Can I Use My Friend's Skincare?

I often get asked by clients the following questions:

"Can I use my friend's skincare?"

"Can my boyfriend or partner use my face cleanser?"

"Can my teenage daughter or son use my skincare?"

The answer, plain and simple, is NO. Not only they will not benefit from skincare that isn't tailored for their skin, but they could also end up harming their skin with incorrect product usage.

For example, a rich moisturiser that works well with Normal skins, might end up clogging the pores of an Oily or congested skin type.

A Dry Skin type using an Oily skin type's moisturiser, on the other hand, might end up facing the adverse concerns of dehydration, a moisture impaired barrier, or even sensitivity.

Our skin type (Normal, Combination, Dry or Oily) is unique - like our DNA. Therefore, it needs products tailored specifically to it in order to improve its health.

Also read: The Four Skin Types and How to Identify Them

To stress even further how different your skin can actually be from somebody else's, here's my personal experience: I have a twin sister. We look the same, have the same hair colour and same eye colour, but is our skin the same?

As Nicoletta Lanese wrote on Live Science "Identical twins form from the same egg and get the same genetic material from their parents — but that doesn't mean they're genetically identical by the time they're born".

My skin type is Balanced, though I have oil present on the t-zone and dryness on the outer zones of my face. My main skin concern is uneven skin tone.

My twin sister's skin type is Dry, no oil, and her main skin concern is dehydration.

In addition to that, there are contributing factors to our skin, such as where we live - I'm in the northern beaches, exposed to the sun at the beach pretty much every day, whereas my sister lives in Hawkesbury - a drier climate area. So long story short: our skincare regime and the products we use are completely different!

This is why I can not preach enough about having a professional and personalised skincare regime tailored to your skin type and concerns - not by your family member, friends, or partners.

Here at Skinmart we offer Complimentary Skin Consultations to find the routine that will specifically target your skin concerns, skin type, and get the results you're seeking! Book yours today and let's find out what's best for YOUR skin.

My name is Sari Pols,
I have been in the skincare industry for over 15 years. My passion lies in ‘Health’. Health for the skin and body. My philosophy is if we have good well-being on the inside, then it shows our vitality on the outside.
I have furthered my knowledge of Skin Anatomy, Skin Concerns, and Fitness. I am a true believer in how to make my clients feel their best both inside and out. My emphasis is on guiding my clients through their journey of skin concerns and conditions. I do not like to band-aid a concern or condition but want to get down to the root of the cause. I aim to give personalised consultations with treatment and correct prescribed skin products.