New year, new you, new skin care products...

For many of us it is always nice to try something new and interesting. In skin care, new products are being developed and out for purchase all the time. We want to grab and use the latest brands and the most talked about ingredients. We like to change up our routines or enhance our regimen by switching out the old and introducing the new. Sounds fun, but this is where it can get tricky. Let’s talk about the best way to change up your routine and keep your skin as happy as possible during the process!

Test products on your skin first

Before fully using a product you should first test a small amount on your skin. You can apply a small amount to an area of the face like under the jaw line or behind the ear, just to make sure you don’t have any sensitivity to it.

Gradually introduce new products into your skin routine

Unless you are having some major issues with your routine, do not swap all of your current products out for completely different ones. Introduce one new product at a time. For example, switch out your cleanser or your moisturizer but not both at the same time. This will aid in minimizing any possible irritation and it will also allow you to be able to quickly pinpoint whether a product is working for you or causing a bad reaction. You won’t have to guess what product your skin is not vibing with. Skin care can be confusing sometimes and this will help ease the guessing game.

Pick products for your skin type and concerns

As much as we want to try the latest and greatest we have to be mindful of what are skin needs and what outcome we are looking for. Skin care lines and products are not one size fits all. You may be able to use a few products from a skin care line, but not all. Your friends skin care routine may not work for you even if you share the same skin type. These things are normal and you have to keep that in mind when selecting your products. Read ingredients and get familiar with how they may or may not impact your skin. Talk to your esthetician for guidance and product suggestions. Listen to your skin, it will let you know if it is not in agreement with your product choices.

Be patient

Products do not work overnight. Give yourself time. It can take 4 weeks minimum for your skin to show any results. Depending on your skin condition and the product there can be purging as well. Purging is a period when you are starting a new product and have small breakouts that appear with in the first few days. This is due to your new product exfoliating the skin and bringing congestion up in order to clear out your clogged pores. This may take a few weeks to clear, but again patience. Side note: if the pimples are large, painful, in areas where you normally don’t breakout you could be having a negative reaction to the product and should stop using it.

So if you have decided you need/want to try new products or just want to change up your routine a bit keep these important things in mind as you go on this journey. Don’t rush, don’t overthink it, and don’t follow. You are unique and so is your skin. Love it the way it wants to be loved.

Oh and wear your sunscreen!

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