No matter our age, we all want youthful, glowing skin that’s free from blemishes and wrinkles. Not all of us are blessed with perfect, photo-ready complexions, but we can all benefit from developing a healthy skin care routine. But, what happens when our products fail to live up to our expectations? Is it just that we choose the wrong skin creams and solutions or are we doing something wrong?

Here are four big reasons why your skin care routine isn’t working.

Not Using the Right Product for Your Skin Type

Finding the right product for you may involve some trial and error, but the process will take even longer if you’re using the wrong product for your skin type or specific issues. Many women assume they have oily skin when it’s actually quite normal or pile on products meant to correct dry skin and end up with a greasy film. If you aren’t sure what your skin type is, try not using any product for a day or two and see how your skin looks and feels a few hours after a basic wash with mild soap. If it feels oily after a few hours, you probably do have oily skin. Dull and flaky? Try a moisturizer for dry skin. Make sure to use products in the right order also. Cleanse first, and then apply any creams or serums from lightest to heaviest, allowing each to dry before applying the next.

Using Too Many Products at Once

Some products are designed to purge your skin of toxins and impurities, and a few breakouts or some redness are to be expected. However, there such a thing as overkill, or over-stimulation – when it comes to skin care. If you over-stress your face, you’ll never know if it’s a specific problem with one product, several products reacting badly together or a run of the mill break out. Even if you purchased an entire skin care system that’s meant to work together, try each product one at a time and use it for a couple of days before adding any other products to the mix. That way, your face can become accustomed to the new product and you can see how it reacts with your skin. If your skin is already on sensory overload, take a break for a few days to give it time to recover. Then you start from scratch, introducing products the right way.

Not Giving Products Enough Time to Reap the Results

They say that patience is a virtue, and that goes for skin care, too. Many women try a product for a few days, don’t see a miracle on the horizon and toss it. Not only does trying one product after another stress your skin, a few days or weeks isn’t nearly enough time to turn around years of neglect. Anything that promises instant results is going to give you a temporary lift at best. Skin care experts say that it takes at least 30 days to set a routine and 90 to realize the full effect. If you’re looking for long-term improvement, stick with your product long enough to see if it actually works.

Not Sticking With Your Routine

The flip side of over-doing your skin care is not ticking with it or doing nothing at all. Many of us find a product line or decide we’re going to get a good routine going, and then just stop after a few days or weeks. Consistency is key. Every time you stop your routine and start it again, you’re take your face back to the beginning.

We’re all busy, and women often put themselves last. Self-care is an ongoing process that deserves your full attention and dedication. Just as it takes about 90 days to see results from a skin care product, it also takes about the same amount of time to develop new habits. Make yourself a priority and make the time to dedicate to taking care of your skin. You’ll find that prevention takes much less effort than reversing the damage caused by neglect.

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