My formulas are gentle, a pleasure to use, and good for the skin. Every product you put on your skin, however, has the potential to cause irritation or an allergic reaction. It’s important to test every new product to ensure that it’s compatible with your skin or your child’s skin. By performing a patch test on a small area of the skin, you can get an idea how the skin will tolerate the product.
A thorough patch test will take about 7-10 days.
Cleanse a section of skin for the test with a cleanser you know does not cause any irritation. Rinse and pat dry. The patch of skin should be a place on the body that will not come in contact with other products for 24 hours. Good areas to use are the bend of the elbow, behind the knees, or the belly. If you’re testing a face product, apply to the neck near the ear.
Apply a small, fingertip‑sized amount of the product to the area you’ve chosen for the patch test—roughly the amount that covers the pad of your index finger. Apply it using the same thickness you would during normal use.
If possible, cover the product with a bandage or loose clothing. Leave it on for as long as the instructions advise for normal use. For instance, if testing a wash-off cleanser, leave it on for about 5 minutes. If testing a moisturizer, leave it on for 12 hours.
If you experience burning, itching, swelling, blistering, pain, or a rash, remove the bandage and wash the area. Do not use the product. Apply an oatmeal paste to relieve symptoms. Seek medical attention if symptoms do not improve within a few days.
If you experience swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, difficulty breathing, or feeling faint, seek medical attention immediately.
Otherwise, wait until the time determined in Step 3 before removing the bandage or clothing. Allow redness from the bandage to fade. If the skin does not look normal, the product may not be compatible with your skin.
If the skin appears normal, repeat Steps 1–4 twice a day for 7–10 days. Cleanse the area before each application and cover it again if possible. Some irritation or allergic reactions develop slowly, so repeating the process is important.
If the skin still looks normal after this period, the product is likely safe to use as directed.
If you have acne‑prone skin and are testing a product for the face, begin by using it on one side of the face for 7 days before applying it more broadly.
If you regularly find yourself reacting negatively to products you put on your skin, consider asking a doctor to do a patch test to help determine which ingredients might be causing you problems.