Your Position: Home - Beauty & Personal Care - How To Add New Products Into Your Skincare Routine
Reading:
4
minutes
It’s finally here. Ripping open the box, marveling at the packaging, envisioning glowing results: you’re ready to try on your latest skincare product — like now.
But, wait! Not so fast — here’s a gentle reminder that how you get started can make all the difference. Adding some planning to your pampering can help you achieve the best results from new finds. So before diving in, pause to consider product layering, overall skincare goals, and ingredient interactions (easier said than done, we know).
Check out these top tips for adding new products to your skincare routine and give your skin a chance at a real fresh start.
The dos and don’ts of trying new skincare products
First do: Layer your products properly
Let’s start by getting your skincare layering down pat. Remember that products’ textures are intentional, allowing the skin to absorb what it needs each step along the way.
A good rule to follow is texture: always go from light to heavy. Apply your lightest products first as they are formulated to penetrate the skin deeply. Then apply denser or creamier products later. This way, denser products won’t block lighter products from penetrating your skin and doing their job.
And last but not least: sunscreen should be the final layer of every skincare routine. So, make sure to layer your products properly to get the most out of your latest discoveries and protect your skin.
✨ Take our customized skincare quiz to discover the ISDIN routine that’s right for you.
Don’t: Try everything at once
Excitement can get the best of all of us: especially when you’ve got a whole new beauty routine to unbox. But, if you get started with a new serum and a moisturizer, how do you know which is working? That’s why it’s vital to introduce one new product at a time and get to know what your skin loves best.
Do: Be patient and consistent
As with most great habits, consistency is key. And especially when it comes to skincare, we usually have to be patient for results.
Here’s something to keep in mind: your skin’s regeneration cycle (or turnover) takes between 21-28 days. And while immediate results like hydration show up in a few days, youth-boosting and brightening effects typically take at least 30 days to appear.
So make sure to give any new product at least a month for any noticeable changes.
✨ Got a big event coming up? We’ve created a skincare calendar to help you dazzle the day of the occasion (and every day after).
Don’t: Forget your overall skincare goals
Following a holistic approach in your routine can get you closer to your skincare goals than one-off products.
Let’s say you’ve got a busy schedule with a long commute on public transportation — meaning your skin goes through a lot of daily wear and tear. Ideally, any new skincare product you add to your ritual should focus on your overall goal: repairing accumulated damage while also protecting skin from environmental stress. For example, prioritizing a new recovery serum might make more sense than a once-a-week detoxifying mask.
Do: Introduce new products gradually
If you’re using new products with exfoliating acids like glycolic, it’s best to start slowly, using your new product a couple of days a week. Once your skin gets used to this renewal process, you can up the frequency.
It’s also a good idea to build in a cushion between new products. After introducing a newbie, wait another full month before trying something else to understand its full effects. Again, patience is key — many products need time to deliver results.
Don’t: Mix ingredients without doing your research
When considering whether to mix or not to mix, retinal might come to mind. Although effective, retinal can cause some discomfort when combined with other ingredients.
Use caution when mixing it with vitamin C or chemical exfoliants, like AHA acids. Although it can be a worthwhile combo, opt for a slow introduction to minimize irritation and acclimate the skin.
Other top-notch ingredients always play nice with others: such as restorative bakuchiol and moisturizing hyaluronic acid. Niacinamide is another easily-mixable and powerful component known for fighting skin discoloration.
✨ Wondering whether it’s a match? Check out our full guide on how to combine key skincare ingredients.
Do: Consider your routine outside of skincare
Taking your dream vacation next week? Or have a stressful work presentation coming up instead? Our everyday environment can affect our skin more than we realize. These skin-affecting factors are called the exposome and include things like temperature, stress, and pollution.
So, consider what you’ve got coming up on your schedule before throwing a new product in the mix. Or if your new products aren’t getting the results you’d hoped for, take a look at your daily agenda. Major lifestyle changes could be taking a toll on your skincare routine’s effectiveness.
Don’t: Skip the skin test
This is especially important when trying out a new brand or something out of your skin’s comfort zone. Apply your new product onto a less-sensitive and visible area of skin (like the side of your neck or inner forearm) to see if it reacts. Once 24 hours have passed with no reaction, you should be ready to give it a real go.
The ultimate do: Prioritize protection
There’s one skincare product that’s ready to go right out of the box. A high SPF, broad spectrum sunscreen should be the last step of every morning routine. In fact, the best way to protect your skin and slow the signs of skin aging is to use sunscreen every day. So your skin will appreciate you getting started ASAP.
Ready. Set. Unbox!
Now that you know how to add new products to a skincare routine, it’s time to take them on a test run. Whether you’re still putting together the perfect ritual or have all of your products ready to open, remember that how you get started affects your end-game results.
References:
Scientific, B., & Scientific, P. authorW. byB. (2020, July 21). Skincare: How much should we really care? Berkeley Scientific Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2021, from https://bsj.berkeley.edu/skincare-how-much-should-we-really-care/ Revisiting the skin health and Beauty Pyramid: A ... (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2021, from https://www.uniderma.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2020ENDOCARE_Zoe-Draelos_Skin-Health-Beauty-Pyramid_Paper_EN.pdf
Rate this item:
Article written and reviewed by:
Amy is a content strategist who turned a part-time obsession with skincare into a full-time passion. Her experience as a creative storyteller includes a range of lifestyle and technology topics across Washington D.C. and Barcelona. What's in her travel bag? Eye contour cream and sunscreen, always.
In addition to ten years as a primary care doctor, Aurora has over 23 years of experience developing and communicating healthcare products, most recently in dermo-cosmetics. She has co-authored many publications in dermatological journals and spoken at international health & beauty conferences. Ref: Colegio de Medicos de Madrid numero 282840102
Successfully launching a new beauty product is a complicated process. Whether it’s your first launch or your 20th, your team must follow the right steps in the proper sequence. Product managers, designers, formulators, marketers, and customer service teams must all work together to ensure success. Over the years, we have refined the process into the following 10-steps.
All too often, companies (of all sizes) launch a new and exciting product into a market that isn’t well defined. Taking shortcuts on the preliminary market research that helps you identify and understand your target market will cost you. If not planned well and implemented correctly, you could face months or years of missteps, sunk costs, and lost competitive advantage.
Fast answers rarely give you the results and data foundation you need to build a credible story. You need to have a crystal clear vision of how your product will address a need in your market. Not just a “nice to have” requirement, but the kind of urgent need that will have your product pushed up to the top of a buyer’s list. Things that can be done to answer these questions include market research studies, focus groups, customer interviews, win/loss studies, and discussions with market analysts.
Often, a new product introduction can slow down or halt current sales cycles because customers choose to wait for the new product vs. purchase the available version. Make sure you fully understand the revenue impact, which encompasses the revenue erosion from other product lines and the ramp up time expected for the new product to generate enough revenue to replace what was coming in from the existing product line.
It seems obvious, right? But, do you know how many companies “skip” this vital step in the launch process? It’s because there have been development delays, and they opt to skip the test to get out the door on time. Just remember, haste makes waste, and you may end up alienating right customers with these practices.
Beta testing gives you the chance to work with customers who are fully aware they are using new version products or services. In most cases, your company ends up developing a strong relationship with that customer, which has additional benefits for you. A market test also enables you to address product flaws in product and packaging before release and gives you a more robust product once launched.
The first thing your distribution channel will need to help you execute this product launch is reference sites. This assistance makes the sales process much smoother, and in many cases, will speed adoption rates. However, references are a luxury at the early introduction stage of the launch, and there is no guarantee they will be ready. A beta test phase (see the previous step) can help you address this issue. Many times, happy test customers will end up being reference sites. If not, make sure you develop a plan to handle reference requests if a reference site is not available, i.e., a customer on an older product version.
Sales training is a must for a successful product launch. The channel will carry your new message and product to the market. Not only do they need to know what it’s all about, but it’s marketing’s job to make sure that they have all the materials they need to be successful. Start with:
Customers need to be among the first to know about product plans and launches. The last thing you want to do is raise fear of product abandonment or concerns that your focus has changed. This worry is why customer communication plans need to encompass the following:
It’s always best to get your support organization involved as early as possible; don’t wait until the last minute to get their input. They should be intimately involved with the beta process so they can prepare their organization for the new release. They can often put their experience to work by helping with such issues as implementation design methods. Also, customers will want assurance that there is a long-term support plan for their existing product and will want to understand the implications of moving to a new product, the time-frames, and if there is an end-of-life plan for the products currently in use.
Build new messages that appeal to market needs, as discovered in step one. Make sure the messages do a good job of identifying a problem and presenting your solution and the benefits. This task sounds more comfortable than it is. Make your solution simple to articulate and easy to understand. Hold back your desire to over-explain. Just focus on the compelling facts that will help persuade someone to look at your product.
After you have set the initial foundation for your message, it’s time to take it for a ride. It’s essential to try it out and get feedback from outside influencers like analysts and customers. You will quickly gain an understanding of how your message is received and where you need to make adjustments.
To jump-start momentum, you should plan to create buzz and excitement just before the launch by conducting a press tour and introducing influential editors and analysts to your new product or service. This strategy may result in coverage that could go a long way.
Also, you should plan a lead generation campaign that will coincide with the launch date to build interest and excitement in your local market. These campaigns should focus on educating the market about your solution to establishing credibility and bond with the needs of that audience.
And finally, don’t forget that a new product launch doesn’t end at the launch date. The most successful campaigns have established long-range communication plans to give your product wor service the visibility and consistency it needs to gain market share and mind share.
Ideally, you should plan a minimum 6-month horizon to get ready for the launch day. Think of your launch plan as the foundation for the future of that product or service. If you find that prep time is pressing, make sure you prioritize deliverables that will ensure your success, i.e., working with beta customers, and push out sales tools and other deliverables that will not impact your effectiveness if you create them post-launch date.
Save
Save
146
0
0
Comments
All Comments (0)