There’s no denying that a great skin care regimen (sunscreen included!) can keep your skin looking healthy and radiant over time, especially since prevention is key.
However, there’s always room for cracks in even the strictest of 10-step routines, as there may be some unforeseen factors at play that can hinder the effectiveness of your product.
To shed some light on why your products aren’t working the way they should, we tapped six board-certified dermatologists to break down everything from weather changes to medications that may be messing with your skin.
Read on to reveal 11 reasons why your skincare products may stop working according to dermatologists.
1. Your Product Has Expired
Just like your food, your skin care products may also expire, making them not as effective as they once were, according to board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose.
This makes it important to check your product labels for an expiration date before you shop, she added, so you won’t waste your hard-earned money on a product that doesn’t work as long as it should.
“I find that patients’ retinoid creams often expire while there’s still plenty left ― so it appears that the product has stopped working, but really the product just needs to be replaced,” she said. “It usually occurs about four months after opening, as even if the expiration date is ahead in the future, once opened the product seems to be less long-lived.”
2. You’re Storing Your Products Incorrectly
Although it’s easy to gloss over storage instructions on any product label, Rose said it’s important not to ignore them, especially since direct sunlight (or hot and humid environments) can break down the active ingredients used in your products.
“Vitamin C serums often expire, and therefore will lose that powerful antioxidant effect,” she told HuffPost. “The best way to get the most out of these costly serums is to store them out of direct sunlight, and to even refrigerate them ― which gives the added benefit of a cold, soothing application.”
3. Your Body Becomes Used To Your Product
As odd as it may sound, board-certified dermatologist Jeffrey Fromowitz explained that it’s possible for a product to stop working after your skin becomes used to it, making it important to rotate your products every so often.
“The body simply adjusts, and using the product becomes the new normal for your skin,” he said. “Sometimes changing routines, products and order-of-use can lengthen the amount of time a product gives you positive skin benefits.”
4. You Aren’t Paying Attention To Important Weather Changes
This one shouldn’t really come as a surprise, but board-certified dermatologist Peterson Pierre told HuffPost that your skin care concerns can vary depending on the season.
“Environmental factors can definitely interfere with the efficacy of your skin care regimen, so it’s important to be aware of that and make the necessary changes to keep your skin looking its best,” he told HuffPost. “Winter can cause the skin to get red, dry and irritated, while the hot and humid summer months can lead to oily skin.”
5. You’re Experiencing Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes can also impact your skin, even when you aren’t on your period. Pierre said that other hormonal changes (associated with pregnancy, menopause or any hormonal imbalances) you may be experiencing can also have an effect on your skin care regimen.
With this in mind, he advises switching up your skin care products often to help combat any acne, dryness or irritability that may arise.
“Your skin can get oily and develop acne or it can get dull, dry and irritated,” he said. “It’s important to switch up your regimen to adapt to these changes.” Read more
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