Is It Me or My Products?
Is It Me or My Products? In the world of skincare it can be so difficult to know what is right or wrong. It is rare our expectations are met, because we don’t always have an understanding of what products do.
How do we know?
How many times have you looked and thought, my friends skin is amazing I am going to use what she/he uses?? This is not entirely wrong, as long as you choose the products for your skin.
Keep in mind that you should discontinue use of any product if you experience redness, continued flaking, increased dryness, stinging, or discomfort. Do not think “no pain, no gain” – not when it comes to skincare. A little redness is not always a bad thing as products can bring blood to the surface which can be a good thing as it helps increase collagen production. Just make sure you are checking to make sure this is the case and not become sensitive or sensitised to a product.
Sensitive or sensitised?
Take a look here to see what I mean by sensitive or sensitised…
| Product Category | What results can I expect | How long until I see results |
It is not working – now what?
|
| Cleanser | Face looks clean and even-toned.
Dirt and makeup are easily removed from the skin. After rinsing, skin feels soft and smooth, not dry, greasy, or tight |
Skin can look immediately refreshed, healthier, and renewed. | Depending on your skin type, try a cleanser with a different texture (gel, cream or lotion).
For oily skin, consider using a gentle washcloth or a gentle cleansing brush to be sure you’re getting all your makeup off |
| Toner | Skin looks radiant, feels softer and smoother.
Last traces of makeup disappear. For oily skin, pore size appears diminished |
Within 1 to 2 weeks for redness and pore size improvements, but you may start seeing results right away. | Many toners are poorly formulated, containing mostly skin-aggravating ingredients along with skin-sensitising fragrance (synthetic or natural) and little else.
At LA Skincare we don’t have toners as feel cool water can do the same and be far more natural, |
| Exfoliant | Surface of skin looks and feels smoother.
Enlarged pores appear smaller. Dullness fades as skin becomes renewed and feels silky-smooth. All signs of aging start appearing lessened and skin tone appears more even. |
You can see improvement overnight plus increased improvement after 5–14 days. Ongoing use is required to maintain results. | Try exfoliants at different concentrations (1%–2% for BHA; 5%–10% for AHA) or, depending on your skin type, in a different texture (gel, liquid or lotion).
Adjust frequency of application. Exfoliants require some experimentation to find what frequency of use works best for you. |
| Moisturiser | Skin feels hydrated, but not greasy.
Skin looks healthy and moisturized with a smooth, radiant texture. Lines from dryness are eliminated and age-related fine lines and wrinkles appear smoothed and “plumped.” Hydration lasts throughout the day. |
Depending on the products you were using before, you may see an overnight improvement. Enhanced results will occur within 2–8 weeks and will increase and be maintained over time.
During the day, your moisturiser or foundation must contain an SPF 30 or greater sunscreen or you will not get the best results. Without daily use of sunscreen, signs of aging will increase, not lessen. |
If your skin appears too dry or too oily by midday, you may need to switch formulas or textures. For dry skin, a more emollient and enriched formula will make a significant difference. You can also try adding a facial oil to your lightweight moisturiser. |
| Acne Treatments | Blemishes are greatly diminished.
Frequency and severity of breakouts decreases. Skin becomes clearer, congested pores and white bumps are diminished. Dryness (flaking) or other signs of tenderness or redness should be minimal, if they occur at all. |
When using products that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid (the gold standard of acne treatments), you may see immediate results, but overall improvement should be apparent after 4–12 weeks of consistent use. | If your skin has not improved significantly after 12 weeks of daily use, consider other acne treatments or visit a dermatologist to discuss medical options. |