Brand Spotlight: Skin Digilent

Co-founder Tule Park has spent 4 years researching the science of skin health, the microbiome, and epigenetics (explained below) in order to create cosmeceutical brand, Skin Diligent. This french-made, London-based brand was founded in 2021 after Tule discovered her teenage daughter was suffering from acne. She realised the general first response, from doctors, to combat acne is to prescribe antibiotics with a strong retinoid, and via her research she realised this is a really outdated method of tackling the issue due to the development in microbiome (gut and skin) sciences.

Tule has collaborated with French researchers and an ethnobotanist (someone who studies regional plants) to discover the power of botanicals in treating acne and blemish-prone skin. From discovering the connection between our microbiome with stress, hormones, nutrition, pollution and chemical exposures, we need to look after our skin from the inside out. The brand’s natural and nutrient-based ingredients ensure the skin receives everything it needs to improve its health, without any side effects. They use a ‘triple approach’ with their products: food supplements to concentrate on the inside of the body, and a range of serums and creams to protect the skin, as well as repair it at a cellular level.

Read on to find out more about how Tule co-created Skin Diligent, the science behind the brand’s own Epigentic Technology, and some personal top tips on how to deal with acne.

1. What was the main reason for starting Skin Diligent?

The 'aha moment' came when my teenage daughter started getting acne. I discovered that a 3-month prescription of oral antibiotics and some combined retinol creams were the standard first line of acne treatments. And progressively I discovered that all medical acne treatments were 30 to 50 years old, pre-dating the genome and microbiome sciences. They were mostly harsh, cell damaging, and controversial.

2. Where does the name Skin Diligent come from?

In finance, a ‘due diligence’ is carried out before entering into a deal to leave no stone unturned in order to minimise risk and adverse outcome. In the same line of thinking, Skin Diligent is diligent about testing for all the potential adverse side effects. We carry out clinical users' tests for efficacy, use a dermatologist to test for skin sensitivity and irritation, and we are the first to test all skincare products for oestrogenic endocrine disruption.

We are also diligent about truly combining natural ingredients into high-tech formulations.

3. Can you explain to our readers a bit more about epigenetics?

Most people think that the outcome of their health depends on their genetic make-up. But in fact, only about 5% of diseases are estimated to be linked to genetics. The whopping 95% of human diseases today are linked to epigenetics. Epigenetics are the outside factors such as nutrition, UV rays, environmental chemicals, chronic stress and trauma that control how and what type of cells are reproduced. Remember a person has trillions of cells in their body, and all these cells carry the same genetic code or DNA. As cells continuously replicate, epigenetic factors play a key role in how they are created (how the genes in the DNA in each cell is expressed).

For this reason, epigenetics is so empowering. We can actually steer the future of our health by choosing the right nutrition, managing chronic stress and minimising our exposure to the strong UVs. In other words, epigenetics is affected by lifestyle choices and environment, which in turn can encourage or discourage the replication of healthy cells or damaged cells.
 
At Skin Diligent, we use our Epigenetic Technology in our formulations. We use rare epigenetic ingredients and other supporting ingredients to shape skin cells before they divide, so more healthy skin cells are replicated.

4. What are your key top tips for men struggling with adult acne?

1. In general, adult men’s acne is linked to anabolic steroids (or other synthetic testosterone/ androgen) taken to bulk up. Acne is a result of hormone fluctuations, so try stopping the anabolic steroids and see how the skin reacts over a month or two.

2. To improve hormonal balance and increase the intake of healthy fats such as olive oil, flaxseed, crushed hemp seeds, avocado and nuts. Cut down on meats and dairy products. You don’t need to become a vegan or vegetarian, it’s about making sure the plant-based portion is at least twice the animal-based food in any meal.

3. The other potential culprit is the lack of gut microbiome diversification. To diversify the gut microbiome, incorporate fibre-rich fruits and vegetables such as oats, broccoli, bananas, apples, cabbage, etc. Plant-based foods are varied as you can count herbs, spices and seeds along with fruits and vegetables.

4. Get all the systems moving by adding regular exercises or at least include walking every day for 20-30 minutes & manage chronic stress by practising regular breathing exercises or meditation.

5. Remember that a product doesn’t have to sting, tingle, or dry out to be effective. This thinking worsens any skin condition, including acne. So focus on products that respect your skin’s microbiome (no antibiotics), your skin’s pH (no soaps or high dose of acids), and the quality of the skin barrier (doesn’t dry out). These products are half the battle won in targeting acne (or any other skin condition).

5. Why are your products particularly good for acne-prone skin?

The unique IN/ON/UNDER approach of Skin Diligent is a whole-istic one. We have carried out 4 years of research to understand acne through the sciences of epigenetics and microbiome. Thanks to these sciences, we know that all our systems are interconnected - the gut with the hormones, the hormones with the skin, the skin with the brain, the brain with the immune system, etc. And acne is just reflecting what is happening inside.

Our Acne-Prone Skin Kit includes 3 skincare products and 1 food supplement. The probiotic cleanser helps the skin rebalance the skin microbiome quickly and it cleanses and exfoliates gently for everyday use. The Multilayer Serum is to be applied on the affected areas and the Regulating Cream is to be applied on the whole face. The combination of these products targets redness, inflammation, sebum, and controls the population of skin bacteria without killing them. They have no side effects which are rare for acne-prone skin products - no irritation, no sensitisation, no drying out, no peeling, no endocrine disruption.

Based on our small users’ test, 70% of testers cleared acne between 2-4 months. And 80% saw a big improvement, 100% saw their skin health improve.

Skin Diligent Acne-Prone Skin Kit

£73.00

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6. What makes Skin Diligent unique?

Quoted by ELLE magazine as the Next Generation of Natural Skincare, we marry rare natural ingredients with high-tech delivery systems for active ingredients. Our narrow focus on blemished skin and premature skin ageing gives us an edge in truly understanding these issues based on the latest sciences. Our mission is to resolve skin problems efficiently without side effects and improve skin health.

7. Does Skin Diligent have a hero product?

The Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil had over 15 major press coverages for its launch, which was massive for a new brand like us! The serum is very unique in many measures - ingredients, texture and efficacy. It contains a rare form of vitamin C that is non-irritant, non-photosensitising and very effective at low dosages.

The texture is pretty amazing too as it leaves no traces of oiliness or greasiness so men love it. It also contains extracts of pomegranate, upcycled cacao, organic hemp seed oil, and moringa oil. The product helps with dehydrated skin, blemished-prone skin, eczema-prone skin, premature ageing and it adds powerful antioxidants. One of our users quoted it as “transformational”!

8. Is there a specific ingredient which helps or is it a combination? What ingredients should people avoid if they suffer from acne?

The traditional ingredients centre around retinoids , benzoyl peroxide, high doses of hydroxy acids, hydrocortisone and antibiotics. We avoid all of these in our formulas. The only exception is salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy, which is in our Acne-Prone Skin Kit at low dosages. These traditional ingredients are harsh, oxidising, and/or sensitising for the skin.

There isn’t really a hero ingredient to target acne, the combination is more important. The reason being that acne is a complex skin condition with multi-layered triggers. At Skin Diligent, we use rare botanical ingredients that have been proven to target various sources and symptoms of acne (inflammation, redness, sebum, bacteria, quality of skin, blackheads, lipid peroxidation, etc).

The only aspect we do not touch is the endocrine system. In other words, manipulation of hormones is not a means to an end, by choice at Skin Diligent.

9. Can you explain your own skincare routine?

I am a working mother, wife and entrepreneur. Therefore, my skincare routine needs to be fast, effective and no stickiness! This is the reason why all Skin Diligent products are multi-functional and the textures are important.

In the morning, I wash my face with cold water alone. Pat dry, leaving a bit of moisture on the skin. I apply our new Cellular Hydration Serum (launching in early April 2023), and follow it with our current hero product, the Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil, which boosts collagen, adds antioxidants and because it is in lipid form, it seals my first serum. That’s it. In moments of stress, I take our Acne & Stress food supplements for a month.

At night, I cleanse the face with our Triple Action Cleanser, use cold water to rinse, and pat dry. I then apply our Cellular Hydration Serum and follow with a light moisturising cream. Our philosophy is that skin should not be overstimulated at night nor should it be covered in thick occlusive ingredients at night (heavy oils or butters).

Skin Diligent Triple Action Cleanser

£16.00

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10. What has the most impact on the health of our skin; is it diet, lifestyle, or skincare products?

I think all of them! The right nutrition works from the inside to fight the onslaught of inflammation. The right lifestyle choices help us minimise that onslaught of inflammation! And skincare products are our daily contribution to our largest defence system, the skin barrier.

11. If you could only pick one skincare product to take to a desert island, what would it be?

Oh, I love this question! Hands down, our Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil!

Skin Diligent Vitamin C Serum in Oil

£55.00

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Skin Diligent strive to create skincare products which are ‘ultra-safe’, improve the internal health of the skin, and promise their products don’t harm or irritate the skin. When it comes to dealing with acne and blemishes, we all want to feel comfortable in the creams and serums we use; knowing it’s actually working. There is a huge amount of research behind this brand, and one we can highly recommend for anyone suffering from acne and looking for a more natural, and effective, solution.