We all love the thrill of exploring new skin care products. Whether we’re drawn by the promise of relief for a skin concern or simply by the cute packaging, trying a new product can be an adventure. But is it safe to try every new product that catches our eye? What about the risks of allergies, unknown ingredients and adverse effects? Let’s take a look at the general risks of trying new products, along with a few pointers for staying safe when doing so.

Are Skin Care Ingredients Always Safe?

In general, skin care products available in the United States are unlikely to contain harmful ingredients. However, there is a reason to be watchful. Dr. Hannah Sivak, PhD, founder of Skin Actives Scientific, highlights an area of concern on her blog: 

“Beware of products that because the way that they are commercialized (like some imported products) can be unsafe. One example? Depending on where the product is coming from it may contain non-declared ingredients. This happens with products sold to lighten the skin.”

One way to avoid undeclared ingredients is to shop domestic brands like Skin Actives, which is manufactured in our own facility in Gilbert, Arizona. But even without adhering strictly to domestic brands, the vast preponderance of skin care products do not contain harmful substances—so explore your local offerings with confidence.

Will Every Skin Care Product Work Out Perfectly for Me?

While the skin care market in the United States is overwhelmingly safe, there are concerns beyond the presence of undeclared ingredients that you should keep in mind when trying new products. These concerns include legal ingredients that may cause a bad reaction, along with products that may worsen skin concerns due to poor formulation.

Dr. Sivak states three important considerations on her blog: 

1. Some ingredients may be safe in general but not necessarily for you. For example, you may be allergic to an essential oil or fragrance.
2. An ingredient considered safe may not be good for your skin. Examples? Many, but here are a couple. Benzoyl peroxide is a potent oxidant used to control acne, and it will age your skin. Hydroquinone use is still legal in the USA, but it’s not a good ingredient. And, believe it or not, some people used to sell products containing the extract of Nerium, a toxic plant (don’t ask).
3. The wrong product can do more harm than good, even if it is “safe.” For example, an oily cream can aggravate acne. A cream containing some fragrances can cause hyperpigmentation if you go out in the sun. This is why you need to understand your skin, just like you need to understand the test of your body if you want to stay healthy.

The key takeaway is that a bigger risk to skin care users comes from bad reactions to products that were formulated by unscientific means. In the examples Dr. Sivak provided, essential oils or fragrances may not be toxic or illegal, but they also may not be what your skin needs. 

Dubious formulation practices are unfortunately common in today’s skin care market. Many ingredients used by other brands are misunderstood or included for the wrong reasons. In fact, Dr. Sivak went so far as to write an entire glossary of skin care ingredients to sort out those with scientific efficacy from those that most skin care users should probably avoid.

Much of what distinguishes Skin Actives from other brands hinges on our rigorous assessment of ingredient efficacy in relation to skin health. Long before minimalism was a trend in skin care, we sought to avoid unnecessary fragrances—not because they are illegal or harmful, but because we wanted to shield our customers from adverse reactions at all costs.

When Trying New Products: Pay Attention!

When using any new product (yes, including those from Skin Actives), an easy way to tell whether it agrees with your skin is to watch how your skin responds to it. As Dr. Sivak writes:

“Redness, inflammation, and pain are indicators that something is wrong. You may be allergic to one or more ingredients, or your skin may have been damaged by previous ‘treatments,' and now it’s reacting badly to the new product. If this happens, stop the new product and wait until you recover.”

Too often, we learn of skin care users suffering a bad reaction and continuing to use the product. The temptation to cling to their shiny new purchase gets the best of them. Trust us, damaged skin is not worth it! For this reason, Skin Actives offers a satisfaction guarantee. We seek to lower barriers for our customers to use only products that work for them.

Here are a few pro tips to help you get the best results when trying new products:

Match the product to your skin type: Products containing harsh chemicals can irritate sensitive skin. By the same token, those containing heavy oils may worsen blemishes. Take the time to find out the recommended skin type for a new product before you put it on. By making sure your skin matches the intended use, you can reduce your risk of bad reactions.

Run a patch test: We always recommend doing a patch test when applying a new product, by only applying it to a small area of your skin. How your skin responds will allow you to decide whether to commit to applying it elsewhere on your skin. 

Add one new product at a time: When changing your routine, adding multiple products at once can elevate the risk of unwanted interactions. If a negative reaction does occur, it can be difficult to tell which product is responsible. Avoid risk and confusion by adding only one new product at a time, so you can assess its impact independently. 

Now for the Fun Part: Exploring New Products 

 No article on exploring new products would be complete without a few recommendations of our own. Given what we’ve just explained about sensible formulation and ingredient choices, we rounded up a few products likely to agree with even sensitive skin types. If you’re seeking to brighten up your routine with some fresh products today, give these a try:

Sea Kelp Coral - Featuring botanical sea kelp extract, this moisturizing, antioxidant formula is exceptionally benign, soothing and restoring even irritated skin. 

Hyaluronic Acid Serum - The minimalist ingredient profile of this lightweight moisturizer delivers serious hydration power without unnecessary additives that can disagree with the skin. 

Triple Correction Eye Cream - One of our most widely used formulas, this gently firming and nourishing cream helps to soften crow’s feet without irritating the delicate skin around the eyes.

All three of these products are popular across a broad spectrum of our customers, so you can’t go wrong by adding these skin-safe, science-motivated choices to your routine!