Is This Product 'Active' or Just Not For Me?

Have you ever wondered if a product is active or just not for you? Though it may be hard for you to tell at first, here’s how to decide and make a plan for your skin going forward.

Of course, if you are anything like me, you like to feel a little tingle. It ‘feels’ like it’s working. But, you don’t need to feel a tingle to know that it is working.

First, make sure that your skin is prepped and ready for products that contain active ingredients like acids, retinols, peptides, etc.

What does being prepped mean?

Being prepped means that you are using the core four (cleanser, prep solution, moisturizer and SPF.) It means that you have been using these basic steps with high quality products. You have reduced any redness that you have had in the skin. If you have been sensitive in the past, you have really calmed down the skin over time and balance the barrier function.

Second, make sure that you aren’t adding in too many actives at once. This means that you generally will stick to one line of professional products and that you are using the recommendations your Esthetician is giving you.

Third, if you feel a tingly sensation, you want to make sure that this isn’t too high on a scale and that after a minute that has gone away. Also, your skin will begin to become more tolerant over time. So towards the end of your bottle, you might not feel that sensation as much or at all.

Fourth, work with your Esthetician on your routine schedule. Is this a product that he/she wants you to start using just twice a week for two weeks, then more to three times a week, and finally every other day? Listen to your skin and what it is telling you. Don’t be afraid to message your Esthetician back if you aren’t sure what you are experiencing is normal.

Fifth and finally, listen to the cues your skin tells you. Literally!!! Your skin is not wrong. Your face should never feel like it is burning and hurting to the touch. If your skin begins to have a red undertone, this is another warning sign that what you are using is just too much.

Active products have their place. They can help your skin change! For the good … or if you haven’t picked the right thing … maybe it will change it in the wrong direction. Follow these five steps as a general rule and consult your skin expert during your next facial appointment.

Don’t forget to

Breathe. Let Go. Relax.

Zoey Jolley, LE