HOW TO...
Do a Patch Test Properly
W
e’ve all been there. You finally take
the plunge and invest in that new
skin care product you’ve had your
eye on for months, before rushing home to
slather it all over your face and wait for the
magic to happen. But instead of enjoying the
smooth, glowy skin you read about in so many
online reviews, your skin becomes itchy, red
and sensitive. Obviously this product isn’t right
for you, but now you have an irritated com-
plexion to fix. If only there was a way to avoid
situations like this…
No matter how often you have used a particu-
lar ingredient or how au fait you are with what
does and doesn’t work for your skin, if you are
trying a product you have never used before,
a reaction is always possible, especially when
the product in question contains highly active
ingredients like acids, peptides or Retinol. The
easiest way to avoid an unexpected reaction is
to complete a patch test before committing to
any new formula.
Ideally, try and get hold of a sample of the
product you want to add to your routine. If a
sample isn’t available, check the brand’s returns
or reactions policy before handing over any
cash. Once you have the product, there are a
couple of steps you can take to determine
whether or not it is going to work for your skin.
Start by applying a small amount of the
product to a typically sensitive yet easily
hidden part of the body, so if you do suffer a
reaction, you can easily disguise the affected
area. For face products, apply to the skin
behind the ear or down the side of your neck,
and for body products, apply a small amount
to the inside of your arm. Any serious reaction
will show up relatively quickly – we’re talking
minutes – but it’s best to wait for at least 24
hours to give the skin time to respond. Look
out for redness, under-the-skin bumps and a
burning sensa tion which could signal either
an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients
or your skin taking a dislike to the strength
of the formulation.
If you want to make sure a product isn’t going
to clog your pores and contribute to breakouts,
apply a small amount to your chin or to the
area where the cheek meets the nose. These
areas of the face have more oil glands and tend
to exhibit larger pores, making them the
perfect place to check whether a product is
comedogenic or not.
Once the patch test has been completed, you
have one of two options. The first, and most
ideal, outcome is that your skin has suffered
no reaction, so you can go ahead and purchase
the full size product and apply it like you would
any other step in your routine. The second
outcome is that your skin has reacted badly
and you have to ditch that product you had
such high hopes for. To restore calm back to
your skin after a reaction, use minimal prod-
ucts on the area, keep it cool and avoid using
anything that contains fragrance or alcohol,
which could exacerbate the problem.
Next time you feel the itch to try a new
product, remember to do a patch test first.
Your skin and your bank account will thank
you for it.
ISSUE #06 | 2018 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 13