Eight Ways to Tell Your Skincare is Really Working
Original Source: Here
Take a look through your beauty cabinet and we bet each product will have a long list of impressive ingredients and scientific claims of what it can do for your skin. But how can you tell if it’s actually working? Deciphering which products are working for you, and which are a waste of money can be difficult. Thankfully, you don’t need a degree in chemistry. When it comes to your skin, follow these eight steps and you should be able to work it out all by yourself.
1. Happy Skin
The easiest and most efficient way to see if your products are doing their job is to look and see if you have what can be called happy skin. Happy skin will be different for everyone but generally it should look hydrated and glowing. And really, it’s more about what it isn’t. Happy skin won’t be dry, oily or have major breakouts. That’s because when your complexion looks good it generally means your skin is balanced so you are feeding it with the right ingredients for your skin type. And if your friends and family (or lovely strangers!) stop to tell you your skin looks good – take that as confirmation you’re doing all the right things!
2. Process of Elimination
On a similar note to the above when analysing your skin, you should discontinue using any product which give any sort of discomfort like stinging, redness, continual flaking, or increased dryness. Of course, when experiencing these issues, it’s hard to know what product is causing it. Is it your cleanser? Your serum? Your moisturiser? For best results slowly remove one product at a time by using the process of elimination to uncover the culprit. Sometimes it’s not that your products are giving you bad results, but put simply, your skin looks a little dull. “When skin starts to look lack luster, you will know it’s time to mix up your skincare routine,” says Trilogy’s Product Research and Compliance Manager Kerry De Villiers. “I personally like to switch from the Rosapene™ Night Cream to the CoQ10 Booster Oil as we head into winter.”
3. Look for the Signs
When assessing whether or not your moisturiser is working, it’s a good idea to do a mid-day bathroom check. Look in the mirror and if your skin appears too dry or too oily that’s a sign it might be time 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 moisturiser. If your skin looks oily, it might be a good time to try a light lotion like Trilogy’s Balancing Face
Lotion which works to balance combination and oily skin.
Lotion which works to balance combination and oily skin.
5. Make Products Really Work
If you think your skin isn’t looking it’s best – that is to say it’s not looking hydrated and glowing, then try increasing the efficiency of your products. The easiest way to do this is through exfoliation which helps with the absorption of most ingredients and in effect will make your products work harder.
6. Don't Look for an All-In-One Miracle Product
Despite claims, one product doesn’t do everything for your skin. For best results you need to find a few products that address your particular concerns and work well with your chosen moisturiser. Want to target lines and wrinkles? Go for Trilogy’s Bakuchiol+ Booster Treatment. Want hydrated plumped skin? Try Trilogy’s Hyaluronic Acid+ Booster. Or if it’s brighter skin you’re after, then you’ll need Trilogy’s Vitamin C Booster treatment. These boosters give you the opportunity to target specific concerns and work them in with your current regime.
7. Get Them in Order
Getting the order of your skincare products right is just as important as following the right application advice. Generally, lighter formulations should be applied first (think cleanser/toner) followed by serums and oils and then the heaviest products – moisturisers. As for how many products you should use, Kerry says there is no magic number. “Everyone is different and your skin needs change depending on a range of factors; age, stress, and season,” says Kerry. “Do what makes you feel good.”
8. It Takes Time
So you’ve purchased a whole new line up of products and ten days later – nothing’s changed? That’s because changing up your skincare will usually not give you overnight results. The one exception to this is adding hyaluronic acid to your regime which will work to smooth and plump skin pretty quickly. But other products like actives - vitamin C - are working to change your skin on a cellular level. And if you’re using a product for its lightening powers to tackle pigmentation the results could take longer. “Typically though, your skin cells turn over around four to six weeks, so once you start using a new product expect at least a month of consistent use before you start seeing any significant changes,” says Kerry. Remember, consistency is key!
There is No One Size Fits All Approach
Selecting your skincare routine needs to be done thoughtfully and with care. Just because everyone is raving about a new wonder product (that claims to do everything all at once) it doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Likewise, if your friend swears by using vitamin A it might not be the right product for your sensitive skin. Keeping your skin hydrated, while working to fight ageing and maintaining an even skin tone is complex. It requires time, care and an array of products specifically suited to your skin type.