bha
A guide to exfoliation
Exfoliation might sound scary – are you serious, why would I want to put acids on my face? But, chemical exfoliation can make a big difference to the skin. When you find the best type of acid for your skin AND (more importantly) learn how to use it to effectively (meaning without destroying your moisture…
Skincare ingredients that go well together
A skincare noob or a skincare nerd, when it comes to mixing and layering our skincare products, we all must exercise some caution. Sure, it’s fun to slap the latest It product with wild abandonment thinking it’ll solve all your skin woes. But some ingredients work well when mixed together, while others don’t. Skincare ingredients…
What is skincare microdosing?
One of the latest and buzziest skincare terms is microdosing. Normally, it refers to a practice of ingesting micro quantities of psychedelic substances (like LDS and psychedelic mushrooms) to boost creativity. Allegedly, Steve Jobs was a fan. Likewise, “baby botox” is all the rage. That refers to having small quantities of botox injected into the…
How to Overhaul Your Skincare Routine
One thing we need to remember, it takes time for skincare products to work. After all, there aren’t many miracle products that will deliver results overnight. Patience is the key. That said, every so often our routines require an overhaul. Let’s take a look at some of the instances when your routine needs to change.…
When is Exfoliation Too Much?
It is the age of the skintellectual. We make informed purchasing decisions; we know our ingredients, we are less likely to fall for false marketing claims. And that’s great! But that doesn’t mean that in our pursuit of healthy skin, sometimes we don’t go a bit overboard. Prime example? Exfoliation. And we are not talking…
What is Preventative Anti-Aging?
If we are fortunate, we’ll get old. Aging is a natural process, and yes, it’s a privilege. That said, who doesn’t like having healthy-looking skin, regardless of their age? Some might consider it vain. To that, we say whatever. Having nice skin can make us feel better about ourselves. A dedicated skincare routine can represent…
How Long It Takes for Skincare to Work?
Patience is a virtue, but can we be frank with you? We at Ishtar HQ aren’t the most patient sort. And while we (endlessly) preach that skincare is a long game and not many products produce immediate results, sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that. Our skin sheds daily. The cell turnover is a…
Ingredient Highlight – Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a Beta Hydroxy acid derived from willow bark. It is oil-soluble. The key difference between Alpha Hydroxy acids (like Glycolic, Lactic, and Mandelic) and Beta Hydroxy acid is that while AHAs work on the surface of the skin, Salicylic acid can penetrate the skin at a deeper level, through the lipid layers…