Why Have my Products Stopped Working?
Hello Everyone and welcome to this months edition of the Epidermal Junction!
One of the BIGGEST questions clients ask of me during the consult phase of their treatment is, "Is it possible for Products to Stop Working?" My answer...Of Course! Products do what I call "Plateau". So this months blog is about understanding product plateau and what you as a consumer can do about it.
First of all, hitting a plateau happens when the skin gets to a limit where, when using particular ingredients, the skin just is no longer affected. The skin is very efficient. It will repair or improve only to the place that certain ingredients in products that are demanding change. So, with facial products you can only affect it until the skin basically is full of and gets used-to the ingredients. Kind of like body building...your muscles stop responding once they get to a particular size and then you have to do something different to retain the tone of the muscle.
Here are the "Possibilities" my Clients have Reported to Experience
Diligence in Application
Its not so much the product stopped working, it can also mean your have gotten used to the results or another probable explanation: you’ve changed your application habits. People use a product diligently in the beginning. However, compliance decreases over time. So, when you don’t apply, for instance, an anti-aging serum or an acne lotion consistently, results can slow.
You've Been Using a Product for Too Long
For example, some products with the ingredient "silicone" can build up, causing the skin to react differently. Mind/Body Wellness and the Weather Changes in diet, climate, and your hormones may subtly affect the way a product responds. So the Neutrogena oil-free moisturizer or Clinique products that did the job in humid summer months may not offer enough hydration come dry, windy winter. Shelf Life
Have you ever considered how long things have been on the shelf before you buy? Or how long after that time that they are on YOUR personal shelves in your bathroom? Formulating my own product line I learned there may be slight differences in product batches which can change color and scent
Your Own Internal Olfactory System ( Your Smell Brain and your Senses) And speaking of scents...it's also possible that you’ve become so used to the product—its smell, how it feels on your skin—that you’re not as excited by it anymore, which can make it seem less effective.
Exceptions to the Rules
There are instances, though, where you can truly become resistant to a particular ingredient. Prescribed topical steroids, which you use for skin irritations and conditions like eczema, may lose effectiveness This also includes ingredients such as retinol and benzoyl peroxide. It’s not that they’re not performing as well, but after use, the fine lines and acne that these two ingredients treat have improved, so to many the changes seem less dramatic.
Want to Continually See Results?
First and foremost, make sure that you’re using the product exactly as directed by your practitioner and the label and double check the expiration dates. Ingredients start to degrade after the use-by date; exposure to light and heat can also reduce products’ effectiveness. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about batch-to-batch discrepancies. If you have used the same product for 3 months there may be a product buildup on your skin. It may be time to investigate a different type of cleanser or increase your exfoliation once every 2 to 3 cleanses. If you’ve been applying an anti-aging, acne, or sensitized skin product, consider switching it up. For example, if you’re using an over-the-counter version, change one element of your regime to a professional product suggested by your professional which will allow the results you seek yo keep happening.
Ask yourself "Has the product achieved what it was supposed to?" Audit your products the same way these million dollar companies audit their books after the millions made on unsuspecting consumers! ( LOL!) And finally be honest with yourself enough to realize, you may have reached a point where any further improvement is so subtle, it’s almost impossible to detect. Do your expectations outweigh the cost? Or are you continually buying the same products hoping there may be a glimmer of hope that miraculously the cheap product your are using will work again and deliver the results of a professional product.
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Let me finish by saying, the average American woman spend at least $5k a year on beauty products. Many of my clients have found that getting professional advice about products and product ingredients is a very wise investment. A Deep Cleanse facial every 6-8 weeks can help with choosing the RIGHT products for your skin type.
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I am very proud to say that The Skin Coach now offers products to suit your skincare needs. Please visit my SquareUp store for more details. https://squareup.com/store/TheSkinCoach
Please email me if you would like more info about our products as well.
Stay Blessed, Be Pono and ALWAYS remember to Pay It Forward
^j^
