What Is the Initial Worsening Effect in Skincare?

Your Skin Feels Worse After Switching to Active Ingredient or Natural Cosmetics?

You're not alone! It's quite common to experience an initial worsening effect when transitioning from conventional skincare products containing silicones and other synthetic ingredients to active ingredient or natural cosmetics.

Why Does the Initial Worsening Effect Happen?

If you've been using "conventional" drugstore cosmetics for a while, your skin may have become accustomed to synthetic substances. While these ingredients often create an immediate positive effect, they provide no long-term benefits and can even harm your skin over time. These substances, such as silicones, form a thin film on the skin that offers external protection but weakens the skin internally.

With active ingredient and natural cosmetics, the focus shifts to long-term effects. When this synthetic "film" is removed, your weakened skin may initially react with redness, irritation, and breakouts as it begins to expel previously trapped toxins. This is the so-called "initial worsening effect."

Ingredients like mineral oils and silicones also have surface-level effects. They smooth the skin by creating a barrier, which slows down important skin regeneration processes. If you’ve used these products for a long time, your skin needs to "relearn" how to regulate itself. The right active ingredient or natural cosmetics can support this transition and provide essential nutrients for healthier skin.

How Can You Minimize or Soothe the Initial Worsening Effect?

The most important thing is patience—it will pay off! It can take up to eight weeks for your skin to fully adjust to new products, as this is the time it takes for the skin to renew itself. Once the adjustment period is over, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful, healthy skin!

Rule #2: Take it slow. Avoid trying 10 new products at once! Introduce new skincare items gradually into your routine. This will help you observe how each product affects your skin and reduce the likelihood of experiencing an initial worsening effect. Be particularly cautious with active ingredients like fruit acids and vitamin C—introduce them slowly to avoid overwhelming your skin.

Give your skin time to adapt to the new routine. If it feels like nothing is working, take a short break and use only water for a few days. Then, reintroduce products slowly.

We hope these tips help you on your skincare journey! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.