Mar. 07, 2024
Beauty & Personal Care
I love trying new makeup products all the time. It’s so much fun! But, skincare products? That’s a different story.
If a lipstick shade doesn’t suit you, you can wipe it off. But if your moisturiser isn’t working? You could get a breakout. Or an irritation.
Sticking to your tried and tested staples is safer. But, sometimes you just want to try something new.
Maybe your HG was discontinued. Maybe you keep hearing raves about a new serum and want to see what the hype is all about. Or maybe your skin has changed and you need to come up with a whole new routine.
Whatever the reason, how can you introduce new skincare products in your routine without the risk of breakouts, irritations and co? Here are a few tips to help you out:
Picking a random serum or cream from the shelf is a recipe for disaster. How can you give your skin what it needs when you don’t even know what it needs?!
The first step is to figure out your skin type and concerns. Is your skin oily and breaking out all the time? Or dry and mired with dark spots? Or it’s pretty normal and you just want to get started with anti-aging?
Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can look for products targeted for your skin type and needs.
Just don’t trust labels! Do you know how many moisturisers with oily skin are loaded with comedogenic ingredients that give you pimples, for example?
Always check the ingredient list to make sure the product has actives that can do the job and nothing that can make things worse.
Don’t know what to look for? Check out this post to know what each skin type needs (and doesn’t!).
Related: How To Determine Your Skin Type (+ Free Test!)
Want to get the most out of your skincare products? Click on the image below to subscribe to my newsletter and receive the “How To Combine Actives Like A Pro” cheatsheet.
You don’t have to be a guinea pig. Lots of other people have already tried the products you’re interested in and shared their opinion online. Here are the best places to find them:
Related: 8 Best Science-Based Skincare Blogs
Ok, so all the reviews are good and you really, really, really want to try that cream. But… it’s not exactly cheap, and you’d like to take it for a test drive first.
Go to the cosmetic counter and ask for a sample. Just make sure they don’t give you one of those tiny sachets samples.
Those can tell if you like the texture or if the product will irritate your skin BUT NOT if it does what it claims. You need to use a product for roughly a month before you can see a difference (or not).
What if the SA doesn’t want to give you a sample? Complain to the manager or walk away. They obviously don’t want your money, so give it to someone else who appreciates you and is willing to help you.
Related: How Long Does It Take For Skincare Products To Work?
Ok, so now you got your sample. Don’t slather the cream all over your face, yet. If something in there doesn’t agree with your skin, you may end up with a red and itchy rash all over your face. The horror!
Instead, do a patch test. Apply a small amount on a tiny area, like your wrist, and watch what happens for the next 24 hours.
Nothing’s happening? All’s good. Put it all over your face.
Is your skin starting to tingle, getting itchy, or turning red? Wash your wrist immediately and throw the product away. It just doesn’t agree with you.
Related: How To Do A Skin Patch Test
Ok, so you got a new skincare set, or went a bit overboard at Sephora and came home with a big skincare haul. Good for you. Just don’t use all your new skincare products at once.
I know it’s tempting, and you’re itching to see what miracles they can do for your skin. But, what if one of them irritates your skin or you end up with pimples all over your face?
If you introduced several products in your skincare routine the very same day, how are you gonna know which one is the culprit?
But, if you only try one at a time? And by one at a time, I mean a new product every 2/3 weeks. I know that sounds like a long wait. But it takes that long to see if a product works.
FYI, if the product irritates or dries out your skin, you’ll find out pretty soon. Allergic reactions are immediate, but other side effects, like dryness and pimples can take a few weeks to develop.
Either way, the wait pays off. If something doesn’t agree with you, you’ll know immediately and can stop using it straight away. Much easier, isn’t it?
Additional reading:Related: How Long Does It Take Skincare Products To Work?
This applies only to those products with retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and even vitamin C. They all have a peeling action, which can cause irritations and redness if used too often.
Your skin needs time to get used to them, so only use them on alternate days at first. You can always increase frequency later on.
Related: The Complete Guide To Glycolic Acid: What It Is, What It Does And How To Use It
Testing a new product just before a big event like a wedding, graduation, or date with a special someone is never a good idea.
What if it irritates your skin? Then, you’ll have to walk down the aisle or go on that date with a bad rash on your face!
It’s much safer to try new products a couple of weeks (or, better a month) before the big occasion. That way, if something bad happens, your skin will have plenty of time to recover.
How you do introduce new skincare products into your routine? Share your tips in the comments below.
Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
You know you need to make a change when persistent skin complications continue to arise. Switching up your skincare products can be thrilling yet intimidating. You just want it to work! Learn how to introduce new skincare products to your face for the best outcome.
Before delving into the world of new skincare products, identifying and thoroughly understanding your skin type is crucial. Recognizing whether your skin is oily, dry, combination, or sensitive will help you make informed decisions when selecting products. Then, you can curate a personalized skincare routine that promotes a healthy, clear, and radiant complexion.
The product’s ingredients will greatly influence the change you want to see in your skin. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the ingredients you want to look for, how they work, and how they can improve the way your skin looks and feels.
Active ingredients are the powerhouse components in skincare products that deliver the promised results. These potent ingredients work their magic to address specific concerns and improve the skin’s overall condition.
For instance, retinol, a form of vitamin A, promotes cellular turnover and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, brightens the complexion and protects against environmental damage. Glycolic acid, an exfoliating agent, helps to remove dead skin cells and improve your skin’s texture.
Just remember that you shouldn’t mix several active ingredients. Since active ingredients greatly influence the skin, blending too many of them can have adverse effects.
Using retinol and vitamin C together can cause the skin to become dry and sensitive due to their individually strong effects. Similarly, combining AHAs and BHAs, both of which are exfoliants, can lead to over-exfoliation that causes an impaired skin barrier function and increased susceptibility to environmental damage. Other active ingredients will neutralize one another, so you won’t see results.
Try to use one active ingredient at a time. Doing so will give your skin ample time to adapt before you try incorporating another. Consult a dermatologist or skincare professional to avoid unwanted complications if you’re considering mixing active ingredients.
A patch test involves the application of a small amount of product to a discreet area of skin to see how your body reacts. Place a dab of the product on your wrist or the inside of your arm. Wait 24 hours, and observe if any inflammation, allergic reactions, or discomfort occurs. Taking this additional step will minimize the risk of any unpleasant surprises when placing the new product on your face.
As mentioned above about using several active ingredients with caution, try to only introduce one new skincare product at a time. Doing so will give you time to monitor how your skin progresses when compared to your typical skincare routine. You know the cause of the issue if any occur.
It’s tempting to slather on new products to see immediate results. However, that approach is likely to cause irritation and breakouts.
Instead, use the new product sparingly and allow your skin time to adjust gradually. Proceeding in this way will ensure a smoother transition and give you time to adjust as needed.
The product will have directions for best usage. Many items often suggest using the product once a week in the beginning, then increasing frequency once the skin is accustomed to the product. Take it slow and give yourself time to acclimate to the new products at your own pace.
Following the proper order while layering your skincare products ensures the greatest efficacy of each product. A general rule of thumb is to apply from thinnest to thickest, starting with your cleanser and finishing with your moisturizer or sunscreen.
Here’s a guideline of the correct order to apply skincare products for significant outcomes:
Where does the product you want to use fall in this list? As you begin to present this item to your skincare regimen, be sure to stick to this order for productive results.
Skincare products need time to deliver visible results because the skin follows a natural cycle of cell turnover. The process takes anywhere from 28 to 40 days to produce new cells and discard the old ones from the surface.
The timeline is also dependent on the type of product you use. Acne treatments and anti-aging creams contain ingredients that work deep within the skin. This deeply penetrative work will take longer to exhibit noticeable changes.
Topical products like moisturizers or serums are more likely to show results faster. However, sticking to this regular routine for sustained improvements is crucial.
That’s why skin transformations cannot occur overnight. As you’re introducing new skincare products to your face, wait about 4 to 6 weeks. Patience and consistency are the keys to seeing significant changes in your skin.
Jil Goorman Beauty can help you if one of your biggest skincare troubles is acne! Our team can help you try our skincare for dry acne-prone skin which contains several products specially designed for dry skin. which includes a gentle wash, toner, exfoliating serum, and more to make your skin feel refreshed and clear.
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