The Triple Helixian is an unbiased science and research-based site that attempts to clarify and elucidate questions about skin care, while aspiring to be the most thorough and complete source of information.
22 thoughts on “How often do you change your skin care routine?”
(My comment keeps not posting, this is attempt #4 so fingers crossed!)
Because I work in the cosmetic industry, I always have LOTS of new skincare products in my life. It leads to my skincare routing changing often, which may or may not be a good thing (it has ups and downs depending on the products). I have discovered some real gems however, and overall my skin is far better than it was a few years ago. I can’t help but try new things with so many new products, and I don’t switch everything at once of course. So it’s hard to know if trying so many is good or bad!
Well, as you can see, one of your posts went through. But thank you once again for taking the time to retype everything.
FYI, this problem has happened to me before too, and now whenver I submit a comment or something that’s longer than two sentences, I just copy and paste what I typed into the Sticky Notes application, or even Microsoft Word. Maybe you should start as well!
Working in cosmetics means I have a LOT of new skincare introduced to me all the time, which means I try out new things often and it may or may not be good for my skin (it has ups and downs depending on the products of course). But it has allowed me to discover some real gems! Overall I can say my skin is much improved to what it was a few years ago however.
That sounds great! Skin care, while less subjective than makeup, does involve a lot of trial and error. Glad to see you’ve got some sort of stable routine going. 🙂
I have recently been changing mine a lot, in a bid to fix it! (I’m ‘Emma’ by the way, my routine is on here!)
My skin is currently the best it has been in years. I took John’s advice, and I’m much happier with my routine. I feel like the products I’m using are doing something, combined with a change in lifestyle (improved diet and exercise, and trying to build my self-esteem)
I will give you a full update as soon as my exams are over with John!
But I think it’s always a good idea to identify your skin type, target any problems, focus in on the products that you KNOW work and WHY they work, then you can always add to that basic routine or adapt it when needed, like changing suncreams or moisturisers depending on the season.
Yes!! I’d love to hear an update. And please, don’t feel like you have to support all of my decisions and recommendations given in your routine review. If for some reason, you think something didn’t work out, please let me know so that I can investigate further.
I like the way you summed up the comment: “But I think it’s always…” You have grown wise young Padawan. Lol!! But seriously, I like that a lot!
Give me until 31st May and I’ll write a response that you deserve! I want to give as much detail as I can about exactly what I’ve changed…but a BIG part of it has been the routine changes and knowing what to use and when to use it.
I will be back 🙂
P.S John – May the Fourth be with you (tomorrow) ^_^
I used to stick to a fairly simple routine, but working in the cosmetics industry leads to MANY new skincare products in my life so now I tend to switch it up quite often. (Which might not be ideal for my skin, it has its ups and downs if I try a product that isn’t right, too heavy or over exfoliating, but overall my skin is better than it ever has.) I’ve found I love layering products, and have discovered some real gems!
P.S. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have stumbled on your blog, I visit constantly and appreciate your advice. 🙂 Clearly I too am a skincare fanatic, always hungry for more knowledge!
I’ll stick with it until it stops working or until I find that there is room for improvement. However, having sensitive skin & acne I tend to avoid trying new things for fear of an adverse reaction, all the purchases I make are well thought and researched previously. And then of course there are other factors, for example there are many things I would like to try but are out of my reach monetarily or geographically.
Curiously most of my recent skincare purchases are made through the internet and all come from foreign countries, mostly from Asia. There aren’t many great accessible things here in Portugal, despite of the actual “crisis” and all that jazz most products are more expensive here than abroad.
I’m glad to hear that you do a lot of research for your routine! Yeah I’d imagine that things are more expensive abroad. Well if you ever have any questions, I’ll be here! Thanks for commenting!
I change my skin routine whenever I finish a product, or several products in all. I do use several products at the same time, so I guess it works all right that way as well. I just like buying products randomly too much, and need to stop doing that!
P.S. Hope your college/med school apps/things are going well!
I used to change around a lot, trying a new cleanser from the store whenever I ran out (occasionally buying the same one a couple of times if I liked it), but I haven’t changed my current “routine” in over a year. I don’t have a strict schedule, though, I keep a couple of options around. I’m using both Paula’a Choice oily skin lines and just use whichever one I feel like at the moment–no schedule or anything (I don’t alternate, or use one 2 days and the other 5). I try to keep a couple of textures for each item (one gel and one creamy cleanser, one gel and one lotion moisturizer, etc.) and choose whichever texture I feel like.
That’s cool! Switching around products in a particular category is what I used to do. But I just had a million and one products and figured simplicty was what I preferred. And that meant that products sat around for less time. Even with correct packaging, I rationalized that the quicker I use up “treatments” the better.
I can always rely on you to comment haha! Thank you kindly!
I know it leaves products around longer, but I think I get through it quickly enough. I only keep 2 or MAYBE 3 options for each step…i usually use up one before the other so while I’m finishing the 2nd, I place another order. 🙂 It’s a tad cluttered but sometimes I just really really want a certain texture. And I only have 1 serum/treatment (well, and the carbon mask).
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(My comment keeps not posting, this is attempt #4 so fingers crossed!)
Because I work in the cosmetic industry, I always have LOTS of new skincare products in my life. It leads to my skincare routing changing often, which may or may not be a good thing (it has ups and downs depending on the products). I have discovered some real gems however, and overall my skin is far better than it was a few years ago. I can’t help but try new things with so many new products, and I don’t switch everything at once of course. So it’s hard to know if trying so many is good or bad!
Posted by mildlyaddictive | May 5, 2012, 10:30 pmWell, as you can see, one of your posts went through. But thank you once again for taking the time to retype everything.
FYI, this problem has happened to me before too, and now whenver I submit a comment or something that’s longer than two sentences, I just copy and paste what I typed into the Sticky Notes application, or even Microsoft Word. Maybe you should start as well!
Posted by John | May 6, 2012, 12:15 amWorking in cosmetics means I have a LOT of new skincare introduced to me all the time, which means I try out new things often and it may or may not be good for my skin (it has ups and downs depending on the products of course). But it has allowed me to discover some real gems! Overall I can say my skin is much improved to what it was a few years ago however.
Posted by mildlyaddictive | May 5, 2012, 10:25 pmThat sounds great! Skin care, while less subjective than makeup, does involve a lot of trial and error. Glad to see you’ve got some sort of stable routine going. 🙂
Posted by John | May 6, 2012, 12:14 amI have recently been changing mine a lot, in a bid to fix it! (I’m ‘Emma’ by the way, my routine is on here!)
My skin is currently the best it has been in years. I took John’s advice, and I’m much happier with my routine. I feel like the products I’m using are doing something, combined with a change in lifestyle (improved diet and exercise, and trying to build my self-esteem)
I will give you a full update as soon as my exams are over with John!
But I think it’s always a good idea to identify your skin type, target any problems, focus in on the products that you KNOW work and WHY they work, then you can always add to that basic routine or adapt it when needed, like changing suncreams or moisturisers depending on the season.
Posted by 'Emma' | May 2, 2012, 9:52 amYes!! I’d love to hear an update. And please, don’t feel like you have to support all of my decisions and recommendations given in your routine review. If for some reason, you think something didn’t work out, please let me know so that I can investigate further.
I like the way you summed up the comment: “But I think it’s always…” You have grown wise young Padawan. Lol!! But seriously, I like that a lot!
Posted by John | May 2, 2012, 1:53 pmHurray, Emma! I’d love to hear an update too!
Posted by ladyisla | May 2, 2012, 8:25 pm*Like*
Posted by John | May 2, 2012, 9:39 pmHehe . Thumbs up button! 🙂
Posted by ladyisla | May 2, 2012, 10:01 pmLol!
Posted by John | May 2, 2012, 10:24 pmGive me until 31st May and I’ll write a response that you deserve! I want to give as much detail as I can about exactly what I’ve changed…but a BIG part of it has been the routine changes and knowing what to use and when to use it.
I will be back 🙂
P.S John – May the Fourth be with you (tomorrow) ^_^
Posted by 'Emma' | May 3, 2012, 8:29 amNice! You don’t have to write it before the 31st, really no rush.
And may the 4th be with you too. Lol!!
Posted by John | May 3, 2012, 11:40 amI used to stick to a fairly simple routine, but working in the cosmetics industry leads to MANY new skincare products in my life so now I tend to switch it up quite often. (Which might not be ideal for my skin, it has its ups and downs if I try a product that isn’t right, too heavy or over exfoliating, but overall my skin is better than it ever has.) I’ve found I love layering products, and have discovered some real gems!
P.S. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have stumbled on your blog, I visit constantly and appreciate your advice. 🙂 Clearly I too am a skincare fanatic, always hungry for more knowledge!
Posted by mildlyaddictive | May 2, 2012, 12:37 amHaha I can imagine being FORCED to switch around products just to keep up with the new releases.
And thank you very much! I’m thrilled to have another dedicated reader! Welcome, welcome!
Posted by John | May 2, 2012, 1:47 pmI’ll stick with it until it stops working or until I find that there is room for improvement. However, having sensitive skin & acne I tend to avoid trying new things for fear of an adverse reaction, all the purchases I make are well thought and researched previously. And then of course there are other factors, for example there are many things I would like to try but are out of my reach monetarily or geographically.
Curiously most of my recent skincare purchases are made through the internet and all come from foreign countries, mostly from Asia. There aren’t many great accessible things here in Portugal, despite of the actual “crisis” and all that jazz most products are more expensive here than abroad.
Posted by Ana | May 1, 2012, 5:28 pmI’m glad to hear that you do a lot of research for your routine! Yeah I’d imagine that things are more expensive abroad. Well if you ever have any questions, I’ll be here! Thanks for commenting!
Posted by John | May 1, 2012, 8:48 pmI change my skin routine whenever I finish a product, or several products in all. I do use several products at the same time, so I guess it works all right that way as well. I just like buying products randomly too much, and need to stop doing that!
P.S. Hope your college/med school apps/things are going well!
Posted by Med School Girl | May 1, 2012, 4:04 pmThat sounds good. I tend to prefer sticking to products I know work, but hey, trying products is certainly fun at least! And thanks!
Posted by John | May 1, 2012, 4:34 pmI used to change around a lot, trying a new cleanser from the store whenever I ran out (occasionally buying the same one a couple of times if I liked it), but I haven’t changed my current “routine” in over a year. I don’t have a strict schedule, though, I keep a couple of options around. I’m using both Paula’a Choice oily skin lines and just use whichever one I feel like at the moment–no schedule or anything (I don’t alternate, or use one 2 days and the other 5). I try to keep a couple of textures for each item (one gel and one creamy cleanser, one gel and one lotion moisturizer, etc.) and choose whichever texture I feel like.
Posted by ladyisla | April 30, 2012, 5:48 pmThat’s cool! Switching around products in a particular category is what I used to do. But I just had a million and one products and figured simplicty was what I preferred. And that meant that products sat around for less time. Even with correct packaging, I rationalized that the quicker I use up “treatments” the better.
I can always rely on you to comment haha! Thank you kindly!
Posted by John | April 30, 2012, 9:23 pmI know it leaves products around longer, but I think I get through it quickly enough. I only keep 2 or MAYBE 3 options for each step…i usually use up one before the other so while I’m finishing the 2nd, I place another order. 🙂 It’s a tad cluttered but sometimes I just really really want a certain texture. And I only have 1 serum/treatment (well, and the carbon mask).
Posted by ladyisla | April 30, 2012, 10:18 pmYeah, I get that you like having the options. Like I said in my reply, it’s all personal preference. I just PREFER simplicity. Lol!
Posted by John | April 30, 2012, 11:13 pm