You’ve probably found some skin care products you love, but is it a good idea to use the same products on your skin month after month? The answer might surprise you.
Does Skin Build Up a Resistance?
Generally speaking, your skin doesn’t build up a resistance to skincare products over time. However, Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician, says your skin can build up a tolerance to topical prescription retinoids. What does this mean? Over time, you probably won’t notice the negative side effects (such as redness, burning or stinging, peeling skin, and dry skin) that can happen when your first start using prescription-strength retinol-containing products.
However, Renee says your skin doesn’t become immune (or build up a resistance) to skin care products. You might simply notice fewer drastic results as your skin begins to change and become firmer and healthier.
Should I Switch Products?
There’s no need to regularly switch up skin care products if you find one that works well for you. If you don’t notice a drastic change in your skin compared to when you first started using your favorite product, it’s probably because your skin has become healthier with a less wrinkly (more moisturized) appearance.
However, just because you don’t have to change up skin care products regularly doesn’t mean doing so isn’t beneficial. Different products contain different active ingredients, so switching things up a bit may enhance the healthy appearance of your skin.
You may also want to choose more than one skin care product to use at a time to maximize results. Keep in mind, however, that using too many products at once may irritate the skin in some people. It's something to watch out for—and a good reason to get recommendations from your dermatologist. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests the following skin care regimen to get the most out of your skin care products.
- Wash your face with a gentle cleanser.
- Apply your skin care products or treatments (such as face or eye creams) using your ring finger to avoid excess tugging on delicate under-eye skin.
- Apply a moisturizer (preferably one that contains sunscreen).
- Apply makeup (optional step).
Other Skin Beauty Tips
To stay looking as young as possible (for as long as possible), avoid exposing your face to the sun unless you’ve used skin care products with a sun protection factor (SPF)—or regular sunscreen. Avoid smoking, excess alcohol consumption, and unwanted weight gain. Get plenty of sleep (at least seven hours nightly) and exercise regularly. Follow a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight to keep your youthful look in check.
[Image via Shutterstock]
