It takes a village to find the best skincare routine for you. It takes months of thought, weeks of study, and a few days of deliberation to arrive at a decision – the skincare Holy Grail that works wonders for you. So image your dismay when that extremely costly facial serum (for which you paid an arm and a leg) no longer produces the amazing effects it once did. Is your skin now used to it?
Dr. Saloni Vora-Gala, consultant clinical and aesthetic dermatologist at Dr. Rekha Sheth’s Skin & Hair Clinic, feels that the skin does become “accustomed” to specific substances, but not in a bad way. Certain chemicals, for example, that increase cell turnover during the first few weeks of use might irritate the skin. With appropriate application and time, the skin becomes used to the effects and exhibits obvious benefits. So, who is to blame when products abruptly quit producing results after years of use? Is this to say you’ve suddenly become resistant to your once-amazing product?
The blame game
There are other more components involved in this phenomena, according to Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta, aesthetic physician and founder of ISAAC. “Your skin is the greatest organ in your body, and whatever is going on inside will be reflected on the surface.” One of the reasons your product isn’t performing might be a problem with your body’s intrinsic capacity to rehydrate, or any persistent sickness or vitamin shortages, or even good sleep and lifestyle — all of these can have a significant influence.” She also claims that ambient elements influence how your product acts. Sun exposure, weather or temperature change, and hormone fluctuations can all put your once-amazing skincare elixir to sleep.
All of these disorders may predispose one’s skin to inflammation and barrier damage, leading to a shift in skin type, texture, and issues,” Dr Vora-Gala says. Skin that was previously oily may become unexpectedly dry and dried as a result of a seasonal or hormonal transition, such as menopause. This means that one’s typical moisturiser for oily skin may no longer be sufficient to restore the skin that has gotten dry.
You may also blame it on the skincare cocktail you made by mixing different products and formulas. Certain components, such as combining retinol with vitamin C, might be paradoxical and hence are not suggested for an optimal conclusion. Dr. Vora-Gala also claims that wrongly stacking formulae might prevent a product from functioning. “If a thicker ceramide-based moisturiser is used before a thinner vitamin C serum, the latter may not penetrate properly.” Everything comes down to reasoning.
Unfortunately, skincare products do not last forever. People frequently forget that these chemical compositions may oxidise, become bad, and expire, thereby rendering them unusable. “When skincare products containing active ingredients such as vitamin C come into touch with oxygen, they oxidise.” Even exposing them to direct sunshine can cause oxidation. “This reduces the efficiency of the active substances,” Dr Mittal-Gupta explains.
Your skin may not be becoming immune to your favourite serum or frequent moisturiser, but the lack of results might be due to other factors that you are neglecting. Aside from storing your skincare products in a cool, dark area and stacking them attentively, experts advise being complacent and constantly listening to what your skin (and body) has to say. Instead of becoming your own mixologist, always visit a dermatologist. Remember, there are two MVPs in your routine: hydration and UV protection; if you skip these, you might as well toss away your other skincare products!
