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:
1. Choose new skincare products wisely
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.
2. Read Reviews
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:
Makeup Alley: You can filter reviews based on age and skin type so you can get a more accurate idea of what it can do for you, too.
Beautypedia: Based more on science than personal experience, these reviews tell you if the product really contains the ingredients that can fix whatever skincare issue it claims to fix.
Blogs: Finding a good skincare blogger you trust and understands skincare is like finding a best friend you can turn to for advice whenever you need it. Just make sure they can understand the science of skincare. Bonus points if they’re dealing with your same skin type and concerns. You can find my fave skincare bloggers here.
3. Try Samples
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.
4. Do A Patch Test
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.
5. Try One Product At A Time
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.
