Trying New Skincare? Start With a Small Test Spot
Sooner or later you bring home a skincare product you have never used. It might be your first Korean product, or a serum a friend recommended. It is tempting to put it straight on your whole face, but you can try it on a small spot first. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says dermatologists recommend testing a product this way before you add it to your routine.
According to the AAD, even if you choose products with your skin type in mind, you can still end up with one that irritates your skin. A single ingredient, such as one of the preservatives, can trigger allergic contact dermatitis, which can make skin red, itchy and swollen. Testing on a small area first can help predict whether you will have a reaction like this. This note passes on the AAD's guidance as general information and is not medical advice.
Where to apply it, and how often
Here is what the AAD suggests. Apply the product to a test spot twice a day for seven to 10 days. Pick a spot where it will not be rubbed or washed away, such as the underside of your arm or the bend of your elbow. The AAD describes the area as about the size of a US quarter, roughly one coin.
Use the same amount and thickness you would normally use, and leave it on as long as you normally would. On hot, sweaty days your arms get wiped often and rub against sleeves, so choose a spot where that happens less.
Products you rinse off, like cleansers
For something you would usually wash off, such as a cleanser, keep it on the test spot for five minutes, or as long as its instructions say, and then rinse. The rest stays the same: twice a day for seven to 10 days.
If your skin reacts
If after seven to 10 days you have no reaction, such as red, itchy or swollen skin, the AAD says you can go ahead and use the product. If a reaction does appear, gently wash the product off as soon as possible and do not use it again. If needed, a cool compress or petroleum jelly can help your skin feel more comfortable.
If the reaction is severe and a cool compress or petroleum jelly does not relieve it, you may need to see a dermatologist. The AAD also suggests talking to a board-certified dermatologist when it is hard to tell which ingredient is causing the reaction. You may need a medical test called patch testing to find the cause. Once you know it, avoid it. If fragrance is the cause, the AAD suggests choosing products labelled "fragrance free" and staying cautious with products labelled "unscented" or containing plant-based botanical ingredients, as these may still contain fragrance-related ingredients.
After the test
The AAD describes this test as something that can help predict a reaction. No reaction on your arm does not guarantee that a product suits your skin. Once you start using it on your face, keep following each product's directions and warnings, and if your skin reacts in a way that bothers you, stop using it and talk to a doctor.
Starting one new product at a time makes things easier to follow. If you switch several products on the same day and your skin reacts, it is hard to tell which one it was. A short note of what you started and when, just the date and the product name, also makes it easier to explain if you later see a doctor.
If you try HANARI for the first time
HANARI plans to launch three products together in India in December 2026: Clean Start Gel Cleanser, Even Days Serum and Air-Fit Gel Cream. None of them is on sale yet. If you try them after launch, the same approach applies. Test the cleanser the way you would a rinse-off product, and the serum and gel cream the way you would a product you leave on. We will publish the full INCI list on this site later, so you can check the ingredients before you use them.