There are many myths and misconceptions about skincare products – whether it’s how long they take to produce noticeable results, how many products a routine should include, or even what ingredients are the best.

With so much information at our fingertips, it can be difficult to decide on the best products to use. 

At Tropic, we are on a mission to simplify skincare by highlighting the one natural ingredient product that can adapt to almost every skin concern - Tamanu Balm. 

We surveyed 2,000 Brits to uncover the truth about people’s attitudes towards their skin. We’ve examined routines, habits, mistakes and even debunked some common myths, to show that skincare doesn’t need to be complicated. 

Key stats: 

• Dry skin is the ailment most Brits suffer from in the summer
• 34% of Brits still don’t apply SPF every day and 32% even admit to sunbathing without applying SPF
• 95% of people didn’t realise they should be wearing SPF, even if they don’t go outside at all
• 1 in 3 (31%) millennials have been blindly influenced into buying skincare products from TikTok
• When incorporating a new product into a skincare routine, 1 in 3 (31%) Brits expect to see results within one week
• 2,009,100 Brits are spending more than £500 on their skincare routine each year

Dry skin is the most common skin condition Brits have in the summer, with 1 in 3 (31%) people reporting this issue. Sunburn and dehydrated lips were both reported by 21% of those surveyed, showing a clear correlation between rising temperatures and skincare struggles. 

Heat rash completed the top three skin complaints during the summer months, and with heatwaves becoming more frequent, it's perhaps no surprise. Keeping your skin moisturised and using SPF is essential all year round, but even more so in the summer as UV levels are higher and weather conditions, such as heat, dry out unprotected skin.

The cupuaçu butter in our Tamanu Balm helps to keep your skin hydrated and improves the resilience of your skin barrier, so dry skin and dehydrated lips can become worries of the past.

Our study found that 1 in 3 (34%) people are still not applying SPF daily, with 44% of women admitting to this skincare mistake. And shockingly, 21,430,400 people are at risk of severe sunburn this summer, with 1 in 3 Brits admitting to sunbathing without SPF. 

There are many myths associated with sunscreen and tanning in the sun. However, all exposure to the sun can increase the risk of skin damage – it’s not just restricted to those who experience sunburn. SPF is a day-to-day essential and even more imperative when sunbathing. 

Other skincare mistakes include not moisturising skin (28%), not checking expiry dates of skincare products (24%) and not taking makeup off at the end of the day (19%). 

Interestingly, over a quarter (28%) of Brits wish they started using skincare products sooner – this is particularly prevalent in the 35-44 age group, with 35% of people agreeing with the statement. 

27% confirmed that they can see a noticeable difference when consistently using skincare products; however, 26% feel overwhelmed when buying them.

With products regularly going viral on TikTok and a constant stream of must-haves on the market, it can be challenging to find the best skincare for you.