What is skin neutrality/skin positivity?

If you're anything like us, then you love your skin. But we know that sometimes it can be tough to love it unconditionally — especially when society tells us that our skin isn't good enough. That's where the skin positivity movement comes in: a movement that encourages everyone to embrace their natural skin tone and texture, no matter what it is. We want to champion this approach that accepts that all types of skin conditions are completely normal and we are also still allowed to be frustrated or upset if we’re dealing with it without being unrealistically positive. Sometimes how your skin looks isn't always in your control and we want you to feel confident about it, no matter what.

We've experienced first hand how heartbreaking it is when you're struggling with acne and you can't find something that works for you. We want to help you not only get where you want to be with products that we know work, but also help you accept your skin as beautiful, no matter what you're struggling with.

No one with acne wants to live with acne, but with about 85% of people under the age of 24 experiencing it, why does it have to be so taboo?

Skin positivity or acne neutrality is about recognizing how common and, hello, how normal zits really are. It’s about this: Whether or not you’re trying to clear up your skin (you do you, as always), you should be able to feel confident and unjudged along the way. The word ‘positive’ can be a little misleading. Although those within the skin-positive movement try to show others that you can till go about your everyday life while dealing with acne, it isn’t always easy. It’s messy, it’s hard, it’s emotional, but it’s nothing to feel ashamed about. Being skin-positive really just means having freedom and how you choose to represent yourself - not how the world wants you to. I hope with the rise of our movement, we can learn to empower ourselves through our unique flaws. 

If you want to wear make-up to feel more confident, that's completely up to you. It's all about how you feel, and if make-up makes you feel good, then go for it. We're not saying you shouldn't use products to help you heal your acne and scars but we don't want it to define how you feel about yourself. Sometimes how your skin looks isn't always in your control and we want you to feel confident about it, no matter what. Skin positivity isn't about saying you shouldn't cover up or get rid of your blemishes. It's about not letting them make you feel like you're not good enough. It's about accepting your skin as beautiful, just as it is.

How to practice skin positivity?

1. Wear your SPF: It might go without saying, but wearing your SPF every day is the single best way to show yourself and your skin some real and true love. Wearing a broad spectrum SPF protects your skin from UVA, UVB, HEV rays and infrared light, too. All of these can contribute to collagen degradation, which might cause your skin to age prematurely. There’s a more serious reason to wear SPF, though - wearing SPF can help to protect you from developing skin cancer. It’s your everyday parasol between you and the sun, and it’s one of the easiest ways to show yourself some real self-care and love. 
2. Catch some zzzz: t’s simple, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy. Getting an adequate amount of sleep is one of the kindest things that you can do for your skin. Sleep affects the regeneration process of your skin, as well as its ability to heal, and not getting quality shut-eye can affect these processes.  We all know the difference between a solid eight hours and a ragged five - it shows on our skin as well as our souls (or so it feels). Getting enough sleep isn’t just skincare self-care, it’s care for the human who deserves to get some rest.  
3. Drink your water and up your good fats: We’ve all heard that increasing our intake of water is helpful when it comes to skin health, but we like to go a step further. Essential fatty acids (EFAS) help to lubricate your skin from within, which is part of the reason that we often advocate for taking omegas as a supplement if you’re concerned with dry skin. Your body can’t produce the required amount of EFAs which is why we take them in through our diet, by eating omega-rich fish like salmon, mackerel, and even oysters, as well as nuts and seeds like walnut and chia seeds - and avocado too, happily. Essential fatty acids can lock goodness into your skin and can help lower inflammation which can otherwise lead to flare-ups of eczema, psoriasis and acne, too. Also, they’re good for you and the foods which contain essential fatty acids are properly delicious, so do some self-care and chow down! 
4. Get some skin-zen: The fact is that every single human has something about themselves that they sort of wish that they could change. This is true of skincare humans, too. Flawless skin doesn’t really exist - but we are all doing our best to achieve skin which makes us feel confident. Sometimes, this path is a little bit twisty and turvy, and sometimes traditional methods of treating skin conditions don’t always work at the pace that we want it to.  Sometimes, it can be necessary to seek the help of a medical professional, and other times our skincare conditions might be something that we need to manage all throughout our lives. Your skin is at all times trying to do its best for you, and this is pretty admirable. Both literally and figuratively - your skin has got your back. 
5. Follow some skin positivity influencers: When your social feeds are filled with flawless skin, it can be hard to love your own skin if you feel it doesn’t meet the standards you’ve set for it. There are heaps of skin positive and skin neutral influencers, such as Em Ford @mypaleskinblog and Sofia Grahn @isofiagrahn, who focus on loving your skin or not allowing your skin to contribute to your self-worth at all, both great things. We suggest that you show yourself some skin self-love every single day, because your skin deserves your love and respect year-round. We don’t suggest treating it mean to keep it keen - it’s doing its very best all of the time, and so are you.
6. Go to a dermatologist: As your body’s first line of defense, your skin takes a lot of hits. Not only is it the largest organ in your body, but your skin also protects you from germs; repels water; and covers your blood vessels, nerves, and organs. If you aren’t feeling good about the skin you’re in or are worried about something on your skin, you should consider seeing a dermatologist.