Product Hopping Blues

One of the perks of writing for my own women’s blog and several others is I get to try a lot of health and beauty products for free. Though I appreciate this job, I’ve noticed one downfall of subjecting my face to various formulas: My skin hates it! The glowing, creamy skin that I once had is breaking out, lackluster, and downright dry.

What gives?

According to Dr. Michelle Copeland, M.D., D.M.D, author of The Beautiful Skin Workout: Eight Weeks to the Smoothest, Healthiest Skin of Your Life and Change Your Looks, Change Your Life, if you frequently hop from one product to the next in search of something better, you won’t be happy with the results. “Daily or weekly alternation of your topical serums and lotions is a form of skin abuse. The tissue reacts by becoming irritated or breaking out. All that back-and-fourth shocks the skin; it gets revved up because it’s not sure what’s going to hit it next,” says Copeland.

I had read the words and even reviewed her book on my site but somehow let them go right over my head. It took about a month or so before I started noticing the bad changes in my skin. So, the new manifesto for trying and reviewing new products is this: All future skin care trials will be done on the back of my hand or on a small patch of facial skin no more than once a month. I feel this new plan will still give me accurate results and allow me to be objective without risking my skin’s integrity. I’ve worked too hard to keep beautiful skin to lose it now in my forties.

A Long-term Relationship

I hate to admit that I have been a skin care junkie. I have used so many different products that I can’t even remember them all. However, I’ve seen the error of my way; I’m making the commitment to my beloved Aveda products. The Tourmaline-charged line is the best thing I’ve ever used for my skin. I’m not saying that it would be for you, only that you should find what does work and stick to it.

Obtaining and keeping a creamy complexion takes work and discipline. And, as I’ve found out the hard way, you aren’t going to get from hopping from Clinique >Olay >Lather> Origins> Loreal. Just pick one already! Your skin will thank you!

Photo by Dark Jessica