Does “Instant” Skincare Really Work?
Science and technology may have improved beauty formulas, but skin takes time to reap the benefits. Just how long? We break it down for you
In today’s #insta world, we expect things to happen fast. Research and development (R&D), active ingredients and skincare formulations have improved so much, with some even promising instant results. However, there are also products whose effectiveness depend on the skin’s renewal cycle of 28 days.
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So just how long does it take for skincare to work? We speak to two dermatologists, Dr KS Lim, consultant dermatologist and medical director at The Dermatology Practice, and Dr Teo Wan Lin, dermatologist at TWL Specialist Skin & Laser Centre, to find out.
Spoiler alert: always take “instant” claims with a pinch of salt.
Understanding your skin and how it responds to various products and ingredients is important. Dr Lim believes that some of the “instant” claims are just hype: “Some of these products use subjective measures where results are based on how you feel versus what’s been scientifically measured.”
Dr Lim also says it takes three to six months on average to see real progress. He adds: “Ultimately, it depends on the product. Some prescriptive items may take a few days. For cosmeceutical ones, it usually takes between six to 12 weeks.” Even with R&D advancements, take these “instant” claims with a pinch of salt.
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Dr Teo states: “Cosmetic claims are not regulated by Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is no one global regulation to ensure that all cosmetic claims are scientifically backed.”
So just how long does skincare take to work? Here’s our instant results cheat sheet.
Cleansers have a primary function of cleansing your skin, so they should do that fairly quickly. If it includes a secondary function, like brightening dull skin, it can take up to four weeks to show results.
Antioxidant serums may show quicker and more obvious results as they neutralise free radical damage on skin. This can be seen after a week, and most visibly after one month.
Others, like those that lighten pigmentation, will require more time. We recommend applying your serum regularly for six to eight weeks. Any benefit you see earlier on your skin is a plus.
Dr Teo Wan Lin says: “Moisturisers are the closest to an ‘instant’ product – especially if you have dry skin. You’ll see an improvement in your skin texture and symptoms.”
If your moisturiser promises functions like lifting and reducing lines, it will require more time to work.
The concentration of ingredients in eye products are at different levels compared to that of serums and moisturisers, considering how delicate the area is. Often, to see real change, it will take slightly over a month.
Dr Teo warns that the “instant results” are sometimes caused by cosmetic pigments such as micas, a light-reflecting mineral, and orange pigments that counteract dark circles. Both doctors agreed that beyond instant results, it’s more important to look at the function of the skincare.
A bit of research goes a long way too: Start with knowing what ingredient does what and then, take note of how your skin responds. If nothing happens after three months or so, try something new.
This article first appeared in Her World