Adele’s Pick of SBC Skincare Actives
When it comes to skincare, I’m a big believer in keeping things uncomplicated, straightforward and consistent. The right active ingredients can make a real difference to the look and feel of your skin, whether you’re dealing with breakouts, uneven tone, dullness, dryness or simply want to support healthier-looking skin as part of your everyday routine.
Here are my picks from the SBC Skincare Active range, the products I’d reach for depending on what my skin needs with tips and suggestions to help you choose your skincare actives.
And don't forget, use code ADELESACTIVES for 30% off my selected picks for September!
Salicylic Body Wash
If you’re looking for a body wash that does more than simply cleanse, SBC Salicylic Body Wash is a great place to start.
Salicylic acid is a well-known exfoliating active that helps to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, making this an especially useful addition if your body skin is prone to congestion, sweat, rough texture or blemishes. The careful blend of BHA’s and AHA’s work deep into the pores and refine the surface of the skin whilst Glycerin ensures long lasting hydration to leave skin balanced. Skin feels thoroughly cleansed but not stripped or dry.
I love how simple it is to incorporate these actives into your routine, jump into the shower and let the active do the work.
I always use the Salicylic Body Wash before tanning. By gently removing dry skin, the tan goes on far more evenly and lasts much longer. It’s the body wash I’d recommend for maximum results for your body skincare routine, and I highly recommend it to anyone concerned with Keratosis Pilaris.
Vitamin C Hair and Body Wash
Vitamin C is one of those skincare ingredients that has earned its place as a staple, and I love the idea of bringing it into hair and body care too.
SBC Vitamin C Hair and Body Wash combines everyday cleansing with the hair and skin-loving appeal of vitamin C, helping to leave the skin feeling fresh and smooth and hair revitalised.
It’s an easy one to add to your routine when your body skin is looking a little dull and you want your shower to feel like more of a skincare step.
Vitamin C and Mandarin combine with Caviar Lime, Desert Lime and Rainforest Lime in a unique three-lime complex. Naturally rich in antioxidants and AHAs, this gorgeous blend helps to deeply cleanse, brighten and revitalise dull, lacklustre skin and hair. Enriched with Vitamin E and Pro-Vitamin B5, it helps to nourish and moisturise, leaving hair beautifully shiny and skin feeling silky smooth.
I spend a lot of time travelling and this Hair & Body Wash is always in my bag for it’s versatility. Like a bottle of sunshine, the uplifting citrus aroma always leaves me feeling refreshed and energised.
Niacinamide Perfecting Gel Cream
Niacinamide is one of my favourite versatile skincare actives because it can fit so easily into a range of routines and it can be used on the face and body.
Designed to create a more balanced, refined-looking complexion, Niacinamide is particularly well known for supporting the skin barrier and helping to improve the appearance of uneven tone and texture.
Our innovative Niacinamide Perfecting Gel Cream can be used either as a daily moisturiser or as a hydrating serum. Enriched with Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), it helps to balance sebum production, minimise the appearance of pores and promote a more even-looking skin tone, while supporting the skin’s natural barrier.
Jojoba Seed Oil helps to hydrate, soften and smooth the skin, while Hemp Seed Oil, naturally rich in omega-6 fatty acids, provides nourishing barrier support. A soothing blend of Liquorice and Chamomile extracts helps to calm and comfort stressed-looking skin, leaving the complexion feeling balanced and refreshed.
I have sensitive, oily skin, so I’m always mindful about which actives I introduce into my routine. I look for fresh, lightweight textures that support the skin without feeling heavy or drying. For me, the ideal formula helps to balance excess oil while keeping my complexion calm, comfortable and healthy-looking.
If that sounds like your skin too, this is one of my top recommendations.
Glycolic Radiance Serum
When skin is looking tired or lacklustre, glycolic acid can be a fantastic active to reach for.
Our Glycolic Radiance Serum gently exfoliates the surface of the skin, helping to reveal a smoother, brighter-looking complexion.
This glow-boosting treatment gel transforms dull, uneven skin. With 5% Glycolic Acid and fruit AHAs, it gently removes dead skin cells to smooth texture, brighten the complexion and target concerns such as Keratosis Pilaris and ingrown hairs. Squalane and Glycerin help replenish moisture, leaving skin soft, silky and radiant, whilst ensuring your skincare routine works to maximum level and your faux tan is even.
Because I have an oily skin type, I’m particularly prone to congestion and milia. I use the Glycolic Serum at night twice a week to gently break the bonds excess oils that hold dry skin on the surface and clear from excess oils and congestion.
Hydra-Collagen Replenishing Milky Toner
If I had to pick my favourite new product launch in 2025, I’d pick the Hydra-Collagen Replenishing Milky Toner. I have made no secret of my love for it, so I’m thrilled to take the opportunity to sing it praises again.
This milky toner gives an immediate hydration boost and a visible reduction in the appearance of lines in a fresh light texture which my skin loves. During the hot summer months, I used this as my moisturiser as I was struggling with the thicker textures but as we transition into Autumn, I’ll be layering with my SPF and moisturiser. No roll off or pilling!
So how exactly does it work? The secret lies within a clever peptide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3. This signalling peptide helps to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, helping skin look smoother, firmer and more refined. Alongside a beautiful blend of skin-plumping ingredients including Marine Collagen, Silk Proteins, Hyaluronic Acid and Squalane for long lasting hydration.
Prolagel
This luxe gel contains Proline which is a naturally occurring amino acid and an important building block of collagen, making it a great ingredient for formulas focused on firmer, smoother-looking skin. Prolagel also helps support elasticity and retain essential moisture levels to leave skin looking firm and smooth. Proline works as part of this carefully considered formula designed to help improve the appearance of elasticity, texture and tired-looking skin giving your complexion and body a smoother, more replenished look.
This vegan-friendly gel has a cushion soft texture than feels richer than other gels and due to the super hydrating properties of antioxidant rich Osmanthus Flower Extract and Glycerin, it leaves a glowing, glossy finish.
It’s a fabulous multi-tasking treatment that can be used on the face and body. I’d particularly recommend this to those concerned with skin slackening, the appearance of stretch marks and scarring. I use it on my neck and jawline, tops of my arms and thighs.
Bakuchiol Smoothing Serum
If you love the idea of a retinol-inspired skincare routine but your skin doesn’t always get along with traditional retinoids, Bakuchiol Smoothing Serum could be just the thing. Powered by 1% Bakuchiol, a plant-derived retinol alternative, this silky, lightweight serum helps target the appearance of fine lines, uneven tone and texture while leaving skin looking smoother, brighter and more radiant.
The formula combines Bakuchiol with Lactic Acid and Willow Bark to provide gentle exfoliation, helping to refine the look of texture and create a beautifully smooth canvas. The hydration comes from Hyaluronic Acid, Rosehip Oil and Squalane which replenish lost moisture and leave skin feeling soft, plump and healthy-looking.
The results are encouraging. In a four-week study of 120 people, 98% agreed the serum did not cause irritation, while 94% agreed their skin felt and looked smoother.
I also love how easy it is to slot into a routine. It’s vegan-friendly and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and can be used morning and evening. With 96.4% naturally derived ingredients, it’s a beautifully simple way to add an age-supporting active to your skincare regime while keeping skin feeling comfortable and hydrated.
For me, it’s all about that fresh, smooth, healthy-looking glow without making skincare feel complicated. You can use this active on the face and body for a gentle route to radiance.
Hyaluronic Gel Concentrate
Quite possibly one of the easiest recommendations I can make,our Hyaluronic Gel Concentrate is a quick and easy way to achieve soft, supple skin and is the ultimate hydrator for both face and body. Whether you’re targeting fine lines, dealing with dry skin or simply want to add a little more glow, this could be your one-step solution. It really doesn’t get much easier.
What I love is that it gives me fresh, plump-looking skin without needing a complicated routine. Hyaluronic Acid provides an instant hit of hydration, while fruit-derived AHAs from Papaya, Apple, Pineapple and Sweet Orange gently exfoliate away tired-looking skin.
I’ve found it particularly great during the hot and humid months, when my skin can feel dehydrated and a little lacklustre. There’s something about that combination of gentle exfoliation and hydration that gives my complexion a renewed glow. As Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin, leaving it feeling hydrated and comfortable.
I love applying it straight after a shower, but it’s just as easy to work into my facial routine alongside my other skincare, or smooth over the body. One of my favourite ways to use it is on the dry skin on my legs, it sinks in beautifully without leaving a greasy residue, so there’s no need to wait around before getting dressed.
And, as with all our moisturising gels, it can also be used as a conductive gel with a microcurrent device. I think that’s what makes it such a useful product to have to hand, it does so much, so effortlessly.
My SBC Active Routine
Remember that you don’t need to use everything at once. It’s about understanding what your skin needs and adapting the products to suit.
The Salicylic Body Wash and Vitamin C Body Wash bring active skincare into body cleansing, while the Niacinamide Perfecting Serum, Glycolic Radiance Serum, Collagen Replenishing Milky Toner, Prolagel and Bakuchiol Serum give you different ways to build a targeted facial routine.
The key is consistency. Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective, it’s simply about finding the ingredients and products that work for you.