When you try a new product for the first time, you’ll most likely be hoping to get results as soon as possible. However, that doesn’t mean that you should immediately cover your entire face in your new potion, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Patch testing is the process of trying a product on a small patch of skin and monitoring your skin’s reaction, and you should do it with every new product you try. Here’s what we recommend.
testing for allergic reactions
When testing for an allergic reaction, you’ll want to test the product on a patch of skin that’s not on your face and if possible, somewhat hidden, just in case you do happen to be allergic to it. We usually recommend the side of your neck, behind your ear, or on the underside of your jaw. You’ll also want to make sure that the new product is the only thing on that patch of skin, so you can say definitively what is causing the reaction, if you have one.
Then, all you have to do is apply a small amount of product to that area and monitor the results. Usually, if you are allergic to a product, you’ll see a reaction within 24-48 hours, so it’s best to wait until then before deciding you’re in the clear.
Typically, what you should look for here is excessive redness, splotchiness, swelling, or itchiness. If you experience any of these reactions, you should immediately stop using the product. And you’ll be glad you didn’t test it on your face first!
testing for breakouts
Patch testing for breakouts is a little different. In this case, we recommend applying a small amount of the product to your chin, cheek, or other location on your face where you commonly experience breakouts. Obviously, these areas will be the most affected, should your skin not take to a certain product, so that’s where your focus should be.
You can continue testing the same area for a few days to determine if your new product will cause a breakout. If you notice blackheads, whiteheads, or clogged pores in that area, you should stop use of that product (although if you do experience these reactions, we’d recommend reducing their appearance with our turmeric tonic or turmeric stick!).
It’s also important to note that even if your skin does like a certain product, it might need some time to get used to it. For example, when starting use of our resurfacing sleep mask, we always recommend using it 1-2x a week and then slowly ramping up to 3-4x per week as your skin adjusts. Although this product is gentle and based around superfoods, it still contains powerful, albeit natural, actives and your skin might need an adjustment period.
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