27/03/2023
Particularly when it comes to skincare, our skin needs to get used to them so swap one product out at a time. Always start with a patch test and then use the product consistently for 3 months before making an assessment (unless you experience a reaction, in which case you should stop using it straight away). We advise this primarily as skin cell renewal takes place approximately every 28 days, however, this process slows down over time, eventually taking up to 84 days when we reach 50+. By using for three months, there will have been up to 3 cycles of the skinโs natural regeneration process during that time, allowing you to observe and review how well the new product has worked, whilst factoring any lifestyle changes that may have taken place over that time, essentially seeing the average cumulative effect of the product. Remember, cell renewal also takes place each night so small changes may be noticeable before this point.
Before giving up using your skincare product, review what else you have changed in your routine and lifestyle to see how this has impacted your skin. For example, stress and hormones both play a big part in how our skin feels and acts, so this may affect the efficacy. Any hormonal changes can result in the skin becoming oily, dull, dry or irritated. Hormones, particularly oestrogen, plays a crucial role in skin health (increases collagen production, skin thickness, hydration and wound healing) but sometimes can cause problems during times of puberty, pregnancy, menopause or hormonal imbalance due to levels being too high or too low.
When stressed, the body produces more of the hormone, cortisol, which triggers our sebaceous glands to release excessive oil which can clog pores and lead to breakouts (which we often immediately associate with the products weโve used). Our immune system becomes weaker which can affect the skin, resulting in skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis. Sleep deprivation, also commonly caused by stress, can also leave us with puffy eyes or dark circles.
Try to be patient and donโt get discouraged if you donโt see immediate results. Consistency, care and attention are key.
