First time to EVER? Be safe and do a patch test.
Imagine it has been many years since you last went swimming. Would it make sense to jump into the deep end, or start at the shallow end and make your way over? We'd pick the shallow end, just to be safe.
Same with skincare. If you're trying a new product, you never quite know how your skin will react. It depends on your skin, and it depends on the product. In most people and most products, the interaction usually doesn't result in anything unusual. However, we always think it's smart to perform a patch test.
It's very easy - you take the product and apply a small amount on your wrist or your neck, then wait a few hours to see if anything unusual happens (irritation, redness, itchiness). If you're particularly sensitive or reactive, its best to start with the wrist and wait 12 hours. If nothing happens, you're all clear to use on your face.
It's especially important to do this with exfoliating products, or products that contain acids or physical exfoliating beads. These products are meant to remove the upper most dead skin layer, but can sometimes cause irritation depending on your sensitivity or how often you use them. Trust us, it's better to be safe than scaly.
