The Hidden Dangers of Single Actives: Are You Sabotaging Your Skin?

The Hidden Dangers of Single Actives: Are You Sabotaging Your Skin?

Posted by Amelia Goff on

In the world of skincare, thereā€™s a growing trend of using single activesā€”potent ingredients sold individually, often promising miraculous results. But while these power-packed products can work wonders, they can also cause more harm than good if not used correctly. At Fresh Face Skin, weā€™re passionate about educating our community to ensure that the pursuit of a healthy, fresh-facedĀ skin, doesnā€™t come at the cost of long-term damage & barrier impairment.

Ā 

The Risks of Misusing Actives

Ā 

When it comes to single active ingredient products, understanding the concentration and how to combine these products isĀ crucial. Using too much or mixing incompatible ingredients, can lead to skin irritation & sensitivity, often setting your skin healthĀ back & worsening current skin concerns. For example, Vitamin C is a fantastic antioxidant that can brighten and protect the skin, but when combined with certain ingredients like Vitamin AĀ or harsh acids, it can lead to increased sensitivity or diminished efficacy.

This is whyĀ itā€™s essential to understand not just what these ingredients do, but how much to use and when to use them.

For instance, when it comes to our own products - such as our 100% Vitamin C powder mixed into our Reverser or Healer treatments, we recommend this comboĀ for specific skin types & needs, that can tolerate its potency. Overusing or misapplying this powerful product & ingredientĀ combination can strip the skin, disrupting its natural barrier and leading to issues like dryness, redness and breakouts.

Effective Strengths: What Really Works

Ā 

Itā€™s important to understand thatĀ ingredient percentagesĀ are not created equal!
You might see a product boasting a high percentage of an active ingredient and think it must be more effective. However, higher isnā€™t always better. In fact, itā€™s often the opposite. The skin can only absorb so much, and beyond that, youā€™re just inviting trouble when it comes to your skins long term health & ability to protect itself.

At Fresh Face Skin, we carefully formulate our products with the recommended, proven active ingredient percentages that deliver results without compromising the skins health, allowing us to make true skin change,Ā safely, for long term skin results.

Consider the delicate balance of your skinā€™s barrierā€”your first line of defence against all environmental stressors. Many brands emphasize barrier health, but they often leave the responsibility of using potent actives correctly, in the hands of the consumer. This can be a recipe for disaster, as overuse or miss use can weaken this barrier, leading to long-term damage & increased skin sensitivity.

Ā Designed for sensitive, dry, and inflamed skin, this effective pack strengthens the skin's barrier

How to Tell If Youā€™re Overusing Active ingredientsĀ 

Ā 

Overusing actives can sneak up on you. Signs include persistent redness, dryness, or a mild-moderate stinging sensation when applying products - often starting on the cheek area. If youā€™re noticing these symptoms, itā€™s time to reassess your routine & pull back on the routine steps & application of active ingredients. Itā€™s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more is better, but when it comes to actives, more can often mean trouble!

We donā€™t include certain ingredients, like salicylic acid or retinol, in our range for this very reason. For example - Retinol is a powerful ingredientĀ to improve ageing concerns & repair cell damage, but itā€™s also one of the most commonly misused products. Without proper professional guidance, it can cause more harm than good, especially for those with sensitive or compromised skin barriers, which is many Australian skins, due to our harsh climate!

The Value of Professional Guidance

Ā 

Video consults with Dermal Therapist


We believe that skincare should never be a guessing game. Thatā€™s why we offer 100% redeemable on product, personalised skin consultations both at our Melbourne-based skin clinic and online via our website. Speaking directly with a dermal professional means youā€™re not just relying on marketing claimsā€”youā€™re getting tailored advice that considers your unique skin concerns, lifestyle & budget.

Off-the-shelf products may seem cheaper, but how do they compare to the expertise of someone who truly understands skin & how to best achieve skin results long term?

Ā 

We encourage you to take a close look at your routineā€”both morning and night.

  • What are you applying to your skin?
  • Are you confident that each product is working harmoniously, or could you be causing more harm than good?
  • Also bring awareness to how your skin feels when you apply certain ingredients - your skin will always tell you when something isnā€™t right!

Here atĀ Fresh Face Skin, weā€™re here to bring clarity back to skin & how you can look after it, while guiding you through the complexities of skincare and how to safely look after your skin, ensuring that you achieve the radiant, healthy skin you deserve without the risk of damaging your skinā€™s precious barrier.

Remember, achieving true skin health is a journey, and weā€™re here to walk with you throughout the ups & downs. Trust in our expertise & carefully created natural products to gentlyĀ support your skin back to optimal healthā€”because you deserve nothing less.

← Older Post Newer Post →

fresh blog

RSS
4 Reasons Why Hyaluronic Acid Isn't Making a Change in Your Skin

4 Reasons Why Hyaluronic Acid Isn't Making a Change in Your Skin

By Amelia Goff

Hyaluronic Acid is known for its hydrating power, but not all HA is the same. High Molecular Weight HA provides surface moisture, while Low Molecular...

Read more
The Ultimate Guide to Using an At-Home Micro Skin Roller

The Ultimate Guide to Using an At-Home Micro Skin Roller

By Amelia Goff

Learn how to use a skin needle roller at home safely. Our step-by-step guide on microneedling reveals the benefits of boosting collagen, improving product absorption,...

Read more