As we're progressively becoming more mindful of what we're putting into and onto our bodies, many have decided to take a step back to reevaluate their beauty regimens. As a result, many have chosen to opt out of synthetic skincare, leading to an increasing demand for products infused with natural ingredients. For some, however, the shift from synthetic to natural ingredients doesn't always go as smoothly as imagined — the process can involve everything from flushing to breakouts. But no need to panic.
The detox phase
When starting using natural skincare ingredients, you can experience a phase called skin purging — in other words, a detox phase. When your skin is purging, it's cleansing itself from build-up of negative and harmful substances, like grime and toxins. A process that occurs thanks to the natural active ingredients' abilities to accelerate cell renewal. There's only one way out for the build-up, and that's through your skin in the form of impurities and breakouts.
What's important to remember is that the reaction will subside. Skin purging normally lasts between 1-6 weeks, before the skin has 'reset' itself — and the results are oh-so worth it.
Give your products a chance
Patience truly is the key word when it comes to skincare, as the best of results take time. This means continuing to use your product regularly throughout the skin purging period. If you do experience this reaction, we recommend not introducing other new products to your routine during this phase to prevent overwhelming your skin.
When the purging process is over, and your skin has cleansed itself from within, your now revitalized complexion will be more welcoming of new products. After about 10 weeks, evaluate your results. Remember: Products and ingredient compositions are different, meaning there's no one-size-fits-all answer. But efficacy doesn't always equate to immediate effects.
You know your skin the best
Of course, you should always react if you experience any unusual sensitivity after starting a new product — skincare should never cause hurtful reactions. If your skin flushes, but you aren't particularly feeling it, it's probably a symptom of cell renewal.
However, if the redness is followed by itching, a burning sensation, or you begin to develop bumps or irritation, this could be a sign of contact allergy (yes, you can be allergic to natural ingredients as well). If this is the case, stop using the product immediately. We recommend always doing a patch test to ensure that the product will work with your skin and not against it.
The naturalness of woods_
woods_ copenhagen is natural skincare that you can trust — both when it comes to safety and efficacy. Our products are designed, developed, and produced in Denmark, and our ingredients are harvested from Nordic nature. Fresh, clean, organic, and natural are keywords when describing the Nordic DNA of every bottle.
Related reading: Skin purging and why it's actually a good thing