What To Do With Skincare Products That Stopped Working For You?

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Sometimes we buy certain skincare products and they end up being entirely useless! Now, you are left with all the leftover products (and the guilt), wondering whether to throw them out or keep using them.

You can determine if a new skincare routine is working for you by observing the way your skin feels-whether it is smooth, healthy, and hydrated to the touch. It is most likely that your chosen products are not working if your skin feels flaky and itchy, and displays visible signs of redness and breakouts.

When irritation and redness persist for more than 2-3 weeks, even with products such as retinol, it is a clear sign that skin care is not working.

If you're done with a certain formula because it doesn't work with your skin, here are some alternative uses you can find for it - instead of throwing it out.

What To Do With Skincare Products That Have Stopped Working For You?

What should you do if your exfoliating scrub has stopped working?

If you use chemical exfoliation or scrubbing with beaded formulas frequently, you may find that your skin feels sore instead of clean after exfoliation [1].

The scrub can be directed towards your elbows, knees, and the soles of your feet if you find that moderating the frequency does not work. This will allow dead skin cells to be removed. The use of exfoliants on a daily basis is not recommended; it is recommended to space them out to twice or thrice a week.

Is your cleanser working anymore? Do this instead

In any skincare routine, cleansing is an essential part. However, products that are strong can result in skin feeling tight and dry rather than feeling healthy and hydrated after use. In order to decongest these areas which possess higher oil glands in the body, you can use the cleanser once or twice a week on your upper back and buttocks [2].

What to do with a facial serum that stopped working?

There is a difference in how long it takes for the results of different actives in different formulas to appear on your skin. After conducting a patch test, you can use the serum on your hands and chest/neck area if you have not observed any results beyond the first four weeks or if your skin condition is worsening [3].

Is your sunscreen leaving a white cast?

Even if you are indoors or it is cloudy outside, sunscreen is a skincare essential. However, no one likes the ashy appearance that comes with a white cast.

While chemical sunscreens may provide relief from the white residue, if you wish to use up your current batch of sunscreen, you may apply it liberally to your arms before heading out, as it provides a sufficient physical barrier against environmental damage.

Is that facial oil clogging your pores? Causing acne?

If you have acne-prone skin, you might find that some oils leave your face congested even though they're light in weight. Instead of throwing it out, you can find alternative uses, like applying the oil to your hands, knees, and feet before you go to bed because these dry areas get neglected and dry all the time [4].

On A Final Note...

So, the next time you buy something that ends up not working for your skin, don't throw it out - there's more than enough waste in this world! Try to find other uses for it.