It was going too well.
After years of experimenting with new skincare products, lots of trial and errors, and hundreds of pounds literally thrown down the drain, I had finally managed to put together a skincare routine my skin loved.
My skin had never looked so clear or been so soft. And that glow!
Then, one day, something went wrong. My skin started losing its radiance. It wasn’t as soft anymore. The changes were subtle at first, but as time went on, it was clear my skincare routine wasn’t working anymore.
What the heck went wrong?
Does Skin Adapt To Skincare Products?
My friends said that was normal. That your skin gets used to skincare products after a while. That’s why you have to keep changing them.
But I never believed that. If a skincare product/ingredient is good for your skin now, it’ll always be good for your skin, no matter how long you use it.
Unless this happens.
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When Is It Time To Change Your Skincare Products?
Your skincare products don’t just stop working. If they don’t give you the same results they used to, it’s because your skin has changed.
Let’s say that you’ve always had oily skin. Your skin can’t tolerate rich moisturizers, so you opt for a lightweight formula that’s oil-free. And you do clay masks regularly to absorb all that excess oil.
But then, one day you move to Norway. The weather there is much colder and harsher than you were used to. Your skin starts to dry out. Flake even.
If you keep using the same products you were using before, is it any wonder your skin will only get worse? A lightweight moisturizer ain’t enough for that climate. Clay masks just dry out your skin even more. You need to switch up your skincare routine, and quickly too!
You don’t have to move for your skin to change. Skin is a living organ and living things change and evolve all the time. It’s the nature of things.
For example, as we get older, skin loses collagen, elastin, sebum, and all that other good stuff that keeps it naturally moisturized and healthy. If you don’t change your skincare routine to amp up the level of hydration your skin’s getting, you’ll be stuck with dry skin for the rest of your life.
But if nothing changes in your skin? Then, there’s no need to change your skincare products. By all means, if you want to try something new, do it. I do it all the time too. It’s fun.
But don’t do it because you think your fave skincare products will stop working if you don’t. They won’t.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve found a skincare routine that works for you, stick with it. Only when something changes in your skin, you should update your routine to cater to its new needs.
Have often do you change your skincare products? Let me know in the comments below.
What so you think of Kiko’s SPF 50 sunscreen? Or just Kiko sunscreen (in general) if you’ve tried them? I bought a tube of it and it feels so moisturizing but I have no idea if it actually protects me sufficiently since the directions on the box AND leaflet say the spf50 is for light skin and the SPF 30 for medium skin and SPF 15 for darker skin. THEN to avoid the sun (sounds right for a sunscreen to say) and slowly build up sun exposure for a tan. I am confused as to why it would promote a ‘healthy tan’ or ‘safe tan’. I don’t have to box on me right now but that’s what it says.
I like to switch to lighter moisturizers in the summer and add a gentle cleanser for when I want to refresh my face during the day. I have my staples and depending on the season, I add new products to it. Thanks for clearing up that skin doesn’t adapt to products and the ingredients no longer are as effective because I thought that until now. Building skim tolerance to reduce irritation to a newly incorporated ingredient must be different. I maybe confused the two.
You save me (my skin) again! 🙂 you are truly awesome.
Janessa, I haven’t tried Kiko sunscreens simply because I prefer physical sunscreens, but they seem ok to me. Nothing special, but not bad either. I guess those are the usual recommendations companies like to add in their product to warn users that if they burn is not the sunscreen’s fault, but the user for not listening. Like cellulite creams saying you have to exercise and eat healthily if you want to see some results… Although I’m a bit baffled why they would say that SPF 50 is for light skin etc. It’s true that darker skintones have more melanin, but that doesn’t mean they can’t use a higher SPF factor…
Oh, yes, you can build up skin tolerance to an ingredient. Retinoids are recommended for use every other day at first, and then slowly the frequency of application can be increased. But an ingredient doesn’t suddenly stop to do its job (and thus provide certain benefits) if you keep using it for months/years. 🙂
Aww thank you! And you’re welcome. 🙂
Don’t cosmetic companies love to tell us this when they want us to switch to their products? I’ve had a pretty minimal routine for a little over 2 years now and it works beautifully. Like you mentioned, I do go for lighter formulas in Summer but unless it’s super hot I only switch cleanser. 🙂
Icaria, they certainly do. And a minimal routine can work wonders too. I don’t like using too many products anyway. I just don’t have the time for it.
I’m a new reader but loving your blog so far! I had an experience with a skincare product years back (before it was easy to find and share info online via tools such as blogs) when I thought a skincare product wasn’t working for me anymore because MY skin changed. Turns out that the company reformulated the product. I heartily agree with all of your
points however just wanted to add my two cents, sometimes it’s not us, but the company. Hope this helps someone 🙂
Grace, welcome to my blog! I’m glad you like it and I hope to see you here often.
That’s so true. Sometimes brands reformulate products and they end up being worse than before and not work as well. It’s so annoying and I’m sorry that happened to you. Thanks for reminds us of this.