Understand your skin before you buy anything for it.

Most skincare advice starts with a product. We start with what's actually happening on your face — what each thing is, why it shows up, and whether it needs treating at all.

Specular — of light: reflected evenly off a smooth surface, the way it behaves on glass. Rough skin scatters light; smooth skin returns it.

Front
Right
Left
Forehead
Eye area

Medical disclaimer. Specular provides general skincare suggestions for informational purposes only and is not medical or dermatological advice. It is not a medical device and cannot diagnose any condition. Always consult a qualified physician or dermatologist about a skin concern.

Start here

Four guides that answer the questions people actually get wrong. No account, no email, nothing to buy.

Identification

Blackheads or sebaceous filaments?

Two different things that look almost identical. One is a clog worth treating; the other is normal anatomy you cannot remove.

 Method

What order to apply things in

Layering order changes how well products work. The rule is simpler than the ten-step charts suggest.

 Ingredients

Salicylic, glycolic or lactic acid?

Three exfoliants that do genuinely different jobs. Picking the wrong one is the usual reason exfoliating goes badly.

 Causes

Why dark circles happen

There are four common causes and they need different fixes. Most eye creams only address one of them.

A full routine at three budgets

The same layering sequence, priced three ways. The tiers differ in formulation and finish, not in what the steps do — a good cheap cleanser and an expensive one both clean your face.

Affiliate disclosure. Product links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend.

The Specular app

The guides stand on their own. The app is the faster route to the same thing: a guided set of photos, then a plain-language read of what shows up.

  1. Take guided photos

    An on-screen outline shows you how to frame each angle, so close-ups come out usable instead of blurry. Only the first is required.

  2. Read what came back

    Each finding is explained — what it is, how prominent it looks, and what tends to happen if it is left alone. Uncertain findings are labelled as uncertain.

  3. Get a routine that fits

    Morning and night steps matched to what showed up, at whichever budget you picked.

App store links go here once you launch.

How we handle your photos

Photos are processed on your own device. They are not uploaded to our servers, not stored by us, and not shared with anyone. We keep no copy, so there is nothing for us to lose, sell or hand over.

We do not ask for an account and collect no names, emails or contact details. If that ever changes, we will ask for your consent first rather than changing it quietly.

What Specular isn't

  • Not a medical device, and not a diagnosis. It can tell you what something might be; it cannot tell you what it is.
  • Not a substitute for a dermatologist. Anything painful, spreading, or changing in shape or colour should be seen by one.
  • Not nutrition advice. Where a nutrient is mentioned, that is background reading, not a deficiency test.
  • Not a reason to buy more products. Most people need fewer, used consistently.