Skincare Routine: The 4 Rules for Adding a Product

There are many products we will want to try sooner or later, but how many times have we ended up making a mess by adding a new active ingredient 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
1
Now that you're fairly convinced 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 the neck or the inside of the forearm (what doctors call a patch test) and let it work.
How to interpret the results
2
If there was no reaction such as redness, irritation, itching, dryness, or even hives in the following days, the product can safely be used on the entire face. However, be careful with delicate areas like Eye Contour or lip contour. If the product didn’t cause any reaction on the test area, it could still irritate these areas, which are a thinner layer of the epidermis and therefore more prone to developing irritations.
Beware of Skin Purging
3
Have you ever used a new product and instead of experiencing benefits, your Skin has worsened? That’s the so-called skin purging phenomenon: a reaction of the Skin that can occur following the use of new cosmetic products, such as those based on retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, malic acid) and beta-hydroxy acids (salicylic acid, certainly the active ingredient that causes this phenomenon most often). Specifically, it consists of an initial worsening of the Skin with a greater presence of blemishes similar to pimples, which — and this is the important point — gradually decrease.

Why does this happen? These products speed up cell turnover, so clogged pores, which are located under the Skin and take 8 to 10 weeks before appearing on the Skin as pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads, rise to the surface more quickly. This situation typically starts improving after 6-8 weeks, so be patient and consistent when using the products.
What to do if the product isn't okay
4
If instead, after two/three months of use, the Skin continues to worsen, it's time to stop using the product.
In fact, if your Skin still reacts badly to the product, it might be better not to use it, or maybe use it differently: for example, you can use a BHA not on your face but on your body to address acne, ingrown hairs, stretch marks, keratosis pilaris, or waxing spots (only if they are not inflamed).
Also pay attention to how you apply the product: maybe you're applying too much, too often, or you might have the order of your skincare steps wrong. In this case, carefully check all the steps or ask for advice. The rule is not to let yourself be swayed by a promotion or a product that worked perfectly for someone else: buy a cosmetic based on your actual needs and Skin concerns, and if you have the chance, ask a specialist for advice.