WHERE ITS FOUND: Sugar beet, comfrey, chamomile, tobacco seed and wheat sprout

BENEFITS: This gentle ingredient soothes, hydrates and heals dry or sensitive skin. Most commonly found in moisturisers, exfoliators and masks, it protects against free radicals (which cause illness and ageing), acts as an anti-inflammatory agent to fight redness and swelling and removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft and smooth. 

SHOP PRODUCT: Alpha Arbutin Serum

WHERE ITS FOUND: Aloe Vera plant

BENEFITS: Aloe extract helps to relieve inflamed, irritated or sunburnt skin and is often used in skincare for its soothing properties. It’s made up of 99% water and perfect for hydrating skin by reducing flaking and forming a protective layer that retains moisture.

SHOP PRODUCT: 5% Glycolic Exfoliating Tonic

WHERE ITS FOUND: Bearberry, mulberry, blueberry, cranberry, pear varieties and wheat

BENEFITS: If you're concerned about hyperpigmentation, acne scars or age spots, this ingredient helps to fade them. Alpha arbutin also brightens skin, without bleaching, for more radiance and an even complexion.

SHOP PRODUCT: Alpha Arbutin Serum, Active Brightening Facial Cream

WHERE ITS FOUND: Barley, wheat and rye

BENEFITS: This multifunctional ingredient is anti-inflammatory and helps to zap away bacteria and fungi. It targets skin concerns related to breakouts, like acne and rosacea, by slowing the growth of bacteria and acting as a mild exfoliator that unclogs pores.

SHOP PRODUCT: Alpha Arbutin Serum

WHERE ITS FOUND: Bakuchiol is a natural and vegan plant extract. A great alternative to Vitamin A (Retinol)

BENEFITS: Bakuchiol helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles, and helps with pigmentation, elasticity, and firmness

SHOP PRODUCT: Replenish & Repair Skin Barrier Serum

WHERE ITS FOUND: Ceramides are fats or lipids that are found in skin cells. They make up 30% to 40% of your outer skin layer, or epidermis.

BENEFITS: Ceramides are important for retaining your skin's moisture and preventing the entry of germs into your body

SHOP PRODUCT: Replenish & Repair Skin Barrier Serum

WHERE ITS FOUND: Sugar cane, sugar beet, tomato, pineapple, sour milk and papaya

BENEFITS: Say goodbye to skin that looks dull and feels rough. Glycolic acid removes dead skin cells that clog pores on the epidermis, to make way for new skin cells that give you a more radiant complexion and reduce the appearance of pigmentation.

SHOP PRODUCT: 5% Glycolic Exfoliating Tonic

WHERE ITS FOUND: Green tea

BENEFITS: Anti-inflammatory properties make green tea ideal for soothing redness from breakouts, rosacea or generally sensitive skin. It's a powerful antioxidant, too, working to protect skin against free radicals from UV radiation and pollution. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, you will find relief here, because green tea helps to reduce excess sebum production.

SHOP PRODUCT: Glow Turmeric Mask

WHERE ITS FOUND: Synthetically and naturally it comes from plant and wheat fermentation

BENEFITS: Plump up your life! hyaluronic acid helps reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles retaining moisture to the skin, creating a plumping effect.

SHOP PRODUCT: Active Brightening Facial Cream, Alpha Arbutin Serum, Retinol Renew Serum, Glow Turmeric Mask, Niacinamide Cleansing Gel

WHERE ITS FOUND: Mushroom, soy sauce, miso, sake and rice wine

BENEFITS: This skin brightener slows the enzyme that is responsible for producing melanin, which makes it really powerful in reducing hyperpigmentation, discolouration or scarring caused by acne.

SHOP PRODUCT: Active Brightening Facial Cream

WHERE ITS FOUND: It's often found in picked foods, fermented soy products, salami and yogurt.

BENEFITS: It increases skin cell turnover and helps eliminate accumulated dead skin cells on the epidermis — the top layer of the skin.

SHOP PRODUCT: Glow Turmeric Mask, 32% AHA BHA Peel

WHERE ITS FOUND: Glycyrrhiza glabra plant

BENEFITS: A popular choice in skin-brightening products, licorice extract contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the appearance of dark spots – and prevent new ones from forming, resulting in a brighter and more even complexion.

SHOP PRODUCT: Glow Turmeric Mask

WHERE ITS FOUND: Yeast, meat, fish, milk, egg, green vegetables, beans and cereal grains

BENEFITS: AKA Vitamin B, One of the most talked about ingredients in skincare right now, this stable form of vitamin B3 is great for all skin types. It brightens and hydrates your skin, reduces premature signs of ageing and makes pores appear smaller for a smooth complexion.

SHOP PRODUCT: Niacinamide Cleansing Gel, Active Brightening Facial Cream

WHERE VITAMIN A IS FOUND: The most widely used animal proteins are from eggs, milk (casein and whey), and meat proteins. Bioactive peptides from plant sources are typically from soy, oat, pulses (chickpea, beans, peas, and lentils), canola, wheat, flaxseed, and hemp seed.

BENEFITS: Your body makes collagen naturally. But over time, collagen production decreases, which can cause skin to look more wrinkled and less even and bright. Peptides improves skin barrier, reduces inflammation, improves elasticity, helps with breakouts and improves appearance of wrinkles.

SHOP PRODUCT: Retinol Renew Serum

WHERE VITAMIN A IS FOUND: Beef, chicken liver, egg, fish, cantaloupe, carrot, squash, sweet potato and pumpkin

BENEFITS: Retinyl palmitate, or vitamin A palmitate, is the ester of retinol and palmitic acid, a type of vitamin A, helps to treat acne by stimulating the growth of new skin cells and stopping your skin from producing too much sebum. It's also a well-known anti-ageing ingredient that reduces fine lines and wrinkles – ideal if they've arrived already or if you're using the ingredient to keep them at bay. Retinyl Palmitate is a great option for people with sensitive skin.

SHOP PRODUCT: Retinol Renew Serum, Active Brightening Facial Cream

WHERE ITS FOUND: Rice brancomes from the outer layer of rice (Oryza sativa).

BENEFITS: Used topically, Rice Bran Carrier Oilworks to improve circulation and even out skin tone by brightening the complexion, thus it is valuable for minimizing the appearance of dark circles and puffiness around the eye area. Rice braneffectively reduces signs of aging while soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.

SHOP PRODUCT: Active Brightening Facial Oil, Active Brightening Facial Cream

WHERE ITS FOUND: It’s derived from the rosa canina rose bush

BENEFITS: Effectively brightens the skin tone, hydrates, boosts collagen and reduces inflammation.

SHOP PRODUCT: Active Brightening Facial Oil

WHERE ITS FOUND: Willow tree bark. Also found in strawberries, cauliflower and grapes.

BENEFITS: Treat acne by unclogging blocked pores. It does this by breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells so that they can release from the pore more easily, and breaking down oils, such as sebum. Salicylic acid also decreases the skin's sebum production, leading to fewer breakouts

SHOP PRODUCT: 32% AHA BHA Peel

WHERE ITS FOUND: Shea butter is a seed fat that comes from the shea tree.

BENEFITS: Shea butter works like an emollient. It might help soften or smooth dry skin. Shea butter also contains substances that can reduce skin swelling. This might help treat conditions associated with skin swelling such as eczema.

SHOP PRODUCT: Glow Turmeric Mask

WHERE ITS FOUND: Olives, rice bran and sugar cane

BENEFITS: This powerhouse ingredient locks in moisture for healthy, balanced and radiant skin. Squalane is suitable for all skin types, but its antibacterial properties make it that much more ideal for acne-prone skin. If you use it regularly, squalane can increase collagen production, leaving you with firmer skin.

SHOP PRODUCT: Active Brightening Facial Oil

WHERE ITS FOUND: Turmeric is a product of Curcuma longa plant.

BENEFITS: This antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient works hard to address skin issues such as eczema, acne and psoriasis, keeping skin supple through improved elasticity as well as exfoliating skin that encourages new cell growth.

SHOP PRODUCT: Glow Turmeric Mask

WHERE ITS FOUND: Spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, orange, strawberry, soybean, lentils, peanut, sesame seed, pistachio, trout, herring, mackerel, sardine, pork, beef, chicken, canola oil and organ meat (heart, liver and kidney)

BENEFITS: Also known as Q10, You'll usually find this multitasking antioxidant in toners, moisturisers and eye creams. It evens out your skin tone by reducing the appearance of dark spots and boosts collagen to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and promote healthier skin.

SHOP PRODUCT: Active Brightening Facial Oil

WHERE ITS FOUND: Specifically, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate. Found in lemon, grapefruit, peppers, strawberry, blackcurrant, brussel sprout, potato, spinach, cabbage and cauliflower

BENEFITS: An effective antioxidant, brightens the skin tone, and reduces visible signs of aging. Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate is an oil-soluble and extremely stable derivative of vitamin C.

SHOP PRODUCT: Active Brightening Facial Oil

WHERE ITS FOUND: Willow tree

BENEFITS: A potent herbal remedy for many skin problems. It can exfoliate your skin, reduce excess oil, clear up your pores as well as help to keep your skin hydrated. This gentle but potent extract can heal acne and prevent future flare-ups. It can also be used to treat eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.

SHOP PRODUCT: Acne and Oil Control Serum

WHAT IT IS: Zinc oxide tyically is a medicated cream, ointment or paste that treats or prevents skin irritation like cuts, burns etc.

BENEFITS: Zinc has anti-inflammatory properties. This may help relieve some of the redness and irritation associated with moderate-to-severe acne. It may even help reduce the appearance of acne scars.

SHOP PRODUCT: Acne and Oil Control Mask

An active, is the ingredient in a product addressing whatever skin concern it's meant to target. Our products are specifically formulated to address issues with hyperpigmentation, spots, marks and uneven skin tone. Therefore, Yearn Skin products may include actives that address these skin problems.

We recommend that you do NOT use too many actives at the same time, as this might cause irritation to the skin.

Hyperpigmentation is an umbrella term used to define common skin conditions — including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), melasma and sun spots — in which patches of skin become darker than the surrounding area. The darkening of the skin results from an excess in melanin — the natural pigment that determines skin, hair and eye colour — and frequently appears on the face, hands and other parts of the body regularly exposed to sunlight.

Source: Washington Post

There are several types of hyperpigmentation, the common ones being melasma, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Melasma. Melasma is believed to be caused by hormonal changes and may develop during pregnancy. Areas of hyperpigmentation can appear on any area of the body, but they appear most commonly on the stomach and face.

Sunspots. Also called liver spots or solar lentigines, sunspots are common. They’re related to excess sun exposure over time. Generally, they appear as spots on areas exposed to the sun, like the hands and face.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is a result of injury or inflammation to the skin. A common cause of this type is acne.

Source: Healthline

Few blemishes, smooth skin, barely noticeable pores, skin is not sensitive to product.Products to try: Active Brightening Facial Cream. Any Yearn Skin product will be great if you have normal skin and wish to maintain it or improve skin health.

Skin is either dry, combination or oily, but experience burning, itching, stinging when applying product. This is either due to having a sensitive skin or having a compromised skin barrier.Products to try: Active Brightening Facial Oil and Replenish and Repair Skin Barrier Serum.

Skin is greasy/ oily and prone to blemishes and breakouts.Products to try: Niacinamide Cleansing Gel, 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Tonic, Alpha Arbutin, Retinol Serum, Glow Turmeric Mask

Enlarged pores, greasy and oily on T-zone. Rest of skin is either normal or dry.Product to try: Niacinamide Cleansing Gel, Alpha Arbutin Serum, Retinol Serum, Glow Turmeric Mask, 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Tonic

A range from un-inflamed blackheads to pus-filled pimples or large, red and tender bumps. Skin can be dry, oily or combination.Products to try: Niacinamide Cleansing Gel, Retinol Renew Serum, Glow Turmeric Mask, 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Tonic

Skin feels tight, dry and dehydrated. Might have a dull skin complexion.Products to try: Active Brightening Facial Oil  OR Cream, Glow Turmeric Mask

CAUTION: Some products contain active ingredients and some of these products can cause an irritation on the skin upon initial use thereof. We thus recommend using these products not more than two to three times per week initially and then gradually increasing to the desired use. Use only as directed. Patch test product, before use. If You have developed a more severe reaction to any of these products, DISCONTINUE USE IMMEDIATELY AND CONSULT A DOCTOR OR DERMATOLOGIST.

The term ‘skin purging’ refers to a reaction to an active ingredient that is increasing skin cell turnover rate.

Skin purging is not a name you will see in the scientific journals, but it is well recognised in clinical practice. You will usually see terms like ‘inflammatory lesions’, or ‘inflammatory acne’, associated with ingredients which increase the skin turnover. Ingredients like retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, PHA, chemical peels and even lasers can prompt skin to purge.

It can last from four days to six weeks, but on average, you can expect it to occur for around two weeks.

Purging is neither good nor bad. It can happen after using excellent products but, equally, it also frequently occurs when the skin barrier is compromised prior to starting with a product or treatment. The risk of purging can be reduced if you first repair the barrier function, then slowly start the treatment or introduce the product.

Breakouts and skin purging are a continuum of each other. With breakouts there is initially a clogged pore which gets inflamed, leading to open or closed comedones. With purging, this process is accelerated and there is usually a precipitant such as a new product or treatment. If you keep going with the product or treatment, you can expect your skin to get better.

If the skin barrier is compromised when you see purging then start ingredients which help with barrier repair, such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid in a non-comedogenic formulation. If you are using a treatment or product continue with a slower approach

It is important not to be aggressive when you see purging, and understand it can be part and parcel of getting the best results for your skin. When it occurs treat the skin gently – don’t try and pick or exfoliate away the papules because that could actually make things worse.

Rapid Onset: Unlike regular acne, which develops slowly, skin purging happens quickly, often within a few days of starting a new skincare product or treatment.

Short Lifespan: While regular acne can linger on your skin for weeks, the breakouts caused by skin purging usually have a shorter lifespan. They tend to clear up faster as the skin adjusts to the new product or treatment.

Occurrence with New Products: Skin purging typically occurs when you start using a new skincare product or treatment, especially those that promote skin cell turnover, such as retinoids, chemical peels, and certain types of cleansers and creams.

Temporary: Skin purging is a temporary reaction. Once your skin adjusts to the new product or treatment.

Dealing with Skin Purging:

Skin purging can be a challenging phase, but with the right approach, you can manage it effectively. Here are some tips on how to deal with skin purging:

Patience: Remember that skin purging is a temporary phase. It might be tempting to stop using the new product or treatment, but it's important to give your skin time to adjust. Typically, skin purging can last anywhere from four to six weeks.

Gentle Skincare: During a purge, your skin can become more sensitive. It's crucial to use gentle, non-irritating skincare products. Avoid harsh scrubs or cleansers that can further irritate your skin.

Hydration: Keeping your skin hydrated can help soothe irritation and promote healing. Use a moisturiser suitable for your skin type and consider incorporating hydrating serums or masks into your routine.

Sun Protection: Products that promote skin cell turnover can make your skin more susceptible to sun damage. Make sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, even if you're staying indoors.

Professional Advice: If your skin purge is severe or lasts longer than six weeks, it's a good idea to consult a dermatologist.

It is important not to be aggressive when you see purging, and understand it can be part and parcel of getting the best results for your skin. When it occurs treat the skin gently – don’t try and pick or exfoliate away the papules because that could actually make things worse. Instead, review the products; slow down your use of them and invest in products that are calming to the skin.

Please see below educational YouTube videos on this topic:

Skin Purging Vs Irritation | Dr Dray via Dr Dray YouTube

Is Your Skin Purging or Just Breaking Out? | Dr Sam Ellis via Dr Sam Ellis YouTube