Skincare requires patience, which is honestly a little rude considering how quickly we expect results after spending $70 on a serum.
You start a new product on Monday, stare approximately two inches away from the mirror all week and by Friday, you've somehow convinced yourself that either your skin has completely transformed or absolutely nothing has happened. Sound familiar?
The truth is, your skin is constantly changing! And when you're looking at your face every single day, those small changes can be really hard to notice. But don't get discouraged, they're there! Learning how to properly track your skin's progress can give you a much clearer picture of what’s actually working, what might not be, and whether it’s actually time to change your routine.
As a Master Esthetician, I’m a HUGE believer in giving your skin time, staying consistent and looking at the bigger picture. Keeping your end goal in mind is always a great motivation to stick to your routine! So before you throw out your entire skincare regimen because of one bad skin day, here’s how to actually measure your progress without getting in your head.
Why Is It So Hard to Judge Your Own Skin Day to Day?
Firstly, your skin does not exist in a vacuum. Sleep, stress, diet, hormones, weather, hydration, your menstrual cycle, travel, and even how often you touch your face can affect how it looks and feels from day to day.
Plus, on top of that, you see your own face. Every. Single. Day.
Think about it like growing out your hair. You probably aren't going to notice it getting longer every day, but when you compare a picture from six months before and you're suddenly like, wait… when did THAT happen?
Skin can be similar in that way! Gradual improvements in texture, skin tone, hydration, or the frequency of breakouts can be harder to recognize when you're checking for them daily. And remember, consistency is always key when you're looking to change something! If you want strong muscles, you can't expect to become a champion bodybuilder overnight... You have to go to the gym and put in the work, which takes time and consistency! Same goes for your skin.
And please, for the love of your skin barrier, step away from the magnifying mirror! Nobody’s skin was designed to be judged and picked apart at 10x magnification under the lighting of an interrogation room.
Instead of obsessing over the daily fluctuations (which WILL happen), focus on measuring your skin's improvement over time after following a consistent routine!
How Should You Take Skincare Progress Photos?
If you want to to see if your skincare is working, your camera roll might honestly become one of your best tools! Being able to actually SEE your progress can be so inspiring to keep going or determine your skin's needs as it changes.
Like i've said before, the key is consistency. Taking a few photos of your skin each week doesn't sound like a lot but over time, they can show you changes you might never notice just by looking in the mirror! Though, skincare progress photos aren't going to be very helpful if your “before” photo was taken in a dark bathroom at 11 p.m. and your “after” is standing in front of a sunny window with your favorite golden hour lighting.
When taking skin progress photos, it's important to try and recreate the same conditions each time. Using the same location, similar natural lighting, the same camera, and the same distance and angle. Ideally you'll want your before photos to be taken with clean, makeup free skin to show the best progression of your bare skin from start to finish.
I'd recommend taking a few clear, straight-on photos and a few from each side. You can also closely photograph certain areas you’re targeting more intentionally!
The good thing is, you definitely don’t need to do this every day! In fact, please don't. Taking photos every couple of weeks can give you a much more useful comparison without turning your skincare routine into a full-time investigation.
How Long Until Skincare Works?
Here comes everyone’s favorite esthetician answer: it depends.
I KNOW. Annoying. Ugh.
If I could wave the magic wand that gave everyone clear and beautiful skin instantly, trust me I would! But when someone asks how long until skincare works, there really isn't one universal timeline. It depends on the product you're using, what you're trying to improve, the product formulation, how consistently you're using it, and your own individual skin.
Certain changes, like how soft or hydrated your skin feels, might be more noticeable relatively quickly. More stubborn concerns can take several weeks or even months of consistent use before visible changes become easier to compare.
Device timelines can vary too. Our Microderm Elite Pro is proven to help your skincare absorb 20x deeper after ONE treatment, but that doesn't mean you should immediately jump up to a more aggressive disc on your first use. Being consistent with the device and gradually moving up disc colors will give you the best results while helping your skin adjust as smoothly as possible. Make sure to always follow the manufacturer's recommended treatment schedule rather than using a device more frequently because you want faster results. Remember friends, more is not automatically better—especially when exfoliation is involved!
The important thing when trying new product or device is to give it a fair and consistent trial, assuming your skin tolerates the product well. Switching out products every week will make it nearly impossible to figure out what is helping, what is doing nothing, and what may be causing irritation.
Track More Than What You Can See
Photos can be a great tool in your skincare journey, but progress isn't always something you can capture in a photo.
Maybe your skin feels less tight after cleansing. Maybe your makeup sits more smoothly. Maybe you're finally having less breakouts, or the ones you do get don't seem to stick around as long. Maybe your skin feels more comfortable throughout the day.
Those changes all count too!
This is where starting a skincare journal can come in handy. I promise it doesn't need to be a 12-page spreadsheet tracking the emotional journey of your every pore. Just dedicate a note in your phone to it and jot down the differences you notice every week! It can be anything from texture, hydration, sensitivity, breakouts, oiliness, dryness, and how your skin feels overall. And don't just write down the positive changes! If you have a bad skin day, I think its important to recognize it; and by reading through previous notes you may be able to figure out why.
You can also note when you introduced a new product or device! That way, if something suddenly changes, you'll have a timeline to look back on instead of trying to remember whether you started that new serum three weeks ago or or three years ago.
When Should You Change Something in Your Routine?
Patience is important when it comes to your routine, but that doesn't mean you need to stick with something that clearly isn't agreeing with your skin!
If a new product is causing significant or persistent burning, swelling, itching, or irritation, stop using it immediately and follow the product's irritation directions. Depending on the reaction, it may be appropriate to speak with a dermatologist to be cautious.
But if you're simply just not seeing your desired results yet, don't toss the serum! Look back at your progress before immediately replacing the product.
Compare your photos. Read through your notes. Think about how consistently you've actually been using the product or device. And most importantly, be honest with yourself! Because using something twice, forgetting about it for a week, and then using it again and being unhappy with your results does not exactly qualify as a clinical trial.
If you've honestly given something the appropriate amount of time, used it consistently as directed, and you're STILL not seeing the changes you're looking for, then it may be worth reevaluating your routine.
Your Skin Needs Consistency, Not Perfection
Learning how to efficiently track your skin's progress takes some of the guesswork, and emotion out of your skincare journey.
You don't need to decide whether your routine works based on how your skin looks on a random Tuesday morning. You can look at consistent skincare progress photos, and refer to your skincare journal to see your own notes about changes in how your skin feels, and patterns you've noticed over time.
Real skin has good days, bad days, hormonal days, dry days, and days where it apparently woke up and chose violence. Remember, those off days doesn't mean your entire routine has stopped working! That's called being human.
Give your skin time. Stay consistent. Document your starting point. Pay attention to the little changes along the way. If you do all these things you're guaranteed to have a much clearer picture of what’s actually working for your skin!
And the next time you're tempted to throw out your current routine and buy all brand new skincare products after staring into the mirror for too long? Take a deep breath and check the receipts. Your camera roll might tell a very different story!
