So, you have a great skincare routine & you’re pretty consistent with it but you’re not getting the results you want.
- You use a cleanser, not soap…. check
- You exfoliate twice a week…. check
- You moisturise day & night….. check
- Heck… you even apply sunscreen every two hours…. check
So why is your skin not clear of pimples or pigmentation yet?
Using Ingredients That Your Skin Can't Tolerate
There are many new products & ingredients out there in the market. The skincare industry is not relaxing, there are innovations in formulations & ingredients all the time.
Not every ingredient that is hyped to treat acne & pigmentation will be tolerated well by your skin. Just because it worked for a celebrity or influencer doesn't mean that your skin will be cool with it. You might try the product & have a very bad reaction to it or not get the results that you thought you'd get.
You have to understand your skin & know what it can & cannot tolerate.
For example, I have pretty sensitive skin & I don't use retinol (trust me I've tried forcing it on my skin but my skin will only allow me to use it twice a month at most).
I can only exfoliate once a week, my skin cannot do it twice. It's important to understand your skin & do what IT wants, not what YOU want
Using Ingredients That Your Skin Isn't Ready For
This point is similar to my previous one on what your skin can tolerate but different.
Sometimes your skin can tolerate certain ingredients but it's not ready for them. If your skin is not healthy, it's dehydrated & your barrier is impaired, there are certain ingredients you truly should stay away from up until your skin is in a healthier condition.
If you've been using soap & water all your life, you can't start using retinol, doing home peels, or using chemical exfoliators off the bat!! Your skin will completely freak out & rebel against you. Prep your skin & get it ready for more active ingredients, in other words, get your skin healthy first
Using Ingredients That Clash
Always be aware of what active ingredients are in your skincare products. Certain active ingredients can clash with each other when they're layered. This can lead to sensitivity or adverse skin reactions.
For example, you cannot layer Vitamin C & Retinol, they clash....
Don't layer retinol with salicylic acid, they clash... If you're using a night cream with retinol, don't use a spot treatment with retinol too, you'll be overdosing on it & you'll irritate your skin.
So make sure you're aware of what active ingredients are in your skincare products
Not Customising Your Skincare Routine
Having a skincare routine is a great thing but it's completely useless if it doesn't target what bothers you about your skin. Always tailor your skincare routine to focus on your problem. Copying your favourite influencers' or celebrities' skincare routine won't help you if you don't have the same skin issue as them
If your issue is pimples, ask yourself which product or step in your skincare routine will help with pimples. Tailor your routine not only to your skin type but to your skin concerns too
Not Treating The Cause Of Your Skincare Problem
Customising your skincare routine to treat your problem is great but it will only get you so far. Do you know what caused the skin issue you're struggling with?
Treating the symptoms will not take away the root cause of the problem. You have to nip it in the bud if you're looking for a permanent solution to your skin problem
So if you're struggling with acne, what's causing it? Hormones or oily skin? What are you doing to regulate your oily skin or your hormones?
If you struggle with pigmentation, was it caused by sensitivity, acne or hormones? What are you doing to control those triggers?
Using Products/Ingredients That Your Skin Doesn't Need
Our skin changes throughout the year influenced by the seasons & hormones. It's important to review your skincare routine every 3 months to see if you still need certain products or not.
I was using a hydrating serum a month ago as I needed extra hydration cause winter was wreaking havoc on my skin. My hydrating serum got finished but I didn't get a new one as my skin didn't need it anymore. The stress it was going through has passed.
Always review your products every 3 months to see if you still need them
Shop Your Favourite Products Here