So, you’ve got your fresh haul of skincare products and are excited to try a new routine! How exciting! Whether you’re adding in one product or starting over with a completely new regimen, we want to share all of our insights and tips when switching to a new skincare routine.

Purging and expectations

 
All skin is different and will have different time frames for adjusting to a new routine and ingredients. Generally, you can begin to see a difference in your skin as early as two weeks and up to six months or more depending on the skin condition you’re targeting and previous skin symptoms that you’re working on. But don’t be discouraged!

Using active ingredients and weaning off of them can take some time for your skin to adjust. If you have the patience, you may even want to begin weaning off actives for about a week or two before introducing the new product into your routine to give your skin some time to breathe. Depending on how strong the active is or if it’s prescription, you’ll want to work with your health care practitioner or speak to an esthetician before making any changes. 

Some people may experience skin purging, breakouts, or texture changes with new products. Be gentle on yourself and your skin and know this is only a phase. Purging can mean that your skin is working to push out toxins from your body, helping your skin come to a state of balance.

If you do see worsening symptoms or reactions you haven’t had before, stop using the product and reach out to us, a holistic esthetician, or your health care professional for advice.

For deeper pigmentation, heavy sun damage, or deep lines and wrinkles, you may need additional skincare treatments to see a difference with these skin conditions. An esthetician or dermatologist can help determine which treatments are right for you.

How many products are you adding into your current routine?

If you’re adding in one new product into your regimen, your skin should assimilate with the ingredients within a two to four week time frame.

If you’re adding in more than one product into your regimen, take it slow and try adding in only one product to your regimen every two weeks. This will help you to adjust to the new ingredients without overwhelming your skin. If you begin to see reactions or breakouts, you may want to scale back and allow more time for your skin to adjust. Skin cells take an average of 21 to 28 days to regenerate and you should begin to see a change around this time. Stick with your routine and by about three months in, you will start to see a greater overall change in your skin - more balanced barrier function, smoother texture, fading or disappearing of acne marks, sun spots, and sun damage, and a lessening or disappearing of fine lines and wrinkles.

For major changes like fading sunspots and sun damage or skin conditions that may need a longer adjustment period, we recommend working with a holistic esthetician so they can check in with you to make sure the regimen you’re on is heading in the right direction.

Organic slow beauty vs. conventional skincare

At Botnia, we take a gentle approach to the skin and so it may take longer to see results from plant-based skincare. We prefer natural ingredients in our formulations because our bodies naturally know how to assimilate them more effectively, with less irritation and fewer side effects than non-natural ingredients. Just like eating a healthy nutrient dense diet, the vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and saccharides take time to help build your body from the inside out, but with time, you’ll see longer lasting results without compromising the health of your skin.

Need additional advice or recommendations?

Our holistic Botnia Spa Partners around the nation can be a wonderful ally. They’re experts in the skincare industry and the first line of defense when it comes to helping you achieve healthy happy skin. 

Not near a Botnia spa partner? No worries! Our master estheticians are online and here to help. Submit your question or answer our questionnaire to get a customized regimen made specially for your unique skin.

For those with skin conditions that are chronic and long lasting, working with a dermatologist or health care practitioner in conjunction with an esthetician can help keep the overall health of your skin in tip top shape in the long run. 

We’re here to help you achieve your skin goals while thinking about the long term health of your skin. Skincare and self care should be fun and we hope you enjoy using your new products in good health!