The Viral Skincare Products That RUINED My Skin 😭 

Thank you for the mention, James. It's essential to note that many individuals prioritize maximizing the penetration of active ingredients into their skin. However, I firmly believe that this approach only heightens the risk of skin irritation without delivering additional benefits. Achieving optimal results from skincare is akin to a marathon, not a race. By challenging the skin's natural barrier function, there is an increased likelihood of adverse reactions. As always, I encourage everyone to prioritize safety.

Ever since watching James' videos, he's saved me a LOT of money regarding all the new products flying around on social media. Such a goat 😇

I love how both you and Robert been solving technical problems lately by just improvising instead of desperately trying to produce the perfect video. As a wise man once said: "Perfection doesnt exist" 😉. LYSFM💜

Not me sitting here with this Medicube collagen gel creme in my already flared up red face asking myself why I’m getting progressively dryer all while you’re talking about this 😭❤️

I devised a morning routine that gives skincare products the time they need to settle while not feeling like I'm hanging around waiting: 1) Get out of bed (this is the hardest step) 2) Do skincare up to and including moisturiser 3) Get dressed 4) Apply suncream 5) Have breakfast 6) Do makeup

' It was winter, I don't know if it was winter but its the uk' comment - good lord Im feeling that now... 2nd storm of the week babyyyyy

There are 12 different types of extracts in that collagen jelly including Salmon Egg Extract -- My guess is that you are having a reaction to one of them. The more extracts in a product the higher the chance of having a reaction to one of them. I do some formulating and I never add more than 2 extracts to a product.

I have rosacea and love this type of video! I've wasted a lot of money on (possibly great for others) products that irritated my skin! It's super helpful to avoid triggering products.

Yes!! I think so many people are applying sunscreen too soon. I religiously set a 10minute timer on my watch to put time between my skincare and sun care!

Thank you for this video! Holy Moly! Fellow Rosacea sufferere here.🖐️ I have been following your channel especially because you talk about your own experiences with rosacea and it has definitely saved me some money. I was literally just looking at the Biodance collagen masks yesterday thinking I might try it, but now I've decided it's just not worth the risk to my skin. Also hearing about the hydrolyzed collagen and hyaluronic acid is so great to know. I really wish there were more products that DIDN'T contain so much hyaluronic acid, it's in almost every product in some quantity, and I feel like it irritates my skin, so I can't even imagine how bad hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid would be for me.😮 I'm not sure if you've done a video dedicated to rosacea before, but I'd love to know the products you'd highly recommend for it along with the products that irritated it the worst. I've personally found that the Axis-y Quinoa Cleansing Gel and the Axis-y Heartleaf Gel Cream are absolutely amazing for my rosacea, as well as the Numbuzin No 1 Pure Full toner and Sun Essence have been great too. Would love to know your best picks! Much💗!

I wanted to Love the Biodance one SO bad as well! I used it 2 days before a wedding so that my skin could glow, but the day of the wedding I had about 7 new pimples all over my face. I’m 27 and don’t suffer from acne, I will usually see a blemish maybe every one to two months… the fact that I all of a sudden woke up with 7 in places I’ve never broken out before?? Nope!!

Basically is the same as the theory of “too much of anything is poisonous”

Noooooo not your beautiful skin 😭😭😭 your passion for this channel is on another level 💃 hope your skin healed well 🩷

It's weirdly reassuring that even James, who's had access to any and all products and the best advice, also struggles with sensitive skin and can't always figure out why. I remember the debate about irritation from HA, and the consensus was that HA is harmless and the culprit must be something else in the products. So interesting to hear about anecdotal evidence to the contrary.

One of my worst nightmares is this, buying something that completely ruin my skin. 😢

Thank you for the sunscreen irritation tip. Letting all the other products sit and then apply sunscreen makes perfect sense. I'd usually get irritation on the sides of the nose, below my chin, and neck.

Your hair really looks amazing in this, it compliments your features beautifully. This is 💯 my comfort channel at this point. 💖

It’s the worst when your skin flares up and you can’t figure out why! Props to you for trying to do some investigative work on this! I’ve been on tret for 4 years and hardly ever have any breakouts anymore, and the past month the whole left side of my face is broken out and painful. Could just be summer sweating and maybe need to wash my pillowcase more!

James you've greatly contributed to my consciousness over what products I put on my face. And I am forever grateful to you for that.

Well I stupidly used old zit cream and got a chemical burn 😭😭 so yeah I can relate

Actually thank you so much for making this video. I thought there was something wrong with me - my glow recipe avocado ceramide serum ALWAYS irritates me. I just tried it on dry skin after watching this video and my skin was fine!! I realized I was using it on damp skin this whole time and that's why it was probably irritating me. Life changer! Thank you James!! Lol

I lived in Houston for 3 years. From April to October, the heat and humidity would destroy me - and flare up my rosacea. I’m sooooo glad I’m back in the UK. It’s 21° here today. Heavenly!

Oh the sunscreen on dry skin method changed my skin! When I used it on wet skin it made my rosacea go crazy

I've been looking at the Medicube device and am so glad you've reviewed this and saved me money (I have rosacea too). I don't know about collagen but low mollecular weight hyularonic acid is released during wound healing to signal inflammation/skin needs healing (Dr Shereene Idriss explains it better) which is why a lot of HA serums flare my rosacea up (only exceptions are Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense, Oskia's Universal Hyulaeronic Acid and Indeed Labs Hydraluron).

Just this morning I clicked on an InStyle “article” talking about this medicube jelly and I have been reading the reviews and was very close to buying it. Thank goodness you made this video! I do have sensitive skin and turn tomato red at the slightest provocation and this would be a terrible idea for me. Money aside, it could set me back in my skin progress I’ve worked so hard for. I love your content, but also…your voice. I just want you to tell me a bedtime story ❤😂.

I would love to see a vid of what you use for barrier repair

I think one of Dr Idriss's main beefs with hyaluronic acid especially the lower molecular weights is because of that potential for irrititation! Apparently the body also seems to either make or send that size of hylauronic acid to areas during the wound healing process, hence the whole inflammation response thing. I don't remember the science haha, but I know she's mentioned it a couple times on her shorts and longer videos. And I also totally don't get the hype of those overnight face masks! I feel like it's not really the mask doing anything, but rather the fact that these people are wearing a full on occlusive on their face, right after washing and other skin care, and leaving it on for hours. Like yeah, your skin will probably feel pretty plump after that, TEWL was not even allowed in the chat! It feels like basically the same idea as like those silicone patches just...not reusable...and I'm so over single use products at this point, especially at like 5 bucks as a mask!

James, you are da bestest! I’ve got your skin type but with a ghostly pale complexion on top 😅 You have helped me find what works best for my skin by explaining it in simple terms without talking to me like I’m a moron. You’re fab! Thank you thank you thank you.

JAMES your hair looks STUNNING omfg

I'm 64 & just getting into skin care & make-up (so last time was the '70's! I have been watching your videos & your brother"s & I've learned so much! I'm also fairly poor but Thrive found me first. I got a couple things but then I found ELF so it didn't take me 5 years to get what I needed. I had cystic and when I was going & skin still sensitive so your struggles with hours good me what to look for in skin care but also gave me some courage

I usually only get a few pimples here and there, and the jelly cream gave me a breakout 😭 I liked the fact that it made your skin look dewy and plump, but it was the only new product I used & once I stopped using it, my skin cleared up again.

I cannot use hydrolyzed ingredients without major irritation and I thought I was the only one! Hydrolyzed peptides especially make my skin freak out - it's just not even worth trying peptide products anymore for myself 😩

I’ve been using Dermatica since November and I love it I use their tretinoin 0.15% with 5% Niacinamide and I have sensitive skin. Never had any peeling or dryness. I’m 46. Great products. ❤

The Biodance mask irritated my skin and flared up my perioral dermatitis 😫 didn’t even plump up my skin nor made it look glowy

Don't worry James, we Rosacea sufferers will cry with you about the Medicube device :( I truly was planning on buying it, thank goodness this video was posted before I flushed my money down the toilet

James, have you tried using Manuka honey skincare products? It might help with eczema, acne and rosacea conditions and has anti-aging benefits...

THANK YOUU!! I noticed my skin was hot and a little swollen the next day and the heat carried over a little bit more even the day after. This makes so much sense. Especially pairing it with the exisome shot, people really need to be careful. And the funny thing is is that’s what recommended to use together. It was a big no for me and actually broke out my skin. I came to RU-vid to see if that happened to anyone else. So this makes so much sense. I am on board with what you’re saying. 😓

I’ve got screamingly sensitive skin. I use the ordinary squalene balm to remove sunscreen, then soap but water to double cleanse then Vaseline. All detergents seem to annoy my skin apart from soapnuts. I have no idea what ingredients are doing it apart from that. Most recently reacted to Simple moisturiser. I don’t know why I bothered with it as I used to react to all Simple products when I started using skincare as a teen.

THANK YOU for opening up the Niacinamide conversation. It makes my skin so red and irritated and it’s in so many products unfortunately that I have to be super careful.

Curology was the game changer for me. I’m likely swapping to Agency since I’m 49. I’m up to .05% Tretinoin. But if your sponsor prescribes for aging skin, I’ll check them out!!

The most relatable video but also different products for me 😭 however, it led me to discover that I have a diporpylene acne trigger which I’m actually grateful for

Agree about high percentage dose niacinamide. I had to throw that 10% Ordinary one away it stung so bad. I pretty much can't use high dose anything, Vitamin C, glycolic acid, retinol you name it.

The thing that I am agreeing with is the Sun screen theory. I was having a hard time blending my Sun screen so I let my skincare set properly then apply. On the other hand, I am scared to use the over night mask from Biodence now. I don’t think I want to risk my skin being irritated.

James I'm on the same boat whit the medicube booster, i was so excited to have it and after a week of use my skin was soooo dehydrated and i looked so tired and lifeless, which is completly the opposite it should do. I'm still in negation state which im refusing to believe i spend that much more money on looking more dull, the gadget is there sitting in my bathroom and im pretending to be friends whit him, when we actually hate each other.

Welcome to Texas! I've learned so much from your videos- thank you!

Biodance masks makes my skin red ! It does work though my pores are smaller and skin is plumped but I have rosacea and it does instigate it. Also Paula’s choice 20% niacinamide is another no for me too much redness and irritation.

Hi James, I’m half way around the world and would like to confirm your findings. I’m an Asian who used the device accordingly, but all I got is redness, dryness and blisters all over the skin.

I love what you pointed out about niacinamide, James. There's no need for a high percentage concentration when so many products already have niacinamide in their formulating, ie. sunscreen and day moisturiser (that we usually use together), hydrating and anti redness serums (again, often used together). The high % is a product logic I don't really understand tbh

Low molecular hyaluronic acid broke me out so bad 😢😢

Thank you for sharing! My skin is not sensitive at all (unless you give me essential oil perfumes, ugh), but I love learning things like this anyway :D

I've been tip toeing around your channel but this video was/is needed. People are embarking on their Skincare journey all the time, and even though I am well versed about to purchase some essences to help my Serums penetrate better, you've made me see the red flags in doing this. Ty. 😊

4:59 I reckon the device would work magic on my partner’s thick leathery skin. His skin is so tough snd thick that my acupuncturist was flummoxed by how hard it was to get the needles in. As a thin skinned rosacea sufferer, I thinkthe device would screw my skin up too.

I’m all about protecting my skin barrier, so the thought of using something that disrupts it is a no from me, my skin is way too sensitive and acne prone for that no matter what their marketing tries to push it as and no matter how much money you need to fork out for it! Nope nope nope imho 🤷‍♀️ … awesome video, very informative as always 💕

100% agree with you here. I found hydrolysed HA inflammatory. Paula’s 20% niacinamide was also extremely irritating. I love her products, and use BHA2% liquid and also found her 10% niacinamide was fine(still prefer 5%), but her 20% destroyed my skin barrier which was the opposite of what you want. So good to have you, labmuffin and Moskinlab bringing science and real content, debunking that “toxic” fearmongering influencers and misinformation, when those natural products contain worse and actual irritants even at low concentrations.

Awww that’s to bad. I love the Medicube collagen jelly. It works so well w/my skin and I have used it for awhile now.

I love the 20% niacinamide from Paula’s Choice, BUT, I also only use it perhaps once a week, it’s definitely too potent for more than that to me; I got very sensitive skin when I used it multiple times a week. but i am so lazy with my skincare anyways that it’s nice I can use it sparingly and still see results!

the marketing on that medicube moisturizer is SO tempting but our skin temperament is almost identical so knowing it didn't get along with yours means it won't get along with mine.

Internet still glitchy but here no matter how long it takes! I just got my wonderful FREE 10-piece Mixsoon skincare set! Thankx! James for turning me on to their wonderful products! 🤠

As someone with type 2 rosacea (sadly for me means a LOT of pustules that come up daily, it’s awful - but azelaic acid and Soolantra have worked wonders!) I’m so glad you mentioned this as something to stay away from!

I was noooot expecting the KDA popup on this video, especially because I was thinking it to myself when it appeared 😂

YAY YOU POSTED LIKE A SECOND BEFORE I WOKE UP LOL BEST WAY TO START THE DAYYY

Thank you for addressing the Niacinamide problem!!! I can't use products with more than 5% or my skin FREAKS out, and it's so hard to find products at a low percentage or with none at all now! The last time I used a product with sneakily high amounts of niacinamide my face was red, angry, & splotchy for about a week. I am definitely more careful these days but it's a shame that my options are so limited because of this one offender.

Oh wow the medicube jelly cream broke me out like craaazyyyyy! I was so sad 😭

Not these crazy wrinkles after the sheet mask omgggg😮😂 I was thinking about trying these, but now I'm probably just gonna buy some reusable ones to occasionally use over a thick layer of skincare. Thank you for protecting my wallet! 🙏🏻

Niacinamide is a B vitamin that can cause skin flushing, just like taking B vitamins internally can. Definitely not the best idea for those of us who are already dealing with rosacea.

I have to make sure that only 1 or 2 products I'm using in my morning and nighttime routines have HA and Niacinamide. I've found my skin gets irritated if I use too much of these ingredients, but it can be difficult to find products without them these days! And you're right, you have to peruse the whole ingredient list because they won't necessarily be highlighted ingredients anymore.

Thnk you for pointing out hydrolizes hyaluronic acid and collagen because I also tried Biodance and notice the same irritation. I check all my products and also notice a similar ingredient! Thnk u thnk u❤❤

So I’ve learned to let my moisturizer dry down before putting on sunscreen. I have dry skin so the sunscreen applies better when my face is still a little slippery. I also learned I was putting on a lot of retinol.

You are so spot on with the Niacinamide. When I first started using it my skin was not happy, so I decided to go to a lower % and for the first few weeks I would add a few drops to my facial cream to build tolerance. My skin barrier was also really struggling because of another product that actually caused eczema around my eyes, but I noticed that my skin barrier started improving with the lower dosage of the Niacinamide.

3:17 that laugh 🤣🤣🤣❤

I got the medicube jelly cream free and I just started using it, it hasn’t irritated my skin. Didn’t know it was supposed to be used with a tool, I just slap it on face before bed 🤣. I’m using that Anua niacinamide 10% red looking serum in the day and it’s helped with some acne scars.

I love how the explanation for that medicube skin wand thing was that it’s not a bad product but it does a little TOO much, like it works a little TOO well lol, I almost bought it just couple of days ago, it was 50% off, but then I stopped and was like, hmmmm do I really need this when my skin eats up any product that sits on my face? like the product I use absorb product really well, do I need to to make it absorb any more than that? Probably not lol unless you’re just a skincare freak

Your skin is beautiful. Whatever you’re doing.. it’s working wonders! Xox ❤

i have pretty reactive skin (possibly rosacea, i’m not sure) and have noticed too that with hydrolized hyaluronic acid it irritates my skin a lot. that’s the only hydrolized ingredient i’ve used, but even just with HA in general i have to be careful and don’t use a standalone HA serum anymore like i used to a few years back. which i know you recommend and i totally agree- using a dedicated HA product is usually unnecessary and often a recipe for disaster; especially for those with sensitive skin

ohhhh, I'm so glad you mentioned that led tool--- I was on the fence, now I'm not! Other note, I've been super reactive to niacinimide, but now I'm wondering if it's not the nano stuffs that usually come in it....

At least you didn't delete the sponsorship ad. 😊

I stopped using my retinol for right now until my new sunscreen comes in because I know if you don’t use sunscreen with retinol it will mess up your skin bad

A couple of weeks ago I put sunscreen on damp skin simply because I was rushing, and boy was that a mistake - I somehow had an allergic reaction as a result. My entire face was red, hot to the touch, and bumpy (which is very unusual for me, as I have very soft EDS skin).

Your voice is so soothing makes me so relaxed and sleepy

Dermatica's personalized formula for my skin had been soooooo good at fading my acne scars!

I've noticed my rosacea HATES peptides. Everytime I try a new product that has them, I get papules without fail 😭 That's so annoying, especially since it's very hip right now...

Omg i LOVE Dermatica tretinoin ❤ literal lifesaver and glowgiver

Thank you for the spf on dry skin tip! I never even paid attention to that, I actually don’t know if I do it or not. I think I do wait but now I’ll make a point to try it, maybe I’ll be able to wear different spfs

I had the same problem with niacinamide! It is in almost everything (even the concealers!). I got rid of the irritation by using a cream with vitamin C during the day. Now I can tolerate those creams.

The reason the nano versions of HA and collagen cause inflammation is because that’s what your body naturally does when you have a skin abrasion, cut, etc. the HA and collagen are sending signals to your body that there must be an injury and it needs to create inflammation to heal!

Love your hair like that ! I stopped using anything w/ Niacinamide a few yrs back, I absolutely get irritation (

I am 46. I have always had unproblematic skin and people often comment on my skin, even at this age. But the last two-three years I have been using retinol or retinal products (I have tried,” Avene, Beauty of Joseon for all my face and the Ordinary emulsion) and I have gotten small break outs and one big that resulted in an acne scar. 😢 I think this dysfunctional relationship with retinol has to end for me. My skin just doesn’t like retinol/retinal or a lot of products, or can it be the HA that is in every product… when I use a HA product my skin reacts, with small red things.

ASI am someone with rosacea. I feel your pain as I am a fool for trying new products

Cutting down number of products in a routine and applying diaper rash cream in the end at night has done so good for my easily irritated skin. My sking gets irritated by wiping of sweat in summers and monsoon and even when if I apply 4-5 products the act of applying products irritates it.

Howdy, and welcome to Texas! I stopped using a dedicated Niacinamide serum in my skincare routine because I didn’t feel like I was seeing much benefit from it. Also, other products I use already contain Niacinamide, so that’s one less product and one less step I have to worry about. If you’re in Austin, make sure to visit The Broken Spoke. It’s Austin’s oldest honky tonk, complete with live country music bands, dancing, hot food, and cold beer and cider!

I couldn’t use the sponsor of this video because i’m pregnant but once I give birth in august i’ll be trying to order then. I have basic skincare needs and figured I would like a subscription. I used the curology one previously and loved that one

we all know Robert deleted the video

I’m a bit older than you and the Ordinary single ingredient serum formulas really suited my skin as I was very sensitive but I didn’t know what ingredients caused my sensitivity and a daily sore blind pimple. I’d always thought it was the bases of products, I know dimethicone on bare skin and fragrance were the main culprits. The ordinary serum bases did not irritate me and I rarely had a sensitive moment and never had a pimple. Until I met The ordinary NMF and newer barrier formulation they actually caused pimples on me so those won’t be something I reach for. In my journey I started retinol slowly using low grade formula for 3 years then started trentinoin at 0.05 every second day, it was a game changer it made my skin so calm and “normal”.

I love Dermatica. I have used it for awhile. They are amazing. Mine is personalised. Never had a problem.

this is SO VALIDATING😭😭😭I feel crazy because I’m convinced niacinamide causes irritation and it’s in like every single moisturizer targeted to oily skin so it’s a struggle out here🥲 and I get a reaction from every sunscreen I try so maybe your damp skin theory is correct.

Loved this thank you. I was thinking about getting the Medic cube thing, but I am quite a sensitive Sally and I think I’m gonna opt for in-house treatments instead. ❤

Thank you for all of the information!

When you mentioned niacinamide, it reminded me of when I bought a 20% niacinamide serum from a brand that makes really cheap cosmetics of questionable quality that one time a few years when niacinamide was super hyped up and it absolutely destroyed my skin lol

I got PC 20% niacinamide to replace the 10% booster one I have been using for years, all I got was oily skin and breakouts and I don’t even break out easily anymore. Now I use it 3 times a week just to get through the bottle and then I am going back to 10% booster that I put in my Sisley Sisleÿa lotion. That worked great and my skin was healthy and glowing, and even my hyperpigmentation spot got smaller. I guess more is often not better. 😊

yesss!!!!! i’ve been saying this for years always wait before SPF!