The Skin Bliss Journal
Science-backed insights for your best skin. Deep dives into ingredients, routines, and the cutting edge of skincare science.
Filter by topic
Retinol vs. Retinal vs. Tretinoin vs. Adapalene: The Retinoid Strength Ladder
Retinol, retinaldehyde, tretinoin and adapalene explained as a strength ladder: how conversion steps set potency, and how to pick the right rung for your skin.
Melasma vs. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: How to Tell Them Apart and Treat Each
Melasma and PIH look similar but have different causes and need different treatments. Here's how to tell them apart and what actually works.
Skincare in Your 40s: Perimenopause-Aware Routines
How falling estrogen during perimenopause affects skin collagen, barrier lipids, and hydration, and how to adjust your routine to support skin function.
Retinol and Niacinamide: The Stack That Calms Retinoid Irritation
Pairing niacinamide with retinol buffers the dryness and irritation retinol causes. How the stack works, how to layer it, and what the evidence shows.
The 3-Minute Morning Skincare Routine That Actually Sticks
A 3-minute minimalist morning skincare routine built around cleanser, treatment, and SPF, designed to boost adherence and support visible results over time
Routine Audit: Signs Your Skincare Routine Is Doing More Harm Than Good
Over-exfoliation, barrier damage, active overload: the warning signs your skincare routine is hurting your skin and how to fix it.
4 Mushroom Skincare Ingredients: Which Is Best for You?
Reishi, tremella, shiitake, and cordyceps compared: which mushroom skincare ingredient may best match your hydration, calming, or brightening goals
Hyperpigmentation in Skin of Color: A Safer Treatment Hierarchy
Hyperpigmentation in deeper skin tones needs a gentler playbook. A safer treatment hierarchy for Fitzpatrick IV-VI: calm the cause, escalate slowly, protect from UV.
Peptides vs. Retinol: Substitutes, or Better Together?
Peptides and retinol both build collagen, but through different pathways. Here's what the evidence says and how to layer them effectively.
Hyperpigmentation in Black Skin: Brightening Ingredients Ranked by Safety
A ranked guide to the safest brightening ingredients for Black skin, from azelaic acid and niacinamide to dermatologist-supervised hydroquinone.
Micro-Slugging, Morning Slugging, and Active Slugging: Beyond the Basics
Go beyond basic slugging with micro, morning, and active variations that may support your barrier without the grease, breakouts, or pillow mess
The Retinol Sandwich Method: Buffer, Active, Buffer, Step by Step
Apply moisturiser before and after retinol to reduce irritation while building tolerance. Step-by-step protocol with phasing guide and evidence.