How long should you patch test skin care? Where should I patch test for face? Whether you need to patch test a new face cream or face wash, you’ve come to the right place.
As experts in sensitive skin, we have thousands of customers with skin allergies who we have supported through trying our ultra-gentle skin care products for the first time.
By learning how to patch test new skin care products at home, you can check they are suitable for you before you start using them on more visible areas of skin.
In this post we’ll take you through the steps to safely performing a patch test at home.
What is patch testing?
Patch testing is an easy, non-invasive way to check that your skin can tolerate the ingredients in your cosmetics.
A safety practice often used in hairdressers and beauty salons ahead of having your hair dyed or your brows or eyelashes tinted, completing a patch test gives you peace of mind that a beauty product or treatment is safe for your skin type.
Patch tests are easy to do at home but if you have any known allergies or have previously had a severe skin reaction, you may want to seek a patch test in a professional setting.
How to do a patch test at home
Check that your skin care is safe for your skin type with our step-by-step guide to doing a patch test at home.
This easy but thorough home test not only checks product suitability for your skin, it also helps you to check that your skin can tolerate repeated use of a product.
The same process can be used to patch test moisturiser, face wash, serum or any other skin care product.
Step 1: Apply
Apply a small amount of the product to the inner forearm, avoiding any areas of damaged or irritated skin.
Step 2: Monitor
Monitor the skin for any signs of a reaction.
If you start to develop any irritation, remove the product and discontinue use.
If no redness or swelling appears, leave the product on your skin for the next 12 hours.
Step 3: Repeat
If no redness or swelling appears after 12 hours, apply a similar amount to the same area of skin and leave for a further 12 hours.
Step 4: Be sure
If after this time you can see no sign of a reaction, then apply a third dose of product to the same skin area.
If no reaction occurs in the next 24 hours, then it is highly probable that the product is safe for you to use.
Reasons to repeat your patch test
Your skin can change as can the formulations of your favourite beauty products. For this reason, you should not rely on the results of one patch test for life.
Revisit patch testing during periods of hormone changes e.g. pregnancy and menopause and check the ingredient list of your products for formulation changes before applying them.
Discover gentle skin care for allergy-prone skin
We avoid all harsh ingredients in our natural and organic skin care products, meaning that they are free from drying alcohol (ethanol), SLS and artificial fragrances.
We also submit our natural and organic skin care products for independent clinical testing to demonstrate that they are hypoallergenic.
Once they pass, we mark them as dermatologically tested and clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin.
Our most popular hypoallergenic skin care products are from our scent-free collection. Made without artificial fragrance or essential oils, this range is loved by those with the most sensitive skin. Here are three of our best-sellers:
“Excellent product for very sensitive skin. After trying for two years to find products that didn’t trigger an allergic reaction, this is the only range that has worked for me.
“But it’s not just that it is sensitive enough for my skin, it also does everything else I need it to do. Works for very dry skin. I won’t use anything else now! Relieved to have found this range.” Amanda M, reviewing Scent Free 24-Hour Cream.
We also created our Calming Skin Essentials Set as an introductory trial-size routine especially for those prone to skin allergies.
This 3-step set gives is the perfect introductory set to organic beauty and contains everything you need to gently care for your sensitive skin.
Calming Skin Essentials Set
Cleanse, soothe and protect with this scent-free skin care set
£29.00
We hope you have found this guide to patch testing helpful. For more information about our natural sensitive skin care products or ingredients please contact our UK customer care team at 01403 740350.
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 and 2024 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
The contents of this blog post should be treated as information only. Please consult a medical professional if you have any health-related concerns or symptoms.
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