Unfortunately, I woke up with a rash on my face seven days into trying the products.
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The red patches almost looked like sunburn on my cheeks, with similar spots on my chin. The irritation didn’t hurt, so I originally chalked it up to the cold weather and dry air. But when I tried soothing my skin with the brand’s Blockbuster moisturizer, it made my skin burn.
I reached out to Dr. Alexis Stephens of Parkland Dermatology, and Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Both agreed that I may have been experiencing a delayed allergic reaction.
“Initial trauma or inflammation may result in a red, dry, or peeling blotch over a few days as the skin heals,” Zeichner said. “In other cases, a rash that develops after a week or so of using a product may represent an allergic reaction, known as a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. Here, it takes several exposures for your immune system to mount an allergic response.”
“This is a clear indication that you should discontinue the use of the product, as your skin is sensitive to a particular ingredient in the formula,” Stephens added.