If you're looking to switch up your skincare routine, it's best to do it every season so your products have time to work their magic. Generally speaking, you should be able to see visible changes in your skin after three months of using your skin care products correctly and consistently. When introducing a new product into your routine, it's important to take it slow and only add one product at a time. Give each product at least two weeks before introducing another one.
If you think the product may be irritating your skin, take a step back and consult a dermatologist for guidance. It's also worth noting that applying skin care products with different PH levels does not reduce the effectiveness of the products. When adding a new product to your skincare routine, it's helpful to consult a dermatologist first to make sure it won't cause any unwanted interactions with your other products. However, it's important to keep in mind that skin care products usually offer the best results when combined with other treatments such as laser and energy devices and injectables.
Board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Chwalek, MD, recommends following a skincare routine for 12 weeks or longer before expecting to see results, especially when it comes to treating areas such as fine lines or pigmentation. She also suggests using a new skin care product for at least three months “to measure the effect on the skin”. When it comes to making sure your skin care routine is effective, you also have to consider how the products you use interact with each other. You may be unknowingly canceling out the effects of one product or making them less effective.
Moisturizer is one of the skin care products that offers users the fastest results, so if that's what you're looking for, this is a great place to start. As a general rule, you should only start to see real skin changes after one to three months of consistent use of a skin care product.
