A simple guide for patch testing your skincare

I know, I know. Patch testing sounds doesn’t sound sexy or fun, but it could save you from a full-face freakout.

What is patch testing?

It's like a taste test for skincare. 

Before you use a new product across your whole face, you try it on a small patch of skin to make sure your body and skin can tolerate it.

It’s especially helpful if:

• you’ve got sensitive, reactive or allergy-prone skin
• you’re trying a product with active ingredients (like retinoids or Vitamin C)
• you’ve ever had an adverse (big, bad) reaction to skincare

How to patch test

It’s not complicated, but you need a little patience.

Step 1: Choose your patch spot

The skin on your face is different from the skin on other areas of your body, so where you patch test is important.

Pick a discreet area on your face or neck. Behind your ear or on your jaw works great.

Step 2: Apply a small amount

Use a clean finger or cotton tip to apply a pea-sized amount of the product onto clean, dry skin.

Step 3: Watch and wait

If you notice an immediate reaction, like burning or stinging, wash the product off with water.

If not, leave the product on for 24 hours. No washing. No rubbing. No poking.

If it’s a rinse-off product (like a cleanser or exfoliant), apply it, wait 15 minutes, then rinse it off. Monitor the area for the rest of the day.

If you experience redness, itching, bumps or burning, the product isn’t for you.
A slight tingling from actives can be normal, but stinging is clear indication your skin won’t tolerate the product.

If your skin stays calm and happy, you’re probably good to go. Yay!

A little caveat for cuties with sensitive skin

(Me, I’m cuties with sensitive skin.)

Some reactions don’t show up immediately, they can take 48 - 72 hours. If you’ve got reactive skin, you might want to test more than once or wait a little longer before going full-face. I know the wait is a bummer, but it could be the difference between “Yay, glow!” and “Oh-no!”, you know?

Don’t skip it (even if TikTok says it’s amazing)

We get it. You just spent $84 on serum and reviewers say it changed their life. But what works for someone else may not work for you.

Patch testing is peace of mind. We love peace of mind.

To long; don’t read:

• Patch testing helps you avoid unwanted reactions.
• Test behind the ear or on your jaw.
• Give it 24 hours (or more, if you’re super sensitive).
• If all is calm, carry on!

The Great Skin Guide is a founder-led blog for honest, simple and fun skincare content. I hope you love reading it as much as I love writing it.

Tenille Hellier is the founder of It’s Tenille, an online personalised skincare service based in Adelaide. A certified skincare coach, Tenille built her practice on the idea that skincare should be as simple as possible for consumers. Her personalised skincare programs and product recommendations are based on her rigorous product selection protocol because Tenille believes every product should earn its place in your routine. Book a free 15-minute skin chat with Tenille to figure out the right next step for your skin.

You can find Tenille on Instagram, Facebook and Substack. She’s not cool enough for TikTok.