5 Reasons Your Skincare May Not Be Working For You

There is nothing so frustrating as a skincare product that does not produce results.  We have all been there.  You are excited to try a new product or have been using your favorite product for some time and suddenly it no longer seems to work for you!  There could be a variety of reasons why your skincare isn’t working for you, so let’s talk about a few.

• You may not be cleansing or exfoliating properly.

As we have discussed in the past, cleansing and exfoliating is key!  We are constantly exposed to environmental stressors that leave dirt, debris and oil on our faces.  In addition, dead skin cells lay on the top of the outermost layer of the skin.  If you are not cleansing daily and exfoliating at least once per week, the greatest product in the world will not be able to penetrate to where it will be the most effective. 

• The products you're using aren't made with high quality ingredients.

Skincare companies love to call out what ingredients are included in their formulations and are marketed in a way to attract your attention and pique your interest.  Unfortunately, not all products include enough quality ingredients to back their claims.  When you notice your products are no longer effective, or are contemplating a new addition to your skincare arsenal, take a look at the ingredient list.  Ingredients are listed in order from most included to least included.  First of all, look to see where the ingredient(s) fall in the list.  The lower it falls in the list, the less is used in the formulation.  Additionally, not all ingredients are created the same.  For example, there are different types of vitamin C.   They have differences in efficacy, penetration ability and overall quality.  In short, just because your product says it contains a specific type of ingredient, does not mean it is a quality ingredient, or has enough “oomph” to affect your skin care concerns.

• Your skincare products may be expired.

As you probably know, all skincare has a shelf life.  Once opened, products will last anywhere from 6 to 24 months.  A good, quality product will have an expiration date stamped somewhere on the container.  Look for it on the back or bottom of the jar or bottle.  If the product is in a tube, look at the bottom, crimped edge for the expiration date.  Chances are, your product will no longer work as effectively if it is past its expiration date.  Proper storage of your product is also an important part of keeping skincare fresh and working for you.  Most skincare products love to be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.  Of course, most of us store our products in a humid bathroom.  If possible, move your products to your medicine cabinet or other closed area, if possible.  Finally, never store your products in the windowsill.  The sun will degrade your products quickly!

• The weather has changed, has your skincare routine changed too?

The weather changes with the change in seasons, with the greatest differences being between summer and winter.  Think about it.  During a warm, summer day your skin will probably feel oily, while during the winter you may feel drier and see flakiness and a dull complexion.  With these changes, you will need to change your skincare routine.  Your summer routine of combating oil, will not be effective when you are trying to help a dry, tight complexion.  As seasons change, think about how your skin reacts and adjust your product line-up to include ingredients that are going to be effective and helpful for your current skin condition.

• You aren’t consistent with your skincare routine.

As with trying anything new, consistency is key.  When implementing a new routine, make sure you are giving it adequate time for your skin to become familiar with the ingredients and adjust to the new products.  Make sure you are following the directions on the container, and layer your products in the proper order – lightest to heaviest.  As a reminder, the steps of your routine should be:

• Cleanse
• Exfoliate (at least 1-2 times per week)
• Treatment product and or serum
• Moisturize
• SPF

I hope you enjoyed reading about reasons why your skincare may not be working for you.  To find more articles like this one, head to High Beauty's blog here. Questions? Visit our FAQs.