You probably have a favorite moisturizer, cleanser, or beauty routine that you’ve loved for years. And if you do, you probably don’t want to change it up. Finding something that works is tough, and find a product that’s amazing for your skin can ultimately feel like stumbling upon the holy grail.

But here’s the thing: skincare routines aren’t meant to last forever, and - even if you love your routine - it may be time to shake things up.

Here’s how to know what products to keep for the new year - and which ones should stay in 2019.

Why It May Be Time to Switch Things Up

Now you may be thinking “No thanks, I love my products!” But here’s the thing: as your skin matures and changes, the products that you’ve grown to love may  not be as effective as they were when you bought them. And there’s no point spending a ton of money on great skincare if it’s not going to do the best job at giving you what you need today. 

To figure out if your skincare routine needs a reboot, think about when you bought those products, what issues you were trying to address, and where you’re at in life now.

Our needs change as we go through different stages in life, or as we’re exposed to different stressors or environmental factors. Teens, for example, are usually more in need of acne products or products to combat oiliness. Women in their 30s, on the other hand, need products that begin to focus on aging prevention and maintaining moisture.

Also, consider major life events like pregnancy or menopause - which can seriously affect your hormones and your skin’s needs - along with your current environment. Maybe you lived in Miami and now you’re in Arizona. Maybe you’re experiencing way more stress than you used to.

If so, all of this can indicate that you may need some more current products.

How to Know It’s Time to Change

Listen - we’re not necessarily talking about a total overhaul here! Sometimes, just switching up one or two key products is all you need to do to look and feel your best. Here are some common signs that your skin is ready for something new:

1. Your Skin is Randomly Dry

Do you experience random dry patches or flaking on your skin? This could be a sign that you’re not using the best ingredients for you.

This is often the case with many clarifying products. In an effort to banish blackheads, oiliness, and wrinkles, many ladies tend to use products with harsh or skin-stripping ingredients like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, alcohol, salicylic acid, fragrance, or preservatives.

While we believe that these products are a no-go across the board, you should definitely kick them to the curb if you do have dryness or flaking.

Replace them with balancing ingredients that will help restore your skin’s natural barrier, like:

• Niacinamide: Boosts ceramide production, thereby improving your lipid barrier function.
• Fatty acids: Linoleic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid that helps repair barrier function but that your body can't produce on its own.
• Antioxidants: Load up on these bad boys - which include vitamin E and vitamin C - to protect against free radical damage.
• Sunscreen: Helps protect against pollutants and UV damage. Bonus points if you find one with antioxidants too!

2. Your Skin Doesn’t Look How You Want

Ok, so what are your skincare goals, exactly? Do you want balanced skin with no dry or oily spots? Do you want to reduce breakouts and oiliness? Do you want to reduce fine lines or hyperpigmentation?

Now, do you notice that your current products are helping you meet those goals? Perhaps you’re using a “clarifying” cleanser but still dealing with breakouts.

Be up-front and honest with yourself about what you want and where your current routine fits in. This can help you decide which products it may be time to boot.

3. You’re Breaking Out Unexpectedly

Everyone deals with breakouts for different reasons. Maybe your skin is naturally oily, or maybe you’ve had consistent breakouts in your T-zone since you were a teen. Or, maybe you’re experiencing “skin purging”: you’re using super active products - or you’ve done a peel that increases cell turnover - and you’re breaking out as a result.

This is all normal.

But if you don’t normally break out and you’re dealing with unexplained pimples and blackheads, your products may be to blame.

These could be reactive breakouts,  a sign that your skin isn’t really loving the ingredients that you’re applying. If this is the case, it’s probably time to toss those products to the curb.

4. You’re Really Shiny

If you already tend to deal with some oil and shine, you could be using skincare products that actually make the problem worse. See, the instinct that many women have when they deal with oiliness is to exfoliate, use drying products, and cut out any ingredients that provide additional oil and moisture.  It’s oily, after all, and the logic is to get rid of all that excess.

This is a huge mistake. Using harsh or unbalanced products won’t  help you solve your oil problem. On the contrary, it will actually make your skin overcompensate for the loss of moisture and hydration, ultimately producing more oil and creating more breakouts and unevenness in skin tone.

If you think this might be a problem for you, cut back on the exfoliation and switch to purifying yet moisturizing ingredients like antioxidant-rich, non-comedogenic botanical oils.

5. You Have Bumps On Your Skin

Finally, if you develop milia, it can also be a sign that it’s time to shake things up.

Milia usually appear as clusters of small white bumps, and they’re easy to mistake for a breakout. But don’t pick at them! These little guys can actually pop up if you’re using body moisturizer on your face, or if you’re using a face moisturizer that’s too heavy for your skin’s needs.

Any questions about changing up your routine? Let us know and we’ll be happy to help.