The actives

What it does

• Brightens the look of uneven tone and dullness with daily use over several weeks.
• Supports the skin's own collagen and helps defend against daytime environmental stress.
• A light tingle on first use is normal; a real sting on broken or freshly-exfoliated skin is not.

In your routine

Stated at 15% L-ascorbic acid. A morning active, worn under moisturizer and sunscreen.

How to use

• Apply to clean, dry skin in the morning, before moisturizer.
• Always follow with sunscreen — vitamin C works alongside SPF, not in place of it.
• Store away from light and heat; a serum that has turned deep orange has oxidised and is past its best.

What it does

• Smooths the look of fine lines and refines texture with consistent night use.
• A retinoid one step stronger than retinol and gentler than tretinoin.
• Expect a short adjustment period — some dryness or flaking as skin acclimates.

In your routine

A night active only, introduced slowly — two or three nights a week to start, then built up.

How to use

• Use at night on clean, dry skin, then moisturize.
• Start two or three nights a week and increase as your skin tolerates it.
• Not for the same night as exfoliating acids, and not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding — pause and speak to your doctor.

What it does

• Calms the look of redness and refines the appearance of pores.
• Supports the skin barrier and is one of the easiest actives to tolerate.
• Layers comfortably with most other actives, morning or night.

In your routine

Vitamin B3 at 5%. Suits morning or evening use, on most skin types.

How to use

• Apply after cleansing, before your heavier creams.
• Can be used morning and night.
• Introduce it alongside other actives one at a time, so you can tell what your skin is responding to.

What it does

• Lift dull surface cells so skin looks smoother and more even.
• Glycolic (AHA) works on tone and texture; salicylic (BHA) works into oil and pores.
• Can sting on broken or sensitised skin — patch-test before the first full use.

In your routine

At a stated strength. A few nights a week, not every night.

How to use

• Use at night, a few times a week, on clean skin.
• Do not use on the same night as retinaldehyde.
• Follow with moisturizer, and sunscreen the next morning — acids leave skin more sun-sensitive.

What it does

• Draws water into the upper layers so skin feels plumper and looks dewier.
• Multi-weight, so it hydrates at more than one depth.
• Works best layered onto damp skin, not dry.

In your routine

Sodium hyaluronate with glycerin. Morning or night, under moisturizer.

How to use

• Apply to damp skin, then seal it in with a moisturizer.
• Use morning and night, as often as you like.
• In very dry air, layer it over a hydrating mist rather than onto dry skin.

What it does

• Replenishes barrier lipids so skin feels less tight and less reactive.
• It is what a compromised or over-exfoliated barrier is short of.
• Suits sensitive and post-active skin, and is very hard to over-use.

In your routine

Barrier lipids in a physiological ratio. A morning or night moisturizer step.

How to use

• Use as your moisturizer step, morning and night.
• Reach for it more often when skin feels tight after using actives.
• Pairs comfortably with every active in the range.

What it does

• Sits on the surface and reflects UV rather than absorbing it.
• Non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide; suits reactive and post-procedure skin.
• Can leave a light cast on deeper skin tones — a known trade of mineral filters.

In your routine

Broad-spectrum mineral filters. Every morning, as the last step.

How to use

• Apply as the final morning step, over your moisturizer.
• Use enough — a thin layer under-delivers the stated protection.
• Reapply through the day when you are outdoors.