Skin Care

Have you ever started great with a new skincare product only to discover that it stops working after a while? Online skincare gurus often describe this as a “plateau” where your skin becomes used to the ingredients in your products. So, can your skin become immune to skin care products? In this article, our skincare experts answer that question and give clear tips on how to remedy a skincare product plateau.

Can your skin build resistance to active ingredients and stop working?

Your skin cannot suddenly build resistance to skincare products because there’s no mechanism for that. When you use a skincare product, your skin’s receptors respond to it as they normally would. Although, this is true for properly-formulated products that are right for your skin.

However, in some rare cases, your skin can build a tolerance to specific types of skincare products. This usually occurs with products that have steroids, such as hydrocortisone or prescription retinoid products, which are typically used for conditions like eczema or psoriasis. 

This phenomenon is called tachyphylaxis and defines the skin cells’ tolerance development to certain active ingredients. 

Why Does It Happen?

Skincare boosts confidence and makes you happy. So when you start with that new spot corrector or acne-zapping serum and stop seeing changes, you panic. 

It’s fine and perfectly normal to have that reaction, and you may be right that you do not see changes, but not for the reasons you think. When you start with a new skincare product that’s effective and right for you, you will notice significant improvements and benefits. 

However, with time, your skin’s meaning of normal shifts – its baseline has improved, and now, differences are not quite as drastic anymore. This could make you feel like you’ve hit a plateau or your skin has gotten used to the product. In reality, the product has stopped pushing to improve your skin and is now maintaining its baseline. 

You may understand this more if you have used topical retinoids for acne. At first, you may experience irritation, dryness, or breakouts. When you stick to it, you’ll ‌see the irritation clear up, and your skin will improve. As you keep at it, your skin’s baseline will improve, and you’ll see the benefits of the retinoid. 

With prolonged use, there won’t be drastic changes in your acne or irritation – you’ll have your skin healed as it was not too long ago. The retinoid didn’t stop working – it worked and is maintaining your skin health.

8 Reasons Your Skincare Products Are Not Working Anymore

1. Weather Changes

Weather changes can cause your skin to change as well. In drier months, your skin may become dehydrated and require more moisturizing products. Warmer weather can be extremely harsh on the skin, calling for increased sweat and sebum production. 

2. Hormonal Changes

Sometimes, your hormones seem to have a mind of their own. Even when you aren’t on your period, your hormone levels are constantly in flux. Your skin doesn’t always take this well and could result in skin challenges. 

3. Incorrect Product Layering

Purchasing good products is one thing, but using them right is another entirely. It’s important to layer your products properly for maximum effectiveness. Our skincare experts advise you to use your products in a thin-heavy order where the lightest or thinnest products come before the heavier ones. 

In that light, serums, toners, and other lightweight formulas come before heavier essence and creams. This way, the thinner products can easily penetrate your skin without being blocked by heavier formulas. 

4. Improper Product Storage

If the label says to store in a cool, dry place, it’s definitely in your best interest to do so. Read your product labels and instructions, storing them as necessary. When stored incorrectly, some products may degrade faster or experience reactions that could make them ineffective or irritating to your skin.

5. Expired Product

If your product has been sitting on a store shelf for a while, chances are it’ll expire before you get to use it halfway. Ensure you note the expiration dates and shelf life of every product you buy and constantly monitor products you already have.

6. Medication

Medication can sometimes interfere with the effectiveness of your skincare products. Some drug-product interactions may cause irritation, while some medications may even increase oil production, leading to acne. 

7. You’re Using Products at the Wrong Time

Some products work best at certain times, e.g., niacinamide and retinoids are best for a night routine. In contrast, Vitamin C works best in the daytime. Products may not be effective enough when they are not used at the right time.

8. You’re Not Consistent

With skincare and everything, consistency is the word of operation. Stay consistent with your routine to get all the benefits of your products.

What Can You Do About It? 

Your skin may not get the most benefits from your skincare routine anymore. While it might not be due to your skin-building tolerance to the products, there are a few things you can do to wake your skin up and restore progress. These include:

1. Change Up Your Routine

It can be helpful to change your routine as needed – products may not change, but your skin is a living organ that grows. This means that age, weather, hormones, stress, and other factors could cause your skin to react differently to certain products. You could experience this phase with your skin for many reasons so ‌switch things up a bit.

You may include treatment masks like clay, gel, or cream masks. You could also change lighter products like serums to lotions or heavier creams during drier or colder months. When hormones are at their most erratic (e.g., on your period), consider using actives like glycolic or salicylic acid to combat excess oil production.

You can also take a step back and analyze your skincare routine. Maybe the products you’re using aren’t right for you. Ensure that you select the right products when you create your skincare routine. 

2. Exfoliate

Exfoliating is a great way to help your skin open up better and be more receptive to treatment products. If you’re not exfoliating enough, start with a gentle exfoliant twice a week and tweak it as needed from there. Over-exfoliating could also destroy your skin’s protective barrier, making it difficult to respond positively to skincare products.

3. Let Your Skin Breathe

Sometimes, less is more, and your skin may seem like it’s not responding because you’re doing too much. Your skin care regimen could use a downsizing if you have too many products and activities. Your skin might need a new start with only the basic items. 

Take out the stronger active-based products and set aside the spot-targeting products, leaving only a basic cleanser and moisturizer. Stick to this basic routine for a couple of weeks, then research what products are best for your skin. Reevaluate your serums, toners, and spot treatments before slowly incorporating them into your routine.

4. Check Your Products Compatibility

Some ingredients just aren’t meant to be together. In some cases, the effect of using incompatible products may be subtle, like a “static phase.” Other times, it could be flare-ups and irritation. 

To avoid either, research the ingredients in your products and determine if they are compatible with the others in your routine. Examples of incompatible ingredients are Vitamin C and Retinoids (causes irritation) and Benzoyl Peroxide and Vitamin C (reduced effectiveness).

5. Have Realistic Expectations

Sometimes when the bottle says it zaps away acne overnight, that’s not always the case. You might have unrealistic expectations for your skincare products and feel disappointed when they don’t live up to that. Please research the average time your products and actives work and give it time to all come together.

How To Keep Your Skincare Products Effective for Longer

Avoid playing skincare bartender with your skincare routine. Many skincare enthusiasts fall into that tempting “shiny new product” syndrome where they purchase and try out as many products as possible. When you ‌ find the skincare products that are right for you, there are a couple of ways to keep them working for longer.

1. Avoid staying out in the sun for prolonged periods
2. Store your products properly
3. Exfoliate first
4. Apply serums on water or toner-damp skin
5. Use SPF

Summary

It’s very unlikely that your skin develops resistance to your skin care products. It’s often due to other factors like weather, changes in your body, the products, and how you apply them. Ensure that your skincare routine is optimized to give you the best results and keep you happy.

There are many ways to keep your skin happy and healthy. From inflammation-causing foods to foods that can cause premature aging, there’s a lot to consider when adjusting your diet for better skin. This article will discuss how diet affects the skin and how you can make your skin healthier with a better diet.

5 Ways Your Diet Affects Your Skin

1. Acne Breakouts

People often assume acne only affects younger people. While this is mostly true because of hormonal changes, acne breakouts can result from other factors. 

From harsh environmental conditions to dirt and bad eating habits, your skin’s reactions can tell you many things about your lifestyle. Several studies and extensive research indicate that some foods could significantly contribute to skin inflammatory responses. 

Highly processed foods – ready meals, fast food, and refined carbohydrates can accumulate reactions in the body. Acne-causing foods like pizza, french fries, burgers, and other diets can cause mild to chronic inflammation. 

2. Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Aging is a natural phenomenon. However, aging symptoms, especially in the skin, can escalate or even be aggravated by certain conditions. These include diet, exposure to harmful sun rays, and sickness. You might think that only the elderly deal with wrinkles and fine lines, but anyone can experience premature aging symptoms.

Certain foods could cause faster oxidation in your skin – another leading cause of wrinkles and fine lines. This is common in people whose diets are low in functional anti-aging components like collagen, elastin, and other healthy proteins. These three essential diet components are vital in maintaining healthy skin free of premature signs of aging. 

Oily and deep-fried foods also contribute to poorly aging skin alongside exposure to the sun’s UV rays, creating free radicals. The free radical formation causes skin cell damage that will weaken your skin’s elasticity, causing it to wrinkle. You can maintain your skin’s elastic tone and prevent sagging with a proper anti-aging diet. 

3. Dehydration

Drinking water is one of the best habits you can adopt for better skin and overall health! You can also support your water intake with foods with high water content. A diet with little water will dehydrate your skin, leaving it looking unhealthy. 

Dehydrated skin is a sour recipe that can bring about other conditions. These include dull, uneven, and wrinkled skin with flakiness, redness, and itching. 

Dehydrated skin is not healthy skin. It can impede your skin’s vital functions, such as cell turnover, which is your skin’s ability to shed off dead skin cells to be replaced with new healthy ones. A good diet can help your skin improve and feel better. 

4. Melanoma

Melanoma is a harmful type of skin cancer caused by severe sun damage. While you can do your best to prevent sun damage with protective clothing and sunscreen, your body needs all the help it can get. Many foods can help you lower your chances of getting melanoma. These include fish and healthy leafy greens.

5. Blemishes and Hyperpigmentation

When acne comes, blemishes and scarring usually tag right along. With a bad inflammatory diet, your skin will be at a higher risk of developing acne and pimples. In their wake, you may also get lots of scarring and blemishes. Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition that occurs when the skin produces excess melanin as a response to some kind of trauma. This could be acne, an injury, or sun exposure. With a poor diet, your skin’s functions and ability to produce essential components could become impaired. 

Foods to Eat For Better Skin

Eat antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, healthy fats from oily fish and nuts, and a varied and balanced diet to care for your skin and optimize your nutrition. 

Introducing the above to your diet will provide essential nutrients like beta carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc, and selenium. All of which are important for glowing skin. 

Foods you should eat for healthier skin include:

• Vegetables and fruits: Veggies and fruits help protect your skin cells from degradation due to free radical formation. Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables include carrots, kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin.
• Vitamin C: This is another powerful antioxidant that will boost skin cell turnover and prevent cell degradation. Vitamin C will also help your skin heal faster and remove blemishes. You can get it from oranges, tomatoes, papaya, broccoli, guava, and strawberries.
• Essential fatty acids from oily fish and seeds – chia seeds, walnuts.
• Vitamin E from sources like almonds, hazelnuts, and avocado
• Beans, pulses, fiber foods, and other low-carb or slow-releasing carb foods (these slowly release glucose into your body, leaving you fuller and energetic for longer).

Foods to Avoid for Better Skin

Essentially, carbs and sugars are the culprits behind many diet-related skin conditions. As such, foods you should ‌avoid or reduce in your diet include:

• White bread
• Pastries
• White rice
• Sugary beverages 
• Refined grains found in many breakfast cereals
• Chips
• Cookies
• Alcohol
• Fatty meat
• Deep fried food and food with artificial sweeteners 
• Dairy milk

Additional diet tips for healthy skin

1. Have A Balanced Diet

Sometimes, it’s not enough to just eat lots of healthy food. Ensure that your diet is balnced with all the right food classes for the best results. 

2. Skip The Refined Foods

Refined foods cause a lot of health issues like high blood pressure and obesity as well as skin problems. Avoid overly processed food like refined bread and opt for healthier choice like whole grain bread instead. 

Red, processed meat can also raise your cholesterol and fat levels, resulting in inflammation. Which can result in acne and reduced collagen production in skin – a cause for wrinkled and saggy skin.

3. Eat More Protein

Protein is a major component of your skin’s mechanical and moisture barriers. The protein keratin makes up most of the skin layers and a protein-rich diet while provide building blocks to produce more keratin in the skin. Eat more protein and try to include a protein source in every meal..

4. Drink More Water

Water contributes to healthy skin by keeping it hydrated. This results in soft, glowing skin with better elasticity and even tone.

5. Don’t Skip Your Greens

It might be tough to choose your leafy greens over the sweeter options. However, your fruits and vegetables are a much better source of nutrition. 

Summary: Why Diet is Important For Skin Health

Everyone has their favorite skincare product they believe does all the good skin work for them. The truth is all of that topical effort would count little, if at all, when you have a poor diet plan.

The key to having great skin lies in the food that you eat. The skin is the human body’s largest organ and it displays the effects of what goes into your body. Food is the body’s fuel to function at its best. With the right food, you can achieve smooth, healthy, glowing skin. The right diet helps you to fight inflammation, premature aging and other skin conditions from within. 

Your skin regularly shed older cells and replaces them with newer ones. You’ll need a steady supply of essential nutrients to keep this rapid cycle going. If you eat the right meals, you’ll give your skin the nutrients it needs to do this efficiently so it remains soft, smooth, and free from blemishes.

Regardless of how hard we try to avoid it, our skin does age ‌. Overexposure to the sun and tanning beds, strong soaps, chemicals, and poor nutrition can all hasten the appearance of wrinkles and age spots on the skin. 

As a result, it becomes crucial to take the gentler approach – adjusting your diet.

FAQs

Can Food Cause Acne?

Some foods and ingredients can contribute to inflammation in the skin. If your skin is prone to acne or other forms of inflammation, your food could aggravate it. Identify acne-causing foods in your diet and reduce them or remove them from your lifestyle. 

What Can I Eat To Get Rid of Acne?

An anti-acne diet is a wholesome, balanced diet with a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables with sufficient amounts of healthy carbs and protein. You can get this with kale, sweet potatoes, lemon, pumpkin, berries, legumes, salmon, and other fish options like mackerel and sardines. Avoid fast food and high-sugar foods like white bread, cake, and white rice.

Can Diet Affect Eczema?

Some foods could trigger or aggravate an eczema breakout. While this would vary with different people, foods commonly associated with eczema breakouts include citrus fruits, dairy, eggs, gluten, and some types of nuts. You can find out what triggers your eczema by closely watching your food and monitoring any symptoms.

Actively caring for your skin is vital for a healthy lifestyle. Good skincare yields long-term benefits for your confidence and appearance. One method of maintaining your skin involves frequent facial masks and facial spa treatments. Continue reading to find out how often facial masks should be used and the wonders they can do for your skin. 

What Is a Facial Mask?

Facial masks help revitalize or preserve your skin by introducing key ingredients with hydration and firming properties. They typically come in a sheet form or as a creamy paste to sit on your skin.

Skincare experts often recommend selecting a facial mask based on your skin type and condition. Those with dry skin can use clay masks and hydrating overnight masks to better lock in moisture. Oily skin types benefit from tea tree masks since it has antimicrobial qualities and reduces inflammation. Charcoal is also suitable for oily skin as it absorbs excess sebum and helps remove bacteria from the skin.

How Often Should I Use Face Masks?

Using facial masks can help to boost confidence and give you clearer, cleaner, and healthier skin. To achieve the best results for your face, you must learn how often to use them and how long they should be on your skin.

The majority of facial masks should be applied a maximum of once or twice a week for 15 minutes each time to provide an effective layer of protection. When using your mask, leave it on your skin for as long as the manufacturer advises. In the next section, we will look at specific face masks and how often you should use them.

Types of Face Masks and Their Uses

Facial masks come in various forms and ingredients to help achieve different results. You can find face masks made from clay, charcoal, aloe vera, and lotus. Moreover, some people make DIY masks with natural ingredients such as shea butter, avocado, rice, honey, and ginseng.

For DIY masks, people use ingredients such as honey to soften, soothe, and firm the skin. Honey (and ginseng) can also yield anti-aging properties. Additionally, ingredients like avocado and olive oil are great for moisturizing and protecting skin since they contain antioxidants that improve your skin’s ability to repair itself.

1. Charcoal Face Mask

Activated charcoal face masks remove bacteria and other impurities from the skin. Such absorption properties come from exposing charcoal to high enough heat to develop tiny internal holes that help trap impurities.

A benefit of charcoal facial masks is that they can soothe acne and help treat small insect bites. You develop acne due to accumulating dead cells, sebum, and germs trapped inside your pores. As such, a charcoal mask is ideal for acne-prone skin.

While it is advisable to use charcoal masks, overuse of face products using charcoal ingredients can cause your skin to feel dry and become more sensitive and irritated over time. Apply such a mask a maximum of once or twice a week, ensuring adequate time between applications.

Steps to Applying a Charcoal Face Mask

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and cleanse your skin with your usual cleanser to remove the built-up dirt and bacteria on your skin’s surface.
2. Pat your face dry with a clean towel. Do not rub your face as it can break down collagen and reduce skin elasticity.
3. Use the tips of your fingers to apply the recommended amount of product to your face, and make sure that it covers your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Avoid close contact with your eyes, mouth, and nostrils.
4. Leave the product to dry on your face for around 10 to 15 minutes, and use water to rinse away all product.
5. Pat your skin dry and then apply a moisturizer. Using a moisturizer combats the dryness that you may feel from the mask.

2. Bubble Face Mask

Bubble masks (also known as bubble oxygen masks) use an oxygenation process, which forms clustered bubbles when worn on your face. The foaming effect on a bubble mask comes from pumping oxygen into a liquid facial mask and then sealing it. Once a layer is applied to your skin, the oxygen forms into foamy bubbles.

The oxygen can remove bacteria that lead to acne and prevent future breakouts. It also removes dirt and impurities from your pores, making your skin look amazing.

Steps to Applying a Bubble Face Mask

1. Clean your hands and wash your face using a gentle cleanser for your skin type. After you wash your face, pat your face dry.
2. Remove the mask from its packaging and apply a thin layer to your face. Avoid placing the mask near your eyes, nose, mouth, or hairline to prevent any mess.
3. Leave the facial mask on for around 15 minutes (or follow the instructions on the package) and wait for foam/clustered bubbles to form.
4. Use your fingers to remove the excess and massage the rest into your skin.
5. Clean your face using lukewarm water and pat dry.

3. Sheet Face Mask

Sheet masks use sheet fabric to bring serum to your skin. The sheet fabric absorbs serums made from mainly natural ingredients like coconut pulp, cotton, and cellulose. 

For the best results, you should wear sheet masks twice or three times a week. 

Steps to Applying a Sheet Face Mask

1. Meticulously clean your hands and cleanse the skin’s surface to remove impurities and bacteria.
2. After washing your face, dry it using a clean towel.
3. Remove the mask from its container and place your hands on each side of the mask. Make sure you are careful since it may break apart easily.
4. Place the mask on top of your skin correctly. Your eyes, mouth, and nose should be where the three holes are in your sheet mask.
5. Relax and leave your mask on for about 25-30 minutes (or as suggested by the manufacturer).
6. Remove your mask and use a flat cotton pad to rub the loose serum into your skin.

Other Types of Facial Treatments

We have covered several facial mask tips and steps to help you use masks efficiently. However, other facial spa treatments can also give you clearer, firmer, and more hydrated skin. Other than face masks, you may benefit from facial treatments like chemical peels and hydrafacials.

A Chemical peel is a facial treatment involving the application of a chemical mixture to remove damaged and dead skin cells, enabling healthy cells to grow in their place. It can help you achieve smoother skin and lead to a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles. 

Hydrafacials hydrate and rejuvenate your skin by drawing out all the dirt and bacteria blocking your pores. Moreover, the treatment simultaneously infuses serums to hydrate and moisturize your skin.

Conclusion

Facial masks are very beneficial to your skin and your confidence. Learning about the different types of facial masks, how to use them, and how often you should use them is a crucial step in your journey towards clear and healthy skin. Consider using the tips above to develop your facial mask routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Does Face Mask Go in a Normal Skincare Routine?

The optimal time to apply facial masks depends on each mask. However, if the label instructs you to wear the face mask overnight, use it after your moisturizer for a double dose of hydration. Generally, you must first cleanse your face before applying a mask.

Should You Cleanse Your Face Before a Face Mask?

Yes, you should always cleanse your face before applying any mask. Washing your face removes dirt, makeup, and other residues. If you do not wash your face correctly, it traps all of your skin’s bacteria instead of absorbing nutrients, leading to more acne and skin irritation.

For How Long Should You Wear a Face Mask?

How much time you should wear your mask depends on the instructions from its manufacturer. Many recommend you leave it on for at least 15 minutes so nutrients can be absorbed by your pores. 

Is It Better to Wear Face Masks at Night or in the Morning?

When to wear your facial mask depends on its ingredients and your intentions. Some masks should be left on your skin overnight to help hydrate skin more effectively, and many people tend to wear masks in the evening. Furthermore, it depends on your schedule but if your skin feels dry in the morning, apply your mask early before makeup.

Should You Moisturize After a Face Mask?

Face masks should make your face feel smooth, hydrated, and clean. However, moisturizers can help further hydrate your skin and lock in the products you’ve applied with the mask. Moisturizers also protect the outer layers of skin from dryness and help maintain skin elasticity.