How long should it take a new skin care product to work for your skin?

We live in a pretty impatient world. We have so much at our fingertips, it can be difficult to accept that some things may take more time than we’d like. Skin care is no different. While I believe everyone reading this would love to put on a skin care treatment tonight, and wake up with perfect skin tomorrow, that’s not how skin care works. Skin care products and regimens take time to achieve their desired results on your skin – and it’s important to allow them the proper amount of time to start working. But, you should also know when to “cut and run” from a product that isn’t giving you results – or may even be harming your skin.

First, do no harm

There’s an adjustment period when you try any new skin care product or treatment regimen. And you should always do a patch test with new products before putting them on your face – especially products you plan to use around the delicate eye area. But, if you use a product and see that it’s making your skin worse – reddening, drying, increased blemishes, etc. – it’s almost always safe to say that you should stop using that product immediately. The exception to this rule would be products prescribed by your dermatologist. There are some cases where a prescription product may cause irritation that is considered a part of the healing process. And in that case, you still need to make your dermatologist aware to ensure your results aren’t outside what is considered normal. But for any over-the-counter skin care or cosmetic, stop use immediately if you experience irritation, or it exacerbates any skin conditions you may have.

Follow instructions

Good skin care products come with instructions: how to use, when to use, how frequently to use, etc. While it may seem silly to give directions for a facial cleanser, there are good reasons. Skin care companies research and test their products for maximum effectiveness – and they want to make sure you use the products in the manner that will give the best results. Be sure to read and follow any instructions – and pay particular attention to warnings. For example, if a product warns that it may make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s rays, you will want to take extra precautions with your sun protection.

Products don’t work overnight

We’re already aware that skin care products aren’t “magic” – regardless of how much we wish they could be. But it’s also wasteful to continue to purchase and use products that aren’t giving you the results you desire. We’ve provided some guidelines for different skin care products and how long you may need to wait to see results.

Cleansers

If you have normal skin, and your cleanser is simply a means to remove dirt, oil, and/or makeup, you can pretty much tell right away if it’s doing its job. But if you’re using a more sophisticated cleanser – perhaps to fight blemishes, or to help soften and hydrate dry skin – you want to give it about a month to see an improvement.

Acne-fighting products

Topical acne treatments usually take 6-12 weeks to start working. At at the six-week mark, you should at least be showing some improvement. And, again, if a product is making your breakouts worse, or is irritating your skin, it’s a good idea to discontinue use – unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.

Dark spot/brightening treatments

Brightening products are unusual in that they can – and often do – show results fairly quickly. Depending on the types and percentages of brightening ingredients, you may see results in one or two weeks. After eight weeks of using a brightening product, you should see results. If you don’t see results after eight weeks, you probably never will. Remember, too, that when using dark spot or brightening treatments, it is especially important to use sunscreen.

Moisturizers

It’s OK to expect “instant” results with a moisturizer – after all, if it doesn’t make your skin feel softer after the first use, it’s probably not very good. But you should definitely notice your skin feeling softer and more supple after 1-2 weeks.

Anti-aging

The wide variety of anti-aging products and ingredients makes this category a bit more difficult to gauge. Over-the-counter retinol products should usually produce results to 8-12 weeks. Other products may take a bit longer – again, depending on the ingredients and potency. One thing to remember about anti-aging products is that most contain antioxidants and other ingredients that not only help to lessen fine lines and wrinkles, but also help to prevent future damage. Most anti-aging products provide a cumulative effect, as well as defense against future signs of aging. If you find an anti-aging product that makes your skin look and feel great – and that fits in your budget – it’s a good idea to stick with it, even if it may not give you the “miraculous” results you’d like. It may be helping your skin more than you realize. Remember: your skin care should be formulated for your skin type, address your skin concerns, and fit within your budget. Discontinue using any products that irritate your skin, or which clearly don’t deliver on their promises.