How to Reset Your Skin
Has your skin suddenly had a meltdown? Think dry scales, stinging skin, or extreme breakouts. It could be that you used the wrong product or too many products at once. Either way, no serum or mask in the world is going to fix that damage. Fortunately, we know something that can: a total skin reset.
If you want your skin to return to its old original peaceful self, you’re going to need to follow several resetting steps.
- Reset Your Routine
Are you experiencing any irritation, breakouts, redness, or rash? Or is sudden oiliness becoming an issue? Refreshing your skincare routine is one of the easiest things you can do to reset your skin.
For one week, go back to the basics. Swap your 12-step routine for a 3-step one that consists of gentle, lightweight products, such as a cleanser, serum, and moisturizer. Nothing else! When you’re in the process of resetting your complexion, the last thing you’ll want to do is strip it of its natural oils or overwhelm it with a concoction of ingredients. Instead, you should focus on injecting it with the nutrients and antioxidants it needs to heal and repair itself.
“Depending on what you were using, you might look worse before you look better,” says dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch. “But if you have an issue caused by a product, it will usually clear up in about a week.”
We recommend using Truly’s Super Matcha Facial Cleanser followed up with Blueberry Kush Hemp Face Oil and finished with a coating of Cream Skin Face Moisturizer.
- Avoid Certain Active Ingredients
If you’re experiencing red and painful flareups, chances are it’s a reaction to a product.
“Most redness and irritation can occur when the skin’s protective barrier is damaged,” explains esthetician and Renée Rouleau Skin Care founder Renée Rouleau. “Your barrier is the outermost layer of the skin that provides protection to help retain water and moisture, and defend against external irritants like bacteria and environmental debris from penetrating through and causing sensitive reactions.”
Try going on a skin diet, eliminating any kind of active ingredient like acids or retinol that could be causing your flareups. While active ingredients are awesome at targeting various skin concerns, they can also commonly cause irritation.
The best thing you can do is cut them out of your routine for at least a week until your skin returns to its factory settings.
And if your skin’s feeling particularly itchy or uncomfortable, spray it with a spritz of Truly’s ultra-gentle and soothing Volcanic Rosewater Mist.
- Wear Sunscreen
Being vigilant about using SPF can mean the difference between great skin and damaged skin. Even when you’re resetting your skin, it’s essential to keep it protected as you nurse it back to good health. But that’s not all sunscreen’s useful for.
“People think of sunscreen as protective, but it’s also corrective,” says New York City dermatologist Dendy Engelman. “In studies where people applied sunscreen regularly, the degree of aging slowed and hyperpigmentation decreased. It was truly miraculous.”
In other words, SPF is the best anti-aging treatment ever!
- Make Some Lifestyle Adjustments
When your skin’s texture feels dry and scaly, it means it’s chronically dehydrated, crying out for water. To maximize your moisture levels, try making some lifestyle adjustments like putting a humidifier in your bedroom to add moisture to the air. Another good way to reduce dryness is drinking plenty of water throughout the day and turning down your shower water temperature. Washing your face or showering in hot water can quickly dry out the skin, leaving it feeling tight and itchy.
- Stop Interfering with Blemishes
When you see a zit appear on your face, your first instinct might be to go grab an acne-fighting treatment in a bid to see the back of it, ASAP. Wrong move!
“Instead of doing more and more to it, try and let the body repair itself by being gentle with your skin.” says Rouleau. “There is a life cycle to a blemish and when you interfere with this process—by picking or using a super-drying spot treatment—you’re actually making it last so much longer.”
Hear that, guys? Paws off your pimples!
She continues, “It’s imperative that you work in sync with the various stages of the blemish so that you’re an ally and not an enemy.”
- Tackle Specific Issues
If you need a skin reset simply because the products you’ve been using haven’t been delivering their promised results, throw them out and invest in new (and better) ones.
“Most products these days are well labeled if you take the time to look at the adjectives on the packaging and read the claims,” says Dr. Hirsch.
If you have dullness, look for terms like brightening. To treat acne, search for clarifying. If you have fine lines, seek out terms like anti-wrinkle.
- Give it At Least 2 Weeks
We know how much you’re craving to see a difference in your complexion overnight, but remember, it can take 27 days for the skin to reset fully. Tough, sure. But honestly, it will be worth it.
According to the experts, you should see some noticeable improvements within two weeks. So try to give it at least 14 days before you give up on your skin reset routine.
- See a Dermatologist
If you don’t see any improvement after two weeks or your symptoms are getting worse, head to your dermatologist’s office for a consultation. It could be a sign of a serious medical condition. Alternatively, they may prescribe you specific medication for your skin issues or possibly even recommend nonsurgical procedures.
We all need a skin reset – from time to time. Maybe not today, perhaps not tomorrow, but someday. You’ll know you need one when your skin has a major tantrum from using too many products simultaneously, or when your once-beloved cleansers and serums no longer work the way they used to. Luckily, it’s not hard. In fact, all it takes is several simple steps to retune your complexion.
