Do you also have sometimes the feeling that you don’t see any effects from skincare products you use? Here’re the agreed upon time frames that actives need to work on your skin. On top of that, to monitor your successes with the products you use, the questions you can ask yourself, and my approach.
I’m generally the worst when it comes to closely monitor my skin. It happens all the time that I’ll look in the mirror and am kind of astonished how my skin looks – it happened with my all-time favourite eye cream, for example. I started using it with no expectations whatsoever, and three months later I confusedly realized how good my eye area looked. Or, take the Good Molecules Toner: I was low-key annoyed how my skin looked (annoyed, basically) and then realized that the one thing I had changed was the toner.
Skincare effects are VERY hard to measure, especially if your skin has improved dramatically for the better in the past: I think that happens when you first figure out your skin and its needs. For me, that has happened around 2010 when I had a lightbulb moment concerning gentle cleansing and a good moisturizer. Then, I had one in 2017 when I realized that I did just too much and that maybe acids don’t give me the results I want.
Effects from skincare: How long do skincare ingredients take to work?
But let’s get to the generally agreed upon time frame for the major skincare players (Sciencebecomesher has listed all the relevant studies).
Retinol
Helps with wrinkles, fine lines and acne by increasing the division of healthier skin cells. Depending on the strength of the retinol you’re using and what skin concern you want to address you might see first successes after 4 weeks. For more stubborn concerns (think hyperpigmentation) give it 4 months.
AHAs
Studies have shown that you can expect smoother skin after 4 weeks of use. Users, though, have claimed to see glowier skin after one application.
BHAs
Can improve acne symptoms as quickly as after 2 weeks.
Niacinamide
The swiss-army knife of skincare will help your skin with absolutely everything: reduce sebum levels, reduce fine lines, improve acne and hyperpigmentation. Depending on what you want it for and the percentage used (remember, more isn’t automatically better), you’ll need 2 to 8 weeks for it to work and you to see results.
Vitamin C
For your hyperpigmentation and wrinkle reducing needs you need to give it about 6 weeks.
BPO
The acne-fighting Benzoyl Peroxide works in the first 10 minutes after application: that’s the time frame it needs to kill bacteria.
Hyaluronic Acid
If you’ve got issues with dehydrated skin, this one’s for you! You can see increased hydration levels after 15 minutes, and a reduction of fine lines after 8 weeks.
Peptides
They can diminish fine lines and wrinkles, triggering cells to produce collagen and elastin. Give them about three months, and use a mix – there isn’t one peptide to rule them all!
Ceramides
The wonder lipid that keeps your skin barrier intact. You’ll see first effect after three days of use (as anyone with a compromised skin barrier who used them can attest). A continuous use will help with a healthy skin barrier with long-term benefits: smoother and healthier skin.
My questions to see if my skin changes
If you’re now like “eh, I used product xy for three months and don’t see anything”, here’s some food for thought:
- When studies measure, for example, anti-aging properties of an ingredient, they often measure wrinkle depth. At home, I’d say that’s impossible. Think about your expectations: a 25% lessened wrinkle depth sounds impressive, but will you even see that in the mirror?
- In a similar vein, how do you measure the “improved elasticity” that maybe the collagen boost from Vitamin C will give you?
- Also, it’s really easy to get hyped up by the language skincare brands use. Add skinfluencers hyping up a new product that basically gave them better skin after two days – yeah, better take that with a grain of salt. Don’t overestimate the effects a single product can give you!
- In the same vein, what’s your starting point? If your skin is rather good, and your pore size is decent, then very likely you won’t see drastic changes from a pore minimizing product.
- I’m at a point nowadays when I feel pretty good that I still look like five years ago. If you really want to “measure” the state of your skin, do take really unflattering close-up selfies in harsh light. (Maybe every morning in the bathroom?) Do compare them. (Remember, though, you’re your own test subject and control group rolled into one. It’s VERY difficult to say THIS did THAT, if you do have an extensive regime.)
- With a lot of skincare products, especially those like antioxidants and peptides, you have to simply trust in them. Will you see an effect on your skin in 10 years? In the end, you’ll likely use a lot of skincare over just one year, and who’s to say that exactly this one product did THAT?
Effects from skincare: If you’re not sure what your skin needs
A good idea is to wait for a whole skin cycle to see effects, and only introduce a new product once each cycle. Most effects should be seen after a skin cycle of 28 days.
For everything else, and to find out what your skin really needs and likes, I can only recommend starting from scratch and slowly adding active ingredients one at a time and see what happens.
In the end, for me, there’s one important factor: skincare HAS to has a feel-good aspect for me and not be totally joyless and results-driven.
There’re also products that absolutely can bring instant results for instant gratification that I like (post here)!
