What To Do When Your Skincare Regime Stops Working For You
You've finally concocted your personal fountain of youth but suddenly your skincare stops working. Here's why and what to do.
By FAZ GAFFA-MARSH,
We’ve all been there — trying every buzzed about skincare product and finally finding the holy grail. Suddenly, you’re in beauty bliss, never having to swipe left through the duds and you’re off the market for anything else. A few months pass, or maybe you go through a year with said-product, and then it stops working.
Don’t panic. If you’re not seeing as dramatic results as you did when you first started using the product, it’s not because it stopped working, or that your skin has hit a plateau, it’s because your skin is in maintenance mode. There isn’t as much repair to be done as when you first started using the product. You should, however, be concerned if your facial wash is suddenly giving you zits, or your anti-aging product seems to work in reverse.
Why does it happen?
Instead of sending an angry tweet to your once-favourite skincare company, consider factors like health, climate, diet and age. Dr Komathy Rajaratnam of the Lifestyle Clinic says, “Age is a massive factor to consider. Not only does the body produce less collagen as you age making your skin look less plump over time, it also produces less sebum and lipids, which will make skin feel tighter and dryer particularly after cleansing.” Stress levels, your diet and the weather also impact your skin condition.
What’s the next step?
Unfortunately, the solution isn’t as cookie cutter because it depends on your needs, skin type and current situation? Are you pregnant, or have you just had a baby? The hormonal shifts that happen when women go through such a huge change in their lives will cause your skin to change, and therefore, your skincare may not work as well as it did before. Did you just get home from a vacation where you had extra time under the sun? You skin may be dehydrated and you need a hydrating serum before using your moisturiser.
Sometimes you also need to see an expert. Dr Komathy says, “While consistency is key to taking care of your skin, there are things that only a doctor can do. Regular exfoliating is great, but a chemical peel done in the doctor’s office will effectively regenerate new skin by peeling the first older layer. Skin is fresher and smoother and your skincare will get a boost.” Of course, then there are times when your skincare has failed on you permanently. In that case, we recommend a bugle call played at dusk, a short memorial and a quick jaunt to Sephora right after.