Skin renewal: How quickly does your skin get used to new care?

Photo by Karina Tess on Unsplash

What does skin renewal have to do with getting used to new skin care?

Customers often ask me how quickly they notice whether the new care works or not. And with natural cosmetics it actually looks a little different than with products with a lot of synthetics . They often rely on the immediate effect, but show unsightly side effects after a while. Many of their ingredients have absolutely no value for the skin. Some of them also irritate them, dry them out or seal them.

With natural cosmetics it is exactly the other way around. It supports the skin's own processes in the long term. Natural ingredients are significantly more complex . Your skin gets more that it can use, but it has to process that first. A new care line is like a change in diet for the skin . If you usually only eat white toast, your digestion will initially react violently to hearty grain bread. The skin also has to adapt to other nutrients. And that can take about a recovery cycle .

The epidermis is renewed every 4 weeks

The top layer of skin is constantly renewed. Further down in the epidermis, new cells are formed, which are then slowly pushed up by their successors. In the process, they slowly become calloused and finally arrive at the very outside, where they now form the new skin surface. At least until they die off completely and are kicked out by newer cells.

How long this journey takes depends mainly on your age. For adults between the ages of 20 and 50, that's around 28 days . So your epidermis completely renews itself about once a month. Unfortunately, cell division slows down over the course of life. Especially beyond the 50 there is a low. As a "Golden Ager" you should give your skin a little more time to get used to new products. We will now see when the changeover will take noticeably time.

When you switch to natural cosmetics

Conventional cosmetics usually contain highly purified, petroleum-based substances such as mineral oils or silicones. They rely on superficial effects, but have no nutritional value . They smooth the skin by sealing it off, called an occlusion . Water can no longer evaporate, which is desirable, but the natural regeneration processes shut down. Other mineral oil products make the skin more permeable to allow active ingredients to enter. It also makes them dry out more easily. Either way, mineral oils and silicones are completely worthless to the skin itself.

If you have used products with silicone or mineral oil for a long time, your skin has to learn to work on its own again. Because natural cosmetics do not replace the natural skin function, but support it. To do this, it supplies the skin with nourishing oils, for example, which it can either incorporate directly into the skin barrier or process into something useful . Natural ingredients are therefore much more complex than mineral oil products. The skin is faced with work that it is no longer used to.

If you have previously used heavy sealing (occlusive) creams or aggressive cleansing products, the skin first has to regenerate its protective layer . In the first few days or weeks it can therefore feel drier or break out. This is nothing to worry about, it is quite normal during the transition phase. After around 4 weeks , i.e. once your skin has completely renewed itself, these effects usually wear off. Now the benefits of natural skin care are really coming to the fore.

☝️ A first deterioration is not a must, but possible . Here it is simply a matter of holding out for a few days or weeks. However, persistent redness, irritation, itching and pustules are not normal . They can indicate an allergy.

Photo by Kamila Maciejewska on Unsplash

When it burns – this is how you can switch to stressed skin

If your skin is already severely damaged, switching to new products alone may not be enough. We are talking about skin that is very sensitive , itchy, red, chapped up to full blown perioral dermatitis . With such a skin condition you are not alone. Often it is caused by over-care. Too many ingredients, too many products, too many experiments on the verge of desperation - I know, I've been there. The skin is overwhelmed and no longer likes it.

A step-by-step changeover can make sense here . Skip harsh cleansers or toners first, as these are the most irritating to the skin. After a week or two, when your skin has calmed down, you can also switch moisturizers . Mild face oils that you apply to damp skin or a moisturizing serum without alcohol are particularly non-irritating .

What if your skin just won't calm down ? Give her a break. If she reacts irritated to mild creams or perhaps even to clear water, the drastic treatment will help . Harsh but effective as it gives your skin time to settle down. After 3 days of cosmetic fasting (ONLY lukewarm water is allowed) you can slowly approach a new care routine. The following applies: less is more. Take a cream with few, natural ingredients and apply it sparingly .

⏳ In the case of perioral dermatitis, you unfortunately have to hold out longer with the zero therapy. Around 6 weeks of cosmetic-free time are announced here.

Can cosmetics accelerate skin renewal?

Yes and no. You have very little control over how quickly the epidermis forms new cells . There are a number of things you can do to get rid of dead skin cells faster . The top measure for this are peelings . They detach the top horny layer and make your skin look fresher and more even. For best results, exfoliate once or twice a week . You can find out which type of peeling is particularly gentle and the benefits of regular peeling at Everything goes smoothly with the right peeling .

Accelerate cell division from 4 weeks to 2, well, that would be something! Unfortunately, that's not how it works. You can only support your skin during regeneration. How? By taking good care of yourself . Things that promote blood circulation and prevent oxidation damage have a positive effect. Dos are regular exercise, fresh air, enough sleep, a healthy diet and sensible skin care. Don'ts include lots of sun , stress and cigarettes. Alcohol is not exactly good for the skin either.

Give your skin time to adjust

Conclusion : Maybe you are immediately happy with your new care strategy. However, it can also take some time before you see a real improvement when you switch up your skin care routine. Your skin renews itself about every four weeks. It may take her that long to get used to new things. This is especially true when...

... you switch from synthetic ingredients to natural cosmetics because they are metabolized in a completely different way.

... you are over 50 because your skin regenerates more slowly then.

... your skin was severely damaged before the changeover - then the drastic cure should be the first step .

So patience, patience. Skin care is an endurance race . If you're constantly sprinting from one product to the next, your skin will quickly run out of breath. That's why ultra-small samples that only last for one or two applications are not really meaningful. At most you can test whether the texture feels good. My tip: It's better to invest some time in choosing your new care product and then give your skin the opportunity to adjust to it .

High Five!
Your Anna