One of the most frequent questions we get at Esse is ‘What will happen to my skin when I switch over?’. As with any change, there is going to be a brief adjustment period for your skin, but this does differ from one person to the next.
While some might not even visibly notice the change, others might experience a short period of adjustment as the skin rids itself of synthetic chemicals.
This is good news. Getting rid of toxins is the first step to enjoying healthier, more youthful-looking skin.
Think about when you do a caffeine, sugar, or alcohol detox – When you start, your body experiences some changes in the first few days – headaches, irritability, tiredness, etc. This will be uncomfortable and last a few days, but then it will subside and you will start to feel better until all the effects have worn off and you feel great.
Why does the skin detox?
You might not realise it, but around 60% of what we apply to our skin is absorbed into our bodies daily – totalling around 2kgs of chemical products every year. For women, who use an average of 12 to 15 products daily, that’s more than 500 chemicals entering the body. For men, who tend to use less, it’s around 85 chemicals.
Your skin is a really intelligent organ, so it will also attempt to adapt to and normalise around such chemical-laden skincare routines. However, during this time, the toxins will continue to build up in your dermal layer. Skin is also one of the body’s five organs of elimination – so detoxification is part of its job description! Switching over to an organic skincare routine will stem the influx of chemicals, but your skin has to work hard to clear the existing toxic load, which could lead to detox symptoms.
Another reason you might experience skin detox symptoms is “addiction”. Industrial skincare products include ingredients such as xenoestrogens, parabens, and fragrance ingredients like phthalates, which are strong oestrogenic compounds. This prompts the body to switch off its oestrogen production, so when the skin is suddenly deprived of its external supply of oestrogen, it goes into withdrawal. As the skin finds its natural balance, you might experience some resulting detox symptoms.
How does skin detox present itself?
Your skin will need to start repairing its protective barrier which may take around 36 hours. Then it also needs to remove toxins from your dermal layer, which may excrete through your skin. Some toxins will be removed through your lymphatic system and blood vessels. Some potential – but not guaranteed – symptoms include:
- Small breakouts on the skin;
- Skin sensitivity;
- An excess of oil; or
- Skin dryness.
How long does skin detox last?
If you do experience skin detox symptoms, they can last anywhere from a few days to a month – but your skin will regulate itself. It’s important to remember that the skin detox will also be dependent on the chemical load on your skin, as the higher the load, the more intense the conversion. It is normal to experience a skin flush during the first 4 weeks – your body has to work through years of built-up chemicals. But it is well worth the time!
What can you do to address skin detox?
Remember that you need to take this process slowly – less is more when it comes to skin detox. When starting with Esse, we also suggest starting with the Sensitive Range to better manage the severity and duration of the detox.
– Weeks 1 and 2
Start by using the Esse Sensitive Cleanser, Esse Protect Oil, and Esse Hydro or Nourish Moisturiser. We recommend using the Esse Sensitive Cleanser in the evenings only to remove make-up and sunscreen, simply rinsing with lukewarm water in the mornings.
For extremely sensitive skins, start with the Esse Sensitive Cleanser and Esse Protect Oil only, slowly introducing the Esse Hydro or Nourish Moisturiser over the two weeks.
– Week 3
Start including the Esse Sensitive Mist three times a week before applying the moisturiser.
– Week 4
You can increase the use of the Esse Sensitive Mist to daily.
– Week 5
If your skin is thriving on its new routine, you can include the Esse Resurrect Serum (or serums from the other Esse ranges) three times a week, gradually building up to daily use in the evening.
After being on the Esse Sensitive Range for a while, you can start introducing Esse Core and Esse Plus line products. This will improve your chances of having a seamless switch to organic and probiotic skincare products. As the microbiome starts to strengthen, you will notice an improvement in overall skin condition and enjoy the many benefits of Esse! We also recommend a visit to an Esse Expert for a skin analysis so that they can advise and support you during your skin rewilding journey.
