When it comes to using new beauty products or updating a skincare regimen, not many people know that skin purging is an essential part of the adjustment process. When blemishes or acne of ANY kind pop up on your skin, we know it’s easy to panic. A very common mistake is discarding your beauty products at this “purging” stage, before your skin starts to experience the benefits. The truth is, your skin often needs to purge first for your new product or routine to work, especially when any kind of salicylic acid is involved.
So, before you drop your new organic product and revert to your old product that led you to buy that new product in the first place, think again. Your old beauty product may be packed with harsh chemicals that act as a suppressant for your skin problems, but may not be doing anything for your skin anymore. In fact, that old “tried-and-tested” formula may be responsible for a dull, lackluster complexion. We will explain. But first, you need to know that in order to wean off your skin off of strong, synthetic formulations, you have to be patient — and have faith in the natural ingredients that your skin craves.
What Is Skin Purging?
Skin purging is the skin’s natural detox process that happens when the skin begins to respond to new formulas. When you use a new skincare product, especially one that contains exfoliating ingredients like AHAs and BHAs (think salicylic acid), it speeds up the removal of old, damaged layers and the resurfacing of new, healthy cells. Because cell turnover is happening faster than normal, the skin tends to react. This reaction can take the form of whiteheads, blackheads, and sometimes even cystic acne. But, depending on where the blemishes occur, this can be a completely normal side effect.
It's really important to educate yourself on the science behind skin purging if you are planning on switching to products with organic ingredients. If your skin is not used to natural ingredients which can contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or vitamin C, the switch to “clean beauty” can easily initiate skin detoxification. This skin detox is very similar to what happens when the body undergoes a detox.
With a body detox, you are encouraging the toxins and impurities to leave, resulting in a much healthier immune system and higher energy levels. When it comes to skin purging, this detox process pushes all the excess sebum and buildup to the surface, making way for new skin. That is why a skin purge is not something you should be afraid of. It’s actually evidence of your product working to give you fresher, healthier skin!
In our premium skincare products at Boto Botanicals, we use sustainable Pitanga which contains its own natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Our goal at Boto is to give you healthy, glowing skin that radiates your natural beauty. That means ridding your skin of the toxic, synthetic ingredients that have been clogging up your pores. The purging that may happen when you use our products is actually an indicator of the organic, high-quality ingredients we use in our formulations. We can assure you the purging is temporary and means you are on your way to your most natural, glowing skin!
How To Distinguish Purging From a Breakout
That said, you’re probably nervous that this “skin purging” is going to cause a breakout right on time for your next Zoom meeting or your next outing with friends. However, a purge is different from a breakout in two important ways:
Where It Happens
When your skin is purging from a product, you’ll likely notice a cluster of whiteheads, blackheads, or acne in the same area where you usually get blemishes. With a breakout, you usually find acne in new, different areas. Skin purging happens in localized spots to “de-gunk” them, whereas a breakout from an adverse reaction tends to be more widespread and appear on parts of your face that don’t normally break out.
How Long It Lasts
Fortunately, with a skin purge, the eruptions typically disappear faster than normal. With a breakout, blemishes will go through the normal process of maturing and finally shrinking in the course of eight to 10 days. Because purging causes the skin to shed and renew more quickly than the normal rate, it doesn’t take as long for the pimple to heal completely.
How Do You Know Your Skin Is Done Purging?
When you’re transitioning to organic skincare products that contain natural acids, your skin will be more than likely to experience a kind of withdrawal from all the strong chemicals it’s been accustomed to. The key here is to be patient — for up to 28 days, or a full skin cycle. That’s how long it takes for your skin to normalize upon being introduced to an organically-based beauty regimen.
But remember that a skin purge is only temporary, and all you have to do is see it through to achieve the best results. Once your skin has finished the full cycle and adjusted to the natural formulation, that’s when you’ll start seeing all the wonderful effects of going clean with your skincare routine. Trust us, it’s worth it!
What Can I Do During the Purge Process?
You may be expecting a miracle cure that can help you surpass all the unpleasant effects of skin purging. Unfortunately, the answer is a less than desirable one — you have to wait it out. Thankfully, a skin purge is not forever.
By being kind to your skin during this entire process, what you see in the mirror will be more bearable knowing everything will pay off in spades once it’s over. Here are some things you can do while waiting it out:
- Stick to a gentle skincare routine.
- Keep your skin hydrated and moisturized.
- Avoid touching your face at all times.
- Resist the urge to pop any inflamed parts.
- Limit sun exposure and wear sunscreen.
Switch to Natural Ingredients and Experience Clean Beauty
Skin purging is a normal process that comes with switching to new skincare products that contain truly effective ingredients. Remembering that this is the skin’s natural reaction when switching to an organic beauty regimen, will make it easier to transition. Think of it as your skin’s way of bidding goodbye to all the accumulated dirt, debris, and product buildup, and saying hello to a radiant, glowing complexion.
Click here to learn more about the powerful and exotic ingredients in our organic, sustainable skincare line at Boto Botanicals.