Patch Testing: What It Is, Why You Should You Do It, & How To Patch Test

Patch Testing 101

Well, well, well…

I’m choosing violence on this one.

How many people rush to buy new skincare products and slather them ALL over their faces IMMEDIATELY then wake up the next morning with cystic pimples and go “what on earth did i do wrong😭?”

via GIPHY

Stop it! Learn how to patch test.

As always, here are the videos for those that can’t be bothered to read…

@nalelahairtime to look for your patience again.. all about patch testing ##skincare ##fypシ ##kenyantiktok ##skincarekenya♬ Nightmare – BLVKSHP

@nalelahairpart 2##skincarekenya ##fypシ ##skincare ##kenya ##nairobi♬ Invincible – Max Farrar

What is Patch Testing?

Patch testing involves trying out products on a small part of your skin in order to find out whether you are allergic to it or not.

From the most informative, crowdsourced website ever, where you test depends on what you want to know.

• To see if you’re allergic: Behind the ear

• To check for irritation: The area where you’re most sensitive

• To check for clogs or acne: The area in which you experience this the most

For example, my lovely skin tends to erupt in lovely little whiteheads along my cheeks and chin whenever I use a product that it hates, so I tend to perform my patch testing along my jaw.

How To Patch Test

So, apply the new product to a clean patch of skin that is free of any irritation, and leave the patch undisturbed for (ideally) 24 hours. Though since that is likely unachievable, just apply the product to the same patch of skin for at least three consecutive days and observe. If you end up getting irritation, it is likely that you are allergic to said product.

To ensure that you know whether a product works for you or not, introduce new products into your routine one at a time. That way you will be able to pinpoint the culprit very easily.

Tl;dr: Go sloow! Don’t jump into new products immediately.