How To Tell If Your Skin Is Purging Or Breaking Out
When trying to take care of your skin with a new routine, the last thing you want to see after a week or two is a less than outstanding complexion. Whether you add more active ingredients or carefully follow a cleansing routine, you may be wondering what on earth is causing the increase in tiny pimples, noticeably clogged pores, or even blotchy dryness if you haven't experienced them before. Top Questions: Are these new products the source of your problems? Are they causing a temporary purge or a permanent reaction? How can you tell if your skin is flushing or breaking out?
Here's what happens: Whenever you start a new regimen or incorporate new products into your current skincare routine, skin cleansings are common. Every time you use ingredients to boost cell turnover (think of ingredients that shed dead skin cells to reveal fresh, younger-looking cells), there's a good chance you're going through a period of cleansing too! That is not to say that everyone experiences a cleanse after using an exfoliating product. All skin types are different and while some may cleanse more than others, it all depends on what is deep inside the pores that can be pushed out.
While seeing a skin cleanse in the first few weeks of a new routine may not be encouraging, there are a few tips you can incorporate into a routine to help your complexion get through this transition period.
What is skin cleansing?
Before these youthful-looking cells are exposed from deeper layers of the skin, many other things are pushed to the surface, resulting in tiny white heads or blackheads, as well as peeling or dry, flaky skin. Different ingredients in a skin care product react faster to the cleansing process than others. For example, agents formulated to increase or speed up cellular turnover or exfoliation are likely to trigger a cleanse – chemical peels like hydroxy acids are one of the most common types of ingredients behind a skin cleanse. After applying an active scrub to the skin, it loosens the clogging deep in the pores and pushes it to the skin surface – what looks like a breakout but actually just goes through your skin.
Another point to consider: the cleansing you see after starting a new skin regimen or after using active scrubs are typically microcomedones (tiny pimples that are not visible to the eye) that are present under the surface of the skin and during it accelerated cell turnover reaches the surface. You may also find that the common areas of your breakouts such as your nose, chin, or forehead become more flushed.
Skin Cleansing Vs. outbreaks
While flushing can be normal after starting a routine or using a new product, it's important to understand the difference between flushing and breakouts from a reaction so that you know what is considered "normal" and whether you're on one Ingredient react or not.
Here are some features to look out for when determining if your skin is cleansing or if you are actually experiencing a reaction-type breakout:
For most skin types, using acid peels for the first time can cause some initial dryness and redness – especially if they are used too often at first. If you use products outside of this category, e.g. For example, if you have non-active ingredient serums, toners, or moisturizers and find that your skin is irritated or breaking, it may be because of sensitivity to a particular ingredient.
Remember that there are huge differences between causing flushing and promoting acne development. What Causes Acne? Factors like hormones, oil production, and bacteria are usually responsible for breakouts. It's also a good idea to understand the five most common types of acne, how they differ from a skin cleanse, and how they present themselves in different ways so that you can customize your routine.
How long does it take to clean the skin?
A good rule of thumb when following new products is that you have about a month to really start working with your skin to adjust to the ingredients and go through a proper sales process.
Following a routine is one of the best things you can do for your skin when starting out with new ingredients.
The average skin cycle lasts around 28 days. So, do at least one full cycle to remove dead skin cells and go through most of the cleansing process before making any changes in a routine.
Although every skin type is different, it usually only takes one cycle for the most noticeable cleansing to be done. However, it can take anywhere from four to six weeks to truly see the benefits of using powerful skin care ingredients. Consistency is the key!
What to do when your skin is flushed
When your skin is going through the cleansing process, maintaining a routine is important, but you also want to be gentle. Keep these tips in mind when taking care of your skin during a cleanse:
Avoid picking on bumps or small pimples.
As tempting as it may be, leave your skin alone to prevent further inflammation, acne, or discoloration.
Don't add products that routinely dry out the skin.
When using active ingredients or scrubs, avoid anything that can lead to dryness. For some, the cleansing process involves removing any excess sebum or oil so you don't want to over-exfoliate and cause dry, red skin.
See a professional.
Contact an Eminence Organics Spa Affiliate for a virtual or in-person consultation and book a facial when your skin begins to remove imperfections deep within the layers of your skin. Your esthetician can help remove excess impurities and gently cleanse them for a clear and glowing complexion.
Here's how to prevent outbreaks caused by reactions
Would you like to incorporate new products into your routine but don't want to deal with a full flushing process? Start slowly. Gradually incorporate actives like acid scrubs into a routine that will allow your skin time to adjust without noticeable cleansing or reaction. The best way to start with a product is to use it twice a week and then increase it up to three or four fold over the course of a month until you use a product on a daily basis or as directed.
What to do if your skin reacts
Using active ingredients too quickly and too early can lead not only to breakouts, but also to dryness, peeling and redness. All of this can be avoided if it becomes easier to use over time.
Do you have a skin reaction that seems like more than a cleansing? Do not use any new products for a week. If the breakouts go away, then your skin is most likely reacting to an ingredient and may not be the best option for your skin type.
One way to ensure that you are finding the best products for your skin is to seek advice from a licensed professional at an Eminence Organics spa partner who can analyze your skin type and concerns, and then provide a range of options that Meet your requirements. To find out more about which active ingredients are suitable for your skin, or to get in touch with an Eminence Organics spa partner for a personal or virtual consultation, visit our spa locator.
