The Secret Ingredient to Transforming Your Skin: Vitamin C

No other ingredient makes an impact on my skin right away like Vitamin C does. If your skin looks tired and dull, make sure to incorporate products into your routine that are high in Vitamin C. Your best bets for packing a punch are moisturizers or serums rich in this essential vitamin. I lean towards serums, since they tend to have a higher concentration of potent ingredients which can really make a huge difference for your skin, and fast!

Vitamin C: Why should you use it?

Wonder how people keep glowy summer skin well after daylight savings time ends? Yeah, that’s Vitamin C. Vitamin C is the most potent antioxidant that protects the skin against UV rays and environmental aggressors by neutralizing free radical damage. It also lessens the abnormal production of pigmentation so as to even skin tone and fade dark spots. Simply put, vitamin C can:

• Brighten skin by helping restore damaged skin cells

• Smooth texture and improve appearance of fine lines

• Enhances skin tone and color

Is all Vitamin C the same?

There are a few types of Vitamin C, some more irritating than others. When we created our signature Antioxidant Citrus Serum, we used ingredients that work for any skin type. With our sensitive skin friends in mind, we opted to use the less active type of vitamin C (sodium ascorbyl phosphate), aka, the non-irritating one. 

Notes on l-ascorbic acid (another type of vitamin C) →If you have sensitive skin you should avoid l-ascorbic acid in all your beauty products, since it is a potent ingredient that can cause irritation. As far as storage goes, any product with l-ascorbic acid needs to be kept in a dark place and used up fairly quickly. This type of vitamin C is quite unstable, which means it can oxidize and lose all its properties. RIP.

How do Vitamin C products fit into my daily routine?

Just like your coffee, it's a must-have in the morning! As soon as we leave the house, our skin is exposed to UV rays, and pollution, which can cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress leaves your skin feeling and looking thinner, dry and dull. 

For brighter, smoother, healthier looking skin, we recommend using Vitamin C at least once a day, ideally in the morning after a toner. When choosing Vitamin C serum or moisturizer, look for a formula that contains other antioxidants (especially vitamin E) for enhanced results.

How often should I use Vitamin C products?

Start slowly. To keep skin happy, take a gradual approach when adding vitamin C into your daily routine. With any new product, it’s important to gradually incorporate it into your skincare regimen. We recommend starting with 2-3 times a week and working your way up to daily use.

SPF me up!

Alwayssss use sunscreen in the morning before you leave the house. Vitamin C and SPF are a match made in heaven. Together they provide extra protection from harmful UV rays.

How to Choose the Best Face Serum For Your Skin

How to work face serums into your routine
A face serum is a light, easy-to-absorb, oil- or water-based beauty product that you can use in your daily skincare routine, morning or night. Wondering where it fits into your routine? Apply your serum after first cleansing and toning. These two primary steps help exfoliate your skin and balance its PH, which then allow the serum’s ingredients to absorb more efficiently. We encourage using a jade roller (link to jade roller blog) after applying to help maximize benefits!

It’s important to note that face serum does not replace a moisturizer. Apply moisturizer as the last step of your daily routine, right after a serum.

Why are face serums more expensive than most skincare products?
Most face serums have highly concentrated formulas developed to heal, rejuvenate, and improve your skin’s health. These formulas are complex and use the most potent ingredients, hence the higher price tag. Depending on the ingredients, serums can have anti-aging properties, reduce acne, even out skin color, and hydrate your skin.

How do I choose the right serum for my skin?
Your skin is a living, breathing thing, and it’s constantly affected by your lifestyle, diet, and climate. Think about your skin type - does it look or feel dry? oily? thin? uneven in texture or tone? Depending on your personal #skingoals, here’s a breakdown of what you should look for in your next serum.

Seeking hydration?
If you are struggling with dehydrated skin, look for serums that contain moisturizing Vitamin E and fatty acids. Fatty molecules help hold the skin together and retain moisture from deep within the tissue. Vitamin E helps to absorb UVB light, making it harder for the damaging rays of the sun to penetrate the skin.

Need brightening?
Vitamin C and licorice root are the two must-have ingredients when shopping for a brightening serum. Both help prevent your skin’s overproduction of melanin, which is responsible for pigmentation. When used in combination with Vitamin E, Vitamin C is much more effective at reducing oxidative damage to the skin, resulting in that glowy skin we all crave.

Trying to reduce appearance of fine lines?
Look for serums that contain retinol (Vitamin A) or hyaluronic acid, which hydrates and plumps by encouraging natural collagen production, helping to fill fine lines and wrinkles.

Fighting adult acne?
If you have acne, look for serums with a high concentration of retinol. Vitamin A (retinol) helps your skin regulate sebum production and reduce inflammation.

Should I get an oil- or water-based serum?
A water-based formula will be lighter than an oil-based one. Since most people understandably don’t like an oily or greasy feeling, we suggest opting for a water-based one. If you need that extra moisture and are looking for an oil-based formula, here are some oils we love:

• Jojoba: This amazing oil has sebum-like properties and is what we call a dry-oil. A dry oil absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy. Plus, it’s affordable and easy to find!

• Sea Buckthorn, Rosehip, Raspberry, and Black Cumin

We took matters into our own hands to create a serum that addressed all of these common concerns so we didn’t have to keep spending $$$ on a million different products. Our flagship product, the Antioxidant Citrus Serum is a water-based formula that contains Vitamin C, retinol, antioxidants, aloe, and healing oils. It’s very lightweight so it goes on smoothly, won’t feel thick when layered under a moisturizer or sunscreen, and the cool citrus feels refreshing on your skin. For when your skin gets extra dry or you just need an extra hit of moisture, mix the serum with jojoba oil.

5 Tricks for Glowy Winter Skin

Winter is coming… the season our skincare routine dreads the most. While your schedule gets packed with weekend ski trips and cringey company holiday parties, your face and body get dried out and irritated by the combination of cold, windy weather outdoors and the heat cranked up indoors (plus all those dehydrating holiday cocktails). All of this means it’s time to take your skincare routine to the next level. We’ve compiled a list of simple, tried and true tips to help maintain healthy, bright and hydrated skin all season long!

1. Ramp up the moisturizing

While the bears get to hibernate, we have to hydrate. Moisturizing early and often is one of the best ways to keep your skin hydrated throughout the winter. But the trick here is to opt for creams instead of lotions as it gets colder. Since creams have a lower water content than lotions, creams are thicker and can provide an extra protective barrier to lock in that moisture. For added benefits, we also recommend incorporating body oils like coconut oil, rosehip oil, and tea tree oil into your routine. As always, but particularly in winter, drink a lot of water!

2. Curl up by the humidifier

We love relaxing with a glass of wine by our parents’ fireplace as much as the next person, but unfortunately, all that time around heat sources like fireplaces, furnaces, and heaters create an arid environment, drying out your skin. You can help combat dryness by using a humidifier to help keep moisture in the air. If you can, keep one in your bedroom and anywhere else you spend a lot of time during the winter. 

3. Use gentler products

It’s generally best to avoid products that contain alcohol and fragrances, since both can irritate and dry out your skin. These damaging effects can be even worse and harder to combat when the weather gets cold and dry. Regardless of the season, it’s important to always check the ingredients label of your skincare and opt for natural products that are alcohol and fragrance-free.

4. Eat your antioxidants

Antioxidants aren’t just found in your AM/PM serum application. Incorporating antioxidants into your diet can also help your skin appear brighter and more youthful. Make sure to load up on berries, dark chocolate (important one), beets, pecans, and other antioxidant-rich superfoods this winter.

5. Not so hot and steamy

After being out in the cold or the snow, taking a long hot shower or soaking in the tub is the obvious way to immediately warm up. While this feels lovely in the moment, super hot water can not only dry out your skin, but strip it of its natural oils too. No thanks. Do your best to keep your showers shorter (water conservation is cool, too) and use warm water instead of hot.

P.S. - Take a minute to moisturize your clean, exfoliated self! If that sounds like a lot of effort, we feel you. Try Jergens wet-skin moisturizer that makes it so fast and easy, you really have no reason not to.

Jade Rollers, Explained: How-To's and FAQs

At Maliya, we’re big believers in the magic of jade rollers, like ours. Whether you’re a beauty junkie or just developing your skincare routine, adding a jade roller to your repertoire is a skin-smart move. They’re fabulous for quickly de-puffing eyes, relieving jaw tension, lifting your cheeks, smoothing wrinkles, and even helping your beloved skincare products reach their full potential.

In this post, we’re answering some of the most common questions we get asked about Jade Rollers and how you should be using yours. Plus, Natalia gives us a simple how-to guide (and a video for extra help!)

What are the benefits of using a Jade roller?

Jade is a natural healing stone that boosts blood circulation, reduces puffiness, and helps skincare products like serums and oils penetrate the skin, making them even more effective. It can be used at room temperature, but we strongly recommend cooling it in the fridge or freezer before use. The cool stone helps relax facial muscles and further reduce puffiness.

How should I incorporate a jade roller into my daily routine?

Use the jade roller in the morning to reduce puffiness so you leave the house (or don’t) looking refreshed and glowy. Roll again at night to relax your muscles before bed and help your skin fully absorb your nighttime products for as many dreamy hours as you can get. Remember, keeping it in a cool place like the fridge or freezer will only help!

What products should I use with my Jade Roller?

We recommend using the roller with any face serum, face oil, or a mixture of both. Our Antioxidant Citrus Serum is perfectly suited for this pairing because of its hydrating, firming, and toning qualities.

Ready to roll? Check out our quick guide, or watch Natalia’s how-to video here.

How to de-puff eye area
Use the smaller end of a dual-sided roller to massage the delicate skin under your eyes, applying very little pressure. Start at the inside corner of your eye and roll outwards, as if you were lifting your skin.

How to ease jaw tension
Using much more pressure than on your eye area, massage your jaw by rolling up and down on your jawline until you feel your muscles relaxing. Make sure to put pressure on your temples, too.

How to lift your cheeks
Roll outward from the corners of your mouth up to your temples.

How to smooth wrinkles
Rollers are a tremendous tool to relax forehead muscles and smooth out frown lines in between your brows. Start between your eyebrows and apply a little pressure as you move up to your hairline. 

How to increase product absorption
Using a crisscross move as if you were making little X’s, roll all over your face keeping up a swift pace to help absorb serums quickly.

Between its unique benefits and the fact that you can use it while you watch Netflix, investing in a Jade Roller is kind of a no-brainer. Loving your Rose Gold Jade Roller? We’d love to hear from you! Leave us a review!

How To Give Yourself a Spa-Level Face Massage At Home

Last year I did a lot of traveling, which made my skin feel dehydrated, swollen, and droopy. I tried everything to make myself feel better, but there was only one thing that really worked for me - a lymphatic drainage face massage.

Sounds bougie and expensive, but hear me out: I didn’t go to a fancy spa, and I never even had to leave my hotel room! All I needed was some facial oil and a simple how-to video.

What are the benefits of a lymphatic drainage massage?

A lymphatic drainage massage is a form of gentle massage that removes waste and toxins from bodily tissues, helping to reduce swelling around your face, neck, and eyes. It can also sculpt your jawline and lift your cheeks, which is pretty amazing.

4 Easy Moves

1. Start with your neck. Press on the points behind your jaw just below your earlobe, then stroke downwards from your earlobe to collarbone.

2. Cheekbones. Using your palms, first lift your cheekbones up, then move in in outward motions up toward your ears. Lift and slide, lift and slide…

3. Jawline. Using the knuckles of only your index and middle fingers, starting from the chin moving outwards.

4. Forehead. Using your fingers, start in between your brows and stroke upwards, then follow the muscles out toward your temples.

Natalia’s Note: “One key motion I don’t skip out on is massaging and lifting my cheekbones. I notice the biggest difference by focusing on this step. My skin always feels less puffy and I even think it makes my wrinkles and fine lines less visible!”

Pro Tips

• When massaging your face, use upward stroking moves. Do not pull your skin downward.

• On your lymph node/neck area, it’s super important to work outwards then down to promote drainage.

• Apply very little pressure throughout the massage.

• Use a facial serum or facial oil while you massage. I like to combine Antioxidant Citrus Serum with a drop or two of my favorite face oil (I’m currently using jojoba oil)

• Make sure to drink plenty of water afterwards, since hydrating will boost the lymphatic system and helps remove bodily waste.

• My go-to tools:

  • Jade Rose Gold Face Roller

  • Skin Gym Face Sculptor

Wake Up with Our Founder: Natalia’s Morning Routine

Rushing to get out the door each morning, it’s really easy to skimp out on your morning skincare routine. But trust me, it’s just as important as your nightly routine before bed. I’ve streamlined my AM process into 3 quick and effective steps that hydrate and protect my skin (SPF is always a must!).

3-Step AM Prep

1. I start by spraying my face with a toner or hydrosol (in the video below, I use rosewater).

2. While my skin is still damp, I apply 1-2 drops of serum, massaging into the skin for about 30 seconds. I use our signature Antioxidant Citrus Serum since it’s lightweight and absorbs quickly.

3. In the palm of my hand, I mix a drop or 2 of jojoba oil with my liquid foundation (with SPF!), then I apply all over, blending down my neck.

A few things about my personal routine... 

• Since I live in California, my skin needs to stay hydrated all the time. If it feels particularly dry, I double up on facial oil.

• The facial oil I use has a jojoba oil base. Since jojoba is a “dry” oil, it absorbs quickly. It also has a similar composition to our sebum, so it won’t leave a greasy film.

• My foundation includes high SPF (I recommend using 30+)

Want to know the 5 products I cannot live without? Get access to my curated list here and find out and where you can shop each one.