Skincare Routine: the 4 rules for adding a product

There are so many products we will want to try sooner or later, but how many times have we ended up making mistakes by adding a new active ingredient to our skincare routine that we thought was perfect for our Skin?

Attenzione anche a come applichi il prodotto: forse ne stai applicando troppo o troppo spesso o puoi anche sbagliare l’ordine degli step della tua skincare. In questo caso controlla attentamente tutti i passaggi o chiedi un consiglio. La regola è di non lasciarti sedurre da una promozione o dal prodotto che ha funzionato benissimo su un’altra persona: acquista un cosmetico a seconda della tua reale necessità ed esigenza cutanea e, se hai la possibilità, chiedi consiglio ad uno specialista.

Where to test it
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Now that you’re fairly sure you need that skincare product, you need to figure out if your Skin tolerates it well, and the best way to do that is to test it! Apply a small amount of product to a small area of your neck or the inside of your forearm (this is what doctors call a patch test) and let it work.
How to interpret the results
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If no reactions such as redness, irritation, itching, dryness, or even hives occurred in the following days, the product can be safely used on the entire face. Be careful, however, with delicate areas like the Eye Contour or lip contour. Even if the product did not cause any reaction on the test area, it could still irritate these areas, which have a thinner epidermal layer and are therefore more prone to irritation.
Beware of Skin Purging
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Have you ever experienced using a new product and instead of getting benefits, your Skin has gotten worse? This is the so-called skin purging phenomenon: a Skin reaction that may occur after using new cosmetic products, such as those based on retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, malic acid) and beta-hydroxy acids (salicylic acid, definitely the active ingredient that causes this phenomenon more often). Specifically, it consists of an initial worsening of the dermis with a higher presence of pimple-like impurities that, and this is the important thing, gradually decrease.

Why does this happen? These products speed up cell turnover, so clogged pores that are under the Skin and take 8 to 10 weeks before appearing on the Skin as pimples or whiteheads or blackheads, emerge faster on the surface. This situation usually starts to improve after 6-8 weeks, so be patient and consistent in using the products.
What to do if the product doesn’t work
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If, after two/three months of use, the Skin continues to worsen, it is worth discontinuing the product.
In fact, if your Skin still reacts badly to the product, it might be better to stop using it or maybe use it differently: for example, you can use a BHA not on your face but on your body to combat pimples, ingrown hairs, stretch marks, keratosis pilaris, or waxing-related marks (only if they are not inflamed).
Also pay attention to how you apply the product: maybe you are applying too much of it, too often, or you might have the order of your skincare steps wrong. In this case, check all steps carefully or ask for advice. The rule is not to be swayed by a promotion or a product that worked great for someone else: buy a cosmetic based on your real Skin needs and requirements, and if you have the chance, ask a specialist for advice.