Is This Reaction Normal, or Is My Skin Trying to Tell Me Something's Wrong?

When starting a new skincare product or treatment, it's common to feel unsure about how your skin is responding. A bit of tingling or a temporary flush might seem harmless — but what about persistent redness, dryness, or breakouts? Is your skin adjusting, or is it signalling distress?

Let’s break down how to tell the difference.

Some temporary changes are completely normal, especially when introducing active ingredients like retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or vitamin C. These responses might include:

• Mild tingling or warmth during application

• Temporary dryness or light flaking

• Slight purging (increased breakouts as congestion clears)

• Mild redness that settles within 30–60 minutes

These reactions usually settle within a few days to a couple of weeks as your skin adjusts.

If your skin feels persistently uncomfortable, it's trying to tell you something. Warning signs include:

• Stinging, burning, or itching that continues after application

• Ongoing redness or inflammation

• Tightness that doesn’t ease with hydration

• Increased sensitivity to products or the environment

• Worsening breakouts or rash-like bumps

These signs can indicate barrier disruption, allergic reaction, overuse of actives, or incorrect product selection.

1. Stop and Simplify : Pause all actives and stick to a gentle cleanser, barrier-repairing moisturiser, and SPF. This gives your skin a chance to recover.

2. Avoid Adding More : Resist the urge to “fix” the reaction with more products. Less is more during recovery.

3. Check Your Routine : Review your product combinations — are you layering too many actives? Are you using something too often?

4. Seek Professional Advice : A qualified skin therapist can help assess whether the reaction is part of a normal adjustment or a signal to change your routine.

• Always introduce new actives slowly — 2–3 times a week to start

• Patch test if you have sensitive skin or a history of reactions

• Don’t combine too many strong actives unless guided by a professional

Your skin is smart — it tells you when something is off. Tingling or minor adjustment is normal. Burning, peeling, or persistent inflammation is not. Listen to your skin and don’t push through pain in the name of progress. Skin health always comes first.

If you're unsure, book a Skin Discovery Session for personalised advice and support — we’re here to help you make sense of what your skin is telling you.