I’m breaking out! What do I do?
When we have breakouts or irritation, our first response is to usually decide to change our skincare routine or try out new products in the market.
Why not? The irritation causes skin breakout because of chemicals from the products used or the change in our environment. It is no surprise that our first instinct is to deflect from the old and introduce the new.
At the same time, skincare enthusiasts are always looking for new and upcoming skincare products from their favorite beauty brands.
There’s no harm in trying the new – or is there?
What to Consider Before Introducing New Skincare Products
If you’re wondering what to do before changing skincare products, come forth and here ye.
Our skin is a sensitive being of our body, and they will immediately tell you when they aren’t comfortable with something. It can come in the form of skin irritations, allergic reactions, and sudden changes in dryness or oiliness of the skin.
Before changing that cleanser, toner, or moisturizer, evaluate the following tips and conditions:
Allergic Reactions
Allergens found in skincare products can cause allergic reactions in some people. They are often characterized by itchy and red rashes, as well as dermatitis.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has put out a list of common allergens found in cosmetic products, as in this list.
Before trying out too many skincare products, it is best to ensure that you do not pose any allergic reactions to the chemicals found in them.
Not seeing the results you want? Have patience with all things, but first of all, with yourself, and also your skincare routine.
Easier said than done! But what if it’s been months and months of the same skincare routine and tubs of the same skincare products, and you don’t see any change in how your skin looks and feels?
If those problems persist despite an attempt to change your routine, then best believe it’s time to zip it up and try something new.
Observe Your Skin
If our skin could talk, they most definitely would.
The most obvious way to know that your skin is sensitive to a product or a chemical found in that product is when you have sudden or worsening breakouts.
This mostly happens when you very often try acne treatments every week or so. Frequent changes in skincare or skin treatments can irritate and will lead to a breakout.
Observe your skin for sudden and abrupt changes when using a new product. Research the chemicals found in the products that might cause you to breakout. If unsure, you can also consult your dermatologist for a more professional opinion.
At the same time, too much drying and too much oiliness are skin problems you must consider before deciding when and what kind of new skin products to try.
Avoid products containing retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid for those with dry skin, and avoid overkill of cleansers and exfoliants for those with oily skin.
Examine the chemicals on the product
Depending on the type of skin you have, it is essential to consider the chemicals that go into skincare products before purchasing or using them. You wouldn’t want to be fleshing out money just to find out that this season’s new trendy skincare is terrible for your skin type.
How to Introduce New Skincare Products
Listen to Reviews and Opinions
If you have anyone you know who has tried out a new product you want to try, you might want to get their opinion on how the product worked for them. Of course, products work differently for everyone as we have very different skin types, but there’s no harm in asking, right?
Take Advantage of Samples
If you have the chance to get samples, go ahead! It’s a good (and cheap) way to test whether a product works for you and has no adverse reactions to your skin.
Suppose you can ask for the non-tiny sachet samples, the better. You would need to test out the product for a month or so to make sure they work for you, so the tiny samples that would last you a day wouldn’t work.
Patch testing
Are you wondering how to patch test skincare? It means that you don’t have to slather the product all over your face just yet.
Put a bit on your hands or arms. See what it does to your skin for the next 24 or so hours. This method is essential for people with allergic sensitivities, so make sure to do a patch test when you have skin allergies.
Try Your New Skincare Products One At A Time
If you decided to splurge and buy a ton of new skincare, don’t scare your skin and change your entire skincare routine entirely just yet.
Try switching your skincare one at a time, starting from your moisturizer to your toner and so on. Doing this will help identify which skincare your skin had an adverse reaction to (in case there is) and would help give your skin time to adjust to all the new chemicals it has had to absorb.
It takes long before the skin adjusts or knows how a product works, so we recommend taking a good two to three weeks between switching skincare products.
Observe your skin for any allergic reactions, dryness, oiliness, and itchiness for the entire testing period so you would know which products to throw out and which ones to keep.
Is It Okay to Mix Skincare Brands?
Definitely! There’s no hard and fast rule saying you can only use one skincare brand for your entire skincare routine. After all, brand names are just value-adding names to the skincare and don’t affect the skincare product’s effectiveness.
What matters when mixing and matching skincare is that you pick the correct formulas in all your skincare products, know how they all work, and complement each other to bring out the maximum results.
Here are a few tips on mixing skincare products that might help your following purchase decisions:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps brighten the skin and reduces dark spots. Mixing Vitamin C with other antioxidants like Vitamin E and SPF like sunscreens will help boost its effectiveness. Sunscreen SPF protects the skin from UV ray damage, thus using Vitamin C and SPF together is a great combination.
On the other hand, do not use Vitamin C with retinol because they serve different functions and will cause ingredients to clash.
AHA/BHA
AHA and BHA are exfoliating acids that can help tone the skin and for acne treatment. Because these ingredients are strong, they can quickly dry and irritate the skin, so they are best paired with moisturizers and SPF.
Avoid using AHA/BHA with retinol. Both are very acidic ingredients, and using them together will cause skin irritation.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a magic ingredient for acne-prone skin. An adverseHowever, they’re very drying. Thus, using benzoyl peroxide with moisturizers and SPF is a must.
Benzoyl peroxide and retinol should not be used together or after the other because their effects can negate each other.
