How often you swap out your skin care products depends on several factors, mainly the environment and your skin type.
If your city has four distinct seasons, you need two sets of products to get thru the year. A gel cleanser and light serum will control oil on warm and humid days but a cream cleanser and more moisture will be necessary during cold and windy months.
If you spend the majority of your time in a steady climate, you can have one routine for the entire year. So when should we try something new?
There is a common myth that skin gets used to a product and it stops working as well.
Your skin will not build up tolerance to a topical product. You shed the top layer of skin every 28-35 days, the product is interacting with “new” skin on a regular basis.
When we start using a new product, we see the most visible results in the first 30-90 days. Then the results plateau but the product is still doing its job. If you stopped using the product and your old skin conditions returned, you would realize how well it was working.
If you feel like your routine isn’t working as well as it used to or you are developing new skin issues, schedule a consult with a professional.
Most people need an entire range of new skincare products at least once per decade. Your routine from college isn’t going to serve you very well in your 30’s!