Does the skin get used to skincare products? Let's debunk a false myth.

"Recently, in the world of skincare and beauty products, there has been much talk about skin tolerance to active ingredients found in creams, serums, and cleansers. But is it really true? In the list of false myths about skincare, there are many beliefs that should have been overcome by now, yet here we are still discussing them." 

This in particular is a belief that worries many women as it is believed that the skin can get so used to skincare products that it becomes immune to their benefits. After all, no one would want to buy products that see their effectiveness decrease over time.

For this reason, we aim to bust this false myth about skincare and learn to better understand the mechanism that regulates the skin and its natural beauty. 

The skin, this mysterious one

The skin is the largest organ of our body and has essential functions for well-being and survival. The three layers that make up our skin are superimposed and work in perfect synergy: hypodermis, dermis, and epidermis. The first layer, the deepest one, is made up of adipocytes, fat cells that have the task of absorbing, synthesizing, and releasing lipids. 

The dermis is the framework of the skin that contains fibroblasts and, under the control of hormones, produces collagen and elastin, the proteins that provide resistance and elasticity to the skin, respectively. Finally, the epidermis is the upper layer made up of various layers of overlapping cells that continuously renew themselves. The cells are linked together by a hydro-acid-lipid film composed of a fatty part (sebum) and an aqueous part, which is the natural hydration. 

It is the layer that we touch daily, the stratum corneum whose cells are now dead and dehydrated and gradually detach. For this reason, the skin undergoes continuous changes due to the passage of time or the stages of a person's life, such as pregnancy for example or menopause. Other changes are induced by external conditions that alter the balance of the skin, such as UV rays, pollution, or other environmental factors. For this reason, cosmetics are used. 

What is a cosmetic?

For many of you, it may seem trivial, but in my opinion, sometimes it is necessary to go back to the basics to better understand how the products we use daily work and how we can improve the health and beauty of our skin. As we have already done when we talked about the cosmeceuticals, let's return to the definition of cosmetic. 

A cosmetic is a preparation made up of three key components mixed together: functional ingredients, additives, and emollient bases. Additives are essential for maintaining the shelf life and safety of the cosmetic itself. Antioxidants, for example, work by inhibiting oxidation reactions triggered by oxygen and keep the formula conditions altered. The same antioxidants act on the skin, preventing the activation of aging processes. 

Just read the INCI, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, to know the ingredients of each individual cosmetic: the quality of the cosmetic does not depend solely on the individual ingredients but also on the way they are formulated. Naturally, cosmetics help us prevent aging and protect the skin from factors such as stress, climate change, poor diet, smoking, pollution, and much more. 

Knowing how to choose the right product is essential to meet the related need of the moment, for example in summer, but also in winter, it is good to prevent photoaging and the formation of skin spots by using sunscreen or a cream with SPF. That said, however, one concept becomes clear: our skin changes along with us, and so do its needs, its natural requirements, its demands. 

For this reason, the cosmetic product may no longer meet the needs of the skin at that particular stage of life or its natural cycle. The skin does not develop any type of tolerance to a specific active ingredient, nor does it become immune since there is no mechanism that prevents a cosmetic product from having its effect on the skin. Skin changes can occur even within a month; winter and summer require different products, which is why it may no longer respond effectively to the same products. 

How often should you renew your skincare? 

The skincare routine is essential at any moment in life. A well-structured routine based on personalized needs helps the skin layer to renew itself by eliminating dead cells and dirt, allows functional ingredients to penetrate deeply and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, keeping the skin healthy and strong, beautiful in appearance and protected. 

For the reasons we have just mentioned, it is sometimes necessary to make changes to your skincare routine, not because the skin has become accustomed to a product, but rather to provide the active ingredient needed at that specific moment. Introducing different cosmetics with the change of season can help, for example, to avoid weighing down the skin in summer; in winter, on the other hand, it is possible to opt for more intense hydration to create a strong skin barrier capable of withstanding the elements. The change of season is the only process that can actually affect your skincare and lead you to change the products you are using. 

The same applies to the stages of life: as we age, some processes slow down, and it is therefore advisable to use cosmetics that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, such as products containing peptides. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the entire skincare routine; rather, it is sufficient to adapt the products from time to time based on current needs.

Moreover, it should be said that if it seems to you that your skin no longer has the 'wow effect' it had when you started using a particular product, perhaps you have become accustomed to seeing that effect and now it is normal for you; this does not mean that the product has become less effective, rather it is you who see yourself that way.

Sometimes it is us who seek something different, who want to change, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you really want to achieve results, try to request a personalized consultation that can help you improve your skin conditions through a targeted and tailored approach just for you. 

On the other hand, if your skincare continues to work as it is and you feel that your skin responds well to certain cosmetics, you have no reason to change products. If you still like them, they make you feel good, and they give you results, your skin will continue to benefit from the nourishment you are providing, resulting in beautiful, radiant, and healthy skin.