The quest to clean, clear, hydrated skin isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. We all know that healthy skin starts with a consistent, daily skincare regimen and the right products. But with so many treatments on the market, it’s not always easy to find what works best for you. Plus, if you have sensitive skin or another particular condition, it can be all the more intimidating to go through the trial-and-error process when experimenting with different skincare products.
Luckily, we’re here to help! Whether you’re just starting on your skincare journey or you’re looking to revamp your current beauty regimen, here are a few things you need to know when trying out a new skincare product:
How to Identify Your Skin Type
Determining your skin type is an essential first step to choosing the right skincare products as different treatments are designed to target different skin concerns. Caring for the wrong skin type can often lead to irritation, inflammation, and breakouts. That’s why it’s important to take a few minutes to educate yourself on your skin before purchasing any new skincare products.
To accurately assess your skin, you’ll want to evaluate the following:
- Your Skin Type: How would you categorize your skin? Is it oily, dry, normal, sensitive, or a combination of different skin types? Take this quiz to find out!
- Your Skin Concerns: What specific issues are you having with your skin? This could be issues like acne, dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, or even a skin condition such as rosacea.
- Your Complexion: Think about your skin tone and how it reacts to the environment. Maybe you have pale skin and tend to burn easily. Or, perhaps you have a darker skin tone that’s more likely to tan than it is to burn.
- Your Habits: What are some personal habits that impact your skin’s health? Do you smoke often? Are you frequently sunbathing? How have these habits affected your skin?
How to Decide Which Active Ingredients Are Best for Your Skin
Once you have a better understanding of your skin type, you’re ready to begin your search for a new skincare product. To do this, you’ll need to decide which active ingredients are best for your skin.
Active ingredients are the key ingredients within skincare products that work to address the skin concerns the product is meant to target. For instance, if you’re getting a facial cream that treats wrinkles, the active ingredient within that product is what’s actually being used to prevent the signs of aging. This might be something like retinol, an active ingredient commonly found in anti-aging products that serves to boost collagen production and smooth fine lines.
To discover what active ingredients are best for your skin, consider speaking with a dermatologist. Their expertise will not only assist you in finding the most effective skincare ingredients, but it’ll also help you figure out what dosage of the ingredients is right for you.
How Long It Will Take Your New Skincare Product to Work
With any new skincare product you try, patience is a virtue. Although the timeline to visible results will be contingent on the active ingredients within the product and how often you use it, most skincare products require at least one month of use before you’ll see results. For a closer look at how long it will take your new product to work, check out this infographic of some of the most popular skincare saviors!
For this reason, when it comes to trying out your new skincare product, it’s crucial to not let yourself get discouraged if and when you aren’t getting the results you’re looking for. Remember, things take time! For now, try to focus on staying consistent with the application of your skincare product. However, keep in mind that some treatments aren’t meant to be used every day, especially when you first begin using them.
Acne cream containing the active ingredient, benzoyl peroxide, for example, may cause your skin to dry out if you are applying it to your skin every day. So while you may be fed up with your breakouts, it is probably better for you to start out using the product only once or twice a week, depending on what your skin type is and how problematic your blemish concerns are. From there, you can gradually work your way up and adjust how frequently you use it as necessary.
