Something that is frequently recommended on skincare and even hair care products is patch testing, but what actually is patch testing?
Patch testing is a way to test whether a product is suitable for your skin, or if it will cause a reaction. Reactions and allergies to skincare products can lead to redness, swelling, rashes, or even hives. By patch testing you can ensure that the product can be safely used on your skin.
Most of our skincare range has been dermatologically approved for sensitive skin as well as most of the range being free from essential oils and fragrances. However, we are all unique, so it is always best to patch test, especially if your skin is sensitive or is prone to reactions.
Where On My Body Should I Patch Test?
There are a few places that you can patch test on. You want to use a clear section of skin, which can be left alone for up to 24 hours. A couple of places that you can test is around your elbow, back of the wrist, or on your neck behind your earlobe.
How to Do a Patch Test
Make sure the skin that you are going to test on is clean as you want to ensure that the skin doesn’t have any other products on it which may be causing the reaction.
Apply a small amount of product to your skin (roughly a pea-sized amount). You want it to be large enough to be able to see if there is a reaction, but not too large that if there is a reaction it’ll cause any damage.
Then make sure you keep the skin dry and wait 24 hours with the product on. Look for any signs of reaction, including; irritation; redness; itching; swelling; rash; or blistering. If you have an instant reaction wash off and remove the product from your skin. With products which are meant to be rinsed off, rinse them off after 24 hours.
It may be worth carrying out the patch test 2-3 times. If there is no reaction it is likely that you will not experience a reaction when using the product. If you have highly sensitive skin, or are still unsure you can continue to patch test for longer.
If you are patch testing to see if a product will cause you to breakout, you should apply the product to part of your face (cheek, forehead or chin). Apply the new product daily to the selected area for a week to see how your skin reacts.
Acids and retinols will usually cause a reaction; however, these usually occur immediately after use, and then will disappear after half an hour. For skincare that is intended to only be kept on for a short amount of time, follow the instructions for patch testing given by the brand. Usually this will be to remove the product after the allocated time it is meant to be in contact with the skin.
If your products come with their own patch testing routine please follow it. This patch testing routine given in this article is generalised for skincare and is suitable to follow for the Lucy Bee Skincare Range. Products which may have a higher risk of reaction may have their own individualised advice so check for this. If you are concerned about any allergies, it is best to talk to your healthcare professional to get advice.
About Lucy Bee Limited
Any information provided by us is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. We always recommend referring your health queries to a qualified medical practitioner.
Lucy Bee is a lifestyle brand selling food, skincare and soap products all completely free from palm oil and with minimal use of plastic. Lucy Bee is concerned with Fair Trade, organic, ethical and sustainable living, recycling and empowering people to make informed choices and select quality, natural products for their food and their skin.
