The Great Product Dilemma: Are Your Skin Care Products Working for You?

When I first became an esthetician I struggled majorly with sales. I would give a facial and have clients straight up ask me what they should use for their particular skin strengths and struggles.

At the time, I didn't want to seem pushy, so I would send them to others to buy products that I liked and recommended. Not only was this a silly business move, it was a pretty silly professional move. Clients came to me to (as a professional) to make their skin better. Part of that was a regular facial routine, but an EVEN BIGGER part of it was a regular at-home care routine.

‍Now that I've been "doing skin" for almost a decade, I relish the opportunity to help match clients with products that will help them get the results they are looking for. After all, who else takes at least an hour to touch and look at your skin with the sole purpose of helping to improve your skin? Even your dermatologist doesn't put that kind of time in with you!

Are your skin care products working?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it:

I would say that the number one thing that makes me giggle is when a client tells me about all their skin woes, how committed they are to see a change, but that "they need to use up their old stuff first" (you know...before buying the stuff that will ACTUALLY improve their condition).

‍Here's the thing: if you LIKE what you use and it's working, then "it ain't broke". Keep using it!

But if you are using something that isn't working for your skin, then does it really make sense to keep using it?

It's like having an intense desire to lose weight, but deciding that you can't lose it until you first eat up your years supply of Twinkies (I mean you wouldn't want them to go to waste right?) See how silly that sounds?

The "use it until it's gone" approach that you are taking with your skincare routine is just as silly.

‍Your skin and your beautiful face is the first thing people notice when they see you, so don't hesitate to prioritize your investments with this in mind.

Do skin care products have to be expensive to "work"?

Absolutely not! There are plenty of great products out there (including The Portland Girl's own line) that will work for your skin, that won't break the budget. You may have to look a little harder to find them, but they are out there.

My general rule of thumb is that it's worth it to invest a little bit more on the products that stay on your face the longest (think moisturizer, eye cream, serum). This doesn't mean the other stuff isn't important, it just means that if you HAVE to choose, those are a great start for building up your healthy skincare product supply.

You don't have to overhaul it ALL at once, but if you're using something that is seriously "off" for your skin type, don't be surprised if you are struggling to see benefits even once you've invested in a few good products. It can be hard to "undo" the harm caused by over-stripping the skin from a harsh cleanser for example.

Do you have questions about your current products and routine? Make sure to bring this up at your next facial visit! I often have clients bring me in what they are using and ask me to decide what they should keep and what they should let go of. It takes an extra minute away from your appointment, but it can be a great use of time if it gets you closer to your ideal skin sooner!