Tips For Trying New Skincare & Beauty Products
If your skin is anything like mine, you may find yourself apprehensive to randomly test new beauty products. My skin has become crazy sensitive as I’ve gotten older, and it can be hard for me to find products that don’t irritate it. That being said, there are times when we need to switch up our routines, or add new products to them. I am a big believer in the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but with more and more people switching to clean beauty, we sometimes need to run the risk of a breakout, to find better-for-you products.
Trust me when I say, I’ve had my fair share of beauty product-related breakouts in the past few years. Anything from random little bumps ALL over my face, to full on hives and rashes. Let me tell ya, nothing is more fun than that! SOS. Anyway, I feel like I am pretty well-versed in the topic of sensitive skin, so I figured why not write a blog post about it?
Should you need to switch up your beauty routine, or feel as though yours is causing your skin some issues, I’ve shared my tips on handling both below. Do you have sensitive skin? I’d love to hear your tips too! Share them in the comments.
Disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist nor a medical professional. Always seek the help of a dermatologist if serious skin issues arise. This post is not intended to treat or diagnose any conditions. I am just sharing from my personal experience.
1. Test One New Product At A Time!
This is something I STRUGGLE with. Whenever I buy (or am sent) new products, I am tempted to try more than one. I have had to learn the hard way to ONLY test one product at a time, for a few weeks. While it can be hard to restrain yourself, if you try a new cleanser, moisturizer AND foundation, and start to see irritation, it’ll be hard to determine which product was the irritating culprit. Testing only one new product at time will make it easier to see what is causing you issues.
2. Don’t Test New Products Around Your Cycle if You’re Prone to Hormonal Breakouts
Similar to tip number 1, testing new products around your cycle can lead to more confusion, especially if you are prone to pre-period breakouts. I breakout the week before my period (and often the week of my period), and find that this is not a great time to test new products for the same reasons I shared above. If you can, wait. If not, keep in mind any hormonal changes that occur, and where your breakouts are happening. If you breakout in the same place during your cycle, odds are it is not the product causing an issue. If you are breaking out all over, it could be the product.
3. Patch Test
I feel like we hear this all the time, but patch testing before slathering a new product all over your face is super helpful. I try to patch test products for a week or so prior to full use. Sometimes I put the product on the inner part of my upper arm, my neck, or a small spot on my jaw. Again, the waiting game can be so hard when you’re excited to try something out, but you might be saving yourself a lot of headache in the long run.
That being said, there have been some instances when I’ve used a product for WEEKS with no issues, and it isn’t until several weeks later I start to develop rashes, bumps, etc. That alone is why I try to keep new product introductions to a minimum.
4. Some Breakouts Might be Normal, Depending on the Product Being Tested…
Ok! Let’s make matters even more confusing. If you are adding resurfacing products or peels to your routine, SOME level of breakouts can be considered normal. These breakouts are caused by “skin purging” or a reaction to an active ingredient that is increasing skin cell turnover rate. Ultimately, this faster turnover means whatever breakouts are lurking under the skin, are coming up faster. However, hopefully that means you get them all out of the way for a few days or weeks, and will have clear skin ahead!
5. Have A Plan If You DO Start Breaking Out
If you start breaking out like crazy from a new product, stop using the product immediately and switch to gentle products that do not cause your skin any irritation. I have a go to routine whenever I am breaking out, and stop using any irritating products until my skin clears. I’ve written out what products I use and other tips on the matter here.
6. Breakouts Are Normal, and Some Products Just Might Not Be a Good Fit
At the end of the day, as heartbreaking as it can be to have to return a product that gets a lot of hype, I’ve had to accept the fact that some products just aren’t for me. I am super sensitive to facial oils and products with essential oils, so always am looking for them when testing new products of any kind. Accept it, and move on! The right products are out there, if you’re willing to give them a try!
