Some beauty bloggers claim that your skin can become addicted to a particular moisturiser, and you will experience something akin to withdrawal syndrome if you stop using it. As a result, some women switch up their moisturiser every now and then to prevent their skin from getting used to it. But is this really necessary? Let’s figure it out together.
As a matter of fact, there is no scientific proof that your skin can get addicted to moisturiser or any other skincare product. Over-the-counter cosmetics simply do not contain ingredients that could cause a kind of withdrawal syndrome when you stop using them. This means that you can use your favourite moisturiser for as long as you want without being afraid that your skin will get worse if you unexpectedly run out of the product or if it gets discontinued.
However, sometimes the need to change your moisturiser does arise although it has nothing to do with your skin getting used to it. The thing is, your skin’s needs may change due to a variety of factors. As a result, you may notice that the moisturiser that has been working well for you all this time isn’t working so well any more. In this case, your should think about buying new moisturiser that will meet your skin’s needs.
What are the factors that might make you want to change your moisturiser? The change of seasons is the most common one: your skin needs lighter products in summer and richer moisturisers in winter. Skin ageing is another factor that should be taken into consideration: the moisturiser that was perfect for your skin when you were 25 probably won’t work so well for you when you’re 35 or 40. In addition, you might need to change your moisturiser due to various skin problems that require to switch up your skincare routine.
You should remember that your skin renews itself approximately every 28-30 days. This is the minimum amount of time you will need to understand whether your moisturiser works or you need to change it. However, it is best to use it continuously for at least 3 months (of course, if there are no adverse reactions to the product) because this is the amount of time it takes for a skincare product to reach its maximum potential. After that you probably won’t notice any significant changes in your skin.
This phenomenon is explained by the so-called physiological cumulative effect. At some point, the amount of active ingredients from the moisturiser’s formula accumulated in your skin due to regular use reaches its peak. After that, you will experience a plateau because your skin won’t be able to hold any more biologically active substances.
Here’s a simple example. If your skin is dehydrated, an intensive moisturising cream with humectants such as hyaluronic acid will help you to achieve a positive result after a period of regular use: your skin will regain its firmness and elasticity, stop flaking, and start looking healthy and radiant. However, after this point the moisturiser won’t make it any better because your skin is already hydrated enough; it’s as good as it gets.
Because of this, many women switch up their moisturiser once every 4–6 months to counter the cumulative effect. Generally, this change coincides with the change of seasons, when it is advisable for you to change your moisturiser anyway. However, you shouldn’t wait for months if your moisturiser causes you any discomfort or adverse reactions. In this case, you should change it as soon as possible to prevent skin redness, irritation, and other problems.
However, finding a new moisturiser is not always such an easy task as one might think. You need to take into account your skin type, its current condition, skincare ingredients you might be sensitive or allergic to, and other factors.
Our online shop Organic Store has a great selection of natural and organic moisturisers for all skin types for you to choose from. We offer reasonable prices, convenient and secure payment methods, and international delivery to most countries to make your online shopping experience as nice as possible.