Ever find yourself in the middle of your skincare routine, staring in the mirror and thinking, “Is this actually working?”
Think back to when you first started your skincare journey and remember how amazing the results were. But now? It’s like your skin has hit a wall. This is a common issue for many, and while it can be frustrating, the good news is that it’s totally fixable.
But, why does this happen? There are many reasons why your skincare routine might have stopped working its magic. First, it’s possible that your skin has become too accustomed to the products you’re using. It might sound odd, but over time, the visible effects of skincare can become less noticeable, even if the products are still working. Your skins functions would when improved and your skin results just won’t be as dramatic as they once were when you started your skincare routine. Another thing to consider is whether you’re using expired products, which could be limiting the product’s ingredient effectiveness. Also, internal & external factors like hormonal fluctuations or changes in the weather can have a big impact. For instance, someone with naturally oily skin might experience dry patches in colder, drier weather due to the change in outdoor temperature and increase of indoor heating and someone with a drier skin, can experience an increase in oil flow during hormonal fluctuations.
It’s important to remember that as your skin changes, your home skincare routine should also change to continue to support your skin consistently.
Time to troubleshoot your routine
So how do we get your clear skin routine back on track? Here are some ways that could help:
- Expiration Dates: Make sure you throw away any products that are out of date, and also keep an eye on how long your products last after you open them. You know that little symbol on your products that looks like an open jar with a number and an ‘M’ next to it? That’s the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol, and it tells you how many months the product will last after you open it. Remember, your products have a limited shelf life after you open them & will become less and less active, so don’t just rely on the use-by date.
- Check the Ingredients: Even if you’ve been using your skincare for years, you may suddenly develop a sensitivity to certain ingredients. This could be a delayed allergic reaction or intolerance from misuse. This can sometimes happen especially with strong ingredients like retinol or tretinoin. Plus, some ingredients don’t play well with others, so reviewing your entire routine can help you see if your products are working together or against each other.
- Less is More: Sometimes, you just need to simplify. Take a cue from Amelia Goff, the creator of Fresh Face Skin. She designed her products to be a straightforward skincare solution, helping to simply daily routines while providing real skin results.
- Progress Pics: Changes to our skin can be subtle, we also get used to our reflection and begin to miss the small changes, so taking photos and making notes of any changes, even small ones, can help keep track of progress. You can also do trials, leaving out certain products to see if they make a difference. That way, when you do decide to buy new products, you can just replace the ones that don’t work, rather than doing a complete overhaul.
- External Element Examination: External factors can affect your skin, so pay attention to how things like the weather or your hormones affect your skin. This will help you figure out patterns with your skin and what needs to change.
Building a better skincare strategy
When you’re revamping your routine, the first step is to identify your skin’s new, unique needs. For example, if you find that your skin’s really suffering from dry weather, the fix is to find a more hydrating moisturiser with ingredients like Vitamin B5 & hyaluronic acid to help combat that dryness with double the hydration. Even products with a blend of facial oils could be more hydrating than your regular moisturizer.
Which brings us to our next tip. When revamping your routine, look at the ingredients and choose the right products. Basically, if your skin has become more sensitive, you may need to switch to gentler ingredients. And if you have concerns such as acne scarring, you may need products with ingredients that have been proven to address these issues, such as Bakuchiol, which is known to increase cell turnover, which is great for fading pigmentation and dark spots, and improving overall skin texture.
Also, when introducing new products, make sure to do patch tests and introduce them gradually to let your skin adjust. Whilst we all want instant results, sometimes slow and steady wins the race, especially with skincare, which often requires patience.
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Just remember, achieving healthy skin takes time and consistency. Don’t get discouraged if you’re not seeing results right away. And if you ever feel unsure or stuck, it’s always a good idea to reach out for some professional advice.
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