The Journal
Notes on skin, considered.
Writing, observations and video from Merve Akkaya, followed by a growing library of practical skincare guidance designed to make better decisions easier.
From Merve
The questions that stay after the appointment.
Some of the most useful skincare conversations begin with a question someone has been carrying for a while.
This is where Merve shares personal observations, professional perspective and longer thoughts on the decisions people repeatedly face around their skin. As her own articles are published, they will live here before becoming part of the wider Journal archive.
Watch
Skincare, in Merve’s own words.
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Longer conversations about skin.
Education, practical skincare thinking and professional perspective from Merve.
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Notes from everyday practice.
Treatments, professional observations and short explanations from Merve’s work.
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Clear answers, without the noise.
Short-form skincare education and practical perspective.
A considered perspective
Better skincare content should help you decide — not simply give you more to read.
Skincare Library
Go deeper,when you need to.
Clear, structured guides to routines, ingredients, skin concerns and professional care. Start with a question, then read what helps.
Latest notes
AI skin analysis apps or a skin consultation?
Are AI skin analysis apps accurate? What a selfie can and cannot show, why scores shift with lighting, why moles need a doctor, and what a consultation adds.
Read the note
Collagen supplements and your skin: what the evidence shows.
Do collagen supplements work for skin? What meta-analyses found on hydration, elasticity and wrinkles, why funding and study quality matter, and what helps.
Read the note
Urea cream for rough, dry skin.
What urea cream does for rough, dry skin, what 5%, 10% and 25% mean, how to use it on elbows, heels and keratosis pilaris, and when to see a doctor.
Read the note
Retinol body lotion: who it suits and how to start.
Can you use retinol on your body? Who retinol body lotion may suit, from rough arms to back and buttocks, how to start slowly, and sun and pregnancy cautions.
Read the note
Pimple patches: when hydrocolloid helps.
Do pimple patches work? Which spots hydrocolloid helps, why deep or cystic pimples and blackheads are different, how to use a patch, and when to see a doctor.
Read the note
Under-eye patches: what they can do for puffiness.
What under-eye patches can and cannot do for puffy eyes, why the effect is temporary, how to use them safely, and when eye swelling needs a doctor.
Read the note
Spicules and "liquid microneedling": questions before you try.
What spicule skincare is, what research does and does not show, why it prickles, who should be cautious, and how it differs from professional microneedling.
Read the noteBeta-glucan in skincare: a gentle ingredient worth knowing.
Beta-glucan in skincare: what it is, what the evidence shows for hydration and sensitive skin, how it compares with hyaluronic acid, and how to use it well.
Read the note
Choosing a skin barrier cream: what to look for.
How to choose a skin barrier cream: ceramides and other ingredients worth finding, texture for your skin type, fragrance-free labels and testing tolerance.
Read the noteA useful starting point
These guides offer general skincare information. For concerns that persist or a routine that is difficult to make sense of, talk through your options.
All guides
Every guide, by topic.
Understanding your skin
Routines
- Morning and evening skincare: what actually needs to change?
- Skincare product order: a clear guide to layering.
- Where to spend and where to save in your skincare routine.
- Should your skincare routine change with the seasons?
- A skincare routine does not need to be complicated.
- A routine that fits your life is easier to keep.
- Skincare before an event, without last-minute experiments.
Cleansing
Sun protection
Ingredients and tolerance
Body skin
Professional care
- When professional skincare belongs in the plan.
- Choosing a professional facial: where Frozen Face Pro Max fits.
- Considering Twin Body? Questions to ask before starting.
- Before a facial: what to tell your skincare practitioner.
- After a facial: keeping your home routine clear.
- When a skin concern needs a dermatologist.
- What a useful skin consultation should leave you with.
Trends, considered
- PDRN and “salmon DNA” skincare: what a cream can and cannot do.
- Exosome skincare: what the word means on a label.
- LED face masks and red light therapy at home: what to expect.
- Copper peptides (GHK-Cu): what they are and how to use them.
- Tranexamic acid for dark spots: where it fits.
- Glutathione and skin tone: creams, supplements and drips, considered.
- Medical spa or skincare studio? Understanding the difference.
- Hard water and your skin: do shower filters help?
- Glass skin: a realistic routine for a healthy glow.
- Korean skincare routines: what to borrow and what to skip.
- “Ozempic face”: skin changes after weight loss and what skincare can do.
- Choosing a skin barrier cream: what to look for.
- Beta-glucan in skincare: a gentle ingredient worth knowing.
- Spicules and “liquid microneedling”: questions before you try.
- Under-eye patches: what they can do for puffiness.
- Pimple patches: when hydrocolloid helps.
- Retinol body lotion: who it suits and how to start.
- Urea cream for rough, dry skin.
- Collagen supplements and your skin: what the evidence shows.
- AI skin analysis apps or a skin consultation?
