New Skin Care Products: How to Edit Your Routine
Even the best skin care routine can get stale.
If your current skin care routine leaves you wanting more, don’t rush to the store just yet. We’ve got everything you need to add new skin products to your routine without creating chaos.
We’ll also help guide you toward the skin care products you may be missing out on, depending on what your uniquely beautiful skin needs the most.
Start by asking yourself why you want new skin products
While there are skin care products that work for (almost) everyone, the majority of them fall into categories according to what they can do for your skin. Before closing your eyes and buying the first product you see, take a moment to do a quick skin self-evaluation.
By asking yourself a few questions, you can narrow down the type of product you may need instead of settling for a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s the secret to revealing your best skin.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few questions to get the ball rolling:
- What are my skin care goals? What am I hoping to achieve?
- Am I concerned about fine lines and wrinkles? If so, where are they located?
- Are there any noticeable dark spots that are making me self-conscious?
- Is my skin dry, tight and uncomfortable?
- Is my skin producing more oil than I’d like?
- Am I having frequent breakouts?
- What’s my skin type?
- Do I have sensitive skin or any sensitivities to specific ingredients or products?
- Are any of my products no longer working for me?
While there’s no magic answer for any of these issues, narrowing down what you want to focus on can help you find the best new skin products for your situation.
New skin products for specific concerns
Now let’s take that self-eval and turn it into actual products you can use to address your concerns.
Products to help reduce hyperpigmentation —
If your top concern is hyperpigmentation, you’re not alone — dark spots are an incredibly common complaint. They can happen due to a few different processes, like the scarring left behind by blemishes or the damage caused by chronic sun exposure.
Luckily, one ingredient is at the top of the list for reducing the appearance of dark spots and evening your skin tone back out — vitamin C.
Vitamin C, aka ascorbic acid, is a naturally occurring antioxidant and one of the body’s essential nutrients. While your first thought when considering vitamin C may be of lemons and oranges, the vitamin can also help stop the body from performing melanin synthesis (the process that creates excess skin pigment).
When the body stops trying to pump melanin, your skin's ability to regenerate can kick into high gear and reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Other ingredients that can help reduce the appearance of dark spots include:
- Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid, lactic acid
- Beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid (which can also counteract breakouts)
- Tranexamic acid
What to add to make your skin look younger —
Is your main skin concern a lack of youthfulness? Aging is a non-negotiable process. As we age, our body makes less collagen, resulting in less firm skin over time.
With the right skin care products and treatments, you can help your skin look younger and minimize the appearance of the signs of aging.
Retinoids (or retinol), the skin care name for vitamin A, is top of the class. When it comes to new skin products, there are endless ways to incorporate retinoids into your routine.
Its power comes from its ability to penetrate the top layer of skin (the stratum corneum — your moisture or skin barrier), allowing it to dive deep and trigger quicker skin cell turnover with its exfoliating properties. The result may be the appearance of skin that appears firmer, with a brighter, more youthful complexion.
Peptides are effective and often found in products like eye masks and eye serums. The under-eye area is more sensitive than the rest of the skin, so peptides can help reduce the visibility of dark circles and puffiness.
What to add if you’ve got dry skin—
Dry skin is another common complaint, especially in the cooler months. While dry skin doesn’t get the same attention as wrinkles, acne or dark spots, it can have just as much of a negative impact. Dryness can trigger the skin to overproduce oil, increasing your risk of breakouts.
Switching to an oil-free skin care routine meant to hydrate and moisturize the skin is crucial in combating the issue. Never underestimate the power of a good moisturizer.
Common ingredients with known hydrating properties include:
- Aloe
- Ceramides
- Niacinamide (which is also brightening — two for one!)
- Squalane
- Vitamin E
Patch test 101
Before applying new skin products to your face, we recommend doing a patch test. Patch tests allow you to test the product on a small area of your skin to rule out allergies or any other unintended skin reactions. You’ll want to give yourself at least 24 hours.
All you need is a clean, less noticeable area of skin that you won’t be tempted to touch for a day.
Apply a small amount of your new skin product and cover it with a small band-aid, if possible. Leave the area alone unless you experience burning, itching or pain. If you react, remove the bandaid and wash the area as soon as possible.
If you don’t have a noticeable reaction, remove the bandage after 24 hours. Don’t judge the area immediately because the band-aid adhesive can cause temporary unrelated redness.
If the redness doesn’t fade, or if you develop a rash, raised area or itching, you may have an allergy.
Only add one product at a time
Whether adding a cleanser, face mask, toner, body lotion or eye cream, don’t be tempted to change your entire routine all at once. We understand the impulse — it’s exciting to start new skin products.
But doing it too quickly can make it challenging to figure out what is causing any skin sensitivities. It may also “shock” your skin and could lead to breakouts.
We recommend waiting about a month between new skin products. If unsure, schedule a skin care consultation with one of our providers. They can help you walk through your current routine, suggest products and treatments that can work with your skin and give you a customized timeframe to reach your skin care goals.
There’s no such thing as immediate results
Being realistic isn’t fun, but it is essential. Expect to see results about a month after using new skin products consistently and optimal results after about four months. That’s not to say that there aren’t some cosmetic treatments that work faster than others.
For example, Botox starts working a few days after the injections. It’s the perfect solution if you need to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles before your big event but don’t have much time.
Why SPF’s important — and why you’re probably not using it right
No matter what new skin products you add to your routine, there is one that every single person should adopt — SPF. Even if you think you’re using enough SPF, you’re probably not.
Let’s start with the basics. There are three factors that most skin care providers agree on to make up a quality sunscreen — it must be above 35 SPF, water-resistant (waterproof isn’t possible) and have broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.
Anything less than that may leave you at a higher risk of sunburn, which can cause chronic damage. Want a way to help fight off the signs of premature aging due to sun exposure? Add in the right SPF!
If you’re looking for a new sunscreen, check out our Sheer Defense SPF. The lightweight tinted sunscreen boasts a whopping 46 SPF while also containing hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to help keep your skin looking brighter and feeling hydrated.
Apply sunscreen as the last step in your skin care routine, aiming for at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply after 40 minutes if you’re swimming or sweating; every two hours if not.
To sum things up...
At Skin Pharm, we completely understand the impulse to ramp up your existing skin care routine, but stop and take a breath first. When adding new skin products, it’s crucial that you take your time to find the right ones and then incorporate them slowly. You only get one body, so why not take care of it as best as possible?
If you need help or want to discuss what skin care routine would benefit you the most, book a skin consultation with one of our skilled, passionate providers today.
SOURCES:
The effect of Vitamin C on melanin pigmentation – A systematic review | PMC
Anti-aging and Sunscreens: Paradigm Shift in Cosmetics | PMC
