How to rebuild tolerance

Four products, in the order you would use them. Three of them contain nothing active, and that is the point.

The rule that governs all of it

One change at a time, four weeks apart. Anything that stings is the enemy, including the things marketed as gentle. You already work like this — you have been running elimination trials on your own face for a year.

1. Cleanse — Oil-to-Milk Cleanser

Once a day is enough while you are recovering. Massage onto dry skin, add water, rinse. No second cleanse. The cleanse is where recovery either starts or gets undone twice a day.

2. Tone — Tolerance Toner

Optional, alcohol-free, and not trying to treat you. Its whole job is to not cost you anything.

3. Treat — Prebiotic Recovery Serum, then later the Peptide Smoothing Serum

The Prebiotic Recovery Serum has no actives in it at all. The Peptide Serum is step two: introduce it once your skin has stopped stinging, on its own, and change nothing else for four weeks.

4. Moisturise — Recovery Cream

2% Bidens pilosa. If you are only buying one thing, buy this one and change nothing else for a month.

What to expect, honestly

Days 1–3. Patch test on the jaw. Nothing should happen. That is the result.
Days 1–14. The win is an absence rather than a photograph: the stinging stops.
Weeks 3–8. Less reactivity to things that used to set you off.
Months 3–9. The range real accounts describe. Not weeks.
Later. Reintroducing one active, slowly, on rebuilt tolerance. That is the actual goal.

Nothing on this page is medical advice and none of it is a diagnosis. If your skin is broken, bleeding or infected, or if you are on a prescribed treatment, speak to a GP, pharmacist or your prescriber.