Hey FaceTory Fam! 💝

We get it. New skincare is fun! You get home and slather that baby on! Why wait, right?!

Wrong! 😨 Here is a pretty good reason why you might want to slow your roll there. 🛑  🙅‍♀️ Skincare is made to help many people of many different skin types and there could always be that off chance that a certain product just doesn’t work well with your skin. And before you know it, your face is itchy and red. Yikes. This is a scenario no one wants to go through. So, testing a product is especially important if you have sensitive or sensitized/reactive skin. To help you all out, here are our tips for patch testing a product- something you should always do when you get a new product, no matter what skin type you have! 👍🏻

You’ll want to patch test for 3 different things:

1. Allergic reactions
2. Comedogenicity: (if it is pore-clogging)
3. Irritations

For any possible allergic reactions, test the product on the side of your neck, somewhere below your ear. This area is more reactive because it is thinner than other areas of your skin.

To test a product for comedogenicity and breakouts, apply it on either your T-zone or chin, as these areas have more oil glands.

To test for any skin irritations, apply the product in an area where you are most sensitive. This area will be different for each person but generally the cheeks, between the brows, and around the mouth.

For how long?

This will depend on each person. Some people react easily to new products and others require several days for a product to really affect the skin.

These are the reactions you need to look out for:

• Severe reaction: Red, bumpy, splotchy, itchy, painful.
  If you have a severe reaction stop use immediately.

• Mild reaction: This can be tricky. Sometimes you will have a reaction to a product because your skin isn’t used to it yet or because the product is actually working to remove all the bad stuff! However, if your skin is feeling sensitive or breaking out in areas where it normally wouldn’t, stop use.

• No reaction: Yay! You’ve found your go-to skincare item!

Now, if you do have an allergic reaction while testing out a product, wash the area you tested with water and a gentle/mild cleanser. After, you’ll want to follow up with your basic moisturizer. Return the product if you can or try handing it over to a friend who might have better luck with it!

You can also try applying Milk of Magnesia or a cold plain yogurt to the affected area. Leave it on for 15 minutes, rinse, and repeat every few hours if needed.

Patch Testing a Sheet Mask

Patch testing a sheet mask is similar to patch testing skincare products. In fact, sometimes you can feel if it doesn't work for your skin immediately. For patch testing a sheet mask, we have 2 methods:

Option 1: 
Cut a small part of the corner of the package and squeeze out some essence. Apply it on the side of your cheek. Tightly seal the package back up and store it in the fridge. After a few minutes, if you get an itchy or irritating sensation from the essence, wash your face with water and a gentle cleanser. 

Option 2 (test overnight):
Cut a small part of the corner of the package and squeeze out some essence. Apply it below your ear or on the side of your neck. Tightly seal the package back up and store it in the fridge. Check for irritation the next morning. 

We hope these tips help you notice the importance of patch testing! Please, please, please be sure to patch test new products and be gentle to your skin. Thanks for reading and as always, just keep glowing!

Love,

FaceTory💝