If you’ve ever started a new skincare product and noticed your skin getting worse before it gets better, you’re not alone, and you’re likely experiencing skin purging. While it can be frustrating, this process is often a necessary (and even encouraging) sign that your new routine is working.
Resist The Urge To Skip The Purge: The Healing Has Begun
Why breakouts during a purge aren’t bad news – and what to do to support your skin through the process
What Is Skin Purging?
Skin purging is a temporary reaction that happens when active skincare ingredients accelerate the skin’s natural cell turnover process. As your skin renews itself more quickly, clogged pores come to the surface faster, which can lead to an initial breakout or flaking.
Purging typically happens when you start using products containing:
• Retinoids (e.g., retinol or tretinoin)
• AHAs (like glycolic acid)
• BHAs (like salicylic acid)
• Vitamin C
• Exfoliating enzymes
These ingredients speed up how fast your skin sheds dead cells and pushes out impurities. The result? Spots, bumps, or dry patches may appear in areas where you usually break out, but it’s not a true breakout; it’s your skin detoxing.
How Is Purging Different from a Breakout?
It’s easy to confuse purging with a bad reaction. Here’s how to tell the difference:
| SKIN PURGING | BREAKOUT/REACTION |
| Triggered by exfoliating or active ingredients | Can be caused by comedogenic or irritating products |
| Occurs in areas where you typically breakout | Can appear in new or random areas |
| Usually lasts 2-6 weeks | Can continue as long as the product is used |
| Ends as skin adjusts to the product | Often gets worse over time |
If your skin is breaking out in places it normally doesn’t, or it’s lasting longer than 6 weeks, it might be time to reassess.
Why Skin Purging Can Be a Good Sign
Though inconvenient, purging can actually be a sign of progress. It means your skincare product is doing something – speeding up cell turnover, unclogging pores, and paving the way for clearer, smoother skin.
Think of it like cleaning out a cluttered drawer. Things get messy before they get organised – but once the clutter (in this case, congestion) is gone, your skin can truly shine.
How to Support Your Skin During a Purge
🚫 Don’t overdo it: Avoid layering too many active ingredients at once. Introduce new products gradually to let your skin adjust without added stress.
✅ Hydrate and soothe: Keep your skin barrier happy with calming, restorative hydration.
Our UltraDerm Day Cream is the perfect daily moisturiser during a purge – packed with marine minerals, hyaluronic acid, and hydrolysed collagen to deeply hydrate, reduce irritation, and promote healthy skin repair without congestion.
✅ Stay consistent: Purging is a temporary response, not a failure. As long as there are no signs of an allergic reaction, stick with your routine and give your skin time to rebalance.
✅ Protect with SPF: Your skin can become more sensitive to UV exposure when purging, especially if using exfoliants or retinoids.
Apply out SPF 50+ Broad Spectrum Sun Protection every morning to shield your skin from sun damage, prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and support an even, glowing recovery.
Does Drinking Water Help Speed Up Skin Purging?
Drinking enough water won’t directly speed up the skin purging process, because purging is driven by what’s happening on the skin’s surface – specifically, accelerated cell turnover from active ingredients. However, hydration does play a key supporting role in how your skin handles the purge.
Here’s how staying hydrated helps:
✅ Supports overall skin function: Well-hydrated skin is better equipped to repair itself, flush out toxins, and maintain balance.
✅ Reduces dryness and irritation: Active ingredients like AHAs or retinoids can dry or irritate the skin during purging. Drinking water helps from the inside, while moisturisers help from the outside.
✅ Improves circulation and detoxification: While your liver and kidneys do the heavy detox work, staying hydrated helps your body function more efficiently, including clearing waste that can affect your skin.
Final Thoughts
Skin purging isn’t fun, but it’s often a stepping stone to a brighter, clearer complexion. By understanding what’s happening beneath the surface, you can feel more confident staying the course. Remember, good skin doesn’t happen overnight, but every purge has a purpose.
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