What the heck is going on?! You never thought it would happen, but your favorite moisturizer has betrayed you.
You have been faithful with your skincare routine. For months, it made your so skin so plump and soft, there were barely any wrinkles in sight. Now, your face has turned into a war zone. There are pimples everywhere! It's enough to drive you crazy. You swear nothing has changed. Or… has it?
Your Skin Changes With The Seasons
You don't get just one skin type. Let me explain. Just because your skin is on the dry side today, it doesn't mean it will be tomorrow. A change of weather can turn at dry complexion into an oily mess and vice versa.
Your diet plays a role, too. Veggies and fruits abound in spring and summer. Those are usually high in water so they keep your skin well-hydrated and nutrient rich during the warm seasons. In the colder months? Not so much.
And let's not even get into the hormonal stuff. That is always adjusting here and there as well, each new decade brings changes to our skin and bodies. These reasons above are why you may need to switch up your skincare routine after a while.
As soon as the seasons start to change, that's your cue to give your skincare cabinet a small overhaul. When summer beckons, put aside those rich lotions and moisturizers that served you so well in winter and opt for lightweight formulas instead. You'll avoid another outbreak. Six months later, switch back. Lightweight lotions are a godsend for summer but they simply don't cut it in winter. Do the switch too late and you'll end up with dry and flaky skin all over. No thank you!
Giving Your Skin Everything It Needs
Even if your skin type doesn't change much, switching things up a bit may still do your skin a lot of good. You see, as you get older, your skin needs more help to stay young and flawless.
Those pesky wrinkles weren't there before, for example. The best way to deal with them is a combination of retinoids, vitamin C and glycolic acid, all anti-aging powerhouses that boost collagen production and keep skin firm and wrinkle-free for longer. Some people can use them all together. Some people can't. They work because they're powerful and that means that could cause irritations in some people.
The fix? Use them one at a time. Try vitamin C for a few months, then go with retinoids for another few… You get the idea.
Plus, even the best and strongest products can, and eventually will, top out. Then it may seem as if your miracle serum no longer works. It does still work, but your skin has reached it's maximum repair capabilities for now - with those actives anyway. Switching to something else for a little while could activate a different type of repair the old serum didn't really do as much for. You could end up with even better results by alternating your favorite products, instead of using them all at once.
Then, there are dark spots. There's nothing like hydroquinone to fade them quickly. But, you should only use it for 4 months at a time, especially for those with darker skin tones. After that, you'll have to switch to something else, like vitamin C or Kojic acid. There's no shortage of options here.
If your anti-acne treatment isn't doing its duty anymore, it may be time to look for an alternative. Niacinamide and retinol can work well for this too, but you can also go with tea tree oil or a salicylic acid peel.
It's true what they say. “If ain't broke, don't fix it.” But, sometimes, if you wait too long, you will indeed break it and the fixing up won't be that easy to do afterwards!