It has become common to read on product sheets or on the skincare product's label itself: "It is recommended to perform a skin test before use". But why is it recommended to do this? What does this test consist of? How should one proceed?
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The importance of testing cosmetic products before their first use.
Summary
- What is the importance of testing a cosmetic product?
- Cosmetic Care Test: How should it be conducted?
Published February 27, 2023,
updated on July 11, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
3 min read
What is the importance of testing a cosmetic product?
It is recommended to consistently test one's tolerance to cosmetic products before applying them all over the skin. The main goal is to detect an allergic sensitization and thus to avoid triggering any adverse skin reactivity. Indeed, numerous agents are capable of triggering an allergy. Each person reacts differently: even if a product is generally well-tolerated by the majority of individuals, it can prove to be allergenic for others. Therefore, one of the most effective techniques is to expose a part of one's skin to the cosmetic product and observe the ensuing reaction.
Cosmetic Care Test: How should it be conducted?
Therefore, we recommend that you take the time to test each new treatment before incorporating them into your daily routine. This will undoubtedly save you from potential unpleasant surprises and the accompanying disappointment. Here's how to proceed.
In practice, the test is conducted in the crook of the elbow, behind the ear, or on the inner side of the wrist, free of any lesions, and previously cleaned with soap and dried.
Next, take a small amount of the skincare product in question and spread it well on the test area.
Keep it on the skin for at least 24 hours, as indeed a reaction may appear in some cases only after several hours. During this period of time, avoid wetting the area or applying other treatments. Then analyze the area.
Two results will emerge from the test:
Positive result: if tingling, redness, localized swelling, and/or itching appear on the skin, immediately rinse off the skincare product to remove all traces and stop its use. This indicates that you have had an allergic reaction to one or more components present in the skincare product.
Negative result: on the other hand, if no changes to the skin have been observed, this means that your skin tolerates the skincare product well. However, it is possible that the initial applications on the skin did not cause any reaction, but skin signs may occur after a variable duration of use.
It is also ideal to take the time to decipher the list of ingredients that make up the cosmetic product before using it. This will allow you to avoid any contact with theallergenic ingredient and thus reduce flare-ups.
Although skin tests are generally considered to be safe, they are in fact associated with certain risks of adverse reactions, including hives, itching, or the appearance of redness on the skin.
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