No lemons in my beauty cabinet, thank goodness
A few weeks ago, I decided to try out a new skincare product. It’s a serum, and it’s supposed to do wonders to the skin (well, you and I know that there are any miracles in products, but we hope for the best nevertheless). But after just one application, I started breaking out the next day, and all hell broke loose. Pimples sprouted around my nose, chin, cheeks and forehead. The one on my forehead is going through very long labour; it’s been weeks and the damn thing just wouldn’t come out.
Dare I try that serum again? To be honest, I wouldn’t even touch it with a ten foot pole now. If I could drop that into an incinerator and never see it again, I’d be very happy.
Then again, to be fair, I wouldn’t say the same for all products. If I get a tiny bump on my face, I’d be willing to forgive and try it again. But if it creates all kinds of havoc on my skin, into the bin it goes.
A bad beauty product is like a bad first date. If it doesn’t work out, you very rarely want to do it again.
What about you? If a new beauty product breaks you out, are you willing to give it a second chance?
Thirty-something. Gemini. Happily married. Loves shopping. Has an unhealthy adoration for bags, shoes and chocolate. Believes that sunscreen should be a religion. Hates baked beans with a vengeance. Thinks that the weekdays should be a weekend long, vice versa. Optimistic. Narcissistic. Not the average Jane.
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
I am not willing to use it again either, to be honest. Normally my skin turns into a crazed monster if it doesn’t like a product, so there is no “tiny bump” stage for me
. If it breaks me out, I hate using it, unfortunately!
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Tegan: My skin is blessed that MOST of the time, it doesn’t turn into a crazed monster when something isn’t right with a product I used. But on the times it does, oh man, all hell breaks loose. I’d hate using it too
If the new product breaks me out, I definitely will stop for awhile and try again. But if it still breaks me out, then really sorry to say, I will not ever use that product again. Perhaps I will use that product in other body area other than face so that not to waste it. =)
Michelle: Ahh I’m with you Michelle! Stuff that doesn’t work on my face goes to my neck. If it doesn’t work on the neck, it goes to the arms and legs. Or even give myself a good bum facial
I give products another go but only in a different seasons when my skin is different. That way, the products may react better when my skin is in a different condition.
Ashley: Hmmm you have a point there Ashley. Our skin does react differently in different seasons, and especially during season changes. Have to keep that in mind and not try out new products during change of seasons
This is a really interesting topic and a great question. I would say I probably wouldn’t, for fear of breaking out again and the fact there are so many choices out there to try, so it’s not like were stuck having to continue to use products that don’t work.
I get nervous trying out new products before an important date (my BFF’s upcoming wedding for example), pimples are a bugger to deal with and get rid of and I don’t like risking it lol!
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Kaye: First things first. STAY AWAY FROM NEW PRODUCTS, especially before a big event! That’s my rule. At least 2 weeks before an important occasion. No new products, no changes. Can’t risk breakouts
I do. But so far, all the attempts to try products again all failed. They break me out, means they break me out, I guess. what a pity.
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Jyoan: It’s a tough lesson to learn, when our skin takes the brunt of new products over and over
It might be worth trying to find out what specifically in the product is causing the reaction, so you can avoid it. Really, I think the only way to do this is by ‘elimination diet’, provided the maker actually labelled the ingredients somewhere. I found out that one of the things in eye makeup especially that makes me itch is bismuth oxychloride. Makeup without it? No problem, even all over my eyes! Makeup with it? Thinking burning, redness, tearing up constantly, itching… it’s horrible. Copper breaks me out too, but in a rash. Turns out, I have a minor allergy. Figured that one out by wearing copper jewellery… for about ten minutes. O.o My night cream was filled with the stuff!
But since you’ll be trying something new next week, maybe not, eh?
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Thurisaz: Ouch! I guess that’s why it’s good that we learn more about the ingredients in the products we use. By process of elimination do you know what the problem ingredient is that your skin cannot handle. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a long time before we can even pinpoint to specific ingredients, when a lot of the stuff most of us use are like one long chemistry lesson!
I agree with you. I may forgive a product and try it again if it gave me a small bump, but if it breaks me out really bad, then in the bin it goes.
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Gio: My sentiments exactly Gio. I’m usually quite forgiving if it’s one tiny bump. But full on zit fest, the product wouldn’t even go on my arms and legs. It’s the bin >.<
If a product breaks me out, I usually want to check the ingredient list if there’s any clue. I dont think in a serum they should have any detoxifying/cleansing effect but in a mask or cleanser they could have something like that. But even when it suppose to break me out, I would take a break from it for a few days, then go back and try it again
Im a pretty stubborn one
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Helz: Hahaha not stubborn, just forgiving
yes, I do
I always apply a cream which controls my breakout and then proceed with the product. Unless, it breaks me out continuously, I have no issues and I don’t have acne-prone skin which helps!! but, yes, doubt about the product does creep in 
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Swati: Continuous breakouts are the worst when trying out new products. I can stop using it but the damn things just won’t go away!
I’d give the product a 2nd chance…after which I’ll decide whether to toss it or not
. Some products that I wrote off some time back ended up working for me when I was bored and had nothing else to test out, so I guess 2 chances and that’s it!
dom recently posted..Review: Human (Heart) Nature Balancing Facial Wash
Dom: Oh I know! There are products that work for me only the second time. So glad I gave them a second chance because a couple of them ended up on the HG shelf!
I can never bring myself to give a product a second chance, in my work I can’t hide so I need my skin to be in as good condition as possible so I just can’t risk awful break outs. I can forgive one or two spots though but not a big breakout.
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Megan: That’s true. In that case, best to just stop using altogether. Or maybe relegate them to the legs
Oh no what a horrible experience! If the result is as bad as yours I definitely will not touch it ever. But I didn’t know sheet masks were what gave me lots of ‘bumps’, and I kept using them until one day I somehow got enlightened that they were the cause. And stopped using them totally.
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Bun Bun: Oh no! That sucks. Sheet masks are supposed to be relaxing and give you good skin, not break you out!
If it breaks me out once, I give it another go, in a few weeks, just in case it was hormones/diet/lifestyle. But if the second time breaks me out, into the bin it goes.
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Paris B: The ones that don’t work on my face usually goes to the arms and legs. I’ve once *ahem* used a jar of Bobbi Brown eye cream on my legs
I’ll choose to give it another chance after a few weeks since it could be any reasons for the break-out especially during my pregnancy, even good old products aren’t quite the same anymore.
However, if it breaks me out again a second time, I’ll reserve that for my neck. So far it works ok, except for the Olay Regenerist Serum which I gave my mum as it even gives my neck little bumps.. What products break out even necks! that became a no-no for me now.
Eunice: Woah that’s quite potent, if the product even makes your neck break out! Usually the stuff that don’t work on my face go to my neck. If it still doesn’t work (this is rare, thank goodness), then it goes to my arms and legs. But usually by this point, I’d probably chuck it in the bin
I’m not willing to give a product another try if it breaks me out. How do you know if your skin will eventually improve or if it something in the product is irritating your skin. There are too many beneficial products out for that to be acceptable. As an esthetician, I tell my clients that breaking out after using a product or receiving a facial is not normal. In my early 20′s, I endured a severe case of cystic nodular acne that took time to clear up but not once did I break out worse as I was treating it. I’ve heard some people have pushed through & eventually their skin improved for the better but I’m against that theory completely.
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VNikol: Oh I hear you on this one. Whenever I hear or read the words “if it stings, it means the product is working its magic on your skin”, I cringe. It’s not supposed to work that way! It means that something in the product is irritating your skin. It’s not “working its magic”.
no never to use again. I usually know if a product will cause a break out by the ingredients but last product that caused breakout was Nude by Nature tinted moisturiser and/or illuminator…
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Raylene: Ouch! It’s one of those hit-or-miss products, isn’t it? You think it will be fine from the ingredients but something just snaps and bam! Pimple fest. Ugh >.<
my skin tends to breakout easily