Skin reaction to a new product or new skin care routine

When starting a new skin care routine, you may suddenly experience a rash, tiny bumps, stinging, burning, redness or other unwanted skin reaction to a new cosmetic product. How do you know which skin care product is causing the problem? Is this an allergy or just a temporary irritation? How to know which product caused it? Our dermatologists are here to help.

skin reactions to new products and routines

What to do when you have a skin reaction to products

Our goals are to calm your skin as quickly as possible, help your figure out what caused the problem, and change your regimen to products that you can tolerate.

If you bought the products from Skin Type Solutions, let us know and we will give you a form to fill out. We track all skin reactions to products by skin type to help us give better skin care advice. Email us and we will return the product for a refund in most cases.

1. Stop using the products that caused the problem

If you are experiencing any irritation or reaction to products, stop any products with these ingredients:

AHA (Glycolic or other acids)

BHA (Salicylic acid)

Retinol

Vitamin C

Chemical sunscreens like methoxycinnamate

Stop using these until your skin feels normal. In the meantime use a soothing oil like Argan oil such as PAORR Argan Oil.

ClarityRx Glimmer of Hope Shimmering Facial Oil

$58.00

Add to Cart

Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil

$79.00

Out of Stock

Shea Terra MD 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil

$24.00

Out of Stock

PAORR By Zerafite Organic Moroccan Argan Oil

$22.75

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Glimmer of Hope Shimmering Facial Oil

$58.00

Add to Cart

Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil

$79.00

Out of Stock

Shea Terra MD 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil

$24.00

Out of Stock

PAORR By Zerafite Organic Moroccan Argan Oil

$22.75

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Glimmer of Hope Shimmering Facial Oil

$58.00

Add to Cart

Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil

$79.00

Out of Stock

Shea Terra MD 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil

$24.00

Out of Stock

PAORR By Zerafite Organic Moroccan Argan Oil

$22.75

Add to Cart

2. Restart One Product at a Time

Restart each product, one at a time. Use the moisturizer first. Wait 4 days to see if you react. If no reaction occurs, then add a second product. If you do react, then we know the moisturizer is at least one part of the problem.

Then skin care product that caused the skin to react is most likely the retinoid. For this reason you should restart the retinoid last. If you do restart the retinoid, make sure you are following these instructions.

Adding each product back in one at a time is the best way to find out which product is causing the skin reaction.

It is less likely that you have a true allergy to the skin care product-most reactions are irritations rather than a skin allergy, but it is possible.

Fragrances and preservatives are the most common causes of allergic skin reactions to products.

Other ingredients that cause a skin allergy can be found here.

Make sure you are using the right skin care routine for your Baumann Skin Type! Even using the wrong cleanser can cause your skin to react.

What skin type am I?

Contact a dermatologist for advice

If you bought your products from us, we are here to help. Email us at [email protected].

If not, you can find a medical provider in your area here.

If you cannot figure out what you are allergic to, dermatologists can do patch testing to find out.

“Why is my skin reacting to everything all of the sudden?

Once skin inflammation gets started from a new skin care product, other products in the skin care routine can begin to bother you – even products that did not cause you to get a rash before. This occurs because inflammation turns on other inflammatory pathways causing a domino effect.

This can make it hard to figure out which skin care product is causing the skin reaction to the new product. Make sure you are not using too many exfoliants and over exfoliating.

Any time you use the wrong skin care products for your Baumann Skin Type, you can get a skin reaction.

This is why we always recommend to shop for skin care by your Baumann Skin Type.

Take the Quiz

why does my skin react to new products

You should not have negative reactions to new products except in the case of retinoids like retinol.

Retinoids can cause:

redness

stinging

purging (breakouts)

peeling

tightness

If you get these reactions form retinoids, follow these instructions, and make sure you are only using the products in the skin care routine that we customized for you.

Th reason you should not mix our recommendations with other products we did not recommend is because, ingredients in products can affect the absorption of other ingredients or can change the chemical structure of other ingredients. So skin reactions to products can occur when they are not combined correctly in the skin care routine.

If you do have a reaction to a product that is not a retinoid it is caused by one of the following:

over exfoliation

using too much of an ingredient like an acid or benzoyl peroxide

allergy

chemical reaction between products

If you bought the product from us and cannot figure it out- we are here to help.

what are the most common irritants in skin care products?

The most common products that can irritate the skin when starting a new skin care regimen

When starting a new skin care routine- these are the skin care products most likely to cause skin reactions to products like skin irritation and rashes:

Retinoids like retinol

Alpha hydroxyacids or salicylic acid cleansers, serums, creams, pads

Vitamin C serum

Skin lightening serums for dark spots

Foaming cleansers can irritate dry skin or can irritate oily skin when used 2 times a day.

Exfoliants (over exfoliating)

Benzoyl peroxide

What is causing my skin reaction to products??

There are some clues to finding out why you reacted to a product. Dermatologists sometimes feel like a detective because we have to look at clues to figure out which product is causing the a skin rash. Here are the things we think about to solve the mystery:

Where is the skin reaction to the product?

Location matters!

Is the skin reaction in a sun exposed area? If so it might be a photoallergic reaction.

Does it have a pattern? For example does it follow the lines of clothing such as the waist bad of your underwear or the hook on your bra or where your glasses or earrings touch?

If so, you might have a nickel allergy (Hook or bra or earrings) or an elastic allergy (underwear).

If the skin reaction is to a new product, did it occur everywhere you applied it? Retinol allergies are most common around the nose, nasolabial folds and mouth.

A skin rash on the face is often caused by skin care products that have been used on the face in the area of the rash. A rash around the eyes is most often caused by nail polish. It is less common for a rash around the eyes to be due to an eye cream or serum.

Have you ever reacted to products before?

If you have a skin allergy then you may have reacted to this type of product before. The most common causes of skin reactions to products caused by allergy are preservatives and fragrances. You can find a list of allergens here. If you are allergic to formaldehyde, it can be tricky because this preservative goes by many names.

If you have not ever reacted to a product before, this may be an irritant reaction instead of an allergy.

We hope you found this helpful. if not, visit us on social media and ask us questions there.

And don’t forget- always shop for products and read reviews according to your Baumann Skin Type! Look for your colored octagon with your skin type number.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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