BEAUTY
Why You Should Always Patch Test New Skincare Products
By DESIRÉE O
Facial cleansers, serums, toners, mists, masks, and moisturizers are products meant to benefit and bring out the best in your skin. However, you want to avoid unwanted products that can create issues, such as dryness, red spots, itchiness, swelling, and blistering, which is why it’s important to do a patch test before using a new product.
Performing a patch test can help you figure out what ingredients you should stay away from, and a patch test is simply using a small amount of product on your skin and seeing how your body reacts. If you don’t have a bad reaction you may have found a new product, but if you’re still concerned about a potential bad reaction, continue doing a patch test for a few days.
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests performing a full test over a period of a week to 10 days and using the product you’re testing two times each day. For a cleanser, leave the product on for around five minutes before washing it away, and if you only have mild, temporary reactions, it may be that your skin is adjusting to the new ingredients.