1. Vitamin C

Ask any dermatologist for their number one go-to for reaching the heady heights of gorgeously glowing skin and we’d bet the earth that vitamin C would be their answer. Otherwise known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C has powerful, skin-changing benefits that have been researched and proven for decades. 

Not only does vitamin C help protect your skin from sun damage, but its antioxidant properties work hard to whip free radicals into shape, reducing their damaging effects on valuable proteins. All this is super important for the health of your skin, allowing your barrier function to do its job properly. And there’s more. Vitamin C also helps control melanin which is the pigment in your skin that can often go awry, resulting in dark spots and patchy, dull skin.

Try: Imperial Moisturiser which contains ascorbic acid as well as botanical oils and plant extracts which come naturally brimming with vitamin C. Then there's Diamond Toner and Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum loaded with your daily fix of vit C too!

2. Argan Oil

Argan oil hit the hair and skincare shelves almost ten years ago now (yes, it really has been that long!) and since then its popularity has gone through the roof. And the good news is that it’s not just stuff and nonsense, because argan oil is as good as it says on the tin. Phew.

This beauty oil is an excellent choice for all skin types because unlike heavy oils, it keeps itself out of your pores. That’s major news for oily or acne-prone skin types. But how exactly does it help your skin glow? Well, it’s full of antioxidants like vitamin E and polyphenols, has incredible anti-inflammatory properties and is extremely moisturising. Everything you need for beautiful, glowing skin.

Try: Night Elixir, which combines argan oil with nourishing shea butter, sunflower seed oil and hyaluronic acid for an overnight boost your skin will love. And doesn't stop there!

You'll also find this powerhouse in Imperial Eye Gel, Imperial Moisturiser and our famous Organic Tinted Moisturiser. All with 20% OFF in the Spring Sale here!

3. Lactic Acid

Keeping your skin exfoliated is vital if you want to ditch the dullness. Without getting too sciencey, your skin has its own natural way of exfoliating itself – a process called desquamation in which skin cells are created, move up to the surface of your skin and then are sloughed away. This process takes around 28 days or so when you’re in your 20s but as you get older it slows down. Dramatically. And this is when all those dead skin cells hang around too long, making your skin look kind of meh.

Exfoliation helps boost cellular turnover to keep your skin as fresh and possible. And while we know you’re well aware of the scrubs of this world – all hail Natural Luminosity Scrub! – there is another way to exfoliate your skin: a gentle chemical exfoliation. 

One of the best chemical exfoliating ingredients is lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that’s way gentler than glycolic acid (bonus) but still super effective (even better!).

Try: Our best-selling Preminent Beauty Serum for a gentle, brightening fix of lactic acid – it works wonders on improving the clarity and smoothness of your neck and chest.

4. Rosehip Oil

The benefits of rosehip oil for the skin go on… and on… and on. This luxurious oil contains a natural form of vitamin A which is where retinoids derive from. And retinoids have a clever way of working deep down below the skin’s surface to boost collagen production, improve your barrier function and encourage healthy cell turnover. 

Rosehip oil also contains linoleic acid and is naturally high in vitamin C which is a veritable skin-brightening power couple if ever we heard one. And did you know that linoleic acid is an anti-inflammatory fatty acid too? Extremely moisturising but very lightweight so goes easy on your pores to keep your skin soft, supple, bouncy and bright.

Try: Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil which includes rosehip oil among many, many other gorgeous botanical oils. Perfect for the face and neck – day or night. And there's

Imperial Moisturiser too!

5. Hyaluronic Acid

If your skin is dry and dehydrated (and yes, they’re quite different things that you can learn about right here!), it’s never going to look as glowing as it should. Dehydration means your skin is down on water, while dryness is thanks to a serious lack of oils. And if you’re short on both? Well, you can kiss goodbye to radiant skin. 

If you want to truly get your glow on, you have to make sure your skin gets its fair share of moisture by using a humectant in your skincare routine. Enter hyaluronic acid, the queen of the humectant world, drawing in moisture like a magnet and holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Something we all want for our skin, right? 

Try: Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum, a real HIGHBORN favourite for hydrating, protecting, strengthening and brightening all skin types. In fact, you'll find this hydrating must-have in almost every HIGHBORN! Take Night Elixir, Imperial Moisturiser, Imperial Eye Gel, Natural Element Clay Mask and Organic Tinted Moisturiser. And YES! You can grab these with 20% OFF too here! [While stocks last] ...