LÉ Blog

Peptides are intriguing active ingredients that have gained popularity over the past 10 years. In a nutshell, 'peptides' are small amino acid clusters linked to a wide range of skin benefits, including firming, clarity, and overall skin health. For anyone building a thoughtful routine, peptides can be a subtle but interesting addition to the lineup. That said, peptides, like botanicals, cover an enormous range. Not every peptide earns its place on an ingredient list, and there are certainly f...

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Hyaluronic acid shows up everywhere in skincare, yet its use is often a little off. Many routines include it, but not everyone is getting the results they expect. That gap usually comes down to application, layering, and a few small misunderstandings. This ingredient is gentle, flexible, and generally well-tolerated, which makes it easy to reach for. Still, gentle does not automatically mean foolproof. Small details like supporting ingredients, product order, and what you apply after can chan...

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Exfoliation can sometimes feel like a skincare puzzle. You might enjoy a radiant glow after exfoliating, only to later face bumps, clogged pores, or stubborn dry patches. With so many products out there, it’s easy to feel uncertain about which exfoliants truly deliver results and which are just overhyped. Among the most talked-about are chemical exfoliants. These are different from your gritty scrubs. They're active ingredients that help loosen dead skin cells by chemically breaking down the ...

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Salicylic acid often finds its way into a routine when congestion, uneven texture, or visible buildup become more noticeable. It’s one of the more predictable, well-studied exfoliating ingredients in skincare, which is part of why it continues to show up in long-term routines. That said, salicylic acid rarely works alone. Most routines include additional actives, and that’s where layering can start to feel complex. Combining exfoliation with ingredients that influence cell turnover or barrier...

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You’re standing in the skincare aisle, scanning labels, and there it is again: ceramides. They show up in moisturizers, serums, and creams of every kind, usually with big promises about being the must-have ingredient for barrier care. But what are ceramides, exactly? In short, ceramides are a group of lipid molecules that are naturally found in the skin’s lipid matrix. Acting as part of your skin’s frontline defense system: In contributing to the health of your lipid matrix, they help lock in...

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Understanding the order of skincare isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about helping your products work smarter, not harder. The right skincare order supports absorption, minimizes irritation, and makes even a simple routine more effective. And yes, it applies whether you're using two steps or ten. We understand that with a growing lineup of skincare treatments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed between cleansers, serums, and moisturizers. But with a little science and a lot of compassion, you ...

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We polled everyone on Instagram on their top dry skin questions, and one of the most common questions we got was “just what is the difference between dehydrated and dry skin?” In a similar vein, people also wanted to know just what kind of skin deficiencies causes dry skin – lack water or oil? Understanding just what kind of dry skin you have and what your skin need can be the difference between an effective moisturizing routine and an endless loop of frustration. So in this blog post, let’s ...

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So you're ready to tackle some pesky wrinkles eh? Don't worry, the chemists gotchu! The good news is that the skin concern of wrinkles is probably one of the more well-studied aspects in skincare science (even down to the physics and modeling of wrinkle formation!). As a result, more ingredients have been tested in this category than many other areas of skin concern, which is both good and bad. There are a lot of ingredients options to try, but it still requires some sifting through the foo-f...

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*For severe and cystic acne breakouts, we recommend finding an awesome dermatologist who is willing to help shape and build your acne routine from cleanser to treatment. Dermatologists are the only ones that will be able to prescribe more effective medication. Bring your products in to show your dermatologist so they can get a full understanding of your current regimen and what you’ve already tried. **As a nice supplement, checkout our oily skin guide to build out your skincare routine fundam...

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We all love that summer sun, but too much of that toasty goodness can make unwanted uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation rear its ugly head. As summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to tackle those uneven patches, discolored spots, and brighten skin. Check out our book Skincare Decoded for a dedicated chapter on hyperpigmentation and routine building to tackle hyperpigmentation. A Biology Primer on Pigment Formation To tackle hyperpigmentation, let's take a closer look at the biology of ski...

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