7 reasons your skincare products aren’t ‘working’ for you (2024)

Often, the world of online skin care can feel a little overwhelming.

There are so many exciting products that all make enticing promises.

But when you buy them and start putting them on your face, you might wonder...

Is this skin care actually doing anything? Why isn't my skincare routine working?

There are a lot of reasons why you might not be seeing results from a skincare product or skin routine.

More often than not, it has less to do with a product 'not working' (although don't get me wrong, these products do exist) and more with it not being the right product for you.

So, if you’ve tried a whole bunch of skin care and it doesn’t feel like your skin issues are improving, here are a few things you might want to consider.

1. You Aren’t Consistent With Your Skincare Routine.

Consistency = results, so if you’re not using your skin care daily (and in the correct way), then you will lack results.

You have to get into the habit of doing your skincare routine as if you're brushing your teeth.

Because you wouldn’t skip brushing your teeth, would you?

If you lead a busy lifestyle and find it hard to make time for skin care- I'm a mum of three kids, I get it - then simplify your routine.

That way, you’re probably going to be more inclined to actually get through it. Especially at night.

We are all tired, but a simple skincare routine done every night is better than an overwhelming multi-step regimen you only get around to on random occasions when you can be bothered.

Check out this helpful YouTube video on how to create a beginner's skincare routine.

2. You’re Experiencing Hormonal Changes.

Hormonal fluctuations are normal, but they can impact your skin health.

These chemicals that help coordinate all our different bodily functions hold a lot of power.

Any major lifestyle change like stress, diet, pregnancy or coming off the contraceptive pill can trigger hormonal changes that can then lead to changes in the skin.

The most common hormonal skin concerns are breakouts and congestion caused by increased sebum (oil) production, and melasma.

Put simply, skin care alone can only do so much.

If you are having hormonal fluctuations that are affecting your skin, talk to your doctor about it and work in conjunction with your dermal therapist and/or a dietician, nutritionist or naturopath to achieve the skin results you’re after.

3. You’re Overusing Active Skin Care.

The number one issue I see in clinic is people overusing active ingredients aka actives.

Sometimes, it's because they want to see results faster. But most of the time, people genuinely don’t realise what actives are in their skin care, and how many active products they're blindly using at the same time.

Active ingredients like vitamin A/retinol and chemical exfoliating acids have their place, but using too many or the wrong ones for your skin (more on that in a bit) can exacerbate your skin concerns.

This is called impairing your skin barrier, and it can look like increased oil and breakouts, inflammation, redness and/or dryness.

Think you might've impaired skin barrier? Watch this YouTube video below for helpful tips.

4. You Haven't Been Using Them For Long Enough.

Skin care is a practice in patience, because it doesn't work overnight.

Sure, we do want it to be working for us eventually, but it's important to be realistic about the way skin care works.

How long does skin care take to work?

Aside from some exfoliants that can give you a fairly instant but temporary 'glow', it generally takes a minimum of 4-8 weeks of using a product consistently to see visible results.

5. You're Using the Wrong Products for Your Skin Type.

Another common thing I see in clinic is clients buying a whole bunch of skin care without knowing if it's right for them.

For example, if hyperpigmentation isn't a skin concern of yours, there's no need to use a hyperpigmentation serum.

This is why I'm always banging on about every product in your routine needing to have a purpose.

You need to know why you’re using a product, and if it’s not directly treating your skin concerns, then ask yourself if it's the right product for you, right now.

Stop getting your skincare advice from friends, family and influencers.

At the end of the day, their skin type and concerns aren’t yours.

Using the right skincare products for your skin type and concerns is key if you want to achieve a certain result.

It can also be counterproductive to use products that aren’t designed for your skin type because each one needs different things.

You can find out your skin type by listening to this episode of the Skincare School podcast below.

6. Changes in Lifestyle Factors.

A lot of lifestyle factors can contribute to your overall skin health.

Stress is a huge one I see a lot.

Clients could be doing all the right things and using all the right products, but if they're going through a major life change with work complications, losing a loved one, a divorce or the like, it can take its toll on the skin.

When you’re stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol that causes an increase in oil production, which inevitably leads to congestion and/or breakouts.

Stress can also affect your sleep - new mums might feel like they're experiencing post-partum skin issues.

Anyone who doesn’t sleep well will attest their skin can look more dull and dehydrated than normal.

Sleep is also important for cell renewal and repairing skin damage for healthy skin, as is a balanced diet.

7. Your Products Have Expired.

Attention hoarders, your skin care does have an expiration date.

Using a product sparingly in order to make the bottle last longer might seem economical, but the product might be off long before you run out.

It can also change the composition and efficacy of the ingredients, which can potential cause irritation (or nothing at all).

All skincare products have a ‘product after opening’ (PAO) symbol on the packaging that looks like a tiny jar with a lid coming off and a number from one to 12.

This indicates the number of months you have to use a product after opening before it expires.

Keep an eye out for changes in texture, colour and smell because these can also indicate a product has started to go off.

Products that don't contain certain ingredients like parabens can also expire sooner, something to be mindful of if you're a fan of 'natural' skin care.

Want to know if your skincare has expired? Watch dermal therapist James Vivian's YouTube video below.

8. You’ve Never Seen a Skin Professional Before.

Finally, if skin care is confusing you and what you’ve been trying doesn’t seem to be working, the best place to start is with a professional skin consultation.

End of story.

A professional skin consultation can often feel like an investment, but it will save you money in the long run.

Dermal therapists can help you streamline your current skincare routine, provide suggestions for products/ingredients to add in or remove, and they can even tell you what your skin type and concerns are.

Having a professional assess your skin to get you started on the right products makes a huge difference.

Learn more about what a dermal therapist actually does and how they can help you in our Dermal Diaries podcast mini series below!

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