring with them a barrage of breakouts. Figures. On the one day of the year you hope to make a good impression. Below are some specific reasons why this frustrating back-to-school phenomenon occurs.

1.) You're a ball of stress: Even if you like school—even if you are a social butterfly itching to flap your wings—the start of the school year is abuzz with stressors. Is Eric still together with Jenna? Will you be able to survive AP physics? When should you start studying for the SATs?

This stress would, at worst, cause some mental anguish—if it wasn't for cortisol, a hormone released during stressful situations that causes skin irritation. This irritation inhibits your skin's barrier function, or its ability to keep out toxins and keep in moisture. The result? Breakouts and skin trouble when you want to look your best.

How do you beat this? Because stress is often the underlying cause of this poorly-timed skin trouble, try some classic stress-reduction techniques.

• Set up a routine, so that you're not scrambling every morning to make the first bell.
• Spend time with friends before the start of the school year to get back into the swing of your social life.
• Be sure to balance out academics with leisure.
• Drink water and eat well!

2.) You get touchy: Sure, your calculus teacher Mr. Jones may make you want to burst into tears every time he asks you to find a new derivative, but we're not talking about being emotionally touchy. When you're at school, whether you're slumped over your desk in French class or running your hand through your hair waiting for your turn to serve in gym, chances are you touch your face more than you would otherwise. Try to remain conscious of this tendency. Touching your skin will only introduce more dirt and oil, which will clog your pores.

3.) Varsity Life: Sports are a fantastic way to alleviate stress associated with the start of school; you are able to get rid of tension kinetically—whether you're kicking a soccer ball or making a touch-down. The trouble is that sports can exacerbate skin problems for other reasons. Our dermatological hygiene typically takes a turn for the worse. Honestly, who wants to go wash your face right after winning a match against a rival high school? Also, equipment like helmets and chin straps can trap dirt and cause breakouts along your chin and hairline.

This school year, be sure to pack away these tips with your pencil case and binders. I think you'll find them just as useful!

No Magic Bullets: GR8/SKN for Long-term Skincare

My "late" twenties are rapidly approaching and, although I still get hormonal breakouts, my dermatological concerns are rapidly turning towards aging. I'd like to avoid wrinkles and dark spots as long as possible. There are, after all, no Instagram filters in real life.

The aisles of Ulta and Sephora are lined with an assortment glossy-bottled creams, serums, and eye lotions that promise fountain-of-youth-type effects, topical means by which to turn back the years and regain that dewy, pre-teen complexion. But to be honest, these products are expensive and for someone who has not yet reached the big "three-O," I'd rather spend my money on a trip to the Bahamas—or rent, for that matter.

GR8/SKN is different. These reasonably-priced products are not "magic bullets"; they don't promise to erase your wrinkles overnight or dissolve all evidence of acne. Having used them regularly for over a year, however, I have discovered what they do deliver: long-term skin health, with benefits that last longer than a quick acne-spot fix.

Sure, GR8/SKN has a spot-treatment (Clear), which contains powerful, but gentle, fruit acids to combat breakouts. But the line also includes less "acute" solutions, products that, when used regularly, will promote overall skin health. Once you're cleansing regularly with Clean and feeding your skin with vitamin A-packed Reset, you'll find that you're less dependent on harsh anti-acne treatments. Free yourself from the dreaded benzoyl peroxide dependency, and you'll find that you've really discovered the fountain of youth!      

The One and Only: Reset

I'm 26, which might come off as crypt-keeper old if you're just starting college or if you got your driver's license last week. I can assure you, however, that I still deal with my fair share of skin problems: acne flare-ups, hyper-pigmentation, and black-heads. While, I use all the products in the GR8/SKN line, one stands out as unique.

Reset is unlike any product I have seen on the market. Is it a spot-treatment? No. Is it a toner? Nah-uh. How about a moisturizer? Not even close. While GR8/SKN has products that star in those roles, Reset is what we called "A high-dose Vitamin A Serum." What's the big deal, you ask? Well, there are two things about Reset that really set it apart from anything you'll find on the shelves of Sephora or Walgreens.

First, it has Vitamin A: This super vitamin can be found in a variety of foods including leafy greens, mangos, and carrots. You may know that it is crucial for eyesight, but vitamin A also has dermatological benefits!  It can help treat acne, reduce the appearance of wrinkles (this is rapidly crawling up my priority list) and smooth out uneven pigmentation. One of vitamin A's most significant benefits, however, is its ability to reverse free-radical damage caused by too much sun exposure. This makes it a great choice if you've over-indulged in beach-time this summer!

The other "secret weapon" of Reset might be even more surprising to you. Probiotics, or "good bacteria," earn their reputation by solving stomach problems. The thing is that there is a connection between your "gut" and the rest of your body. If the bacteria in your digestive system are out-of-whack, you could be letting in toxins unknowingly, which may induce inflammation, a leading cause of acne. In addition to chowing down on some of these bacteria (kimchi, sourkraut, and miso are good options), hit your skin with a topical dose!

If I haven't convinced you of the benefits of Reset, check out Olivia Thai's awesome review.

For a short time, we're offering 10% online orders of Reset using the promo code below. Shop here!