Patience is a virtue when it comes to new skincare products. Yes, you can expect some instant sensations such as tightening, soothing and softening through moisture, but the deeper layers of your skin need time to reap the benefits. Think your cleanser simply cleans your skin? Think again! And to help you up your skincare regime for lasting results, you can save 17% TODAY with discount code EGG2021.
There’s something to be said for the instant gratification you get from popping on a new top or applying your favourite red lippy. But skincare works way harder than clothes and make-up, so when it comes to lasting results from a new face cream or eye gel, you need to be much more patient by playing the long game.
It’s all about science, you see. Now bear with us, because this is important stuff if you want to truly understand what you put on your skin and how long you should wait before expecting to see results.
Here's the lowdown on how long it really takes for skincare products to deliver skin-deep results…
The Science Behind Your Skin
Skin consists of three main layers: the epidermis which is the uppermost layer, the middle layer which is called the dermis, and the bottom layer, known as the hypodermis or subcutaneous fat. The epidermis is what you see in the mirror and it’s here that an important process takes place called ‘desquamation’.
Desquamation is your skin’s natural way of renewing itself so it can successfully maintain a strong, healthy barrier from the outside world. What happens is the deepest areas of your epidermis produce skin cells, which then divide, migrate to the surface, mature, die and slough away.
Did you know, you lose about 50 million skin cells every day? Yes, really. Some skin cells have a relatively short life span and others stay around for years! But for the most part, they turn over at an average rate of 28 days.
So, what does this mean for your skincare routine? Well, in a nutshell, skincare products that work on a cellular level (serums, treatments, facial oils etc.) are going to require at least this same length of time to work to their best ability. How so?
Because giving a product 28 days means active ingredients have been given the greatest chance to reach every single cell that’s arrived at the surface of your skin.
Now, while this rule of thumb is a great starter for ten, it’s not gospel for all of your skincare products. Things are never that simple, are they?
Let’s have a look at some of the most important products in your regime to see how long, on average, you need to be patient for ...
Crystal Cleanser
Most cleansers have one job – to remove dirt, oil, makeup and bacteria that’s built up on the surface of your skin. Cleansing is an immediate thing, so results should also be instant, right?
Not quite. Superior cleansers don’t just clean your skin but offer a whole host of other, longer-term results – mainly to protect your skin’s natural protective layer. The main thing to remember is that cleansers might not have a major effect on specific skin concerns, but using the wrong one will create big problems like dehydration and irritation.
The key? Be kind when you cleanse. Crystal Cleanser contains botanical oils and antioxidants to help shield, moisturise and reduce inflammation as it gently cleanses your skin.
This means that if you were previously using a harsh cleanser, all these benefits should yield an improvement in your skin after a week or so.
Diamond Toner
As with your cleanser, finding a good toner that doesn’t aggravate your skin or strip away all of its natural oils is the key to seeing visible results. Diamond Toner is formulated without irritating parabens and sulphates; instead it contains skin-loving aloe vera to soothe and hydrate.
You should notice the difference in your skin straight away, but with continued use it will make your skin brighter and healthier after one or two weeks.
Natural Luminosity Scrub
Daily exfoliation with Natural Luminosity Scrub will instantly make your skin look brighter and feel softer because it works primarily on the top layers of your skin. For deeper results, however, give it three or four weeks of consistent use.
Exfoliation is your way of boosting your skin’s natural desquamation process to remove dead skin cells and improve cell turnover to an optimum rate of around 28 days. Those of you suffering with mature or acne-prone skin will have less efficient cell turnover, so regular exfoliation is especially important for you.
After four weeks you should notice a significant difference in fine lines and/or the severity of your acne breakouts.
Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum
The hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid and glycerine in Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum offers instant relief for your skin but, as with all serums, this product definitely belongs with the long-term players.
Serums exist to deliver potent, active ingredients deep into the skin to alter its structure and function while targeting specific concerns like dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles and poor texture.
Because they have a smaller molecular structure than moisturisers, they do this way more efficiently, allowing ingredients to penetrate your skin faster and deeper. This doesn’t mean you should expect instant results, however.
You should expect to wait at least four weeks, sometimes even six, for significant improvements in your skin.
The good news is that consistent use of Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum will continue to improve the appearance of your skin the longer you use it.
Imperial Eye Gel
Dryness and fine lines around the eyes is a real thing because the skin around your eyes is not only thin and fragile, but it contains fewer sebaceous (oil-producing) glands. This is why a good eye treatment should first and foremost nourish and moisturise your skin – which in turn will help reduce the signs of ageing.
Many HIGHBORN customers report instant cooling, easing of puffiness and a tightening sensation after first using Imperial Eye Gel. And while this is true for the uppermost layer of your skin, it also works on a much deeper level.
Packed with argan, avocado, arnica and passionfruit seed oils, as well as water, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid, Imperial Eye Gel helps combat dryness and dehydration. This combination of skin-moisturising ingredients will give you an instant feeling of softer, more supple skin as well as healthier, younger-looking skin in the long-term.
Just remember to apply it twice daily for four-to-six weeks for those long-lasting results to truly kick in.
Our Moisturising Trio
Good moisturisers should be packed with a combination of humectant and emollient or occlusive ingredients. Humectants draw moisture into the skin (think hyaluronic acid and glycerine), while emollients and occlusives such as shea butter, stearic acid and coconut oil act like a seal to lock that moisture in. And you can find all of these with Imperial Moisturiser, Night Elixir and Organic Hydration Gel.
When formulated correctly, these ingredients work immediately, instantly quenching concerns like tightness or dry skin. But if you wait a little longer, your skin will stay consistently moisturised due to your barrier function becoming stronger and healthier.
We recommend you give all of our moisturisers two to four weeks for enhanced results.
Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil
Our luxurious face oil is another amazing product that offers immediate and long-lasting benefits for all skin types. If all you’re looking for is dry skin relief, then you’ll see and feel results straight away. However, Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil offers so much more than just an effective moisture boost.
Containing a potent blend of 20 botanical oils, Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil has amazing antioxidant properties and is rich in vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids. This means that, just like your serum, its ingredients work on a deeper level to fight free radical damage, boost collagen production and help reduce the signs of prematurely ageing skin.
So, how long should you wait until you see true, visible results? A good four weeks is ideal for it to do its finest work.
Now you see, there are a whole host of immediate results on the upper layer of your skin, but for long-lasting, deeper changes, you’ll typically be looking at four to six weeks. Not bad considering your HIGHBORN skincare is working with mother nature, as naturally as possible.
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