Are you investing your hard-earned money in luxury skincare but not seeing results? We’ll explain why your products might not be working the way you expect them to—and give you expert tips on so you can get the most from every dollar you spend on your skincare routine.
5 reasons why your luxury skincare routine isn’t working
Reason 1: Your products aren’t penetrating properly
According to dermatologists and estheticians, peach fuzz and dead skin cells can act as a barrier that prevents your skincare products from penetrating properly. “If you have excess dead skin and peach fuzz on your face, your pricey serum or moisturizer could end up sitting on your skin’s surface instead of getting where it needs to go,” explains licensed esthetician Billie Jo Bond. Need a visual? Think of your skin as a sponge that’s covered by a layer of cardboard. That layer can block your skincare products from soaking in properly.
How to boost product penetration: An easy way to remove both dead skin cells and peach fuzz at the same time is with sonic dermaplaning. Devices like LUXE+ safely exfoliate the oldest layer of dead skin cells, while gently shaving off peach fuzz. “Your skincare will do what it’s designed to do instead of sitting stuck on top of dead skin cells,” say Dr. Arisa Ortiz, a dermatologist at UC San Diego Health, and the university’s director of laser and cosmetic dermatology.
And don’t worry, your peach fuzz will NOT grow back thicker or darker—that myth has been debunked!
Reason 2. Incorrect product application
Many people assume the order they apply their skincare products doesn’t matter, but experts say that’s not the case. The order you apply your skincare products does impact their efficacy. For example, if you apply a thick “occlusive” (i.e. barrier forming) cream and then apply a lightweight serum on top, the active ingredients in your serum might not be able to penetrate.
How to apply skincare products correctly: “In general, you want to apply your skincare products from thinnest to thickest,” Bond explains. “Start with a toner, which has the thinnest and most watery texture. Next, apply your serum. Then you can finish with lotions and creams, like an SPF moisturizer for the daytime or a hydrating cream before bed.”
Click here for more detailed tips on layering your skincare products!
Reason 3. Lack of consistency
Consistency is key when starting a new skincare product. In general, it takes a minimum of 4 weeks to see results from a new product, and it can take as long as 4-6 months to see full benefits. Why? It all has to do with the cycle at which your skin cells “turn over” or renew. A typical skin cell turnover cycle takes around 28 days, so you won’t start to see a product’s effects until your skin has gone through at least one cycle.
How to stay consistent with your new skincare routine: In the beginning, many of us have good intentions—but when it’s taking a while to see results, it’s all too easy to give up. “I tell my clients to take a photo at the beginning, so you have something to compare your results to after 4 weeks,” says Bond. “It can give you the motivation you need to stick with your routine.”
Reason 4. Seasonal changes
We just finished talked about the need for consistency when starting a new skincare routine and that’s still 100% accurate—but you do need to “listen” to your skin and recognize when you might need to make some tweaks based on what your skin is telling you.
How to manage seasonal skin changes: You skin has different needs—and different tolerances—depending on the season. For example, when it’s hot and humid, your skin retains more moisture and may be able to tolerate stronger exfoliating products. But harsh weather and dry indoor air can leave your skin vulnerable to becoming stripped or dried out.
“You don’t need to give up the skincare routine you invested money in,” says Bond. “But you may need to swap out products or adjust your frequency of usage. In the winter, you want to focus on barrier protection and use more emollient creams. In the summer, you may need to trade your rich moisturizer for a lightweight gel-cream in order to prevent breakouts.”
Reason 4. You’re using the wrong products
We get it, it’s tempting to google your skincare symptoms or ask ChatGPT to create a skincare routine for you—and it’s great that you’re doing research. But we’re here to remind you that, sometimes, seeing a dermatologist or esthetician may be necessary to make sure you end up with the products you need.
How to make sure you’re treating the right condition: Here’s a real-life example: One of our staffers thought she had a mild case of acne on her forehead. It wasn’t going away, so she invested in pricey anti-acne products—but what she really had was seborrheic dermatitis, an inflammatory condition that can look like acne. The moral of the story: If you’re unsure, book an appointment with your derm. Your esthetician is also a great resource to advise you on what types of products and active ingredients will help you achieve the results you want.
