Incorporating New Skincare Products In A Routine

Exercise caution when selecting new skincare products, as what works for others may not be perfect for you. It’s vital to accurately identify your skin type and potential concerns for an appropriate choice. When introducing new skincare products with active ingredients, it is important to follow some steps.

How to incorporate new skincare products?

Commence by considering your skin and your current skincare routine. Do you sense your skin lacks hydration, occasionally feeling tight? Enhance moisture with a hydrating toner or a serum rich in moisturizing agents, suitable for both morning and night application before your moisturizer. To address specific skin imperfections like uneven texture, acne, blackheads, hyperpigmentation or post-inflammatory marks, choose the right active ingredients. This may involve a treatment or antioxidant product, or a chemical exfoliant to remove dead skin cells.

When including new skincare products, follow proper usage guidelines, typically starting with one new product at a time to monitor your skin response. This prevents potential irritations or breakouts, allowing you to isolate the cause and save time and money.

Products with potent ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, bakuchiol, acids, and retinoids require adaptation time for the skin. Begin using new skincare products once daily, preferably at night, gradually increasing frequency if no adverse effects occur. Apply treatment products after cleansing and before moisturizing. Introduce new skincare products cautiously, alternating with your existing routine to assess how your skin tolerates multiple active ingredients.

For those with sensitive skin, perform a patch test before using a new skincare product for the first time. Apply conservatively and observe for any negative reactions to avoid irritations or allergies. Avoid experimenting with new skincare products, especially before significant events. While samples are useful for testing texture, visible results demand patience and consistent use, typically requiring at least three weeks. Every skin is unique, so evaluate its needs and choose new skincare products accordingly. The gradual introduction of new skincare products allows for a thorough assessment and provides your skin ample time to adapt to the new formulation.

What care must be taken when incorporating new skincare products?

Be cautious when combining skincare products. It’s vital to carefully choose products used simultaneously, as not all pair harmoniously, and an oversight can result in health, appearance and skin sensation concerns.

Retinol efficacy diminishes when combined with vitamin C and AHA (alpha hydroxy acids). Furthermore, when blending multiple skincare products, complete formulations mix, impacting their absorption or texture.

Merging retinol with AHA acids poses a risk for all skin types, especially sensitive ones. The combined exfoliating power of these components can be overly aggressive. Additionally, retinol is more effective on skin with a neutral pH rather than an acidic one. There are two proper ways to incorporate them into your routine: alternation on different nights (retinol one night, AHA the next) or using AHA in the morning and retinol at night. It’s crucial to use retinol products at night due to their photosensitive nature; direct sunlight can easily irritate the skin.

While you can use Vitamin C and acids, be aware that their combination reduces the efficacy of both. Vitamin C products are designed for maximum effectiveness at a pH of 3. Introducing another product with different acids (primarily AHA and BHA but also hyaluronic acid) alters the pH, often nullifying the effects of Vitamin C. For optimal results, use them at separate times of the day.

Benzoyl peroxide, commonly used in acne treatments, can be detrimental to the skin when combined with chemical exfoliants, especially AHA acids. The key to incorporating them into your routine without irritating is to alternate them on different days.

This combination of Vitamin C and niacinamide may irritate the skin, even if it’s not naturally sensitive, under specific conditions. Niacinamide, at a moderately acidic pH (around 3-4), transforms into nicotinic acid, a vasodilator that can cause redness. This is why niacinamide-containing products are formulated at a neutral pH for the skin (around 5.5-6).

Applying products formulated at a fairly acidic pH immediately before or after niacinamide-containing products may trigger the reaction where niacinamide transforms into nicotinic acid, leading to redness. However, don’t worry; if the niacinamide content is discreet, you probably won’t notice this effect.

As for Vitamin C, products with pure ascorbic acid are usually formulated at a fairly acidic pH (around 3-4) for enhanced effectiveness and stability. They can be formulated at higher pH levels to suit sensitive skin, although stabilizing vitamin C becomes more challenging. This doesn’t apply to Vitamin C derivatives, which can be formulated at a neutral pH (around 5.5) without stability issues.

Consider which skincare products are used simultaneously to preserve their effectiveness and maintain their original formulations. To optimize each benefit, a practical approach is alternating their usage. This method not only amplifies their effects but also extends their longevity, mitigating potential adverse effects of specific active ingredients like retinoids or targeted depigmenting agents that may cause skin irritation. Ensure the seamless integration of new skincare products for a well-rounded skincare routine.