Patch Test: How To Test Your Cosmetic Ingredients and Products

We all have different types of skin: dry, oily, sensitive, normal, and combined. Read more about your type of skin. The ingredient that you can use comfortably without any side effects may leave my skin burning like crazy. That is where patch test comes in.

A patch test is a method used to determine if a particular cosmetic ingredient will be friendly to your skin or will leave your skin with allergies.

You can conduct a patch test for essential oils, ready-made cosmetic products, and other products and ingredients.

Why You Should Conduct A Patch Test

Different cosmetic ingredients may leave different reactions on different skins. You may use a product that enhances your skin today. And the next day, that same product may cause eczema, hive, pimples, Burns, itching, and other allergies on your skin.

The essence of a patch test is to pick out the offending cosmetic ingredients or products so that you can solve your skin allergies once and for all. Read more about different cosmetics ingredients.

How To Perform A Patch Test For Your Cosmetic Ingredients and Products

Apart from using the patch test to pick out the offending cosmetic ingredient or product responsible for your allergies, you still need the patch test to determine how your skin will react to some cosmetic ingredients…usually essential oils.

So, below is the step-by-step process of performing a patch test:

  • Get your cotton swab ready
  • If you’re conducting a patch test for an essential oil, for instance, tea tree oil, you’ll dilute few drops of the essential oil in one or two teaspoons of sunflower oil or jojoba oil.
  • Using your cotton swab to take some of the mixed oils, apply the oil inside your elbow and leave it for at least 24 hours. If you’re conducting a patch test for your cosmetic products, say to of your products, apply one product inside your left elbow and the other inside your right elbow and leave for 24 hours.
  • Monitor the area for allergic reactions like itchiness, rash, redness, bumps, pain, etc.
  • If you notice any of these allergies, you should discontinue the use of that ingredient or product.

If in the future, a particular cosmetic ingredient or product leaves your skin with some allergic reactions, you should conduct the patch test above. And when you find the offending ingredient or product, you should discontinue the use of such cosmetic ingredient or product.

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