How to Patch Test a New Skincare Product

Published 13 Oct 2026

A patch test checks how your skin reacts to a new product before you use it on a larger area. It takes a few minutes to do and a day to wait, and it is worth doing with any new cream, lotion, serum or cleanser, including botanical ones. Natural ingredients can still cause allergies or irritation.

What you need

• The product you want to try
• A clean, dry fingertip or cotton pad
• A small area of healthy, unbroken skin

How to patch test, step by step

1. Wash and dry your hands and the test area.
2. Choose a spot such as the inner forearm or the skin just behind your ear. Avoid broken, sunburnt or irritated skin.
3. Apply a small amount of the product, about the size of a pea, and let it dry.
4. Leave it on for the time suggested on the pack, or up to 24 hours if the pack does not say. Keep the area dry and avoid scratching it.
5. Check the spot after 24 hours, and again at 48 hours if your skin is very sensitive.

What to look for

• Redness, itching or burning
• Small bumps, a rash, or dry, flaking skin
• Swelling around the test area

If you see any of these, wash the area with water and mild soap and do not use the product.

When to get medical help

Mild redness that fades quickly can happen. A rash that spreads or blisters needs a doctor. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing, is an emergency, so get medical help immediately.

Good habits for any new product

• Try one new product at a time, so you know which one caused a reaction
• Read the ingredient list for anything you know you are allergic to
• Keep the pack, so you can show the ingredients to a doctor if needed
• Start with the amount and frequency shown on the pack

If you have eczema, another skin condition or allergies, or you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist before trying a new product.

Patch testing Transform products

You can see the ingredient list on each product page and on the pack. Browse the full Transform range and patch test before first use. Results vary from person to person.

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