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
Buttocks skin care: texture, bumps and everyday care.
Bumps on the buttocks are often folliculitis or rough texture, not acne. Learn the everyday habits that help, what to avoid and when to see a dermatologist.
Read the note
Dull skin: what to review before buying another product.
Dull skin can reflect dryness, a missed moisturiser, too much or too little exfoliation, or sun exposure. Review these basics before buying a new product.
Read the note
How much exfoliation is too much?
How often to exfoliate depends on your skin and the method. Learn the signs of over-exfoliation, what counts as exfoliating and how to step back safely.
Read the noteBlackheads or sebaceous filaments? What you are seeing.
Sebaceous filaments are a normal part of skin; blackheads are clogged pores. Learn how to tell them apart, what helps blackheads and why not to squeeze.
Read the note
Dry or dehydrated skin? Understanding the difference.
Dry skin is usually described as lacking oil and dehydrated skin as lacking water. Learn how the two differ, how they overlap and what each needs.
Read the note
How to introduce a new skincare product without changing everything.
Add one skincare product at a time: test it on a small area, keep the rest of your routine unchanged and give it time. Learn the steps and when to stop.
Read the note
Do you really need to double cleanse?
Double cleansing means an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based one. Learn who may benefit, who can skip it and how to avoid over-washing your skin.
Read the note
Morning and evening skincare: what actually needs to change?
Morning and evening skincare differ in two main ways: sun protection by day and thorough cleansing at night. See which steps change and which stay the same.
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?
