
Aging is something we all should embrace, TBH. Not only do we get older and wiser as the years go on, but our skin gets older — and it shows. While many of us slather on anti-aging creams and other treatments, using the right *acids* on your face can make a huge difference. I got the deets on which acids benefit our skin and why from two of my go-to skincare gurus, Sonia Deasy, founder of beauty and body wellness company Pestle & Mortar, and Kerry Benjamin, founder and owner of Stacked Skincare. Read on to learn about five acids you should consider adding to your skincare routine and the benefits each of them offers up.
Ohhh, glycolic acid. You might have heard of this alpha hydroxy acid because it’s found in a ton of skincare products, but it’s most commonly used in chemical peels. “Glycolic acid can easily penetrate the skin deeper than other acids, which in turn makes it the most effective acid for treating signs of aging,” Sonia explained. “Using products containing glycolic acid can help offset fine lines and wrinkles, but it can also help treat blackheads, acne, dull skin and oiliness.” If a chemical peel isn’t your thing — and trust me, it isn’t for everyone — you can get your glycolic on by using a gentle toner like Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner ($18).
HYALURONIC ACID
Dubbed the miracle moisturizer, hyaluronic acid takes hydration to the next level. “Hyaluronic acid is described as nature’s moisturizer because it’s a carb that naturally occurs in the body,” Sonia said. “As you age — particularly after you turn 30 — your body produces less hyaluronic acid, which our skin shows by appearing dry and wrinkled.” Kerry explained that, unlike the other acids on this list, HA doesn’t exfoliate the skin. “It acts as a cushioning and lubrication agent for our skin, drawing water up from the dermis to the epidermis.” Using a topical HA serum like Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum ($69) can help get your skin back to that baby soft plumpness we’re born with.
LACTIC ACID
Lactic acid — an alpha hydroxy acid derived from milk — could be your skincare savior if you’re all about exfoliating, hydrating and brightening the skin. “A peel containing lactic acid is great to treat hyperpigmentation, dry or dehydrated skin, sensitive skin and even eczema and rosacea,” Kerry said. “It has a natural moisturizing effect on the skin and is less irritating than other alpha hydroxy acids.” Incorporating a product like Olga Lorencin Lactic Acid Hydrating Serum ($75) into your regimen can help firm up your complexion and reduce breakouts while also leaving behind an even-textured face. It’s also safe to use while pregnant and can help with dryness and/or breakouts associated with pregnancy, FYI.
SALICYLIC ACID
Salicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial beta hydroxy acid, can stand up to stubborn acne. “Salicylic acid can penetrate deeper into oil glands, making it ideal for acneic and oily skin,” Kerry explained. “It dissolves sebum and dead skin inside pores and can prevent the formation of new blemishes.” Using a peel like Stacked Skincare Deep Sea Mineral Peel ($150), which contains willow bark extract (a natural source of salicylic acid), will eliminate bacteria that causes acne while revealing brighter, smoother and more even-toned skin.
CITRIC ACID
Found in citrus fruits, this acid has multiple benefits that help make your skin look younger as you age. “Citric acid helps promote skin regrowth and reduces the appearance of dark spots,” Sonia said. Kerry recommends incorporating citric acid into your routine by using a peel like Ole Henriksen Lemon Strip Flash Peel ($48). This peel will leave behind fresh, bright skin that’s thoroughly nourished thanks to purified algae extract.
Follow us on Pinterest for more skincare inspo and info.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we explore the tax implications of bringing family members into your business.
The question for today is this: Does hiring your family members make sense for your business? Let me be clear. This is not a piece about whether hiring your family members makes sense for your relationships with those family members. As someone who is part of a family business, I could fill up a lot more than 600 words on my opinions about that. For today's purposes, we focus on whether it makes sense from an overall "good business and tax implication" perspective. As it turns out, there is a decent amount of tax nuance when it comes to employing your family. Let's break it down based on relationship to the employee:
You X Ventures for Unsplash
Spouses Who Are In Business Together
Personally, if I had to be in business with my husband, it would not go well. However, many couples build viable, strong businesses together and I say, good for them! Depending on how you have your business entity structured, it will make a big difference on the tax treatment of you and your spouse working as partners. Because a business jointly owned and operated by a married couple is generally treated as a partnership for Federal tax purposes, the spouses must comply with filing and record keeping requirements imposed on partnerships and their partners. The election to file two Schedule C (Form 1040) forms, (one for each spouse) permits certain married co-owners to avoid filing partnership returns, provided that each spouse separately reports a share of all the businesses' items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. Under the election, both spouses will be subject to self-employment tax and on net earnings from self-employment and receive credit for Social Security earnings.
One Spouse Employs Another
If you have a dynamic where your spouse is an employee of your business, then your spouse's wages are subject to income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you are self-employed (not a corporation or a partnership), your spouse's pay does not have to be included in your federal unemployment tax account (FUTA) contributions and payments. However, if your business is a corporation or a partnership you must include that spouse's pay in your unemployment tax contribution calculation.
Kobu Agency for Unsplash
You Employ Your Child
First, let's be clear. I work in my family business, but I am an adult, so I am treated just like a normal employee. However, if you, for example, run a family restaurant and want to hire your children under 18 to work for you, there are some tax benefits. But first, you should check with your state for rules on how many hours minors can work (in non-agricultural jobs) and reference the Fair Labor Standards Act for information on limitations on the kinds of work children can perform.
"This is an often overlooked or under-utilized strategy. Paying your children for true services they provide in your business can be a powerful tax-saving tool," says Cathi Reed, Block Advisors Regional Director. "If you are a sole-proprietorship or single member LLC, and the child is less than 18 years of age, the business is not required to withhold FICA or payroll taxes. The child can use his or her standard deduction against income you pay."
You Hire Your Parent
Oh dear. If you are brave enough to do this, know that you will need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your parent's wages and make the appropriate withholdings, but you don't have to pay unemployment taxes. Now all you have to do is convince your parent that you are the boss. Have fun with that!
Is Hiring Family Members Worth It For The Tax Benefits?
"There are some positive tax advantages to hiring family members. It's important to treat a family member like any other employee. Hiring your children can result in substantial savings for businesses. Make sure your child has real, age-appropriate work to do and a reasonable pay rate, comparable to other employees. Consult with a Block Advisors small business certified tax pro to ensure that you are complying with all requirements," advises Reed. "Block Advisors, a team within H&R Block, is dedicated to meeting the tax, bookkeeping and payroll needs of small business owners year-round. To start working with the tax experts at Block Advisors, visit blockadvisors.com."
In my opinion, you should not hire a family member solely because of the tax benefits. You should always hire based on whether that person is right for the job and keep in mind how this hire could materially impact your relationship with that person and others in your family. Finally, as I mentioned, make sure you have a tax professional on your team when making these determinations. As you can see, things can get a little tricky!
*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures