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Have you ever bought a product and felt like it wasn’t working for you? Well, in this new post, I’ll tell you the main reasons why a product doesn’t give you the results you expected.
In real terms, no product will guarantee 100% that it will correct or eliminate a problem because no ingredient is magic… well, in marketing terms, they will tell you so in advertising campaigns, but… how do you know if a product will really work if you’ve never used it?
I’m not saying that skincare products don’t work; on the contrary, skincare products do work and can correct and/or eliminate a skin concern, but from there, to guaranteeing 100% results before treating it, simply no. It’s practically impossible to guarantee something with such precision without trying it first.
The truth is, that there are factors that can help you get the most out of your skincare routine; there are products that work super well, they correct and beautify. It is also true that they offer spectacular changes in the short or medium term, but everything will depend not only on the ingredients and formulation of the products, but also on the condition of the skin of each particular case (because each skin is unique), but above all that, the efficacy of your products will depend on how and when you use them.
If you’ve already been evaluated by a certified skin care specialist and, after a consultation or evaluation, they’ve recommended products for your routine, the first thing you should keep in mind is that discipline is the best way to ensure they work for you.
Did you know that most of the times a product recommended by your skincare professional doesn’t “work” is because you’re not using it correctly?
I always compare skincare routine to a gym routine: you cannot expect overnight results, but the more you incorporate them into your daily habits, the faster you’ll see good results.
The products should be used according to the recommended frequency: some are for daily use, such as cleanser, toner, moisturizer, serums, and sunscreen. Others are for less frequent use, such as exfoliants and masks.
Another thing as important as discipline and frequency, is how you use your products: order and schedule. Regarding the schedule, we must know whether they are for daytime use (for the day) or nighttime use (for the night), because there are ingredients that definitely shouldn’t be exposed to the sun, such as exfoliating acids; on the other hand, others don’t need to be used at night, such as sunscreen.
Regarding the order: you should know the order in which products are applied to achieve better penetration, and with better penetration, we get better results.
What I recommend is that the best order for applying products is to start by cleansing your face, using a cleanser or facial soap appropriate for your skin type, followed by exfoliation, balance the pH with a toner, and then apply the products you’ll be leaving onto your skin: starting with the lightest texture, like serums, moving on to thicker textures like moisturizer, and for your daytime routine, the final step should be sunscreen, followed by makeup application if you like makeup.
Will it be a good or bad product? Well, this question is very complex because some ingredients work in the short term, others need time to show visible results, and it all depends on each person’s routine and the style and the discipline, taking care of their skin.
Additionally, to know if a product, ingredient, or formulation is good for your skin or not, you need a professional evaluation (I will always repeat that you need to get a professional evaluation and recommendation) because a skin specialist makes a recommendation based on your skin type and/or condition, taking into account allergic reactions, among other factors that are discussed during a consultation or evaluation.
Finally, products from cosmetics stores or over-the-counter products don’t offer the same quality as a professional skincare line. In stores, you typically purchase a brand that may be better known, cheaper, or better marketed. Also, in many cosmetics stores, there are no skin specialists, but rather salespeople, who in many cases lack the knowledge to evaluate and recommend products based on your needs.
I want to emphasize that products recommended by specialists or beauty centers are generally lines with higher-quality formulations, with ingredients more focused on treating skin conditions more deeply and designed to not only maintain the skin’s beauty, but also its health.
